Should English be the Official Language

[kenmaynard]

The United States does not have an official language, but many here and other places seem very angry by this, and are complaining that the immigrants can't immediately speak English upon arrival. Why should English be the official language? We are not England, we fought a war to get out from English rule. When the founders won they could have set English as the official language, but they didn't. There were many languages being spoken at the time all around the country, but they decided the best idea was no official language.

Countries all over Europe with different languages and culture settled what is now the United States. The Dutch settled Pennsylvania, The English Jamestown, The French in Louisiana, Spain in Texas, New Mexico, and California. Other Countries founded other colonies all over the coast. The Finns, Swedes, Netherlands. Different cultures and languages are our heritage. Not to mention the languages of the various Native tribes who were already here. English became the dominant language of business, and still is. If one is to truly make it one must learn English, It will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

Seems to me that the anti immigrant/English only, are hateful, and lack any understanding of the history of the United States. Many languages have always been here, and have every right to stay here. No to English only.

 

[Ed the Ned]

South Africa has 11 official languages, but the main language used is english. Although we have tv programs in most of the official languages there are english subscripts. This can cause havoc in education systems (what is the main language of the school) We have schools across the country that teach in each language, Exam papers need to be written in all languages. The cost is enormous. In a way I would be thankful that their is one major language in your country as it simplifys things. English is becoming a global economic language which affects the whole world.

 

[Boanerges]

Language is the glue that binds any nation. We all need to be able to communicate and a common language is the first step to understanding is it not?

 

[Blazin Bones]

It may not be the "Official" language of our nation, but the majority of the citizens here speak english as it's primary language. The president is sworn in in english. Governemtn Bills and such are written and recorded in english before they are translated. As boanerges said, the best way to keep the nation functioning at it's peak is to have one language we all speak, and since the majority speak english that would tend to say it needs to be known.

 

[jasoncran]

funny you ask we are currently in a war in afganistan, a country that really not united and it has 26 different languages, i cant remember the many tribes, so how can one unite that country?

jason

 

[kenmaynard]

It may not be the "Official" language of our nation, but the majority of the citizens here speak english as it's primary language. The president is sworn in in english. Governemtn Bills and such are written and recorded in english before they are translated. As boanerges said, the best way to keep the nation functioning at it's peak is to have one language we all speak, and since the majority speak english that would tend to say it needs to be known.

Well if that is true, why didn't the founding fathers see the need to make English the official language? We don't need an official language. The united states is not great because of the English language, but for the fact of many cultures and languages coming together for a common goal. Which is the fleeing of oppression.

 

[whirlwind]

Certainly english should be and is the official language. :crazy

 

[kenmaynard]

Language is the glue that binds any nation. We all need to be able to communicate and a common language is the first step to understanding is it not?

No. Common goals are better. Language is not as important.

 

[whirlwind]

Language is the glue that binds any nation. We all need to be able to communicate and a common language is the first step to understanding is it not?

No. Common goals are better. Language is not as important.

Language and understanding one another is IMPERATIVE!

 

[jasoncran]

should this topic then be discussed in spanish, english, pashto, french and so on, some can only speak one language two at the most, for every culture that is here we make concession i'm not against them speaking their native tounge but out of respect learn english,too,

If i went to france i would french and try their cuisine so that i may learn of them and respect them, is that too much to ask, other countries ask us to concede to them, they do teach english but the native tounge is the dominant one

jason

 

[heather]

Well if that is true, why didn't the founding fathers see the need to make English the official language? We don't need an official language. The united states is not great because of the English language, but for the fact of many cultures and languages coming together for a common goal. Which is the fleeing of oppression.

I don't think that the founding forefathers foresaw people coming from all over the world. I think they may have only really had insight from people coming from European countries, at best. But, who am I to judge?

 

[westtexas]

Certainly english should be and is the official language. :crazy

I agree

 

[Ed the Ned]

No. Common goals are better. Language is not as important

How did God stop man from building the tower of babel? He changed their language to many languages. They had a common goal but because their language was changed they could not carry out their common goal. They seperated not completing their goal.

 

[GojuBrian]

I can't believe this question isn't obvious...painfully obvious.

I changed my kids school this year, know why? Because at his school last year they had two teachers if the primary teacher wasn't bilengual. The teacher had to translate everything she said all day long. How much do oyou think that cut back on learning? That's ridiculous!

The school was nearly 70% hispanic. Do you think that by the time the kids WHO WERE BORN HERE they should have known the language? NO! Because english was used very little if at all in the home. It's just stupid.

 

[handy]

I disagree with several statements in the OP. Especially the first sentence:

The United States does not have an official language, but many here and other places seem very angry by this, and are complaining that the immigrants can't immediately speak English upon arrival.

OK, maybe this is simple hyperbole, but no one, nobody at all expects immigrants from other countries to immediately speak English upon arrival.

There is a problem though with second and third generations of immigrants that still have a need to have schooling, government documents and general day to day language translated into their native tongue. America has been and always will be a nation of immigrants, but historically when non-English speaking immigrants came to this country, they wanted to learn the language and most did so, and most certainly the second generation were English speaking.

The OP mentions the various nations that folks came from. This is true, my husband and I, we have ancestors that came from Holland, Germany, Austria, and Hungary as well as England and Ireland. And in each case, the non-English speaking ancestors learned English. Steve and I have the same personal experience that many Americans have, the great- or great-great-Grandparents who didn't speak much English, but saw to it that their kids learned the language as soon as possible. I know in Steve's mother's home, her Grandparents spoke Hungarian, but insisted that their children and grandchildren speak English. This is the real "history of the United States" and one in which so many of us are so personally experienced with that one can't get by with the lie that we lack understanding of our own family history.

Which brings me to the second statement from the OP that I disagree with:

Seems to me that the anti immigrant/English only, are hateful, and lack any understanding of the history of the United States. Many languages have always been here, and have every right to stay here.

I wish we can stop with the "if-one-doesn't-agree-with-my-view-on-this-issue-one-is-hateful". I've never heard anyone (neo-Nazi's excepted but nobody listens to them) who are "anti-immigrant". Again, this is a nation of immigrants. What folks are resisting, and for very good reasons, is the current trend towards illegal immigration without assimilation. Immigration without assimilation lends itself to a further and further fractured society. And, until one can speak and understand the dominant language of one's nation, one cannot be truly assimilated. Assimilation doesn't mean that one cannot celebrate one's national heritage, heck that has happened all over the States all the time. But, there seems to be a push here in America that immigrants shouldn't learn English or identify themselves as being American.

And, I find it more than a little ironic that one of the main reasons why it's important for immigrants to learn English was mentioned by the writer of the OP, and that is this:

English became the dominant language of business, and still is. If one is to truly make it one must learn English, It will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

EXACTLY!!!!! If an immigrant is to be truly successful in this nation, he or she must learn English. One of the main problems with not learning English is that it limits one's opportunities here. And, when one's opportunities are limited, then one is far more subjected to unemployment and poverty.

There is nothing hateful about being honest with people about what it takes to be successful in this country. There is nothing hateful about wanting immigrants to follow in the same footsteps that all our ancestors tread in uniting themselves to America. What's hateful is this current political climate of branding anyone who disagrees with the real history of immigration (ie immigration with assimilation) as being bigoted.

 

[jasoncran]

my last name being jewish was anglicized so that those immigrants could find work and they did and learned english, very few of my family speak the original russian or polish , 4 genrations later.

jason