Do you think that English should be the official language of the United States?

[blondie58]

Poll question: Do you think that English should be the official language of the United States?

As an employee at the Post Office, I have encountered many people recently who have come in for passport applications who don't speak English. I don't think that applications are even offered in Spanish, the most common other language in my area and the only help that they have are any other people willing to act as translators for them.

I asked our passport clerk and her reply was "heck, no- this is AMERICA", which seems to be a very common reaction.

I'm torn- I initially thought well, my ancestors came here from Germany and had to learn English. In the Denver metro area, there are many communities where Spanish seems to be the predominant language. People are so upset in my area about the glut of 'illegal immigrants' and they resent hearing Spanish spoken and sometimes comment loudly about it.

I am trying to learn more viewpoints on this and would appreciate any input that one might have. I have always been fascinated by other cultures and languages and I have two years each of both Spanish and German in college and high school.

[mike_c]

1. proud to be the first NO vote....

I LOVE the diversity of different languages I hear around me! I'm not even going to offer a philosophical argument-- I simply enjoy diversity on a personal level.

[devilgrrl]

5. same here.

:-)

[LiberalEsto]

8. I love the diversity too

but we need a common language to unify us.

It's possible to speak more than one language, and learning English isn't going to kill immigrants.

I was born in the US but didn't learn English until I started kindergarten because my parents wanted me to be fluent in Estonian first. They both spoke fluent Estonian, English, Russian and German, plus bits of Finnish, Swedish, Polish, French and Latin.

Learning Estonian at home didn't hurt me -- I ended up being an English major and becoming a professional writer -- in English.

[mike_c]

15. I suppose I disagree that we need to be "unified...."

Again, that's more a matter of personal bias than a considered philosophical argument. When people have common interests they generally find ways to communicate with one another, but forcing them to "unify" for purposes that they don't really share, or don't really need to share, seems unnecessary.

Anyway, as I said, I simply like the breadth of cultural diversity one can encounter in America and think it would be a shame to erase the most obvious evidence of that diversity-- a variety of languages.

[LiberalEsto]

29. Learning English didn't erase my Estonian

nor did it erase my parents' languages

Knowing two languages is an advantage in many ways. For children, it enhances the abilities of their brains.

I would never dream of immigrating to France, Germany or some other country without making every effort I could to learn the language.

[mike_c]

37. oh I completely agree, but that cuts both ways, IMO....

I do agree that being multi-lingual is a distinct advantage for everyone concerned-- but it is just as beneficial for native English speakers to learn, say, Spanish as it is for Hispanic immigrants to learn English. Case in point-- I was in a fast food restaurant recently and witnessed an American gentleman trying to straighten out some problems with his order. The manager he was attempting to communicate with spoke English, albeit with a pronounced accent. The American gentleman was struggling hard to communicate but wasn't being very successful, largely because he was attempting to make the Hispanic gentleman do all the work of translation and understanding, and I remember thinking at the time that if he had even some rudimentary Spanish the situation would have been so much easier for both of them. Polyglot perhaps, but nonetheless more effective for them both.

The danger in making one language "official" is that it removes any incentive speakers of that language might have for learning to meet other cultural groups living as their neighbors half way, or for participating in multicultural diversity. An official language is more often a vehicle for rejecting multicultural diversity than for embracing it, IMO.

[LiberalEsto]

87. If I moved to Spain

and went to a fast food restaurant, I would expect to have to speak Spanish.

If that restaurant manager you mentioned moved here from another country, I would expect him to speak adequate English in a job where he has to deal with the American public.

[chixydix]

65. I don't think anyone has proposed making it illegal to have a conversation in any language...

but if you're an immigrant trapped in a wrecked car you will probably get a better 911 response if you speak English.

[Hekate]

123. You'd be surprised at the prejudice in some workplaces, then. Clusters of Filipina nurses...

...chatting in the workplace have endured the wrath of some patients and some administrators, according to at least one lengthy LA Times article a few years ago.

Hekate

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

54. Having an official language does not mean that diversity goes away

[Ordr]

2. Yes.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. All the Yes votes...

Who knew that we had that many xenophobes on DU?:wow:

[annabanana]

7. There's lots of "oddness" at DU during the "silly season"

If you know what I mean. . . .

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. Yes. Strange.

A year ago, universal health care was considered good and an official language was considered bad.

Times change, I guess.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

56. its xenophobic

to want to make sure your emt's dont have to guess at someone symptoms when answering a call?

[Bill McBlueState]

82. How does declaring a national language solve this problem?

Declaring a national language doesn't mean everyone's going to immediately learn that language, and it sure doesn't mean there won't be other reasons a patient might have a hard time communicating with an EMT.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

85. It sets a standard

It will not *eliminate* the problem but it will mitigate it.

I would much rather see resources spent teaching people to say these things than I would printing documentation in so many languages that it makes learning English a very low priority..

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. Perhsaps I missed this but EMTs in my town use

Palm Pilots these days... not forms (that can lead to other problems)

And they speaking English and many of their patients having another primary language does not prevent them communicating

You know... I think you've never worked in the field

You know what was far more challenging? THey are TRAINED Medical Personnel, still if you tell them something in metric, like patient so and so fell five meters, they still have a hard time comprehending that... or we gave 10 gr of insert med here. That is far more of a problem since Medicine is done in Metric.

