I am clueless as to why our nation (USA) has not made English our formal, official language. Why has this not been done. It seems like a no brainer. Does anyone know the history on this?
I'd love to be able to look into this as it seems to be a real foolish thing not to do! Why can't USA have English as an official language for commerce, law, signage, phone messages etc.?
I have no problem with folks using other languages in public or private. We are a free country afterall.
2006-07-03 07:15:58 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
U.S. English, Inc. is an American political advocacy group founded in 1983 by Senator S. I. Hayakawa and Dr. John Tanton to advocate the adoption of the English language as the official language of the United States of America.
Early advisory board members included Alistair Cooke, Saul Bellow, Walter Cronkite, Norman Cousins, Gore Vidal, Norman Podhoretz, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some of them are no longer affiliated with the group. Schwarzenegger is still a board member.
To date, the United States federal government has recognized no official language, even though nearly all federal, state and local government business is conducted in English. Some states and territories do have English as an official language; a few have passed laws embracing another language alongside English, such as Hawaiian in the state of Hawai'i. In total, 27 states have English as their official language. The U.S. House of Representatives passed English as the official language in 1996, but the Senate did not act on the measure before the conclusion of the 104th Congress
.....(more from source below)
2006-07-03 07:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The thing with the US is that politicians are too generous with the constitutional interpretations. So when you go to free of expression, language is on form of expression. If you make me to work any document in certain language, then you are limiting my expression rights so then, is not constitutional. That is very technical and literate but must politicians use this approach. The truth is that as any other republic, the US have the right to establish an official language, the question is how many votes will cost that and wish party is up to take the chance to write a law to create an official language.
2006-07-03 07:22:22 · answer #2 · answered by 4-democracy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although the United States has no official language, English is the de facto national language. In 2003, approximately 214.8 million, or 81.6%, of the population aged five years and older spoke only English at home. Although not all Americans speak English, it is the most common language for daily interaction among both native and non-native speakers. Despite the lack of a nationwide official language, knowledge of English is required of immigrants seeking naturalization. Three states also recognize other languages along with English: French in Louisiana, Hawaiian in Hawaii, and Spanish in New Mexico.
2006-07-03 07:23:58 · answer #3 · answered by misguidedayla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IMHO, I don't think making English the official language would help more than it would hurt.
- Is our country going to only allow immigrants that already very fluent in English to become citizens? Making English the official language would mean no printing of government documents in any language other than English. If a large percentage of English speakers in the U.S. can't understand government documents that have a large impact on their lives, what chance do new immigrants have?
- There are regions in our country with a multi-cultural history longer than the existence of the United States. Are we to not allow state and local governments in places like Louisiana the right to choose what best serves the people of that area? Is this another proposed infringement on states' rights?
- Honestly, who cares? Does having bilingual voice mail systems or government forms really impact the lives of English speakers so much that it needs to be eliminated? Face it: it just annoys you, but people who have not yet learned to speak English that well NEED it in order to be fully-participating members of our society. No one can learn a new language instantly: it takes years. But preventing a doctor from India or a busnessman from Japan from gaining citizenship just because they haven't fully mastered the English language (at a level higher than many people on Yahoo) doesn't make sense for the improvement of our nation. Laws regarding the official language not only affect the worst of the immigrants: it also affects the best of them.
2006-07-03 07:35:55 · answer #4 · answered by Dave of the Hill People 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is in response to "Bean"'s answer. The tests given in immigration offices are in English only, no other languages. If an immigrant doesn't have at least a basic understanding of english, including reading, writing, and speaking it, then the interviewing officer will deny their application. They get 2 chances to take and pass the tests. When they fail the second time, they have to pay the fee again and re-apply. The only exeptions are for people who have valid, documented learning disabilities, such as alzheimers, down-syndrome, etc. They are required to provide forms from an MD stating that the doctor did examine them and found them eligible for a waiver for the english and civics/history tests.
2006-07-03 08:06:59 · answer #5 · answered by j.f. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, English is the official language of the united states. After the declaration of Independence, and the draft of our Constitution. A vote was made for an official language. English won by one vote. German, lost by one vote. Read some books. We could of been speaking German today.
2006-07-03 07:29:59 · answer #6 · answered by Richard B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, English should be America's official language. Other countries have their own official languages. We should also.
2006-07-03 07:21:00 · answer #7 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it already is the official language but still some people debate that shouldn't be even though its the most widely spoken language in the US. I have also heard that some Spanish speakers in N.Y. were debating on saying the US national anthem in Spanish. It is ridiculous, these things that happen nowadays.
2006-07-03 07:32:09 · answer #8 · answered by mcoconut 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes i agree with you that the U.S is a free country ....but if english was the official language due to so many other people who do not speak English
2006-07-03 07:19:59 · answer #9 · answered by Eduardo B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think English is already its official language - if you look at the language of laws and Congressional debates.
However, I agree it should be the 'formal official' language.
I do not think that should necessarily govern phone messages, however.
2006-07-03 07:39:00 · answer #10 · answered by DAR 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