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Winston
English as the Official Language of the U.S. - A Matter of Common Sense
June 26th 2007 16:07
Here's a question that is primarily for any Americans reading this to answer (although I welcome the Aussies here to give their opinions as well). Should English be the official language of the United States?
Before you answer, let me make a couple points. Other countries have official languages. France gets to have French as an official language. Makes sense, right? Similarly, Germany gets German, Italy gets Italian, Greece has Greek, Japan has Japanese.....in fact, in most instances, the language that common sense would dictate as the official language of a country turns out to be correct.
But then we have England, Australia, New Zealand, and The United States. While there are immigrant populations present in these countries (as there are in the countries listed above) the predominant language spoken in these four nations is English. Our laws are written in English. Our commerce is conducted in English. Our textbooks are printed in English, and lessons are given by English speaking teachers. Our anthems are sung in English, and the inscriptions on memorials for soldiers who laid their lives down for our countries are chiseled in proud English. We are English speaking nations, comprised of diverse populations who have come together to create one unified society. Right?
That used to be right. Apparently, something has changed. Why is it that none of the four countries listed above are allowed to have English as their official language? I can't speak to this topic in depth outside of the U.S., so I will limit my examples to that country. In the U.S., immigration has been a "hot button issue" of late. Inspired in no small measure by the recent immigration issues, there has been renewed interest in declaring English as the official language of the States. Judging by the reaction this suggestion garnered from some quarters, you'd think someone suggested opening up some new concentration camps.
As this emotionally charged article shows, there is great dissent over this issue. Proponents of making English our official language have been labeled everything from intolerant to racist by those opposing the measure. Is France racist? Are the Japanese intolerant bigots for declaring that the language with which their country functions is their official language? Not to put too fine a point on this, but the PC revolution is slowly choking the personality out of America. The "melting pot" concept of America, the concept that welcomed the infusion of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century (although there was anti-immigrant hostility present at that time as well, just as there is now) was about embracing people of different cultures, and assimilating them in all things American. It was enough for them to be here, to have the opportunity afforded by life in the States. Adapting to the American way of life was a welcome task.
Now, everything is bi-lingual. Phones systems, product labels, public announcements, even our National Anthem. I fail to see how this is overtly helpful for anyone. Those of us not fluent in Spanish simply end up having more options to navigate on the phone system when we call customer service at our credit card companies. In and of itself, the gradually increase in bi-lingual instances here is a matter of very small inconvenience for native English speakers. Native Spanish speakers, on the other hand, are provided with reinforcement of the notion that mastery of English is not explicitly necessary for success in America. For example, the proprietor of a cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia came under fire last year for hanging a sign reading, "THIS IS AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH". His problem? Immigrants who could not speak the language or read the menu properly had difficulty with the ordering process. To be fair, the shop has never turned away a non-English speaking customer. The sign is meant to convey the message that ordering in the native language of this country will expedite the process considerably. He came under tremendous fire for the sign, but refused to relent on its display. Good for him. Last I knew, there was nothing illegal about requesting that business in one's establishment be conducted in a manner understandable to everyone involved. The point here is that in many ways, both large and small, the immigrant population has been limited by reliance on bi-lingual commerce, etc. There are plenty of businesses and institutions that offer bi-lingual information, but there are also plenty that do not. Is the answer to spend more money and time requiring that all information be bi-lingual, or is the answer instead to encourage non-native English speakers to adopt the language more fully into their lives? I know which choice makes sense to me.
If I moved to France, I imagine I'd have to dust off my high school French, and fast. While many French people speak English, it is essential to speak the native tongue there to truly establish yourself and move forward as a part of their society. This is as it should be. The individual conforms to the environment, not vice versa.
It's tempting to call for the government to stop spending so much money on bi-lingual programs, and to instead focus on funding English education programs. It's not a bad idea. Except, that is, for the fact that the earlier waves of immigrants who injected so much life into this country years ago did not require the government to guide them to English. They learned it, or they failed to realize their full potential here. It was as simple as that. Still, those are bygone days. Now, with a greatly increased immigrant population, it may be in everyone's best interest to offer government-funded programs to assist in learning English as expeditiously as possible.
I'm not saying that immigrants should abandon all traces of their heritage and traditions. Obviously, retention of culture is important. However, in my view it is imperative that all participants in a country operate using the same mode of discourse when in the public square. A national language unifies a disparate populace, and gives all the same voice with which to air grievances or offer thanks. A country divided by language houses a population unable to satisfactorily share ideas, and that country is then divided at the most fundamental level.
