Preview

Against English as Official Language

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
833 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Against English as Official Language
Against English as Official Language
About 10% of the students at my High School are not Caucasian and probably speak a different language at home or might not speak English very well. English should not be the Official Language because of its unfairness to immigrants or anyone who doesn’t know the English language well.
English should not be the official language because it would be unfair to immigrants or anyone who doesn’t have proficient English. Students who do not have very good English or don’t know any English at all will have a lot of trouble getting around and learning in a school. Kids who do know English well will have an unfair advantage over the kids who do know English well. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) finds that a national language would be unconstitutional and would violate an individual’s right to due process. The Institute for Language and Education Policy (ILEP) is punitive because it would threaten the rights and welfare of people who live in this country including citizens who do not speak English that well. The ILEP also says that it is pointless because it offers no practical assistance and takes away public programs that offer assistance to those who are trying to learn English.
About 10% of the students at my High School are not Caucasian and probably speak a different language at home or might not speak English very well. English should not be the Official Language because of its unfairness to immigrants or anyone who doesn’t know the English language well.
English should not be the official language because it would be unfair to immigrants or anyone who doesn’t have proficient English. Students who do not have very good English or don’t know any English at all will have a lot of trouble getting around and learning in a school. Kids who do know English well will have an unfair advantage over the kids who do know English well. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) finds that a national language would be

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In today’s society, there are over thousands of different languages or dialects speak around the world. And because America is such a diverse country with many individuals capable of speaking two or more languages, they tend to forget the importance of speaking English in America. As an American living in America, it’s not important whether they speak English or not, but what’s important is which language they choose to represent themselves freely.…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For as long as the United States has been a country, there has been controversy over establishing English as the official language. Even the idolized US President Theodore Roosevelt had a firm belief the US has “room for but one language in this country and that is the English language”. In a 2010 poll conducted by Rasmussen, eighty-seven percent of American voters said they would support making English the official language. Immigrants would also benefit from establishing English as the national language, because after learning English they would be able to actively participate in the democratic system employed throughout the US. Although the United States is a notorious melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, language should be legislated, because having multiple languages spoken in the public isolates minorities.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many different ethnicities in the U.S, more than any other country in the world. It varies from Latino people, Pacific Islanders, Asian American, or African American. The United States is the only country where one can find all different cultures and languages. In the United States, English is not the only language which Americans use to communicate. Vietnamese, Chinese, or Spanish is very popular in the U.S. Therefore, according to the article “In Plain English: Let’s Make It Official,” the author Krauthammer argues that English should be the official language of the United States. So what are Krauthammer’s arguments and also what are the advantages and disadvantages if English becomes the official language of the United States?Canada…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why the United States does not have an official language has been an ongoing debate for a long time. A lot of people are for it and a lot of people are against it. While conducting my research I learned that if the United States made English the official language of the country it would be going against the first amendment, Freedom of speech. Regardless of going against the constitution 27 states have made English their official language. Why is it so important to so many people that the United States have an official language? Would it aid immigrants in the assimilation process and make it more likely for them to succeed? Can other languages be used in the country for certain official purposes, if English is the sole official language? Does official English offend the idea of American diversity? Does it discriminate against non-native speakers? Does an adequate incentive exist to learn English without it being official? Is there anything wrong with the status quo? Do most countries in the world have an official language? Is it important for any tangible and practical reasons? Do English only laws threaten or enhance public safety? Is official English good public policy? (Debate 2010) These are questions that rise in everyone’s mind when the topic of designating an official language in the US comes up.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Sanford-Haar, Cathleen. (2007, March 19). English the official language? Not in America :[Third Edition]. St. Louis Post - Dispatch, p. B.7. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1237740991).…

    • 2747 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    The English only movement has many pros that will greatly help the United States. If English is made the official language of the United States it will unite the people with a common language rather then divide by not understanding one another, it will allow people to feel comfortable in the workplace, and encourage immigrant workers to learn English. By making English the official language does not mean “English Only” it simply means that for the government to act officially and effectively the default language should be English which would mean that no one would have the right to demand government activities or records in any other language (Wilson, 2009). I personally feel that this would be a great idea simply because in order for the government to communicate there must be one official language. By making English the official language does not mean that cultural diversity is not accepted in the United States or that no one can speak their cultural background language it just means that in order for all government officials to be on the same page of communication, a common language must be established. Making English the official language would not prohibit the government from using other languages when there is reason for doing so, such as legitimate common sense needs (Wilson, 2009). I feel this would be great idea because then there would be no miscommunication or misunderstanding on anyone part due to language barriers.…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    America is a wonderful country that holds a distinctive quality and that is the acceptance of people from different ethnicities and race to form part of America. Numerous Polls have consistently proved that most Americans believe immigrants who are in the United States illegally should be granted legal status if they take the steps of learning English. This is understandable and should be reinforced. What can't be fair is forcing all immigrants to learn English regardless of their goals in this country. It is great that the United States has no official language. It is a much better idea to allow immigrants to choose whether they want to become legal citizens or not.…