Oh and the world (or the rest of the medical and paramedical profession) ain't gonna bend to the needs of Basic EMTs and at times Paramedics

[nadinbrzezinski]

106. Raises hand as a former EMT

I had to guess at symptoms many a times

Unconscious folks, or even native speakers who could not tell me exactly what was wrong

(Diabetics for example)

Of course there were the folks speaking NATIVE languages and two or three worlds of SPANISH... and we still communicated.

You just need to be FLEXIBLE

Oh in case you wonder I practiced in a border town... and got stuck with the tourists since my boss assumed I'd have less of a problem talking to the 18 year old who had one beer too many since I also spoke English... he assumed wrong. When drunk they were just as challenging as any other well, DRUNK.

[erebusman]

98. xenophobes?

I haven't voted as I don't like the way that polls cage you & your opinion too narrowly. I suppose "other" would be the closest to my opinion but again I don't like polls.

However in response to people saying "those who answered yes = being xenophobes" I think thats pretty extreme.

There is nothing wrong with saying "The official Language of Spain is Spanish but in many tourist areas you will find friendly people who will speak english, french, or german".

Why couldn't we say "The official language of the United States is english but you may find strong communities who speak other languages such as Mandarin, Spanish, German, or others..."

You ASSuming that saying English should be the official language automatically means we should be mean to people who don't speak that language which is not an equivalent by any stretch. It could definitely make tourists, visiting workers, and potential immigrants life's easier to know what language is officially spoken in our country.

Now is the motivation of *some* people perhaps to discriminate by establishing an official standard? Of course it is. Do you think those people would NOT discriminate anyways? Please don't be foolish.

Either we are people of good will; willing to love humanity and diversity around us in all its forms including race, origin, religion, sexuality and gender and more; or we are not. Making an official language, currency or time zone standard won't make me in to either one that I am not already.

But thanks for implying that it might, its good to know where your head is at.

[Toasterlad]

101. Spare Me.

If you were going to live in France, wouldn't you be expected to speak French? Germany, German? Italy, Italian?

I have no problem whatsoever with immigrants coming to this country...as long as they do what my Italian grandparents did, and learn the English language. I have no desire to see a permanent underclass with no prospects for advancement develop because they refuse to learn the language.

This is such a blatantly STUPID non-issue.

[girl gone mad]

134. Exactly.

There is nothing xenophobic about wanting an official language. Remember the parable of Babel. God forced people to speak in different tongues as a punishment. Being unable to communicate with the majority of people around you is a severe handicap to having a good quality of life.

[noamnety]

115. I knew it.

It's been that way for years. Immigration threads smoke them out like crazy.

Official language = thinly veiled racism/xenophobia.

All the EMT bullshit is just that. Many many Americans travel to other countries as tourists and never learn the language, and they don't give a rat's ass about learning the language of each country they go to in case they have an emergency. And many military spouses go abroad and don't learn the language of their host country (not to mention the military itself - which has a nasty habit of yelling in English at Iraqis in Iraq and getting pissed off if they don't understand the commands given).

Contempt here for the people voting yes.

[Ilsa]

133. It's about practicality.

My sister lives in a large city where one ethnic population in an area proposed having all their street signs in another language, a script that doesn't use the English alphabet. Should we assume they don't want mail or delivery services there? Or do all workers need to learn Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Vietnamese, etc?

I think knowing more than one language is a wonderful thing. I know a little of second language. My uncle knows a little Czech. Etc. But we all know how to speak and read the predominant language of the country we live in.

[El Pinko]

4. I think calling it "the official language" opens some nasty doors...

...if the country gets swept into a particularly xenophobic or fascistic mood (like 2002-2003) it could be seen as justification for bullying people who can't or don't speak English in public.

Some people might be ignorant enough to interpret it as a ban on other languages.


I think everyone should be strongly encouraged in every possible way to learn English, because without a common language, it becomes very difficult to have any kind of solidarity for progressive movements, or for different ethnic groups to interact and understand each other better.

I think it's great for people to speak their native language with their family and friends. It makes our country more colorful and beautiful.

But not learning English would put most anyone at a severe career disadvantage in this country.

[annabanana]

12. Sure, but making it "The. Official. Language." doesn't

help anyone, really.

And it justifies further handicapping new arrivals by not allowing for bilingualism in official and necessary public publications.

[blondie58]

13. well said, El Pinko

and look at countries such as Switzerland, with four languages, not even counting English, which most people speak. They seem to be able to handle many different languages alright.

I just find myself thinking, why don't we have passport applications in Spanish? Although that might open up a whole can of worms, as if we offered applications in Spanish, why not other languages, also?

[El Pinko]

23. I don't think it should be incumbent on the government to provide materials in other languages...

...that's another issue. Then we end up eitheer having to translate EVERYTHING into a thousand languages, or showing favoritism just to the immigrants who come in the greatest numbers.

Immigrants taking on the responsibility of learning the language or bringing a friend who understand it is the fairest to all immigrants and most economical solution for the taxpayer, IMO.

But I do favor kids learning foreign languages in school - in fact, I think they should all be required to learn at least one...

[annabanana]

93. even "DANGER, LIVE WIRE" ?

There are lots of materials that MUST be mulitlingual. Especially in areas that have large numbers of non-English speakers... whatever the language.

[Iris]

48. yes - it also allows governments to opt out of supplying translators and materials written in other

languages, putting new immigrants at a distinct disadvantage. This is especially disgusting when you consider that the children of most Spanish speaking immigrants become fluent in English and by the 3rd generation, are completely fluid.

