Should English be the Official Language of the US?

[kaehele]

Eighty-nine percent of those who visit and respond to the poll at the US English site believe that English should be the official language of the U.S.

On the other hand, this blogger believes the US should continue to recognize multiple languages.

What do you think and why?

[Le Taz Hot]

1. . . .

:popcorn:

[Bonobo]

2. Nope.

Because there is no REASON to have a "official language" at all.

[NeedleCast]

3. 3...2...1...

[sinkingfeeling]

4. No.

[Individualist]

5. No

[NYC Liberal]

6. One wonders why some people are so insecure

that they need things to be made "official."

"Official" religion. "Official" language." Official" this that and the other thing.

I really wish people would stop trying to shove their own choices and beliefs on other people.

[Confusious]

42. That must be pretty much the rest of the world

every other country has at least one offical language.

And nobody does it better then the french, you can be fined for not using it under certain conditions.

[leveymg]

Why would anyone visit US English unless they already agreed with that sentiment?

No surprise that 89 percent agree. :eyes: :think: :boring:

[Blue-Jay]

7. We don't need an "official language".

What would that accomplish anyway?

[Speck Tater]

8. People who do not speak English need to be kept in the dark so they don't take the good jobs.

Discourage making English official or else everybody will see the utility of learning it and we real English speakers will lose our economic advantage. I say let anyone use whatever language they want so we can keep the little brown people in the ghettos and out of the high-paying jobs that rightfully belong to us real English speakers.

:sarcasm:

[SteppingRazor]

9. I can understand other countries having an official language, but not this one.

I hate to sound like I'm endorsing some form of American exceptionalism, but the fact of the matter is, we ARE different than other countries. Far more than the long-established nation-states of the Old World, we are the sum of our many parts, and an official language, to a country such as ours, would be like calling for an official religion. I realize that other countries, to preserve their culture, will institute an official language, and I completely understand. Culture is worth preserving. But we are not those other countries. This is America, our culture is based upon the chaotic mix of its many parts, and so an official language does not preserve our culture, but instead goes against everything our culture is supposed to be.

That said, I realize that, in order to fully integrate, immigrants should learn English, and will really be held back in how successful they can be in this country if they do not. But if they don't, that's their choice, and that's what makes America great.

Finally, as for the 89 percent in the online poll, I'm not surprised that 89 percent of the people who visit a site dedicated to making English our official language would support that view. Are you?

[Hippo_Tron]

24. Couldn't have said it better myself, +1000

[kaehele]

37. thanks

for the substantive post. You make an interesting point that I had not thought of—about the importance of the US reflecting the melting pot via language diversity. Although I don't like "official" anything, I do sometimes wonder how we can be a cohesive country if we do not share a language. Gotta rethink that.

Re visiting the US English site, no question believers go there. But it did present one side of the issue.

[rapturedbyrobots]

63. cohesive?

you do realize that only 150 years ago 1/3 of the land mass of the now united states belonged to mexico and was traditionally spanish speaking. whose going to tell families that have been living on those lands for many generations that their culture and language are now obsolete and backward in the name of cohesion.

[Thothmes]

102. 400 years ago Mexico belonged to the Aztecs.

Who is going to tell families that have been living on those lands for many generations that their ulture and language are not obsolete and backward.

[rapturedbyrobots]

107. nobody

there are many many many many many indigenous communities that still live in mexico...and do not speak spanish. they are allowed to maintain their way of life, and many have fought for and gained near complete autonomy in their regions. maybe next time it would be better to know something about the subject before posting.

[anonymous171]

91. Completely agree. nt

[HippieCowgirl]

10. English and Spanish, and encourage language skills for all immigrants.

I'd love to see free or very low-cost English classes offered either by State entities, or local universities, or community groups.

[pampango]

11. No, but how about an official race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, as long as

we're talking about making things "official" (approved, acceptable, best?). Those are all good categories to divide people up and get them disagreeing with each other, rather than working together to make the US a more progressive society.

[DireStrike]

12. Who gives a shit?

Will the decision affect anything?

If making English the "official" language means public agencies will stop issuing documents in other languages, then I'm against it. Otherwise, it doesn't make any difference at all.