Opinions?
Before you answer, let me make a couple points. Other countries have official languages. France gets to have French as an official language. Makes sense, right? Similarly, Germany gets German, Italy gets Italian, Greece has Greek, Japan has Japanese.....in fact, in most instances, the language that common sense would dictate as the official language of a country turns out to be correct.
But then we have England, Australia, New Zealand, and The United States. While there are immigrant populations present in these countries (as there are in the countries listed above) the predominant language spoken in these four nations is English. Our laws are written in English. Our commerce is conducted in English. Our textbooks are printed in English, and lessons are given by English speaking teachers. Our anthems are sung in English, and the inscriptions on memorials for soldiers who laid their lives down for our countries are chiseled in proud English. We are English speaking nations, comprised of diverse populations who have come together to create one unified society. Right?
That used to be right. Apparently, something has changed. Why is it that none of the four countries listed above are allowed to have English as their official language? I can't speak to this topic in depth outside of the U.S., so I will limit my examples to that country. In the U.S., immigration has been a "hot button issue" of late. Inspired in no small measure by the recent immigration issues, there has been renewed interest in declaring English as the official language of the States. Judging by the reaction this suggestion garnered from some quarters, you'd think someone suggested opening up some new concentration camps.
As this emotionally charged article shows, there is great dissent over this issue. Proponents of making English our official language have been labeled everything from intolerant to racist by those opposing the measure. Is France racist? Are the Japanese intolerant bigots for declaring that the language with which their country functions is their official language? Not to put too fine a point on this, but the PC revolution is slowly choking the personality out of America. The "melting pot" concept of America, the concept that welcomed the infusion of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century (although there was anti-immigrant hostility present at that time as well, just as there is now) was about embracing people of different cultures, and assimilating them in all things American. It was enough for them to be here, to have the opportunity afforded by life in the States. Adapting to the American way of life was a welcome task.
Now, everything is bi-lingual. Phones systems, product labels, public announcements, even our National Anthem. I fail to see how this is overtly helpful for anyone. Those of us not fluent in Spanish simply end up having more options to navigate on the phone system when we call customer service at our credit card companies. In and of itself, the gradually increase in bi-lingual instances here is a matter of very small inconvenience for native English speakers. Native Spanish speakers, on the other hand, are provided with reinforcement of the notion that mastery of English is not explicitly necessary for success in America. For example, the proprietor of a cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia came under fire last year for hanging a sign reading, "THIS IS AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH". His problem? Immigrants who could not speak the language or read the menu properly had difficulty with the ordering process. To be fair, the shop has never turned away a non-English speaking customer. The sign is meant to convey the message that ordering in the native language of this country will expedite the process considerably. He came under tremendous fire for the sign, but refused to relent on its display. Good for him. Last I knew, there was nothing illegal about requesting that business in one's establishment be conducted in a manner understandable to everyone involved. The point here is that in many ways, both large and small, the immigrant population has been limited by reliance on bi-lingual commerce, etc. There are plenty of businesses and institutions that offer bi-lingual information, but there are also plenty that do not. Is the answer to spend more money and time requiring that all information be bi-lingual, or is the answer instead to encourage non-native English speakers to adopt the language more fully into their lives? I know which choice makes sense to me.
If I moved to France, I imagine I'd have to dust off my high school French, and fast. While many French people speak English, it is essential to speak the native tongue there to truly establish yourself and move forward as a part of their society. This is as it should be. The individual conforms to the environment, not vice versa.
It's tempting to call for the government to stop spending so much money on bi-lingual programs, and to instead focus on funding English education programs. It's not a bad idea. Except, that is, for the fact that the earlier waves of immigrants who injected so much life into this country years ago did not require the government to guide them to English. They learned it, or they failed to realize their full potential here. It was as simple as that. Still, those are bygone days. Now, with a greatly increased immigrant population, it may be in everyone's best interest to offer government-funded programs to assist in learning English as expeditiously as possible.
I'm not saying that immigrants should abandon all traces of their heritage and traditions. Obviously, retention of culture is important. However, in my view it is imperative that all participants in a country operate using the same mode of discourse when in the public square. A national language unifies a disparate populace, and gives all the same voice with which to air grievances or offer thanks. A country divided by language houses a population unable to satisfactorily share ideas, and that country is then divided at the most fundamental level.
Opinions?
