Should the US declare English as the nation's official language?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070802/ap_on_re_us/rare_interpreters
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/22/AR2007072200673.html

If the US has an official language, then it would become law that all court proceedings would be held in English, and it would avoid the problem that this story on Yahoo described:

A man accused of sexual abuse of a seven-year old had his case thrown out because the Court could not find an interpreter who was
1) fluent in Vai
2) understood American legal-ese
3) Is willing to work around his own schedule in order to work for the court.

Answer 1

I don't think they have to. I think it would be a smart idea, but with spanish growing quickly these days, I think we missed our mark.
The only reason I would think we would need to is to help in the immigration process...but what real hold does our gov. have over that anyway?
PS that was BULL!!!!

Answer 2

I think your premise is off, because designating an official language of English wouldn't prevent things like that from happening. That guy -- and anyone else accused of a crime -- would still be entitled to an interpreter. Not to mention the fact that all court proceedings already ARE in English.

So, if you're accused of a crime and don't understand or speak English too well, you just are out of luck? The proceedings just go on, and you have no opportunity to defend yourself as guaranteed in the Constitution (which, by the way, applies to everyone on American soil, not just Americans or English-speakers)?

I fail to see how prohibiting someone from understanding what the hell is going on in a courtroom helps the cause of justice.

Sorry, but it would never happen.

Answer 3

I doubt that making English the "official" US language would have changed the outcome of the story. The state still has the burden of proving the case, and the defendant has the right to confront witnesses, which he must understand in order to do.

Our founding fathers began a country that spoke many different languages. Why should we choose English? The Indians were here first. Then the Spanish, the Dutch, the French.... Oh, it would make it easier for YOU? How well do you speak, read and understand English, especially legalese English?

Answer 4

That would be fine, but as you said, a person that does not speak English would still need an interpreter. Therefore, the United States should declare English as a common language but still offer translation services to people who do not speak or are not fluent in English. Declaring it as an official language would only prompt interpreters to move to other countries that have multiple languages. And then people who do not speak English would not be able to have court hearings, ect.

Answer 5

How is barely 2 languages no longer a sort of racism ? In my close by Queens NYC there are a hundred and seventy diverse languages spoken in case you do no longer opt for to be considered a racist then you definately would help legislations requiring that the city of long island translate all of it's real archives and real signage into those a hundred and seventy diverse languages I mean you does no longer opt for some Tibetan to pass over a prepare by using fact he could no longer examine the signage >would you ? 3 thousand years earlier the 1st "Latino "replaced into ever invented [1750 ? } Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey in Greek . Why would desire to the language of my historic ancestors be excluded however the language of your Johnnie come recently ancestors -who descended from the Greeks btw -be blanketed ? Btw historic previous additionally tells us that there is not any longer one First worldwide Latino democracy;this is yet another important reason of an "English in basic terms "u . s . a .

Answer 6

This is a sad case, and I'm puzzled as to why, if this guy could speak English to detectives, he wasn't tried in English. Having said that, your idea is ridiculous. Were an individual who honestly didn't know English to be tried in your scenario, the court proceedings would be nothing more than a kangaroo court.

Answer 7

Passing an English-Only law would not change the outcome.

Constitutional due process requires that the person understand the charges against them. So, it doesn't change anything.

And it's unconstitutional to require someone to speak any particular language, or to prohibit them from speaking any particular language. The Supreme Court ruled on that 90 years ago.

Answer 8

No, the US should NOT declare English as the nation's official language.

I think people should get off their lazy behinds and go learn other languages and stop acting so ridiculously RACIST, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, AND IGNORANT.

Answer 9

I agree 100%