[bdamomma]

13. no

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. we should continue to make americans as dumb as possible

and also as xenophobic as possible

[Heidi]

16. That plan has worked out perfectly so far

for the majority, hasn't it? :will-nothing-ever-change: :cringe:

P.S. :*

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. as the rest of the world learns 2-3 languages we should try to learn half a language

that will really give us the competitive edge we need to succeed in a global economy

[Heidi]

18. For my half a language, I'm gonna go for swear words and vulgar hand gestures.

That should put me on par with my American peers, for sure.

[DireStrike]

22. I want to learn technical jargon and botanical lingo!

If anyone ever wants to discuss any kind of trees, I will be good to go.

[DBoon]

32. botanical lingo should be our official language!

as has been said, a language is a dialect backed up by an army.

The military might of the USA can thus establish botanical lingo as our official language, crushing lesser dialects (like Texan) into submission

[Heidi]

38. That should work out fine, since the majority of Americans

have the stereotypical swear words and vulgar gestures covered across a wide spectrum of "foreign" languages! :hi:

[Heidi]

15. I live in a country with FOUR official languages. Learning a second or third language is a GOOD

thing. And just so you know, my personal experience of learning additional languages has boosted my confidence, increased my marketability and broadened my understanding of the rest of the world. I wish I'd been encouraged (or even forced) as an American growing up to demonstrate proficiency in at least one language other than English. As an American, I think it would make us better citizens if we were able to communicate with Americans whose first language was something other than English. :hi:

[zippy890]

19. no. there's no reason to make it 'official'

[SoCalDem]

20. this blogger/ that blogger/ some people/ those people

potato-potahto/ tomato/tomahto

:)

[MerryBlooms]

21. No

The righticons have been trying to diminish our multicultural roots for several years now. An 'official' language would mean they had won. I find the concept insulting and in direct conflict with one of the cornerstones of our nation.

[rucky]

23. What's the point?

What would change if we made it official?

I only see this as a measure to empower xenophobes and bigots. "We speak english around here!"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. If usage is the primary factor, then profanity should be America's first language.

It's certainly indispensable when dealing with politicians, bubble-wrap, and computers.

[TheKentuckian]

26. I don't care but it should be a prereq. for any legal immigration or work visa

I strongly believe in encouraging a common language as we have no other common connection. I don't care about it being specifically English but I feel we need ties other than sharing a landmass.

[bigwillq]

27. No.

Why do we need an official language? :shrug:

[supernova]

28. Declaration of Independence in German

Official English would not be traditional to this country.

We have a long history of multiple languages and moving between them gracefully.

First of all, there are all the Native American languages. There is a sad history there of denying N.A.s the abiility to learn and pass on their languages to their younger generations. We need to keep making sure they have the opportunity to do so.

We don't have one colonizing language, we have many: English, German, Dutch, French. Whose language would take preference?

You do know that the Declaration of Independence was printed in German at the time, right? The Founding Fathers thought it was so important a document, they wanted to make sure the biggest alternative language group in the colonies would still understand.

[FarCenter]

29. No, we'd rather speak American

[ddeclue]

30. NO - we are NOT England we are America - ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

That's the basis of our nation - NOT that we speak a particular language or belong to a particular culture.

[Confusious]

50. Well, if we don't all speak the same language

How do we tell them about "all men are created equal"

What holds a country together that can't communicate ideas?

[EFerrari]

51. We've never all spoken the same language.

And people seem to have communicated ideas pretty well for the last 200+ years.

[Adsos Letter]

57. True be that! During our Civil War there was a regiment composed primarily of German immigrants...

The officers spoke German, and English well enough, but most of the soldiery were only fluent in German.

[Confusious]

58. The past 300 years

North Americans have spoken English. And Immigrants who come to these shores have learned English.

To say we've never all spoken the same language is true, on a planetary scale, but it doesn't work for a country. Look at Canada and Quebec and the problems they have had.

How many languages should we have? should people be allowed to communicate in whatever language they want? How would that work, if you were say, building a bridge, and working through and interpreter, because one person spoke french and the other Chinese? Is the interpreter and engineer also? otherwise your going to add to the problems.