[Hekate]

125. "Some people might be ignorant enough to interpret it as a ban on other languages "...

You put your finger on it -- that is at bottom why I never want to see English declared as the "official language" in my country. Too many lunkheads would interpret it as the 2008 version of >ahem< No Irish Need Apply -- meaning Speak No Other Language But English in Public.

Immigrants learn English as fast as they possibly can, in my experience, because they want to work and go to school here, and that's the only way to get ahead.

Hekate

[RB TexLa]

6. Hell No

[seemslikeadream]

9. German would be more appropriate

[Karenina]

90. Now you STOP THAT!

:spank:

Englisch ist Lingua Franca :rofl: ÜBERALL. Any global citizen who wants to wheel and deal MUST learn at least some. Leave it to the Amis to be SO uptight that it needs to be "official." :eyes:

[mrcheerful]

10. America should enact moronese as its offical speak or how

about biggotnese? Or countrybumpkinese? Or I'm an assholenese? Lets face it, americans want to outlaw everything others do and keep things they do free. See G Washington made a mistake by not ridding the country of Tories after the war. We are becoming the kind of country GW and the rest of the founding fathers despised.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. I'd need to know what kind of policy would accompany English being the "official" language.

Would it be an empty designation?

Would English be the only language on legal documents?

Would there be a penalty for using another language other than English; would the document be null and void as of its effectiveness?

Would there be more free government-provided English as a Second Language courses that would be available, or mandatory?

Would you have less civil rights as a resident for not knowing a single word of English?

If English as the primary language in the United States were the goal, maybe I'd feel less uneasy. I think for the sake of cohesion, there is merit in having everyone have an elementary understanding and comprehension of the language. Having the moniker "official" brings the spectre of government and potential discrimination.

[pitohui]

52. most every country has an official language or languages

an official language is required to be taught in the schools and to appear as one of the languages on business and gov't documents

it is no big deal, and in practice, english is the official language of the usa, since it is treated exactly the way that official languages are treated in every country i've visited that has an official language (many countries have multiple official languages)

[no_hypocrisy]

81. See what I mean? This can get out of control fast.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3245145

[mkultra]

14. no country should ever try to codify culture

Making cultural laws is fascist.

[chixydix]

66. That is a very interesting claim.

:eyes:

[NeedleCast]

16. Yes

At the same time, I think we need to do a much better job of encouraging our youth to learn foreign languages. If you want a leg up in the job market, and I mean ANY job market, being able to put "multi-lingual" on your resume is becoming more and more important. In my current job, we have several business trips a year to Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. If I could find a software trainer who speaks French-Creole I'd pay them 10K more than the average of the rest of my trainers. I'd pay more for Spanish. I'm trying to teach myself Spanish with the Rosetta Stone software because it's important to what I do.

Having an official languages doesn't mean it should be the only language we should use or that we shouldn't encourage people from being multi-lingual. At the end of the day though, there are a LOT of immigrants (both legal and illegal) in this country who would benefit so much from learning English. It amazes me when I sit in immigration hearings and see people who have been in the country (illegally) for ten years who still don't speak more than two dozen words of English. I spent three weeks in San Juan last year and picked up more Spanish in that time.

[aquart]

17. Quebec. Tower of Babel.

Do we really want a hundred little Quebecs? Was the lesson of the tower of Babel that not speaking the same language is a good thing? Really? Every white immigrant was required to learn English. Now that the immigrants are yellow, brown, and black, we suddenly decide that it's too big a strain for the poor dears to learn our language? Pat 'em on their heads and tell them they don't have to?

Because as long as they don't speak as we do, they can remain marginalized, separate, and NOT INCLUDED.

This so-called benevolence of "multiculturalism" is nothing but racism for liberals.

[Ordr]

41. I think I'm in love...

[trotsky]

69. You've made me reconsider my long-held opinion on this topic.

Hadn't quite thought of it like that before. Thank you for making me think.

[magellan]

104. Spot on, thank you. n/t

[supernova]

18. No, it isn't the nature of this country

to be monolingual in the official legal sense, not historically, not in the present, and not in the future.

99% of the immigrants coming here know they have to learn English if they want to succeed, i.e. at least become middle class. How do I know this? I have taught ESL and at least around here, we can't have too many classes. People are clammoring for them even after working two sometimes three jobs just to get by. What American doesn't? ;-) Still, they come to class and dutifully do the homework. So, it's not for lack of interest on the part of immigrants, legal and non.

And if you wonder about the history of language in this country, check out my post from two years ago:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/supernova/48

[blondie58]

27. wow, supernova- thanks for reposting that

I don't think that I was here two years ago, and if I was, I missed it. THis topic is so interesting to me, but there is such hysteria against people speaking Spanish here now. I am surprised to see so many YES votes, also.

[supernova]

39. The immigration pattern

in the U.S. for the most part has worked this way:

1) Group needs/desires to come to the US due to war, famine, economic depression, or ugh slavery.

2) We happily take in refugees for a while. (See the Irish, the Germans, the Poles, the Vietnamese), with no big problems. Sometimes years.

3) Nativists get nervous when they personally have to pay attention to this newest group. When they personally have to interact with the new immigrants, when they personally have to start reading signs, menus, and maybe literature in the newest language, they habitually start the English Only nonsense.

