America's Lanuage - English only or English and other languages?

Question

Now, as we all see in America today, everything is in English and Spanish. Now, what I am wondering is if everything should be in English or in Spanish or whatever other languages too. I know when my great-grandpa moved here, he didn't get help in Italian. And if I go to Target, I can't get help in German. So what I think is, cater to one, cater to all.

Answer 1

Actually, I think we should open it up.

It should not be called, "English". I think the English would agree.

Call it, "American". We add words from other cultures all the time. Let people use them all. They're just words. But use the dictionary as it is. If they want a Spanish word added, use it a lot in general society, not within the confines of just their language (taco, siesta, how many others have made it into the English, or should I say, "American" language?).

We should have a language as open and changing as our culture. One language.

American.

Answer 2

Phillips posted the language statistics and mentioned my state, New Mexico. Our state was admitted to the Union as an officially bilingual state and that status is in our state Constitution. Since we are a poor state, we do not have a lot of illegal immigrants. They generally pass through our state to states with more jobs--at least that's what the census statistics say. Our Spanish is not the Spanish of Mexico. I have friends whose families have been here since 1590. Our Spanish is an old Castillian spoken no where else in the world. After the Spanish were driven out by the Indians in the Pueblo revolt, our Spanish became frozen in time. I'm telling you all this history so people do not think the heavy use of Spanish is solely due to illegal immigrants. I hear it daily from people whose families have been here 15+ generations. Many of them came as "convertos" , hidden Jews, to escape the Spanish inquisition. Spanish names in my state that end in a "z" instead of an "s": are originally Jewish. Anyway, after that long, boring history lesson, my answer is that it would be nice if America was one of the many countries whose citizens spoke more than one language. Belgium and the Netherlands have at least 2 prominent languages; Switzerland has about 4 languages. What's really unique about the U.S. is that we generally only speak 1 language. Our kids should be offered Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and many other languages in the schools. (Of course, proper English would be nice, too. Yo, dude watup) This lack of language skills is putting us at a disadvantage in the world market and requiring a lot of companies to train adults in languages which are much easier to learn as a child. Since my work place has a lot of Native Americans, I generally hear 5 languages each day. BTW- "plenum 222" mentioned a 10% threshold. The federal Voting Rights Act requires language assistance in any precinct in which 5% or more of the voters do not speak fluent English. As to the guy who's been here 35 years and used an interpreter--that's meaningless. Some people I know well would not speak English on tv because they can articulate better in Spanish. The fact that someone used Spanish in a tv interview is not meaningful. It's likely he understands and speaks English to friends.

Answer 3

I'm not opposed to learning other languages but I love languages. I've studied spanish, french, and a little Italian.
I would love to learn arabic since I am half Lebanese.

There are some arguments for both.
The problem is that all is not equal. Spanish speaking countries are poor and education is not widespread.
The immigration problem we have is bringing in from what I understand mostly uneducated people. It's hard to get them to understand they need to learn English. How do you reason with an uneducated person? You can't. They lack the skill of critical thinking. It's taken me a while to realize this.

Answer 4

How about cater to none. Learn the language of this country. ENGLISH! I live in Texas and am disgusted by the catering we do for the illegals. In our schools we have to pay for more school supplies, because they can't pay for it. Then we have to learn their language so we can be compassionate. I can be very compassionate in English. How about all those from outside this country showing RESPECT for this country's values and customs. Learn the language or go home.

If I sound angry...live in Texas and deal with illegals. They suck the medical community dry and expect real Americans (both of Spanish decent and other races) to bend to their will. This is not a case of being prejudice against Mexicans. Its a case of not likely illegals. We have some very productive Mexican-Americans who pay taxes and are great people. They know how to speak English and do so. Even they get disgusted with the illegals because it gives all Spanish people a bad name.

Answer 5

In all other countries around the world there is an official state language. Try speaking English in France and you will see what I mean.

This is America and the official language is American, which if people were not aware, distinctly different from English, doubt that just ask someone from Scotland.

Answer 6

Consider this, in the main emigration period of the US from the late 1800's to the 1950's people came from almost every nation in the world. Every one assimilated and learned to read, write and speak English. Only in the latter part of the last century did this stop and only with one ethnic group. Monday on NPR they did a spot on the rush to Legalize Latinos before the rates in cost go up this fall. They interviewed one gentleman from Norther Va, a suburb of Washington DC. The man has been there for 35 years and is now bringing his family in as well, he spoke through an interpreter. After 35 years he still had not taken the effort, or concern to learn to speak the language. If you do not care to learn the language, how much do you really want to be part of this nation. Language is the ONE thing that ties us together. I think English only, and if you can not speak the language, you should not be allowed to be a citizen, or for that matter even hold a job.

Answer 7

English should be our official language and every citizen should be able to speak it.
As it is, however, it would be wise to have Spanish as a second language.
Anyone stopped by the police for infractions and pretend to not be able to speak english should be deported whether they suddenly seem to acquire knowledge of english or not!
thanks

Answer 8

It should be English, by reason of long common usage, and yes my relatives didn't speak English but they learned and would have been insulted by the idea that they couldn't learn it. I am sure Spanish speaking people are just as smart and capable as my early relatives are, and while they may speak the home language at home, as many do, they spoke "American" proudly in public.

Answer 9

Let regions determine their own language policy. A national policy just wouldn't fit unless some sort of draconian measure was stupidly adopted.

Many European countries give both English (the more-or-less accepted "international language") equality with the native language. Here in Greece, almost everything used in public space has English translation, as well.

Well, I think that the United States should do the same. If your clients number, say over 10%, speak and provide at least the business or administrative language of those speakers.

Answer 10

I was at the LA airport and they were announcing in English, Spanish and either Chinese, or some other Asian language. We should stick to English, it's more practical.