[EFerrari]

61. Immigrants who came to these shores brought English.

And Spanish and French and German and Italian and Portuguese and Mandarin and so on.

It's very difficult to legislate language which has a life of its own irrespective of officialdom.

[Confusious]

66. Yes, and they all learned english

Or a super majority of them did, so that we now all speak English on these boards and in this country.

People also seem to confuse "Official" and wanting everyone to speak English all the time.

Gov'ment business, such as schools, gov'ment functions, should be carried out in English.

Talking to your family, be Hispanic and speak Mandarin Chinese for all I care.

[EFerrari]

72. Multilingualism in schools is very useful in teaching children

how grammar works. It also helps them develop a good sense of self and community in contrast to others and in relation to others. My first language is Spanish and knowing that language helped me immeasurably as a student, right up to doctoral English studies. Forcing English only on our schools is an impoverishment, not the other way around.

[Confusious]

83. I never said force english only in our schools

did I. Maybe I didn't make myself very clear.

I said English should be the "Offical" language. Taught in schools, used at business functions ( If your in the states ), and government functions. As far as other languages, they should be taught too.

I hope one day to take either Japanese or Chinese ( They're our new overlords, so I should know the language ) after I finish German.

[EFerrari]

88. "Gov'ment business, such as schools, gov'ment functions, should be carried out in English".

And English is taught in schools and is used at business and government functions.

[Confusious]

96. Yes, so whats wrong with making it offical?....

Why don't you want to get married? commitment issues? :)

[EFerrari]

97. I have a prior engagement with free speech.

:)

[Confusious]

100. I have no problem with someone speaking their mind

Just as long as the government official does it in English.

The guy on the street corner in Dallas, Texas can scream in Hindi all he wants also. I don;t think very many people will understand him though.

[ddeclue]

79. NO THEY HAVEN'T - you don't get to make up your own facts.

[Confusious]

86. What facts am I making up?

My family came here from england in 1620. 2009-1620= 389 years, OK, 400 years

Canada and Quebec were at each others throat for a while over the rights of the french-speaking minority. every 20 years or so, they threaten to leave the country.

[ddeclue]

78. Specious argument. The IDEA is what holds our nation together NOT the language.

As Lincoln said:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Only an ignorant ass would argue that it is impossible to translate the idea into another language.

If you don't like it move to England.

:eyes:

[Confusious]

87. And if you don't read it in the original english

It doesn't have quite the same impact. Thats what I hear about other things written in other languages.

How do you create a national identity without at least one thing people can own of that country?

If you look at history, language is also national identity. French ( Hmm spell check doesn't like the french, every other country demands that it be capitalized ), German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Hindu.

How many languages should we have?


Should people be allowed to communicate in whatever language they want? How would that work, if you were say, building a bridge, and working through and interpreter, because one person spoke french and the other Chinese? Is the interpreter and engineer also? otherwise your going to add to the problems.

[EFerrari]

89. Why do you need to create a national identity?

[Confusious]

93. Uhhh, so we can be a country

If you like it or don't, we have a national identity. We belong to a group, and that group calls itself the United States. "United" is the key word, because we have a national identity.

The french have an identity, the English, the Chinese.


There's alot of historical animosity between these groups, and when they come here, they can drop them, and be Americans. Otherwise, we just go back to being English, German, Russian, etc, and the things that go along with them.

[EFerrari]

95. You have it backward.

A national identity develops out of who the people are, not who you think they should be.

[Confusious]

98. A national identity develops out

Of things like culture and language. You don't start with a national identity.

Germany is a good example. Italy also.

[EFerrari]

101. That's right. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. Should white be the official skin color?

Most people are white. Wouldn't everything be a lot easier if we had one standardized skin color?

[rd_kent]

68. Do you want it to be?

[ddeclue]

80. ROFL - this thread has Pat Buchanan written all over it.

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

33. That US English Foundation was founded by S I Hayakawa

that famous champion of Free Speech.

[ddeclue]

34. IBTL... we are under freeper wing nut attack today..

[Shagbark Hickory]

35. What's it going to cost to make it the official language and what's the benefit of doing so?

I don't have enough information to make an informed decision.

[Orsino]

36. What is it that you need that isn't already in English?

Or were you hoping to exclude somebody in particular?

[Iggo]

39. No.

[laststeamtrain]

40. i dont no.

[Confusious]

41. yes.........

1. Pretty much every country has an official language.
2. Since we are and nation of immigrants, we need something to bind us together, and that is language.

[Adsos Letter]

59. I thought it was a commitment to the principles of the Declaration of Independence...

and the laws laid out in the Constitution. Seems like those should be our binding elements.

[Confusious]

62. Yes, but we need to be able to communicate..........

to pass those ideas along.

[Iggo]

106. We're communicating just fine.

[invictus]

76. +1

[Echo In Light]

43. Nada

[XemaSab]

44. As my Spanish teacher put it on Tuesday:

"The fact that they're proposing English as the official language in California makes me think they're afraid that English is no longer the unofficial language."

[RedCappedBandit]

45. No.

1) It would serve no purpose. No necesitamos una lengua oficial. <-Hey look, are people is learning.
2) We should be encouraging our children to learn more about other cultures, not less. My peers are largely a bunch of ignorant simple minded fools who don't know anything about anything outside of a 20 mile radius of their home town.
3) Your silly little poll is intellectually dishonest and everybody here can see through you.
4) English is an ugly language.
5) I thoroughly enjoy disagreeing with racist idiots who look down on anyone darker than them.

[Confusious]

46. Maybe on number 4

But's that's because it was created by peasants, for peasants. When everyone else spoke French in the king's court, the peasants were speaking English.

[EFerrari]

53. English is ugly because it was created by peasants?

:wtf:

Maybe I need more coffee or something. Or a drink. :)


But that, which most doth take my Muse, and mee,
Is a pure cup of rich Canary-wine,
Which is the Mermaids, now, but shall be mine :
Of which had HORACE, or ANACREON tasted,
Their lives, as doe their lines, till now had lasted.

[Confusious]

55. I'm just assuming why he said it was ugly

It's a mixture of German, Dutch, viking, french, latin and a little of everything else thrown in, which makes for a mess of rules and spellings.

physics, fysiks.

[EFerrari]

56. Oh, I see. Yeah -- it's like stone soup, isn't it?

That's right. It's not round and beautiful like the romance languages but it sure does polish up nicely.

That Time Of Year Thou Mayst In Me Behold
William Shakespeare

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the deathbed whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

[Confusious]

60. Yes, a little like stone soup, but it does have it's hidden bonuses

Like puns, rhymes, double-meanings, and a 1 million word vocabulary.

[kaehele]

54. ugh

1. I did not post a poll.

2. I am offended at your assumption that I am a "racist idiot."

3. I am disappointed that so many at DU choose to mock rather than ignore.

cherish your professional liberalism, guys. But liberals who like to weigh all sides and actually think rather than repeat slogans will not long want your company. What makes you think that demeaning discourse and playing Glen Beck in JFK's suit makes you any more special than the average teabagger. But keep at the puerile rampages and soon no one will hazard a comment that does not come out of your talking points.

If this approach to the world represents todays liberals, I am damn glad I am 90 years old and still remember Adlai Stevenson.

[RedCappedBandit]

64. Uhh..

1) Your OP referred specifically to a poll.

2) I did not call *you* a racist idiot, I said I like disagreeing with them. Why so defensive? I apologize for offending you.

3) I offered valid reasoning in my post. I can throw in some harmless mocking on the side if I wish.

[kaehele]

69. you can do whatever you like n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

47. "Official?" I dunno about that. But I do appreciate being able to read signs when I travel around. I

think that's about as "official" as I need. And as long as there are signs which also cater to the other major languages spoken in the USA I think most people will be able to get around all right.

[closeupready]

48. There should be no official language of the US.

That's what I think.

[RoadRage]

71. +1

I agree with you. Let people & states decide how they want to post signage, etc.. things in Spanish may be a neccesity in Texas, and not needed in North Dakota. Make things based on regional need... duh!

[closeupready]

73. Right.

That makes lots more sense than an official language.