4) We sadly, pay attention to the Nativists and restrict immigration for a while (Until the next new group comes in. )

At present, we are taking in lots of Spanish speakers. Never mind the Iraqis we will have to take in too. And you know they are coming.

[blondie58]

42. so true- it is inevitable

and people will have a hard time with it with the level of fear of Muslims.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

119. I can relate Supernova -there seems to be a neverending cycle in Australia as well

Here in Australia we follow something similar

Australia had the "White Australia" policy from the time of Federation in the 1900s until the late 1960s (although some of the provisions were relaxed in the two decades leading up to its abolition).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policy

As the government started easing the provisions of the White Australia policy:

(a) In the 1940s and 1950s you had the Greeks, Italians and Eastern Europeans come into the country. There was a lot of resentment that they were being allowed into the country and demands that they adapt to the Australian lifestyle
(b) By the 1970s the Greeks, Italians and Eastern Europeans had become a largely accepted bloc in Australian society. But, as the White Australia policy officially died, there were a substantial amount of immigrants from Asia coming into Australia. The criteria of resentment began to change. Now the argument went that the Greeks, Italians and Eastern Europeans had adopted so well into our culture so why couldn't the Asians do the same? This was still going on when our family came over here from Asia
(c) By the late 1990s the Asian community was an accepted bloc in Australian society. But there was an increasing influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle East. Now on talkback radio I hear people complaining that the Middle Eastern and African immigrants aren't able to fit into Australian society and comparing them unfavorably with the European immigrants AND the Asian immigrants. For those immigrants who remember the same language being used against them in earlier decades and who now find themselves being an accepted part of society, it is really bizarre to see how the cycle unfolds

[GoneOffShore]

19. I'm a native English speaker - but trying to learn French

The ability to speak different languages gives one a different "map" and hence more understanding of other cultures.

Official languages and official religions - not a good idea.

[sam sarrha]

20. well, it's OK if you have one that speeks english to translate for the other 1400 that don

[Xithras]

21. Yes, but I don't think we need just one.

Canada, for instance, has both English and French as official languages. No reason why we couldn't do something similar here.

That said, there is a very strong argument to be made for ANY country to have some sort of standardized language or languages spoken by all people, even if it isn't their primary language. I don't care so much about forms in the post office, but I believe that it's a HUGE societal problem when the citizens of a nation cannot even talk to each other. It leads to artificial divisions and polarization among the population, greatly increases the odds of conflict and misunderstandings between social groups, and undermines the sense of shared community (which is bad for progressive social causes).

[sam sarrha]

60. there was a historical reason for that, they were French colonialists from the beginning..not an are...

inundated by an invading force, this "migration is manipulated by the mexican government, a process of exporting their poverty here thus raising the standard of living for the "HAVES" there to 7th in the world, second only to france. we cant afford to keep this up. it is creating an ecological disaster here. we keep flooding millions more on on top of 10's of millions with global shifts in essential resources, water shortage/housing/# of cars polutiting..my brothers community in CA had their elementary schools triple in a few years with students that were illiterate in spanish. they were hiring teachers that didn't speak english.. my niece and nephews were graduated and couldn't read well enough to fill out a job application.. my niece said she would have to take nearly a year and a quarter of remedial classes in a junior collage before she could take regular classes.. what a $100 a unit plus books..

she didn't go to school, no jobs, housing was un-affordable, they didn't have money for her a car.

[Xithras]

68. Which does not negate the possibility of having two.

Yo hablo espanol, y soy blanco como nieve. There's nothing wrong with speaking two languages, or learning them in school. What we need, however, is to standardize what we are teaching students and how we're doing it. It IS a huge problem to have spanish-only teachers in a spanish speaking school, because they are going to generate students who are unable to communicate with the majority of their own nation. We need to recognize and institutionalize a bilingual society, and ensure that ALL students can communicate in both.

[sam sarrha]

86. i studied Esperanto, it is the perfect solution, everybody keeps their own language and can still

communicate with EVERYBODY else too

[HereSince1628]

22. If we do, would we need to convince some English to immigrate to teach it?

I'm not sure that what we speak is English anymore. You can't convince me that Iowegians speak the same language as Mainers.

[Clear Blue Sky]

24. Makes sense to have an official language.

Easier to conduct business that way. Like having one official currency. How can businesses be expected to accommodate people speaking all different languages?

Unofficially the diversity of languages is great, what's spoken in the home, neighborhoods, etc.

[jwirr]

25. I am of German descent and during the wars my family was forced

to stop speaking German. I and my sister are the last generation to know how to speak even a bit of our parents language. The ironic thing about this is that when we got to college we were encouraged to learn a second language. Some colleges even required this. So what is it the USA want? A single language or being able to communicate with the rest of the world or better yet both. By the way we lost our second language while 3 of our family were fighting the Germans in the US military so it had nothing to do with loyalty. It had to do with hate. I would give a lot to be able to pass that language on to my children as a second well spoken language.

[NeedleCast]

28. I don't think having an official language

rules out being able to speak other languages or pass them on to your children. I don't think it was the OPs intent to suggest that other languages would be criminalized in any way.

[jwirr]

36. But they have been banned in the past - what happened then can

and does happen again. I think that immigrants will learn English just as my family did because it helped them in their new world not because they were forced to learn. It is not easy to rise in this country without knowing English so I think it has its own incentives.

