Legal "Official" languages are a good and very useful thing. However that is true if what it means is only that the government is only required to produce material in that language, and only that language, but does not bar it from offering service in other languages in cases that it chooses.

Most of the rest of the world gets along just fine with 2, if not more, official languages. Are Americans really so scared of people who speak another language or something?

And to the point that a few people have made about "Universal Communication", and being able to talk with "Anyone" in the country. Well I have to ask why? Why should you HAVE to? If I choose to only communicate in Simlish, why should I be forced to speak English, just because some arrogant prick walks up to me and demands a conversation?


An "Official Language" as in, "This is the language that all government matters are to be conducted in" is perfectly fine and does not threaten the rights of citizens. Some may be forced to either learn a new language, or invest in interpreters, but their core rights remain intact. However an "Official Language" as in "Everyone must speak this, and only this, or be kicked out" is a horrible thing that I hope no one who expects to have any rights for their self can support.

Quote: Original post by SiCrane
So what are some of your thoughts on this? Either comments on what I've said or your own separate thoughts.

I share the opinion (as expressed by Jack Vance in his novel "The Languages of Pao"), that language has an important influence in the psychology of the society it is used.

Anglo-Saxon cultures have always proven to be very practical and methodological paying special attention to the specialization of their individuals, and it's undeniable that in the last 2 centuries these cultures have been the ones in charge of putting the thoughts and theories born in many other cultures in to practice and making possible further research and development of them.

The English language has accompanied the growth and development of so many disciplines, social [democracy], economical [capitalism], artistic [literature], scientific/technological [you name it], that I really believe it would be a mistake to think that it has not been an important ingredient in the mix that made all those things possible.

IMHO the English language has won, for the merits it was involved into, the privilege of being the official language of the United States and I really think it should be preserved as a memorial for those Anglo-speakers that literally changed the way people think and live into what we now give for granted but that wasn't here before them.

*APPLAUSE*

I don't really care if we make English the 'official' language, but I will always promote the idea of teaching our youth a second language. I wish I had learned Spanish when I was younger, rather than attempting to learn it now when I'm in my 20's. I think that the US should offer second language lessons in elementary and high school.
I'm not sure what the stats are, but I believe a very high percentage of the other countries in the world speak multiple languages (usually their own plus the one of the neighboring countries).
But, I also think people who move here should have a pretty decent grasp of the English language.

Interesting topic. I was looking through some other countries on Wikipedia, and most of them have national languages (e.g. official as far as I can tell) based on the needs of the majorities of the populations, especially in Southern American countries that still have native people living there. I was surprised to see that the U.S. has an official language in that it is de facto rather than declared. Enlightening to say the least.

The way I see it, we could look at the two or (or even three if need be) major languages spoken by groups of people, and make each of them an "official language". It's what I see other countries with varied ethnic communities do, and in part it makes sense. The next census is coming up, so that might put that idea into a better context if we see the rise of certain minorities.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with having two official languages, specifically English and Spanish. Where one fails to meet the needs of a citizen, the other can compensate. The purpose having official languages is make communication readily available to all citizens. I just did a speech this week about the benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism (I myself know three), but most of the people I know seem put off by other languages than English. Might be a bit of xenophobia, or the fact that foreign language classes are hard for them, it's not easy to tell sometimes.

I don't understand the point. What government services are currently not available in English in the US? If you made English the "official" language, what does that actually change, on a practical level?

Quote: Original post by geo2004
I will always promote the idea of teaching our youth a second language.

May I ask why?

Quote: Original post by Codeka
I don't understand the point. What government services are currently not available in English in the US? If you made English the "official" language, what does that actually change, on a practical level?

It's not that all services have to be offered in English, it's that all services have to be offered only in English (aside from certain exceptions mentioned in the first quoted block in the OP). Another term for the Official English movement is the English-only movement, though Official English advocates say that's an unfair term in the same way that calling pro-choice pro-abortion would be unfair.

Anyways, thanks to everyone who shared their opinions so far. This has turned out to be a more interesting discussion than I thought it would be.

Quote: Original post by SiCrane

Quote: Original post by Codeka
I don't understand the point. What government services are currently not available in English in the US? If you made English the "official" language, what does that actually change, on a practical level?

It's not that all services have to be offered in English, it's that all services have to be offered only in English (aside from certain exceptions mentioned in the first quoted block in the OP). Another term for the Official English movement is the English-only movement, though Official English advocates say that's an unfair term in the same way that calling pro-choice pro-abortion would be unfair.

But if that's the case, then there's no actual benefit - it's just about making life harder for people who aren't fluent in English?

Quote: Original post by Gil Grissom

Quote: Original post by geo2004
I will always promote the idea of teaching our youth a second language.

May I ask why?

Are you saying you don't know why learning a second language is beneficial? Here's a quick list (I don't have a source, it's off the top of my head):

• It is intellectually stimulating
• You have more flexibility in thinking, are more senstive to language in general and become a better listener
• It improves understanding of your native language
• It allows you to communicate with people you would otherwise be unable to communicate with
• It gives an insight into other cultures and helps you to appreciate people from other countries
• It provides you with more opportunities in terms of career
• etc

Quote: Original post by Codeka
But if that's the case, then there's no actual benefit - it's just about making life harder for people who aren't fluent in English?

The OP lists some arguments used by Official English advocates.

Quote: Original post by Codeka
It is intellectually stimulating

Programming is intellectually stimulating too, but that's not reason enough to force everyone to learn how to program, right? So why is it different with a foreign language?

Quote: Original post by Codeka
You have more flexibility in thinking, are more senstive to language in general and become a better listener

Somehow I doubt that just learning a foreign language will make you a better listener...

Quote: Original post by Codeka
It improves understanding of your native language

It doesn't sound useful. Sure, I began to understand what grammar is for after learning a foreign language. But guess what, the only thing that was useful for was learning that foreign language. It didn't improve my communication in my native language since I was pretty fluent in it already. So for most people that's just useless. For professional writers, maybe. But for everyone?

Quote: Original post by Codeka
It allows you to communicate with people you would otherwise be unable to communicate with

Again, I'm getting a feeling that this is only useful for maybe 10% of people who need it -- maybe move to a different country, or fall in love with someone from abroad, or whatever. For the remaining 90% of the population, everyone they will ever want to communicate with will speak their native language. Seriously, when was the last time you really needed to communicate with someone and they didn't speak English?

Quote: Original post by Codeka
It gives an insight into other cultures and helps you to appreciate people from other countries

I thought the mandatory history lessons already covered that.

Quote: Original post by Codeka
It provides you with more opportunities in terms of career

So it's just Spanish, really, which is somewhat broadly applicable in the US. All others, like German, for example, are useless in general, except for those 0.0001% of the population who are diplomats in Germany.