As I've mentioned before, I'm currently taking a class on linguistics. Right now I'm working on a project involving the Official English movement and need to get the opinions of others on the topic. Basically the Official English movement, at least in the US, has the goal of making English the only official language of the United States. According to the Official English advocacy organization US English,

Quote: Declaring English the official language means that official government business at all levels must be conducted solely in English. This includes all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies and public meetings. Official English legislation contains common-sense exceptions permitting the use of languages other than English for such things as public health and safety services, judicial proceedings, foreign language instruction and the promotion of tourism.

Some of the arguments used to support official English include:

• English as an official language promotes unity.
• Official English empowers immigrants. This to me, is a really weird argument, so I'll quote US English's words directly.

  Quote: Immigrants will benefit from the elevation of English to official status. Instead of the mixed message government sends by making it possible to file tax returns, vote, become U.S. citizens and receive a host of other services in a variety of languages, immigrants will understand that they must know English to fully participate in the process of government. Providing multi-lingual services creates dependence on "linguistic welfare." Life without English proficiency in the United States is a life of low-skilled, low-paying jobs. Studies of Census data show that an immigrant's income rises about 30% as a result of learning English. Knowledge of English leads to the realization of the American dream of increased economic opportunity and the ability to become a more productive member of society, which benefits everyone.

• Providing government services in a single language would allow money spent on duplicating services in multiple languages to be spent instead on English education.

Some of the arguments against Official English include:

• Sharing a common language doesn't necessarily promote political unity.
• Official English and similar movements contributes to discrimination and hatred.
• Using a single language infringes on the First Amendment right to communicate and petition the government.

I live in a state, Illinois, where the official language is English. I honestly have no idea what that means. The statute declaring this fact literally is just "Official language. The official language of the State of Illinois is English." This is mixed in with other gems like "State snackfood. Popcorn is designated the official State snackfood of the State of Illinois." I visited the Department of Motor Vehicles and the public aid office, both state run organizations, and they both have signs posted in English and Spanish. And browsing the state website, I found forms available in Spanish as well. So what are some of your thoughts on this? Either comments on what I've said or your own separate thoughts.

I have mixed feelings on this.

On one hand, I do think that English should be the official language for everything in the US. This forces everyone to have a common language, understood by all, which lowers communications barriers. All Americans speak English, no matter where you are originally from, if you're an American you speak English. In a sense, that is aiding in unification of the people.

On the other hand, I'm also a firm believer in the melting pot concept of the US. We're a nation founded by foreigners. I hate all of the immigrations laws and feel that dammit, if someone wants to be an American then they should be allowed to. If we don't provide multilingual support for say, government documents, then these people who came to the US to be part of our country and culture are immediately alienated by the fact that they have no idea WTF they need to know to comply with our laws and customs.

It's a toss up. If I had to pick a side though, I'd go for forcing the English language. That being said, we need to more proactively offer government sponsored classes and aid to help people to learn English.

Making a language "official" is unlikely to make more people speak it. Go to any ethnic enclave in a major city in the US, and take a look at the businesses there. (Bring someone who can read that language, so you know what the signs say.) Beyond the obvious stores selling that ethnicity's food, music, etc., a large number of the businesses cater to bridging the language gap: Lawyers who speak Korean, churches that provide services in Chinese, video stores selling DVDs subtitled in Vietnamese. The existence of these businesses is a testament to how immigrants are already isolated by their lack of fluency in the "official language".

Bottom line: You can't legislate cultural integration.

Quote: Original post by Sneftel
Making a language "official" is unlikely to make more people speak it. Go to any ethnic enclave in a major city in the US, and take a look at the businesses there. (Bring someone who can read that language, so you know what the signs say.) Beyond the obvious stores selling that ethnicity's food, music, etc., a large number of the businesses cater to bridging the language gap: Lawyers who speak Korean, churches that provide services in Chinese, video stores selling DVDs subtitled in Vietnamese. The existence of these businesses is a testament to how immigrants are already isolated by their lack of fluency in the "official language".

Bottom line: You can't legislate cultural integration.

Making english the official language doesn't mean you can't hold church services in Korean, or post a sign in Portugese, or hold a spanish book club.

I've always believed in the "melting pot" of america. I'm a 2nd generation american. Keeping your culture is great. But to be a "melting pot" you have to melt a little bit, and language is the only real starting point (how can you integrate if you can't talk to anyone in their native tongue?). Immigrating without learning the language of your new home does not create a melting pot, it creates a chunky stew.

From a pragmatic standpoint, where does it stop? If we start accomodating immigrant languages, what's to stop Indians or Chinese or Russians from demanding documents in their language too?

I'm not being xenophobic, but if you can't take the time to learn the language of the country you live in, why should the country expend resources on you?