[Xithras]

31. But that was social pressure, not law.

There's a little town not too far from me that changed its name from Thalheim to Valley Home (the english translation) for the very same reason. People were so mistrustful of anything German that Germans themselves decided to speak English. My grandmother was a fluent German speaker (grew up in a close German Baptist farming community) and told me all about the problems they had. It wasn't the FBI or police hassling them, but the suspicious stares from deliverymen and business owners who weren't sure where their loyalties lay, or the parents who wouldn't let their kids play with those "German kids" because they didn't want to risk their children playing with Nazi sympathizers.

Nationally, the German communities responded to this by flying big American flags, reducing the amount of German spoken, and "Americanizing" as much as possible.

[jwirr]

38. I know but if we have a law that makes any language an official

language then it is just one step to being forced. My family knew English before they lost the German as did most of our neighbors. I was just pointing out what could happen.

[KharmaTrain]

26. Most People Barely Speak English

I have worse problems dealing with someone with a thick southern accent...they might as well be speaking another language.

No, there shouldn't be an "official" language just like there shouldn't be an official relgion or state party. The fact is we have a "money" language...one that was the incentive to my grandparents 100 years ago and still is today.

For many years I worked with a foreign language radio station...many different groups all with a common goal...to become a part of the American "mainstream". When you have large waves of one group or another, there's a upswing in use of a second language, but by the time the next generation comes of age, English has become the dominant language...as it's the key to a better education and job.

Over the past 40 years, we've had a massive influx of Hispanics into many urban areas. While the parents hang onto the old language and customs, their kids quickly become "Anglo-sized"...watching television and attending school. I'm also seeing this with many Poles and Russians who came here in the early and mid 90's...while the first generation prefers to live within the insulated world of the ex-pat community, their children take advantage of our social system and through it "assimilate"...or at least become proficient at English.

The "English Only" game is yet another GOOP strawman...a need to feel superior in their own skin and country and to do so by isolating and discriminating against as many minorities as it can.

[ulysses]

30. there's no need for an official language in the US.

We've done just fine for more than 200 years without one.

[jpljr77]

32. No. We could have just as easily been speaking Spanish anyway.

England and Spain were in a race to colonize our land in the 1500s. Spain was actually far ahead, in the South, West and Florida, of course. But they decided to concentrate on South America.

I mean, shit, Columbus sailed under a Spanish flag.

Anyway, my only point is that English isn't even "our" language to begin with. Everyone know this, but I wonder how many Americans fail to put 2 and 2 together and realize we speak English because England colonized the land we now sit on before we kicked them out.

[supernova]

34. Actually German was very prevalent until WWI

In many communities you got your entire schooling in German (today we call this style "language immersion").

[lumberjack_jeff]

35. Absolutely not.

That is a different question than whether it is desirable to promote english fluency.

[dysfunctional press]

40. yes. in the past it was the defacto "official language" and immigrants worked hard to learn it ...

and were generally proud to do so. these days they don't bother.
among other reasons, having one official language helps to unify a society/country, streamline government/official operations, and in doing so, saves taxpayer money.
just my opinion.

[Iris]

49. They still work hard to learn it.

Don't kid yourself into thinking that they don't. That's freeper-think.

[uppityperson]

43. Seeings how "America" is a melting pot, and there are many different types English spoken in it

already, I say no.

For those who say yes, which "English" should be made official? Southern drawl? Maine accented? How about Boston's habit of either dropping the ending "r" or adding one? Midwest nasal?

[BB1]

44. Other. Dutch.

Just like the old days :thumbsup:

Although it will be hard on you Yankees...

[Beausoleil]

45. No

As other posters have pointed out, we've gotten along pretty well for over 200 years without an official language. Most of my ancestors spoke German or French; my dad spoke French in his family until his oldest sibling started school.

I think most immigrants will learn the language on their own or survive without learning it just like they have for decades without it being mandated by government. Why do we need another government mandate when societal pressure will work just like it has for decades?

On another note, how is mandated English consistent with the First Amendment?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

46. Should Christianity be our official religion?

How about "white" our official skin color?

[Iris]

47. So, the people in your Denver metro area think people should speak English only in public?

That's stupid. I can speak any language I want.

[blondie58]

105. just some people- fear of illegal immigrants, I suspect

A friend of mine is always so rude about it. if we are out in public and she hears people conversing in Spanish, she will say in a loud voice "I thought this was America, where English is spoken". I have tried to reason with her, with no success. I agree with you, Iris. I know some Spanish and have helped many a Spanish speaking citizen at times. And the kids definitely learn English, but the older folk have a harder time with it. I certainly wouldn't want to have to learn English as my first language. It is so illogical and full of contradictions.

[Iris]

110. I'd love to know what the people speaking Spanish say about your friend to each other after she

makes her cute little comment.

[blondie58]

118. I don't know enough of the slang in Spanish to know but they are

usually silent. It is really embarrassing, though.

[Iris]

126. I think I'd have to reply, "It's America! We have a lot of freedom here!"

I couldn't let them think I was agreeing with her.

[slackmaster]

50. I just re-read Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution for the umpteen millionth time

And I don't see anything that could reasonably (IMO) be interpreted as granting Congress the power to do that.

Therefore, I answered "Other".

The point is moot because A) It can't happen and B) English is already the de facto official language of the USA.