[Confusious]

81. That makes no sense whatsoever

So Minnesota can post signs in Swedish, or whichever Nordic countries they hail from, instead of English, if they hail from there. The rest of us should just get along

-1 for no sense

[juno jones]

49. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[TransitJohn]

52. No, but all public schools

should teach conversational literacy in Spanish. It's good to be able to talk to others.

[RedCappedBandit]

65. I agree

Our children should be taught at least some alternative language, if not specifically Spanish, much earlier in their development than they are currently.

[rd_kent]

67. No need for an "official" language, but everyone should be able to speak English.

It IS the language of business, after all. Not speaking English is an obstacle to personal progress....

[mmonk]

70. I think continuing with Jabberwocky is just fine.

[invictus]

74. YES!

How else will the many races, ethnic groups, and nationalities in this country be able to speak to each other?

[EFerrari]

90. How have we done it since 1776?

:)

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hekate]

77. Whatever for? Everything is in English by default--translations of public stuff are an accomodation

... that helps many and hurts no one. I have never understood how posting bilingual (or even multilingual) signs on the doors of the County buildings or providing driver's tests in other languages could possibly hurt anyone who is a native English speaker.

What the hell is wrong with people that they think this somehow takes something away from them? I think that helping non-English-speaking residents shows we are a big country with a big heart.

Hekate

[Mari333]

82. I think everyone should be FORCED to speak Middle English

[EFerrari]

92. But then there will be a run on The Farmer's Daughter videos.

Hit your NetFlix wishlist NOW.

[mmonk]

104. Me too. My last name on the tax scrolls in Sussex was Monkel.

[DesertRat]

84. No. We don't need an official language.

[JackDragna]

85. I say, we put all the languages in a lotto machine..

..and pick one. Man! I hope it's Esperanto!

[Libertas1776]

99. Jes, Jes, Mi konsentas Esperanton

[NMMNG]

94. What do I think?

Tutto il " Only" inglese; i fautori possono andare orina su una corda.

Todo el " Only" inglés; los autores pueden ir piss encima de una cuerda.

Tout le " ; Only" anglais ; les partisans peuvent aller pisse vers le haut d'une corde.

Полностью " Английское Only" пропоненты могут пойти piss вверх по веревочке.

Al " Engelse Only" de verdedigers kunnen piss stijgen een kabel.


And I say that as a quintessential American.

[Jazzgirl]

103. Just....

no.

[KamaAina]

105. Hell no! English should be the *offical* language of America!

:dunce: :dunce: :dunce:

[Bluebear]

108. What do you need that is not in English already?

[proteus_lives]

109. I don't think it's needed.

I think if you live in the US you should learn to speak English.

[Jkid]

110. If English should be made the official langauge of the United States.

Then Spanish, German, Chinese, French, and Vietnamese should be also official languages of the federal government.

[Merchant Marine]

111. Well, English is the official language of the seas

Though most of the foreign ships you run into only seem to understand "OK" and "Yes".

We keep a wide berth of those guys.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

112. Once Again, I'm All About Compromise

You want English to be the "Official Language" of the United States? Fine, you can have that. But here's what you're going to give ME in return. English will be the Official Language, but now we get to punish people who don't use the English language properly. That means every Freeper who uses the word "your" when it should be "you're" (ANY improper use of contractions will do, actually), or who has no idea what the difference between "to" and "too" are, or (and this is a big pet peeve of mine) who doesn't know when to use the word "less" and when to use "fewer," etc., etc., etc., gets a penalty imposed on him/her. Then I'm going to go after every internet dweeb who types "UR" instead of "your" or "you are" (that one bugs the shit out of me too). And watch out, because people who can't spell are next. And then those who have no idea what punctuation is, let alone the proper way to use it. And then the co-offenses of TYPING IN ALL CAPS, and its sister offense, typing using no caps whatsoever (both equally annoying). Those jails are going to be filling up awfully quickly.

If you want to play the American Superiority card with this little "English as the Official Language" power play, then you're going to be FORCED to actually SPEAK English, not "'Murrican, ding dong dangit."

Do we have a deal?

[Iggo]

113. "ding dong dangit"

heer heer