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Comment by Onesnap
(heads off to read article you provided above)
Living in Framingham I feel like I need to be at least tri-lingual. Why in other countries to folks speak 3 languages and don't diss English? I've often wondered that myself.
Comment by D. Armenta
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Interestingly. the federal government here in the U.S. does enforce mastery of English to its employees. If the feds can do it, why not the rest of us?
I have learned Spanish, French, enough Mandarin to get by, and Tagalog to live in the countries I've lived in.
My father-in-law, whose first language was Spanish, speaks perfect English now. It was a point of pride for him to do so.
When I lived in Hong Kong in the mid-80s, the Chinese there refused to speak English as a matter of principal (although most of them knew English well)..why not follow their example? Seemed to work quite well for them..if you wanted to buy anything, eat or taxi anywhere, ask directions et.al--you learned how to ask in Mandarin quickly enough.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
However, when the PC police take to tossing the 'racist' epithet at anyone who suggests that perhaps it's not in our best interests to enable immigrants to get by without English, it makes it much more difficult (and less appealing) to keep making that case.
Thanks for the feedback, it's good to hear that perspective from someone with the experience to back it up (which I lack!)
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Europeans and Asians tend to be much more proficient in other languages than Americans. English in particular is widely spoken in those areas. Even so, when traveling to those areas, Americans should be prepared to try and use the local language as much as possible. I think it shows respect and motivation, as opposed to the arrogance of expecting everyone to know English. Just my opinion, as I'm not a well-traveled person. Still, if I were going somewhere new, I would try to learn some of the basics as quickly as possible...
Thanks for dropping by
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Comment by Winston
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Comment by katyzzz
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I think the French have it right and good for them. Some National pride there. Such things go beyond the stars and stripes, or do they?
katyzzz
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Comment by JoshZ
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1. It sounds so very cool to say things in latin.
2.On the basis that most of the people visiting the states would speak spanish/french/italian/englis h, there are many cases where the root words would be so similar that they would be able to integrate very quickly.
3.It's equally a pain in the ass for everyone, therefore giving everyone the right to complain about it. It also neatly sidesteps being racist, because lawyers, doctors and scientists of every type HAVE to use this language in order to classify things.
4.Thousands of years ago, the Roman empire ruled the world through a combination of military and economic might. I was thinking that it could be like a tradition that the country that has so much power should adopt the language.
What do you think?
JZ
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Still, for those of us who can barely remember what 'villae agricola' means (probably misspelled -- this means 'house of the farmer', I believe), switching over wholesale to Latin is going to be tricky. Although you're right, that whole shared root thing should help.
Gratias ago vos pro ineo!
Comment by James Rickard
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Comment by Onesnap
I guess you're right. If I want my groceries bagged correctly I might as well do it myself.
We tend to travel to places where folks know English...we'll learn a few key phrases (like in Iceland 'foss' means waterfall). I have noticed in particular provinces in Canada they tend NOT to like English which is just annoying. My eye doctor goes up there on motorcycle trips a lot and he has a lot of problems with folks pretending not to know English. Perhaps we need to pretend we ONLY understand English when someone tries to speak to us in their own native tongue? But then if we do that we only fuel the fire that Americans are an uncaring breed.
I told my hubby about the Philly cheese steak place and their proud sign. He said "right on!" and thought it was great and also foolish that groups protested it.
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Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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For crying out loud, we in the US elected GW and imprisoned Paris, and then refused to accept responsibility for either of those actions. Except for those tight, closeup photos and a few Iraqi bombings...we did those.
Now we need a common language that offends everyone equally, yet still offers us the basic tools to diss or praise each other across all ethnic and cultural lines.
Hey, wait a minute, those Spanish and Italian speaking folks have an edge with the heavy Latin influence in their romantic languages. Can we get together on a form of Portuguese?
Raven
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I don't think it's racist to suggest that the national language of the US, Aust etc is English.
Though Josh is on to something with the latin. Things do sound way cooler in latin. We shoud definitely dust off the old latin books and relearn it.
Comment by Damo
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Latin is the go. It would be like a reverse Tower of Babel.
Latin is a dead language'
Dead as dead can be,
First it killed the Romans
and now its killing me.
On a side note India has 4 official languages.
Sri Lanka made Sinhalese the official language and that helped create the the current civil war. Tamil and English were dumped and those who qualified in anything other than Sinhalese was force to retire from government positions.
Language can be a weapon too.