[pitohui]

51. yes, english is the de facto language of business in the usa

pretending that it isn't is not a kindness to anyone

i'm not a fan of crippling someone by keeping an important piece of information from them, by discouraging people from being educated in english, the language of business in this country, you can keep them at second or third class citizen status VERY effectively

those who speak both spanish and english have a chance at success, those who are "sheltered" from english will continue to be exploited and be used as little more than scabs and slaves

when you were learning spanish and german, did you not notice that spanish or german speakers who insisted in speaking to you in english just made it harder for you to practice your spanish or german? esp. in germany -- while i truly appreciate how highly educated the german people are, i am simply not able to learn if they always switch to english as soon as i open my mouth

if someone is really struggling, you can tell, then switch to spanish, but the default should be english in a gov't office and sometimes you should continue speaking in english, as a courtesy to them, to let them practice and not hurt their feelings because their speech is not yet so good -- it's a judgement call sometimes i would think

[blondie58]

107. yes, I have noticed while traveling, that others liked to speak English to me

although I continued to speak German and Spanish to them. I think that they wanted to practice their language skills with me. They always seemed so pleased and flattered that I would make an attempt at their language. I have always learned the niceties of whatever country I was traveling in, such as thank you, please, along with where is the water closet and the word for beer!

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

53. Other and here is why

There are some things *everyone* should be able to say in English...

My Name is Bob Smith, I live at 123 fake street in Los Angeles, my emergency contact is Sara Smih at 555-555-5555, I am diabetic allergic to penicillin, and my blood type is 'O' negative...

--

There are areas in this nation where dozens of languages are spoken you cant expect police, fire, emt's, doctors, and nurses to speak them all.

As to what people speak in their personal, business, cultural lives I could care less but there should not be an expectation for society to pander to someone with no interest in learning the language.

[Better Believe It]

59. Make Learning 2 Languages An Elementary & H.S. Requirement!

So why do we need and "official government approved" single language? We've never needed one before with tens of millions of immigrants moving here and only knowing their native language. one now? Let me guess. Because tens of millions of "Americans" now speak Spanish and other "foreign" language and this official English is just one part of the anti-immigrant (especially Hispanics) zenophobic hysteria promoted by the right-wing and unfortunately supported by some "liberals" who haven't shred their racist feelings toward those foreigners who have invaded "our English speaking" country!

So here's my proposal.

Let's require everyone in elementary and high school to learn at least two languages. One of them could be English and the other one would be elective. How bout that?

Why that would make us more like Europeans, Asians and others outside of the U.S. who can speak 3, 4 and even more languages!

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

63. So what about languages 3-4-5-6

Seriously? Should an EMT in Flushing have to know Spanish, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Somali, Vietnamese.

Why should there be one language for some things: because then everyone can understand you if you say 'my heart hurts call 911'.

"Let's require everyone in elementary and high school to learn at least two languages. One of them could be English and the other one would be elective. How bout that?"

Yup but if you're Korean lets hope that EMT or fighter fighter coming to help picked that as their elective.. Thats fun, lets play language roulette..

By the way, those europians you want to be like *have an official language*

* 6 countries: German
* 5 countries: French
* 4 countries: Albanian, Italian
* 3 countries: English, Serbian, Turkish, Hungarian.
* 2 countries: Croatian, Dutch, Greek, Romanian, Russian, Swedish,
* 1 country: numerous languages

Most European nations have one official language..

--

I'm all for people learning multiple languages! I rather like the idea of many languages being spoken in the US 'E Pluribus Unum' but I think there is a bare minimum amount of communication that *any* two people should be able to have..

[Better Believe It]

72. How Many?

So which 2, 3 or 4 languages do you think should be required in the schools.

I sure hope you're not going to say just one .... English! Cus Dats wat us mericans speak!

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

77. it should be up to the school district..

What languages and how many they wish to offer...

Id love a district to have Latin, Spanish, Chinese, and French... You cover the top three (non English) languages and offer a language which would help with many others.

But lets say a community like Minneapolis with a huge Somali community; I would think offering Somali would be good so that native born Americans and Somali immigrants can really be more of a community..

But I do think that everyone should be able to dictate certain personal information *in English* at the very least and be conversant as a typical standard.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

55. It should be profanity. The universal language.

One particularly helpful when dealing with bubble wrap, computers, and politicians.

[immoderate]

57. This is a free country (supposedly)

And people can speak whatever language they want.

--IMM

[Behind the Aegis]

58. Sure.

I fail to see how having an 'official' language hurts us as a nation. I don't think there should be laws saying who can speak what in public places, though. If someone chooses to come to this country to live, then they should learn English. I don't think saying that is the least bit xenophobic, anymore so than were I to move to Greece and be required to learn Greek. This is coming from someone who speaks a number of different languages.

A number of universities have struggled with this, as well. International groups would often want to post club meetings, etc. in their native (or second) language. Some universities did not allow anything to be posted which was not in English, others had guidelines to postings such as that. This also extended to public gatherings on campus.

[Wizard777]

61. Other: We don't speak English. We speak American.

American is an esperanto that is formed of many languages. This is one of the results of the Great American melting pot. We have adopted many words from many different languages. Most Americans that go to england and hear real english think they talk funny. If you don't believe that we don't speak english. You can't kiss my ass because that's not english. You can kiss my bum. That's english!

[sam sarrha]

62. when i lived in el paso, you couldnt hardly get a job if you "didnt" speak spanish.. is that fair

[Better Believe It]

70. No Problem

So why didn't you learn Spanish?

Oh .... because you're an American!

Well, guess what .... most "Americans" speak Spanish, not English!

South America, Central America, North America (Mexico & The United States).

[guardian]

129. Stop being pedantic

You know very well that when people in this post say "American" they are referring to residents of the United States only. Geeeez. Grow up!

Trotting out that old crap about residents/countries in South America or Central America is a tiresome red herring to divert the discussion.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

74. yes

Is perfectly ok for a private employer to set those kinds of expectations...

[RB TexLa]

75. Yes, you can not communicate with people what job do you think you should be able to get?

[Better Believe It]

80. One Where You Can Communicate With People?

How bout that?

[RB TexLa]

84. But if half or a third of the population you will be communicating with speak a language

one doesn't speak then they are not qualified for a job that requires communication with the public. How is that not fair?

[totodeinhere]

128. Just like you can't get a job in a predominately English speaking...

area if you don't speak English. Only low paying service jobs such as janitorial or agricultural are available to non English speakers.

[galledgoblin]

64. no way

it's completely pointless, all it does is codify some nasty xenophobia and keep this country static, losing vital diversity and changes that have made it so great.

[Bucky]

67. English IS the language of America. There's no need to make it the *official* language too.

Most people who come to this country have trouble learning the language. Almost none of their children do, however. Trying to legislate people into adapting to a new culture faster, when they're already doing so at a reasonable pace, is just dumb.

[guardian]

130. Ever heard the phrase "Press 1 for English?" n/t

[KamaAina]

71. 'A'ole makemake

"I do not want this."

'Olelo Hawai'i has been an official language in Hawai'i, alongside English, since 1978. We've been a state since 1959. We're even getting our own quarter later this year!



The motto means "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness", though pono could also translate as "balance" or "harmony", either of which, in my opinion, would work better.

The correct answer: There should not be an official language of the United States. Each state ought to decide that for itself. In fact, Pennsylvania once came within a single vote of declaring its sole official language to be German!

edit: punctuation

[pink-o]

73. I really don't see why we would have to make it "Official"

Why would we need some kind of "amendment" or offical proclaimation to make English the language of the US unless it's only to assuage the Xenophobes.

Why instead don't we offer more resources to teach English as a second language to immigrants so they can have more access to learn it? My friend taught ESL and was innundated with students. Like everything else here, people love to blame the victim who's just trying to get along without very many resources.

Anyway, I speak Spanish and some Italian and somehow that doesn't compromise my identity. I just don't get why any American would feel threatened by someone speaking differently than they do.

But what really annoys me is how many Americans travel to Europe or Mexico/Central-South America and expect everyone there to speak English. They don't even bother to learn to say "Good Morning" or "Please" or "Thank you" in the native language; it takes a helluva lotta Chuptzpah to insist that foreigners speak English here.

[Iggo]

76. When I go to court, they speak English.

It don't get more official than that.

[Fleshdancer]

78. I voted no

Two reasons:

1. I really don't think it's worth creating a new law for. Most of us speak English and the people who don't speak English know they should learn in order to make life easier. If they don't want to, that's fine with me too. It's their decision, not mine.

2. One of the reasons I adore this country is our ability to change and adapt when we need to in order to be a competitive player on the global stage. English is obviously the language of choice now, but what if it isn't 200 years from now? Why make a long term commitment when it might not be in the best interest of our great great great grandchildren?

[RedCappedBandit]

79. Why bother?

Why do we need one official language?
What would be the benefit?

[Chovexani]

83. Navajo should be the official language.

[earth mom]

88. Yes because it leads to faster assimilation. nt

[MonkeyFunk]

89. No

it should be Navajo.

Make everybody work for it.

[bigwillq]

91. Why is there a need to have an official language?

:shrug: I don't get it. The majority of the people (their families) I know are immigrants. It's a diverse nation, one that shouldn't have a national language.

[Fahan]

96. Be like quebec....if you can't speak french you don't get the job

Fine to have a bilingual society, unless, in the country of your birth you are discriminated against for not speaking another language. Anyway who says it should be spanish.

[bigwillq]

99. I never said it should be spanish

I am against a national language. It discriminates against foreign persons living in this country. We seem to promote that we are a diverse nation but then we want to impose barriers such as a national language; doesn't make sense to me.

[Fahan]

100. How about international sign language

Now thats the best idea yet....very quiet too and you don't have to listen...you just turn away.

[Fahan]

92. Hell Yes

I wouldn't go and live in none english speaking country and expect them to all to speak english. It would be my duty to learn the language.

[Doctor Cynic]

94. You'd expect the President of the United States to be fluent in the official language...

[Jackpine Radical]

95. What, and make everyone learn a foreign language? Especially the

Anglo Texans.

[onenote]

97. what, exactly, would be the effect, of declaring english the "official" language?

Would it be like declaring the Cardinal the "official" state bird? Or would it have some actual consequences for how people go about their lives? What would those consequences be?

[Fahan]

102. I vote for International sign language

Even the deaf will have a voice.

[JackRiddler]

103. No, but that's not the reason.

I'm not so insecure in the Queen's tongue as to need the prop of law to reassure me.

As for your survey, this country wasn't founded on multiple cultures, so that can't be the reason - although it is multicultural, despite the protests of insecure white supremacists. You should just offer yes and no as the answers. Mine is, No.

People are already forced to learn English here, if they want to do well. Those are simply the reigning conditions, and even with more immigration they won't change - English will remain the lingua franca. English is the de facto world language of business and science, and will remain so long after the American empire goes the way of the British. When Japanese and Chinese meet in a third country, they speak English, and here to placate a bunch of worried hicks we need to make it official? Such a law would serve only to *further* discriminate against those who for whatever reason haven't picked up enough English in their lives. And if communities do arise in the US that get by exclusively on another language: Good for them!

In a further irony, such a law would backfire: it would create hostility in the non-English speaking communities, and advance the very "Balkanization" that the English-only warriors fear.

And here is my chauvinism, if that is what it is: I love New York! I shall now take a stroll and hear the wonder of a dozen tongues spoken on a single block.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

108. Overkill: Most Americans speak nothing but English anyway

:shrug:

[femrap]

111. After going thru

electronic filing with a 'suggested' IRS company where no one speaks english as a first language....! Think about it.

Why did European countries decide to pick a language so they could all communicate? They did pick English...I don't know why. I like French, myself. But someone has to be practical.

All of my ancestors learned english...especially the second generation.

Have we lost our common sense?

[Octafish]

112. Wouldn't that interfere with freedom of speech?

One should be able to say what one want, comprende?

[kevinbgoode]

113. Next they'll be screaming at the hearing-impaired, declaring that

sign language is not officially English, and therefore it cannot be accommodated. Is it really that hard for lazy-ass Americans to join the rest of the world? Almost every educated person in the developed and even the underdeveloped world learns at least a couple of languages. . .yet Americans view themselves as above the rest of the world.

[cynatnite]

114. Oh, hell no!

There are enough people as it is who look down on foreign language. Let's not add to it by declaring one language better than the others. That's how I view something like this. That's not to mention the zenophobic supporters of this insanity.

IMO, schools should require students to learn a second language fluently

[Mz Pip]

116. Seriously, it already is.

English is the language of commerce in the US. If you don't learn English you are pretty mcuh limiting your employment possiblities to unskilled and easily exploited jobs.

I can't imagine why anyone who lives here wouldn't want to learn English of they really wanted to do well.

[guardian]

131. Agreed.

What I can't figure out is why some people want to set up systems that encourage people NOT to learn English and discourage non-English as the primary language.

I personally feel people that want schools and other systems to promote non-English language are racists at their heart. They just want a bunch of landscapers, nannies, and menial labor that will never be able to rise up and compete with them.

[totodeinhere]

117. Everyone knows that in order to make it in this country you have to...

be able to speak English, but I don't see any reason to make it official.

[DrFever]

120. Well said. No need to make it official, but folks should learn it.

There was a time when native children were beaten for speaking their own language. People should be allowed to speak the language they know, but let's face it, it's unreasonable to expect to government offices, especially in small towns to accommodate every language and dialect spoken in this country.
Chahta imanumpa ish anumpola hinla ho?

[Hekate]

121. No. People learn the Common Tongue as fast as they possibly can, but not everyone is skilled at that

It is simply a matter of survival for immigrants to learn the language of their new country as quickly as possible, meanwhile congregating in neighborhoods where they can be comfortable with others who speak the Mother Tongue (whether it be Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, or Yiddish).

Not everyone is good at this. I myself am not. In order to graduate high school, graduate college, and so on I eventually took 4 languages, learning none of them. Of course I never had the total immersion every immigrant gets, but still, I learned that while I am very, very good at some things, I am not good at learning other languages. I have a cousin who is fluent in about ten, including Chinese, but that doesn't help me much. Immigrants have my sympathy, not scorn.

That being said, once a family is settled it is very rare for their children to not learn English -- and their grandchildren are invariably fluent. It is common for the underage children of immigrant parents to be pressed into translator duties for medical and other transactions, which can be both hard on the kids and a grow-up-quick experience.

I think it is inhumane to punish immigrants by refusing to reach out a helping hand, instead just letting them sink or swim on their own. Offering bilingual services and printing various forms in multiple languages hurts no one and eventually helps us all, as far as I'm concerned.

Hekate

[ToeBot]

122. My, my, leave for a few months and this place goes straight to hell.

I'll not miss it much when it's gone, it's gone already.

[mitchtv]

124. Spanish should have staus here

we did, after all, take half of Mexico,and that included the people, I speak Spanish, and sometimes translate for Partner , who doesn't read or write Spanish as it was verboten in the public schools he went to, although he speaks it better than I. I don't think other languages should enjoy special status

[guardian]

132. oooh please not that twisted logic again!

Yeah and before that languages of various American Indians were spoken here. If you go back far enough, the area that comprises modern day Mexico spoke Nahuatl (Aztec language) and Mayan and no Spanish. Are you advocating that Mexico drop Spanish and speak only the indigenous languages?

Speaking of the Spanish, the Moors ruled most of Spain for 800 years. Maybe Arabic should be given "status" in Spain? Before that the Roman Empire ruled Spain. Maybe Latin should be given "status" in Spain?

Since you are such a history buff; why don't you research the etymology of the word "balkanization?"

[totodeinhere]

127. I am surprised at this poll's results.

I would have thought that there would be a different result at a progressive board like this one is.

[baby_mouse]

135. This board isn't particularly progressive. NT

[Alexander]

136. Nope. Tell that to people in the SW who speak Spanish. Or people in Maine who speak French.

Or people in San Francisco and Seattle who speak Mandarin Chinese.

Or, for that matter, the Cubans in Miami.

It won't work.