    • 859 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As said in the Washington Times, “Making English the official language would encourage new migrants to learn the language of the country they have adopted as theirs… to unite the American people, while improving the lives of immigrants and native-born inhabitants” (Brice). This explores the ways in which English brings the whole country together, while actually bettering the lives of immigrants. In the long run I believe immigrants will create a better live for themselves by learning English because it opens up so many more doors and opportunities once they can communicate and have a common tie with the rest of the country. With this policy, it will require them to learn English, which will end up actually improving their lives in the English-dominated America.…

    • 1162 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In some eyes, linguistic diversity in the United States is a good thing, but in my opinion an English-only legislation would be most ideal. Not only does it create a national language for America, but it…

    • 589 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    English as a common ground is so that Americans can understand what is being spoken to each other. Americans should be able to communicate and read any material out in this country without wondering what is being said. Foreigners or non-English speaking citizens are increasingly becoming more segregated, creating poverty- stricken areas. The creation of these areas is due to the language barrier (US-English, 2012). Americans who speak English can find it insulting when other begins to speak to them in another language. Majority of the states have English as their official language. So when a foreigner begins to speak another language or attempt to communicate in English, it could be found offensive because if the same person were to go to their country, it would offensive if you did not speak their language. When living or visiting the United States, it would be safe to assume that everyone spoke English if it were the official language. No one would be insulted, nor would an individual find it hard to communicate with another. Making English the official language of the United States means that the government will be conducting everything solely in English. This includes all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies and public meetings (US-English, 2012). “This means that everything will be conducted in the English language and that no one will have the right to demand government services in any other language” (ProEnglish, 1994). The government cost of multilingualism is in the hundreds of million dollars. Companies have to spend about 15 to 20 percent of production cost to use in translation services (CalRecycle, 1995). For example, Hospitals have to pay for translators to those who do not speak English. Translators in California are paid $45 to $50 an hour! While…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In 1981, Hayakawa, Republican Senator from California, proposed to congress a constitutional amendment that claiming if there is an “Official Language” of the U.S, it should be English. I was known to the public as English Language Amendment (ELA), which has brought many controversies nation wildly since then. The proposal aimed to forbade both the federal government and any state from making or enforcing any law other than in English. Bilingual education should only be “transitional”, and anyone who wants to become an U.S citizen should learn and speak English. Hayakawa’s 1981 resolution was a milestone on the road of U.S official language disputes, also known as English-only movements.…

    • 1496 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Outcast Immigrants

    • 302 Words
    • 2 Pages

    All immigrants to the United States should be required to learn English. It would be in their best interest that they learn English. If they didn’t learn English then they would be an outcast to their peers. It would be very difficult for the immigrants to communicate with other people without knowing English. English is spoken throughout the United States so the immigrants wouldn’t know anything that is going on around them.…

    • 302 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The researcher stated that English is now the official language in the United States. There are documents that discuss the importance of an official language in America, which supports this statement. In this research there are further details about English as the Official Language in the U. S. and how language can unite people in society, it can be universal as a language, and it also shows that it has the tendency be a challenge, for other cultures to learn as a second language. There should be a way for everyone to co-exist and to function as one nation under God in America. Language is the substance for people to communicate with one another and to co-exist freely.…

    • 1624 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    English Only Debate

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages

    America, we have a cultural diversity that is unlike any other in the entire world, people from every country in the world come to our borders wanting to start over with a better life, live the “American Dream”. And because of this our nation has turned into a giant melting pot of all different types of cultures, races, religions, and one of the most important, languages. Language is the main way we communicate, interact, understand each other and when that barrier is there, it is a hard one to get past. And of course there are different ways people feel like we should deal with this barrier, there are some who believe that we as citizens who speak English should also learn different languages so that we can more easily communicate with them. And then there are others who feel like they came to our country, they need to learn English like everyone else here does. This has turned into a very touchy subject to a lot of people because people become passionate about there on personal beliefs and the side that they have chosen to get behind. Both sides having very valid points as to why their side is the one that people should adopt as their own side, I personally have decided that I agree that when you come to this country then you should learn to speak the language if you plan on living here. But not because I think English is the superior language or anything like that, I believe it will just make things easier for me and the person who immigrated here to be able to work together and communicate. But of course since this subject is very much two sided, state laws have been passed protecting and or mandating certain things happen, trying to stop the arguing between the two sides.…

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people argue why not the other way around with learning Spanish and I can understand that it would be great if it was implemented more in schools at younger ages such as even starting as young pre-k. The only problem with that idea though is it isn’t, so the reason I say English should be learned in order to enter into the country is because that the majority of text/writings which cause the idea that English is the majority.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays