The official language of the USA

[Atonement]

As of now, the USA has no official language. English is the main language for 80% of the USA. Spanish for about 10%. Most of the states have made their own official language laws and some refuse to, while others are bilingual states.

Now, what are your thought? Do you think that English should be the official and sole language? Are you open to teaching, learning, and allowing Spanish communities to thrive without English? What are your thoughts?

[Ripplemagne]

I find it very unnerving that they teach second languages in school as mandatory. It's cool if you want to learn a second language, but it's obnoxious that they make it obligatory. So, no, I'm not welcome to the idea of the United States being a bilingual country.

Whether it's monolingual or not won't stop anyone from learning another language, so I don't see why my nieces have to get confused communicating with people because of the Spanglish they teach on Dora the Explorer or why I have to learn Spanish when I'm trying to learn Hebrew, Japanese and Italian on my own already.

[Resinflux]

Well this blows my go back to mexico until you learn english speech..

[CuriousDestruction]

i can't answer this. which is weird cuz i feel i should be able to. on one hand, this nation was founded on british immigrants. but it was built by pretty much everyone else. i think america is okay as it is IN THIS RESPECT ALONE.

[Cynic]

The thought of a bilingual America is certainly interesting... I think it would help our image, as some other nations sometimes view us as supremacists, because we are such a powerful force in the world. Although it might require a little extra work on our part, opening up a new communication venue might to our benefit.

[Giles]

I think they should just accept it's English and get over it.

[Atonement]

I'm all for making it easier with more diverse culture and language.

I believe the reason for secondary languages are justified due to people are much more wanted if they are bilingual and the school wants to help you. Also, it makes you more worldly. Also, why should we learn Science and not a second language? IF you aren't going to be a scientist, why learn science? If you aren't going to speak Spanish, why learn Spanish? Its the same in my eyes. Its giving the oppurtunity and exposure to everyone possible.

As for America, I don't think there should be an official language but rather a movement to diversify the USA.

[INFERNO]

English is the universal language throughout most of the world so it has to be taught to have any reasonable chance of meaningful communication. Learning a second language is beneficial as it allows for more diverse communication and to understand the culture of that language, and hopefully to be more open to other cultures. What that second language should be I'm unsure on. I think it should be based on studies of what is the most prominent group in America. So suppose (although this isn't true) that there was an enormous population of French-speaking people, then learn that language. Whatever that population is for America I'm not sure on, I'm guessing it's Spanish as that's what is taught.

[Kahn]

We have no official language because honestly America is the mixing pot of the world. In any other country there will be 90% of one ethnicity. Now, in America we have everything ranging from African, to Italian. It's odd to think about.

When you think of American music do you think of the rapper raping about bros and hos? Of course. Rapping is one of the largest music industries in the business. Now, when you think of America what do you think of? I think of the gangsta's or whatever the fuck you call them, down in downtown New York City.

What I'm getting at is, the reason we have no official language is because of the many races and ancestries we have we don't really need it. Yes the majority speaks English but many of them know a second language anyways.

[ltimm]

The only way, I think, that a second language should he taught mandatorily is if the Spanish community grows to encompass more or our population and gets invovled in more national affairs. However, Spanish is probably going to be the only other major language in the USA. Personally, I couldn't care less what language you speak as long as we can share some type on nonverbal communication( I.e sign language, body language or even pictionary!).

[JackOfClubs]

Based on the fact that 80% of America speaks English, I think that it could become the official language.

[Atonement]

Based on the fact that 80% of America speaks English, I think that it could become the official language.

In Canada, 70% speak English, why should they be bilingual?


My point, is where is the cut off of when a language has to be official?

What could be gained by it being official?

What could be lost by it not being official? I mean, if most already speak it, why would it be necessary to declare a national language?

[Bluearmy]

The United States should do its best to remain a multicultural society.

[scuba steve]

you don't see the likes of Japan or Spain claiming to bilingual for the benefit of foreigners so i don't see why the U.S should. it's the same with Gaelic being taught manditory in schools accross the Republic of Ireland. it just causes complications the country is majoritaly English so it's an English speaking nation.
Italy it's a majorly Italion speaking country, so it only makes sense to label it an Italian speaking nation.

[Camazotz]

English is the United States' unofficial language. There's no need to establish an official language because the United States is supposed to appear culturally diverse, and doing so would make us seem like we're a country set in our ways instead of open towards other alternatives.

