My wife and I had an argument about whether or not the US has an official language. Almost always, I’m wrong in these arguments.
According to this Wikipedia article, Languages in the US
The United States does not have an official language; nevertheless, American English (referred to in the US as simply English) is the language used for legislation, regulations, executive orders, treaties, federal court rulings, and all other official pronouncements.
Confusion on this subject could exist because many states have adobted English as their official language.
Many individual states and territories have also adopted English as their official language: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming
Personally, I think it would be a huge mistake for the US to adopt English as an official language. As a country, we will always have to make exceptions for people who speak other languages. There will always be tourists or foreigners on work visas, and it would therefore serve no practical purpose. Forcing citzens to use one language officially would destory some of the US’s diversity.
Update: This discussion was started by the recent news that some immigrants have begun singing the national anthem in Spanish. It turns out there is precendent for this (via Think Progress):
in 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Education commissioned a Spanish-language version of “The Star Spangled Banner.†The State Department’s website also features four-separate versions of the anthem in Spanish.
I personally feel that having your nation’s anthem sung in a different language is an honor not an insult.
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:44 am
“Personally, I think it would be a huge mistake for the US to adopt English as an official language. As a country, we will always have to make exceptions for people who speak other languages.”
Accomodation and an official language have nothing to do with one another. I’m all for learning other languages (already knowing a second) but for the sake of setting expectations, I feel English should be the official language. Don’t confuse that statement with immigration, however, which I proudly support. It’s just that I feel the US has become a “salad bowl” rather than a mixing pot. Make your culture and background a part of this country, not something we isolate.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:15 am
Well, I guess part of my problem is “What is an offical language” anyway? I’ve heard that in places like France, peeps can get fined for having store signs that don’t meet with French language guidelines. And in Sweden, you have to get permission to name your children.
Where does an official language begin and where does it end? I already stated that I don’t think people should dictate what is proper English (as opposed to describing how English is used). You can’t really have an official language without defining what it is, and once goverment gets into that it all goes down hill. Will using slang or improper grammar be a crime in certain situations? I’m sorry but the word “blog” is not part of the official English language. I’m sorry, you can’t use the word “anime” to describe your business.
Even beyond that, what purpose does an official language serve? To make sure that all government documents are in English? They already are without the need of an official language. Does it ensure that all Americans can communicate? Well, it won’t regardless. I find it hard to communicate with a lot of people who were raised solely in Alabama. Plus, there’s always going to be slang?
Finally, personally, I don’t beleive language barrier’s won’t exist much longer. With the recent progress made in automatic translations, and the rise of international communication, separation of languages is bound to become very blurry. I’d like to see a future with one language (a giant merge of all the ones we have) that constantly changes.
May 2nd, 2006 at 4:00 pm
“I’d like to see a future with one language”
That language is love and peace man….love and peace.
LOL. Sorry bro; I HAD to go after that one, too easy.
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:02 pm
There is no official language in the US (just as there is no official religion).
But if you go to Switzerland just about every single sign is required to be in four languages. The cost must be huge.
At the same time, language unites. Sometimes reading the BBC there are words that are a bit strange (example: yob–combination of youth & mob–what we would call a gang).
But Americans really speak gutter English. Not the “Queen’s”.
I would assume that “offical” means the operation of governmental business. Example: should all gov. documents be required to be in 2/3/4 languages. The 9/11 report was huge. What is the cost to be printed in spanish/french/english/braille??
I have no problem with any patriotic song sung in another language, as long as it is respectful. It is much less offensive than Rosanne Barr grabbing herself.
And actually the Dutch do have a grammer guide that is published by their gov. There may be a fine if you violate the code.
Quebec goes crazy over the language issue. They banned some clown toy from the US because it spoke only English. As far as I know I can have a toy that speaks French, Spanish, Arabic, or pig Latin.
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:17 pm
The law regarding software in Quebec is thus:
These are the sections of the 101 law about software:
Any inscription on a product, on its content or on its packaging, on a document or object accompanying the product including the instruction manual, certificates of warranty must be written in French.
[This article] includes also, considering article 91, that no inscription written in an other language can prevail over the inscription written in French.
The instruction manual and the documentation related to a computer sold in a store must in French, the same thing for software.
Any software, including operating system or utilities, that is installed or not, must be available in French, unless there are no French versions that exists.
Are forbidden on the Quebec market the toys and games, [...], which functioning requires a vocabulary other than French unless that the toy or game is not available in French in conditions as favourable.
The fines for stores that will not obey the law is from 250$ to 7000$ Canadian depending on the case.
May 8th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Today I read that the US gov. approved the Spanish version of the anthem in 1919. And no one cared.