English Language as Official Language

Knowing common language is essential for communicating effectively with others. A group of people living in one place or community often speak in one language to ensure that these individuals are able to understand each other. Some countries have become distinct from other countries due to the unique language that is commonly used by its inhabitants. Some nations’ states have declared a national language in their constitution and there are others that did not, especially those countries that have inhabitants who speak different languages. The United States of America is one of the countries that did not declare an official language that is used by its citizens in communicating, but a majority of its states have declared English as their official language. Our founding fathers chose to write the Declaration of Independence in the English language and use that as their mode of communication. The United States is a multi-lingual and multi-racial country, but most of its inhabitants use American English to communicate with each other. Official government documents and the language of instruction in most schools is English, thus, it is most a convenient if government and all of its citizens speak one language rather than being content knowing only the language that they use at home. A move has been made to declare English as the official language of the United States. The said motion is opposed by many people on the basis of its discriminatory nature considering that most inhabitants are multi-lingual. Those who are opposing it failed to realize the benefit that this move will have on some citizens who do not have a perfect command of the English language. The said move will also benefit those immigrants who came from non-English speaking countries and are not fluent in English when they arrive in the country to start a new life. Declaring the English language as the official language of the United States of America will promote solidarity and cohesiveness to all of

References: ------------------------------------------------- Crawford, James, “Language Loyalties: A Source Book on the Official English Controversy,” University of Chicago Press, 1992 ------------------------------------------------- Del Valle, Sandra, “Language Rights and the Law in the United States: Finding Our Voices,” Multilingual Matters, 2003 ------------------------------------------------- George, Birgit, “Immigrant Children in America Integration by Language Assimilation and Education,” GRIN Verlag, 2003) ------------------------------------------------- Schimdt, Ron, “Language Policy & Identity in the US,” Temple University Press, 2000 Spolsky, Bernard, “Does the United States Need a Language Policy?” CALdigest 2011