[beedubs]

my opinion is that if you move to america, learn english. im not going to learn another language to talk to other people coming here. if i mover to, lets say, italy. i wouldnt expect them to learn english just to talk to me. i would learn italian. it bothers me when voting time comes and the signes say "vote aqui" (or something like that). if you dont know how to read "Vote Here" you shouldnt be voting. thats just how i feel. im keeping my language.

[Iron Man]

Taking into effect that the majority of people in this country speak English, along with the fact that we are one of the only countries without an official language, I think that we should change to English. It is too difficult to accomodate alternate languages for the many of the illegals living in OUR country.

[Evermore]

Bilingual but not spanish french!! Like canada!!

[Commander Thor]

I think we're fine as it is, having no official language that is.
It's served us fine ever since we were established as a country, why change it?

[Tiberius]

I think we should stop thinking about our world image and look to ourselves. Countries have one official language for a reason; to unify the people. The very word "diversity" means disunity, why would you want to promote that? Say 50% of the people speak English and 50% speak Spanish as their first language, there's going to be serious conflict. The country will be split apart at it's very foundation if that happens. Take the former country of Czechoslovakia, they had 2 official languages. One was spoken in the Western portion of the Country and the other was spoken in the East. It literally tore the country apart. In my opinion, English, as the dominant language of our Nations history and current events, should be the official and only language recognized in the U.S.

I don't mind schools teaching second languages, but it should be a choice and not mandatory.

[quartermaster]

Here is an ingenious idea, how about the United States continues to not have an official language; if people want to own stores with entirely Chinese writing, that should be their prerogative, if a community of individuals wish to "thrive" with Spanish (whatever that exactly means) that should be their prerogative. How about we stop trying to force things on other people under the pretense of tradition, efficiency or most egregiously, convenience. There should be no official language in the United Sates, people should be able to do as they please and live in this country without knowing a "lick" of English; it probably won't get them too far outside of their communities, but it should not be our place to force them to learn English.

Interestingly enough, in 1795 Congress considered making it so that federal laws were printed in both English and German (as there was a sizable population of German-Americans); it is the very reasons of multiculturalism, localsim and varied languages, amongst others, that they never created an official language. It should be a state and/or local issue amongst citizens, deciding which languages will be used in the printing of laws and documents, but again, there should not be an official language enforced on anyone or any community or people. In the early United States, New Englanders (well, most at least) would not have dreamt of forcing an official language on the German communities in Pennsylvania, as it was understood that language was a regional, local and even inter-family matter.

That said, as long as English is the dominant language of the state or region, English should be the language of instruction in public schools, however, that is a state and local issue and not a federal one (so when I say should, I mean what I deem prudent, it does not mean that I advocate the application of force in that matter). English being the de facto official language works and is acceptable, but English being the de jure official language allows for all forms of precedent; precedent can mean coercion and disenfranchisement. Again, any pretense of having an official language is absurd as it advances efficiency over freedom.

[Bougainvillea]

We have teachers here who won't let us speak spanish because they don't understand it.

If you live in america who's language is mainly english, then I think you really need to be able to understand english.

What if something happens, and there's no one around who speaks finnish or zulu. I don't mean to sound like a redneck saying "CHING CHANG CHONG I cain't undurrstannd u!"
I just saying.

If we moved to Prague, don't you think it'd be necessary to learn the Czech language? Especially seeing that about 95% of the population there speaks it?

[check it]

1. America will never set an official language
- no need
- the population that can't speak English will never have a large effect in a major election
- America is the melting pot... so if they set an official language, it wouldn't be open to people of all origins
- we should be welcoming imigrants (our nation was founded by them)
2. it is ok if people don't speak English
- normally, they can still find a way to communicate with those whom do not speak their native language
3. America should make it mandatory that kids should learn AT LEAST one other language in school
- this is where America really falls behind European countries in education... some learn to be fluent in 2 or 3 languages by high school
- learning languages is fun :D

[quartermaster]

We have teachers here who won't let us speak spanish because they don't understand it.

If you live in america who's language is mainly english, then I think you really need to be able to understand english.

What if something happens, and there's no one around who speaks finnish or zulu. I don't mean to sound like a redneck saying "CHING CHANG CHONG I cain't undurrstannd u!"
I just saying.

If we moved to Prague, don't you think it'd be necessary to learn the Czech language? Especially seeing that about 95% of the population there speaks it?

I think everyone would agree that it would be, for the most part, necessary and one should learn the language of the land, but I imagine the major issue is forcing people to learn the language or deciding what language everyone should speak. I see it as an issue of unnecessary force and possible coercion.