Comment by Lilla
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Did you know that in the U.S. Medical Journal it is noted that those people who speak two or more languages, have a 50% lower chance of developing Alzheimers Disease and Dementia in their old age, remaining generally more agile and alert, than those with mono-lingual abilities?
Comment by Winston
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Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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We have all seen language used as a weapon, often on a daily basis; men, women and children deliberately exploited, kept illiterate, and deprived of basic human rights because of their plight. It's pandemic. I've witnessed it first hand in every country I have visited in the Americas and Asia.
Sadly, you've made a great point.
Raven
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Great point; I'm doomed!
I speak two versions of English, both poorly.
My wife speaks 3 or 4 languages and unfortunately the same versions of English I frequently abuse.
Everyone,
At present, the tools and the mechanics of a new language won't help us; globally, we seem incapable of escaping from our ethnic and cultural mindsets and prejudices. It's a matter of heart, not language. Sigh.
Raven
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
This Latin idea is pretty popular. Josh may have set off a new world order here!
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Everyone's big on this Latin idea, but rock music and Schwarzenegger movie one-liners are just not going to be as cool in Latin.......
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Still, knowing the language of your place of residence is even more important than knowing multiple languages casually.
Thanks for the insight!
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Still, I feel better at least acknowledging some of the issues, even if the net effect of my ponderings is zero. At worst, it gives me something to do in my spare time
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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I am a firm believer in the 'Butterfly Effect", the beast has been loosed.
Raven
Comment by Wendi
This reminded me so much of how I felt at my son's graduation. I was absolutely beside myself with shock when the first words spoken were in Spanish, and then translated into English. While every bit of English was translated into Spanish by speakers, there were several speakers who spoke Spanish only and no translation was offered.
I don't mind the country being a melting pot, I find that part of its charm, really, but I do believe that anyone who chooses to take up residence here really should take the time to learn the language of the majority... and yes, that English should be the official language. Or better yet, that we deem our language "American" to incorporate the variations between American English and, well, English English. *smirks*
If I moved to another country and wanted to call it home, I'd adapt to that country's methods. Sure, I may continue to speak English at home with my family and would love to speak English with English speaking friends and citizens, but to go out into the community? Well, I'd learn that community's language. Seems fair enough.
See, if we're going to offer Spanish on all of our phone systems and in our businesses, etc., how is that fair to all of the other languages? We have a huge deaf community here in our country, so why isn't everyone jumping on the bandwagon to learn sign language? If we're going to bend over backwards to make Spanish acceptible, shouldn't we also then offer French, Japanese, German, Russian, etc., etc.?? What's going to happen eventually is that English speaking citizens are going to become the minority and if we want to thrive in our own country, we're going to have to learn Spanish. I'm not too keen on that.
I agree with you here that the idea is not to abandon culture or custom, but to incoporate the customs and culture of the country in which you choose to live. Want to speak Spanish at home with your family? No problema. Want to speak Spanish when hanging out with your fellow Spanish speaking friends? Groovy. But want to walk into a predominantly English speaking community and expect us to cater to you? Uh.... no.
If a business wants to offer Spanish as a courtesy, they have every right... and that's really super nice of them. But should it be a requirement? No, I don't think so... and for goodness sakes, it certainly shouldn't permeate our schools!!
So yes, long story short I feel we should have an official language, and I vote we call it American English. *big grins* (and yes, I know that doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the real world *LOL*)
W
Comment by Winston
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Comment by youranter
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Seriously though, it's not even the money or the added work it causes that truly bothers me. It's the idea that our idea of national pride is so skewed, that people resent the idea of us having an "official" language. It's not racist, bigoted, hate-motivated, or any of the other asinine remarks that have been made. All that rhetoric is just PC madness in action, and it makes my skin crawl.
Thanks for the comment
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Comment by Jim Stillman
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I feel that the influx of Cubans into Florida and Hispanics in the West who refuse to learn English is sending a message that they want to stay here only temporarily. I understand the elderly being unable to grasp a new language (although earlier generations did so).but there is no excuse for younger people.
But what does it mean to have an "official" language?
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
I would view declaring English as our official language primarily as a statement of national pride. Our country was founded by English speaking peoples, and all of our laws, textbooks, and other important documents are written in English. Trade is conducted in English. To be labeled as racist or intolerant for wishing to acknowledge this is absurd.
In the end, making English the official language of America wouldn't really change anything. It would have about as much practical impact as has Massachusetts' naming of the chickadee as the state bird. Still, it is a statement worth making.
Great question!
Comment by Jeff Musall
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