English Should be Declared the Official Language Essay

In recent years, the Americas ability to resolve ethnic diversity and political unity has been ch all(prenominal)enged at new level. The influx of immigrants from Asia, Africa and Latin America has brought changes in the character of many natives and accelerated demands for politics services in their own dustups. The aspect of linguistic diversity has in fact sparked insecurity about landed estateal unity and fostered a wave designed to make incline the positive talking to in the get together States (Inhofe and Munoz 1).Entrenched in the politics of language and especially making position the official language in fall in States is the deeper contest of American identity and means of preserving it. Ensuring a common official language create and establish the foundations of tribeal unity, on top of enhancing ethnic harmony. Policymakers and nearly American citizens have responded to this issue in various steerings.Court decisions, administrative regulations and federal natu ral laws have always favored the ultimate use of other languages in public offices, just now most citizens have favored slope language as a valued symbol of American nationhood worthy being naturalized and defended for (Zehr 23). Pros of English as Official United States Language Although lawmakers in the United States have lingered on deciding on endowing English with a special sanctioned status, it was assumed that a common language would develop in America.To affirm this hypothetical assumption, linguistic researchers consistently found out that the typical pattern of language usage among the immigrants to America shifted from non-English in the first generation of immigrants to use of the many languages in their surrounding neighbors in the second generation and the reverted to English in the triad generation (Scholastic 1).This was because speaking English was the only way to cope up for the new immigrants to adequately adapt to the society they found in America, increase their earning potential, for students to take after in schools, and eventually enhance their future career options in the land of many opportunities. The immigrants and their descendants learned English not because the law forced them to referable to the agent that learning English was a precursor to helping them get ahead in America.The debate of making English the United States official language is founded on the believe that the stableness of the American institutions and determine heavily depended on cultural homogeneity. The Americas citizens and courts have sent clear message that stack should unite behind a common official language and especially English which has been grasped by the majority and help foster American values that instruct one another in that cultural diversity.By helping the immigrants learn the official language would ensure that the services from government institutions are accessible to all and by extension would enable save taxpayers money initially used to cater for those services of an interpreter (Gillespie 1). Looking at the bigger picture, bilingual systems resembling in education require special services which prove to need a good deal of money and more so create segregation on ethnic groups against the values endeavored to be achieved in the American dream (Inhofe and Munoz 1).Lets look at the issue in this perspective suppose an employer precious to train employees of different native languages what would he or she do? Having that common language is a major boost as bothone would endeavor to just be literate in it and break the barriers of language (Cincinnati 1). Training mountain in their native language narrows the perspective to ethnic level and would mean a lot of trainers-unnecessary expense of the company.On the issue of language rights, which are mostly demanded by ethnic minorities, they are symbolic affirmation of their continued attachment to their original burnishs. In the context of international are na, people have started thinking globally the revival of ethnic consciousness does not anchor well with postering that international standards and more limited the concern of national unity (Inhofe and Munoz 1). Maintaining the ethnic lines brings about unrest and polarization as experienced in most parts of the world.United States is the greatest nation on earth and ensuring preservation of English as the official language would be a great feat of achievement for it would ease out contrast in offices which occur because people cannot be understood or are discriminated simply because they cannot speak a certain language. Inhofe and Munoz ( 1) point out a Zogby outside(a) Poll established that eighty-five percent of the sampled expressed their support for making English as the language that should be used in all government operations.Surprisingly also, seventy-one percent of the Hispanics surveyed, were for the idea of making English as the official language in United States. This positivism has also been expressed in other polls and call for the implementation of bill that gives English the legal status as the official language and so at that place is no reason whatsoever to offer government services at extra be in foreign languages. In cordial feat the Pledge of Allegiance and the matter Anthem through English show the patriotism in bringing the nation together in the spirit of sharing the American Dream.Cons of English as Official United States Language The demographic and political changes that began in America in the 1960s opened an era of clash over language. It was the blacks who emphasized the values of ethnic distinctiveness and solidarity in the use of their native languages and other groups followed. Alleviating English to the status of English has all along been perceived as a way of weakening the groups ethnic heritage, where activists especially Hispanics have articulated that language rights are constitutional privileges that deserve to be observed in the law (Gillespie 1).This in fact advocated that the United States government should move beyond toleration minority languages in the private arena to promoting bilingual languages in its institutions. This has always remained as the biggest threat to ensuring that English is do legally the official language in the United States. According to Inhofe and Munoz (1) another reason that has been a draw back in ensuring English is legal recognized as the official language in America is because there are other languages that are also spoken by a considerable number of people like the Spanish.Spanish is said to be spoken by over forty million Hispanics in the United States at work, at homes and in their daily lives. Inhofe and Munoz (1) advocate that by virtue of making English as the official language and relieving the government role of assisting non-English speakers and this could speckle doom to those who cannot quickly learn English. It is agreed that people can learn English and money can be devoted to helping non-English speakers learn but the trick comes in passing a law that would magically expect people learn promptly may proof to be hard (Cincinnati 1).nonage activists have all along supported cultural maintenance programs that teach children subjects in English and their native language in their education. The concept celebrates the multicultural conceit of identity in America and in the process celebrates ethnic consciousness. The symbolic importance considerably undervalues the English language on the specter of accepting the bicultural approach, where the culture of a group is embedded in their language (Zehr 23).Cincinnati ( 1) argues that the United States has never declared an official language because of the drawbacks that are faced in trying to do so and many people have tried without much success. In 1780, a congress man John Adams proposed to the congress for English to be made the official language, but he received much criti cism where the proposal was deemed as threat to individual liberty and undemocratic. Over the years whenever the debate arose, there have been people on both sides (Scholastic 1). Only twenty-seven states have officially made English their official language others remaining in the dark.Others people are opposed to the stand of making English official language simply because their business of translation would be affected as learning English for Spanish people they can understand and translate the manuscripts themselves (Cincinnati 1). Scholastic (1) points out that the estimates according to a U. S. English Inc. , a group that is a proponent of declaring English as the United States official language, there are close to 322 languages spoken by the citizens in the country. Twenty-four of these languages are spoken almost in every state.Statistics has it that Wyoming has the fewest languages fifty-six in number while California State has the highest, two hundred and seven in total. C incinnati ( 1) strongly argues that because the U. S is a nation of immigrants as rightly proved by the numbers, declaring English as the official language would be impeachment of the individual rights for those incapable of speaking English, who on the other grant pay taxes and should be served their languages notwithstanding. Gillespie (1) reminds us that when the question of language comes up many argue that it is aimed at dividing as it has remained a hot button to touch.Many politicians argue that immigrants have been coming to America and have consequently contributed without holding back to the nation and eventually working to fulfill their dreams of better lives for their families and themselves. For this reason declaring English as an official language these immigrants would turn their backs on the American common dream. Conclusion The many reasons brought forth strongly propose that English should be made the official language of the United States. On the other hand, val id opposition on the issue also comes up, bearing weight which should be negated at policymakers peril.English as the official language has many benefits to offer to the American citizens and the national unity at large. Homogeneity in language would cut down unnecessary costs encountered in the education and in judicial courts not forgetting polarization of the ethnic groups overtly felt and seen around the world. Moreover, it would be a plus in enhancing stability of the American institutions. The pros override the cons and supporting English as official language in the U. S would bring more benefits than the demerits expressed.