The parties may agree upon the language or languages to be used in the arbitral proceedings.
§ 1297.221.Parties May Agree Upon Language Used
Title 9.3. Arbitration and Conciliation of International Commercial Disputes · Chapter 5. Manner and Conduct of Arbitration · Article 5. Language · Enacted 1988 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1297.221 lets the parties to an arbitration agree upon the language or languages to be used in the arbitral proceedings.
Full Text of § 1297.221
Plain-English Summary
This section opens the article on language the same way earlier articles handle procedure and place: by giving the parties the first choice. They may agree on the language, or languages, that the arbitration will use from start to finish.
That choice can matter as much as any procedural rule in a cross-border dispute, where the parties, their counsel, the arbitrators, and the evidence may not all share a native language. Settling it by agreement avoids a fight over language becoming its own source of delay once the arbitration is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides what language the arbitration will be conducted in?
The parties, by agreement.
Can the parties agree on more than one language for the proceedings?
Yes -- the section refers to the language or languages the parties agree upon.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 23, Sec. 1. Effective March 7, 1988.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: language of arbitration agreement californiaarbitral proceeding language choice