Thanks all!
2007-10-29 11:40:26 · 9 answers · asked by girl person 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
The United States doesn't have an official language. English is only the national language.
2007-10-29 15:57:05 · update #1
1. it's pointless. English is in no danger whatsoever.
2. it could be used to undermine Native American attempts to revive/rebuild their cultures and languages. They were here first.
3. it feeds the neo-nativist sentiment; past nativist movements have been rather pointless, and gave way quite easily to racism and other forms of bigotry.
4. if successful, it robs us of our cultural diversity. Efforts to stamp out French from New Orleans and northern New England were ultimately based on ridiculous fear tactics, and only served to make rich and vibrant communities closer to being just like everyone else.
5. Past English-only movements have used fear and psychological tactics to treat speakers of other languages as inferior and stupid. It just became a control tactic in a supposed 'land of the free.'
6. If successful, it robs us of a potentisal bridge to the resto f the Americas. A USA with fluency in both English (rthe dominant international language) and Spanish (the language of the Americas) leaves us better suited economically to interact with out southern neighbors (who are growing into important consumers themselves) as well as cultural/political alliances and friendship. Right now, Bush hasn't made us very popular in our own neighborhood; we may not care, but this can come back to bite us quite easily.
7. It would be caving in to unfounded fears; an act of cowardice.
2007-10-29 11:50:25 · answer #1 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are definitely more pros than cons.
If you have to list cons, some cons could be:
By having an official language, you discourage different ethnicities to speak their native languages. Our country was founded on diversity, after all. So, we lose a lot of diversity.
A lot of expressions and words are lost. For example, a lot of laws are written several times over because they were originally written in French, and there is no way to capture the expressions in English without writing them in several different ways in order to make them clear.
That's all I can think of because I'm glad we have an official language.
2007-10-29 11:44:08 · answer #2 · answered by CW 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What are some cons to making English the United States' official language?
Thanks all!
2015-08-19 00:12:07 · answer #3 · answered by Gladi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hold it! English IS the official language. But keep in mind that America is made up of numerous cultures,languages,customs,religons and beliefs.
That's what makes America so strong and unique amonst the other nations of the world.
2007-10-29 11:54:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
English isn't already the official language?
2007-10-29 11:43:03 · answer #5 · answered by blackqueen 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Lot's of bureaucratic red tape will make it cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
2007-10-29 11:50:54 · answer #6 · answered by buff j 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The members of congress are afraid that the Hispanics won't vote for them when running for reelection.
✩
2007-10-29 11:43:13 · answer #7 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
None. At one time it was nearly decided to make German the official language of the US, but that would have been a bad idea because German has not only a half-dozen different ways of making a plural but also a half-dozen ways of saying "the". I kid you not.
2007-10-29 11:43:52 · answer #8 · answered by 2kool4u 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The only con I can think of is that it diminishes the heritage of various ethnic groups.
2007-10-29 11:54:26 · answer #9 · answered by Scott K 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There will be no bilinigual option. No schools that has a bilingual program.
2007-10-29 11:43:45 · answer #10 · answered by AK 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