You know, it's funny.... looking over that website you linked, I find lots of pages devoted to assuring people that this won't totally fuck over immigrants. I don't, however, see anything about what they're trying to accomplish through this. The closest I came was the preamble of their proposed federal bill:

Quote: A BILL

To declare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution.

Actually, I guess there was this:

Quote: all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States which are made in pursuance thereof

... which made me chuckle a bit. Let's get J. Random Real-America in here and ask him for the definitions of each of the words used in the sentence "We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence."

In any case, what this kind of looks like to me, is a knee-jerk desire to punish those who refuse to integrate, by cutting them off from whatever bits of society they can without getting too much bad press for it. Call me a utilitarianist, but I just can't get behind that, from an effecting-social-change perspective.

To me it makes sense to have an official language, not just for the US but for any country. What having an official language means to me is that any and all documentation generated and used by the government must be in the official language.

It would *not* mean the same documentation cannot be duplicated in other languages, or that other languages cannot be spoken during the process of government work, but transcripts of what was said (if any transcripts are made; for example, in a court room) would have to be made in English.

In other words, if you use the official language, you can do business with the governmet anywhere in the country and have access to any and all documents published by the government in the official language. Other languages can be used regionally where needed in addition to the official language.

I do think having an official language would help support unity, not just between "natives" and new immigrants, but also between new immigrants from different parts of the world because everyone can have a common way to communicate (assuming the immigrant chooses to learn the official language; if they don't, their own potential loss and need for relying upon localized language services).

Quote: Original post by Mantear
I do think having an official language would help support unity, not just between "natives" and new immigrants, but also between new immigrants from different parts of the world because everyone can have a common way to communicate (assuming the immigrant chooses to learn the official language; if they don't, their own potential loss and need for relying upon localized language services).

English is already the Esperanto of America. But given the amount of society which is already closed to immigrants who can't or choose not to become fluent in English, what makes you think that access to court transcripts would push 'em over the edge?

Quote: Original post by Sneftel

Quote: Original post by Mantear
I do think having an official language would help support unity, not just between "natives" and new immigrants, but also between new immigrants from different parts of the world because everyone can have a common way to communicate (assuming the immigrant chooses to learn the official language; if they don't, their own potential loss and need for relying upon localized language services).

English is already the Esperanto of America. But given the amount of society which is already closed to immigrants who can't or choose not to become fluent in English, what makes you think that access to court transcripts would push 'em over the edge?

Push who over what edge? I'm not sure I'm following you.

My point with the court transcripts is this. If there's a criminal case going on in Colorado and there's a related case that happened in Arizona, all of the documentation concerning the case should be accessible in English. That way the chances of a mistake occuring (for either the prosecutor or the defense) is reduced.

As far as society goes, I don't think making one language official or not will make much of a difference when it comes to people discriminating. To me, it's a separate issue, although I'm sure I don't speak for a lot of people.

Quote: Original post by Mantear

Quote: Original post by Sneftel

Quote: Original post by Mantear
I do think having an official language would help support unity, not just between "natives" and new immigrants, but also between new immigrants from different parts of the world because everyone can have a common way to communicate (assuming the immigrant chooses to learn the official language; if they don't, their own potential loss and need for relying upon localized language services).

English is already the Esperanto of America. But given the amount of society which is already closed to immigrants who can't or choose not to become fluent in English, what makes you think that access to court transcripts would push 'em over the edge?

Push who over what edge? I'm not sure I'm following you.

You said that having an official language would help everyone "...have a common way to communicate". That suggests that making English the official language would lead to an increase in the percentage of people able to communicate in English. What makes you think that?

Quote: My point with the court transcripts is this. If there's a criminal case going on in Colorado and there's a related case that happened in Arizona, all of the documentation concerning the case should be accessible in English. That way the chances of a mistake occuring (for either the prosecutor or the defense) is reduced.

What the heck are you talking about? This is already the case. Testimony not given in English is translated into English, and the translation is recorded in the transcript.

It's a really common cognitive malfunction to make a decision or hold an opinion emotionally, or as a signal of group membership, then to justify it later by floundering for some underlying logic. And it's not just people being disingenuous--people really believe their justifications.

The whole "Ferners should learn to speak English, or go home" sentiment is common among racists and conservatives. The reason it's become a slogan isn't exactly clear to me except that it's a convenient banner to rally around against the "foreign invasion." The sentiment exists primarily for racist reasons, but also just because of group membership, in group/out group bias. In any case, it's not really a rational position.

So, people grow up hearing, believing, and saying that everyone in America should speak English. They become adults, rationalize their belief, and those who feel strongly enough about it on an emotional level push for it to be law, as an expression of group power, but ostensibly for the rationale they've invented after the fact.

That's why we have a movement of people who want English to be the "official" language, but who don't really have a reason for their desire. Tahdah!