I don't see a point in making English the offical language. We have never had one and English is still around so why is everyone so worried that this language will go away if we don't make it official? Most people that move to the U.S. end up learning English anyway. What are your thoughts? Is it really necessary for the United States to have an offical language?
2006-10-23 12:45:43 · 9 answers · asked by Angry 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Many of the proponents of the English Only position hold that it would be less expensive and would also encourage diversity. Many municipalities and government agencies currently print documentation in two or more languages, driving up the costs to provide this service.
It would also provide better opportunities for employment if everyone spoke the same language in a business situation. Bilingual employees would not be required in critical service areas and there would be an assurance that everyone would be able to get the same information.
There are many points in favor and against English Only, if you do some research, you should be able to answer this question on your own far more thoroughly than anyone in this space.
2006-10-23 12:57:23 · answer #1 · answered by Ben 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a host of legal problems. There is about 120 major langauges spoken in Los Angeles. So if a guy is arrested and only speaks Arabic, or Hindu, or !Kung (an African language), the U.S. government has to provide him with a translator. Now what happens if instead of getting arrested, he wants to vote, he has to now be provided with all the information in his language. The same thing goes with tax and other government forms. This gets very expensive.
English is going away. I tried to order a salad today and because the person serving me didn't speak English well, she mistook the word cucumbers for carrots and was stunned when I asked for Thousand Island dressing (an assistant had to translate to her).
2006-10-23 13:12:59 · answer #2 · answered by gregory_dittman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right. Take the example of Canada. Though French is official, on a par with English supposedly, most people ignore it and English remains largely dominant. So what's the point of making one, or two languages official, if any given language would, eventually and naturally, find its place in society?
2006-10-23 12:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by zap 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give you an example if you are planning to go to China, germany, Japan or France what do you need to know??? yes, the language in order to communicate with other people, become a master of languages, working conditions, and understand the language. So going to China, Germany, France or Japan you must learn Chinese, German, French or Japanese. Though English is one of the harder language yet is most spoken national wide. second I think Chinese then Spanish.
2006-10-23 12:55:43 · answer #4 · answered by Red Panda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is so unimaginable to think ant this would ever be considered. I do not think this was ever brought up until immigrants started coming from Mexico. Every other immigrant from other countries wouldn't dream of asking this. I thought to learn English has always been a requirement to become a U.S. citizen!!!!
2006-10-23 13:21:20 · answer #5 · answered by vaulene2000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Americans that are opposed to this hold that position because they are afraid that if it doesn't happen, they will have to learn a second language (like almost everyone else on the planet), and one of America's greatest freedoms is the freedom to be too darn lazy to bother!
2006-10-23 12:50:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
To save the cost of printing materials, such as ballots, in other languages.
2006-10-26 13:16:19 · answer #7 · answered by Lisa A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
speak the laguage or go to canada and rot
2006-10-23 12:54:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So everyone can understand each other.
2006-10-23 12:54:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