msn.com has an article up right now that got me thinking about it. It brings up the fact that there have been "Pro-English" movements coming around more and more recently, so I figured I'd pose the question here. Should the US make English as the official language?

 

edit: Here's the article

Edited June 15, 200916 yr by ChiSox_Sonix

oh this will be a fun debate

Please don't take this as me being snarky or anything because it's an honest question - what would the point of it be? We've never had an "official" anything for our whole existence. I can't think of any reasons outside of nationalism.

Please don't take this as me being snarky or anything because it's an honest question - what would the point of it be? We've never had an "official" anything for our whole existence. I can't think of any reasons outside of nationalism.

Practicality and efficiency. Anything government or official being in just one language makes government cheaper to run, and it encourages people to have one language they all know so that business can be conducted in a reasonable fashion.

 

The only danger I see with it is, make sure it doesn't restrict someone's ability to continue speaking or knowing other languages. It should only serve to say, this is the language that government business will be conducted in domestically - if you don't know it, it is at your own peril.

 

would this have an effect on native americans, eskimos or hawaian islanders. don't we have special arrangement with these true americans about languages and laws.

Please don't take this as me being snarky or anything because it's an honest question - what would the point of it be? We've never had an "official" anything for our whole existence. I can't think of any reasons outside of nationalism.

 

A significant majority of countries around the world have an official language. It's fairly standard, so it's not as if this is a novel concept.

 

Personally, i'm just not thrilled with the fact that people here can vote and take citizenship tests in other languages. There are kids in public schools who don't know a word of English. It just puts a burden on the teachers. I know when we moved to Germany we all made an effort to learn the language. I was put in an English speaking international school but we still tried to learn. It just bothers me that more and more people are coming to this country and flat out refusing to integrate themselves at all into the country. Keeping your culture, kanguage, values, it's all fine and should be encouraged, but I personally would like it if we adopted English as our official language. If you want to become a citizen or vote, you should have to do so in our language etc...

Practicality and efficiency. Anything government or official being in just one language makes government cheaper to run, and it encourages people to have one language they all know so that business can be conducted in a reasonable fashion.

 

The only danger I see with it is, make sure it doesn't restrict someone's ability to continue speaking or knowing other languages. It should only serve to say, this is the language that government business will be conducted in domestically - if you don't know it, it is at your own peril.

It kind of already is that way. You have to learn English to be in the military for example.

 

That said, I have no issues with making illegal immigrants learn basic English as part of a path to legal citizenship.

would this have an effect on native americans, eskimos or hawaian islanders. don't we have special arrangement with these true americans about languages and laws.

 

Aren't Indian reservations considered and treated as sovereign and independent territories?

would this have an effect on native americans, eskimos or hawaian islanders. don't we have special arrangement with these true americans about languages and laws.

They basically have to speak English to do anything outside their tribe anyway because essentially NO one speaks their languages. Sometimes they don't even speak their native languages anymore, many of those languages are gone. And since none of them had a written component originally (a few, like Cherokee, developed a written version to deal with Europeans), they are well and truly extinct.

 

Aren't Indian reservations considered and treated as sovereign and independent territories?

Sort of.

 

I wrote a 30 page paper on the Dawes Act, the reservation system and microfederalism. Its convoluted to say the least. But they are independent in that they are not controlled by states or localities - they fall under federal jurisdiction, and are subject to some laws and rules specific to them.

 

Pretty much everybody speaks English to begin with, why not?

 

It will also help make illegal immigrants more useful when they start working.

Practicality and efficiency. Anything government or official being in just one language makes government cheaper to run, and it encourages people to have one language they all know so that business can be conducted in a reasonable fashion.

 

The only danger I see with it is, make sure it doesn't restrict someone's ability to continue speaking or knowing other languages. It should only serve to say, this is the language that government business will be conducted in domestically - if you don't know it, it is at your own peril.

Do modern, westernized countries that have an official language not provide official government documents in multiple languages? That seems impractical on its own unless their borders are closed to tourists.

They basically have to speak English to do anything outside their tribe anyway because essentially NO one speaks their languages. Sometimes they don't even speak their native languages anymore, many of those languages are gone. And since none of them had a written component originally (a few, like Cherokee, developed a written version to deal with Europeans), they are well and truly extinct.

the big move in linguistics now is to try and undo the damage that we had done to these languages. There is a strong preservation and resurrection program for native languages that is having moderate success.

the big move in linguistics now is to try and undo the damage that we had done to these languages. There is a strong preservation and resurrection program for native languages that is having moderate success.

Good. Its too bad so many of them are completely gone now, with no way to get it back, but hoepfully this will help us document the ones that are left.

 

I voted no.

 

I dont need my time or money wasted with this type of stuff.

I voted no.

 

I dont need my time or money wasted with this type of stuff.

You'd rather it was wasted on providing multiple language support to people who move here and won't learn the language?

 

Its really a matter of where the cost and time should lie. I feel it should lie with the people who move here for a new life. They can choose their path, but they shouldn't expect the government to cater to them if they don't figure it out.

 

Now, there are exceptions. Obviously places like airports and other gateways require some guidance in other languages, for example.

 

Im just not sure where all of this "multiple language support" is coming from.

 

Most official documents are written in English. The Illinois Compiled Statutes are in English, the Chicago Municipal Code is in English, the United States constitution is in English.

 

I am unaware of any law that requires documents to be translated into multiple languages.

 

If they are translating documents, (imo) its because of necessity not any requirement.

 

Also I dont believe anyone should be "required" to learn anything. If they dont want to speak English, fine with me. You just wont be able to understand a bunch of stuff, but that is your loss not mine.

How about the fact that the US is already behind on knowing multiple languages? People who grow up in other countries know many languages and HAVE to take English as well as their native language.

 

Here's the thing...luckily most of Canada speaks English first. But the majority of our neighbors to the South speak Spanish. I think it behooves this country to mandate all kids to learn Spanish as it is going to be increasingly useful. The goal being to help integrate new immigrants, mostly from these countries, but also helps our kids in learning other languages like French and Italian. AND, it might help kids be more interested in learning MORE languages.

 

So, to answer the question, if English IS mandated as the official language (which it shouldn't because that goes against what the US is all about), then Spanish should be a sub-official language, or something like that.

You'd rather it was wasted on providing multiple language support to people who move here and won't learn the language?

And you really think any of that will change just because English gets a shiny pin attached to its sash saying "OFFICIAL"?

And you really think any of that will change just because English gets a shiny pin attached to its sash saying "OFFICIAL"?

By itself? No. Has to be a series of policies.

 

So what's the next step?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please tell me it's outlawing reggaeton.

If you decided to move to Paris would you only want to learn French if they declared it the official language?

 

I don't see how something like this will determine whether you decide to learn the predominant language of a country.

I voted no. Who cares what language other legal citizens speak if it makes them comfortable?

If you decided to move to Paris would you only want to learn French if they declared it the official language?

 

I don't see how something like this will determine whether you decide to learn the predominant language of a country.

We agree on something. Is it cold in the flamethrower today?