English as "an official language"

[New Dawn]

I often hear people demanding that English be made an "official language." That is, having it be officially recognized as the "only correct language" by the government. Some of the even more extreme elements want to ban the use of other languages in public.

Besides being anti-democratic, I find something quite hypocritical about their views. Individuals who classify themselves as 'ethnically English' only make up around 10% of the population. That means that for most 'white people', English is not even the language of their ethnic background.

If anyone here supports the idea of making English "an official language", I'd like to hear why. And do you actually have English ancestry? Basically, I think it is very hypocritical to hear people who are not even ethnically English wanting to force everyone else to speak that language.

BTW, I'm not ethnically English so the language has no special meaning to me, other then that I was raised to speak it. I think public schools should teach all students at least two languages. They also need to begin teaching these classes at an early age too (like 5-8 years old) and not in the middle of high school as a last minute preparation for college.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Methinks this topic is most diverting

though oft I wonder if one can fix the meaning of words thusly.

[gateley]

2. I'm ethnically English, but that doesn't influence my opinion.

And I don't really think it's all that pertinent.

What I DO feel is that if someone moves to another country and the language of that country is different than mine, I would learn that language.

For a while I was determined to move to Italy, and I began learning Italian. If I'm going to THEIR country, I should speak THEIR language.

I don't think that's unreasonable.

And I heartily agree with your suggestion that students learn at least two languages -- and your age group target is right on. I know a guy who taught languages, and he told me that after (I think) the age of about 5, we have difficulty with the pronunciation of some sounds that we aren't familiar with. Which is why there are accents, I guess.

[Dukkha]

3. there the same people to travel to other countries

and get upset that the people don't speak English to them.

some official languages:
Czechoslovakia: Czech, Slovak, Rusyn, Polish.
Switzerland: German, French, Italian, Romansh

Amurkins don't like having their lack of intellect exposed

[usaftmo]

4. We don't speak "English" in the States;

we speak American. English is spoken in England.

It doesn't offend me to hear someone speaking a language I don't understand; however the insecure part of me worries that those speaking a different language are saying something bad about me.

I can (somewhat) manage in: Japanese, Tagalog, Spanish, Korean, and Italian.

Making "English" the official language in the U.S. smells similar to xenophobia. At work I frequently get emails saying "if you don't speak English or are here illegally, then go back where you came from".

Well...hmmm...I have no idea if my ancestors had the proper documentation/authorization when they left Germany...so they might have been here illegally...does that mean I need to pack my bags and leave now?

:eyes:

[annabanana]

5. Wedge issue.

designed to provoke faux outrage & encourage xenophobia

[WLKjr]

6. English should be the primary language for all printed materials

The Government shouldn't have to print tax forms in other languages, they are already too difficult to understand!

America's melting pot isn't really a melting pot anymore if people do not assimilate langauge enough to understand it and converse with others, I and everyone else should care less what nationality they are, and whether or not they speak english in public or not. The problem I have is people demanding everything be made availible in other langauges all the time. It really irks me when I call some places and the first option is spanish (not picking on spanish speaking peoples) for a company based in the states.......


We all have a common goal, have common dreams, most of us have common work ethics, why not speak a common langauge?


Officical Language is a bad term, it should be referred to as "The Common Language Standard". Teach multiple languages in schools to younger children but make them understand that English is the standard and they need to be proficient in it becuase official print material, many businesses, and all government agencies use this langauge. Why fight about it anymore past that? There are much more important things to deal with, like getting government spending under control and eliminating the leaks, I am sick of working hard to pay for stupid shit my congress critters decide to spend on. That's for another rant/post though.

[Solon]

7. The problem is the gross oversimplification of the argument...

The goal should be to HELP recent immigrants learn the language, learn a trade/get a degree and get a job here. Making English the "Official Language" may actually hinder this goal, not help it. Some states are official bi-lingual, with either native languages, French, or Spanish, in addition to English, a federal "official language" law could override their own laws. In addition, if no language options or availability of translators is available for understanding proper government procedures or forms, it would hinder many immigrants from getting the proper paperwork for employment, driver's licenses, etc.

Instead of throwing up roadblocks that stand in the way of immigrants becoming citizens of this nation, we should instead give them a leg up. Increase funding of ESL classes for adults and children, hire more ESL teachers, allow for flexible scheduling of classes, throughout all 24 hours of the day, for people who work jobs that aren't 9 to 5, etc. This would have more of an effect than passing a law that will do none of these things. Its not necessary anyways.

[janx]

8. My mother was in this camp before she died,

and some used to make fun of her for it--xenophobia, etc.--but she wasn't stupid, and she wasn't a bigot. Her take on the situation was that (as in your P.S.) children should be educated early in at least one language other than their native one, but that the U.S. needed at least one major language to function as a country and as a culture. As I've aged, I've tended to agree with her.

So it has little to do with who you perceive you are (or would like to be), and more to do with the practical functioning of language.

I'm a bit biased when it comes to this since I teach college English. The U.S. American English language is the most diverse compilation of so very many languages, and it continues to evolve. The vocabulary alone in American English puts many other languages to shame, but it doesn't mean to...that's just the way things happen as more and more people come here.

Ethnicity, stripes, and spots don't matter so much when you have a common language, no matter where that language comes from, and I think that's what my mother was trying to tell me. The variations of the language should be rich and diverse, and the languages that influence it should be embraced, spoken, and studied, but we should have one common language in the midst of this that we can hold on to and watch evolve. Her concern with this was less political and more practical and lingual.