Ensuring language consistency, Senator Shelly Calvo introducing Bill 218, legislation aimed at standardizing the official use of the spelling “Chamoru” in Guam law and government documents.

Calvo noting that the government currently uses three different spellings to refer to the same indigenous people and language—an inconsistency she says is unusual in government practice and creates unnecessary confusion in public records, education, and policy.

The senator emphasized that the effort behind the bill is not new. 

Discussions on orthography, pronunciation, and cultural accuracy have been underway for years among educators, language experts, and cultural institutions. She said the bill represents a continuation of that work—not its beginning.