Should we recognize English as the official language of the US of A?

Arcangl86

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Best I think you could ever hope for is English/Spanish dual official languages, like Canada is English/French. Of course, since the unspoken intent here is to generally denigrate Spanish speakers, I can't see that getting much support.
I really think Spanish should be co-official with English. We have a rich Spanish speaking heritage, and something like 14% of our population speaks it. Thus it would make sense for it to be co-official at the federal level, which would require among other things for the laws to be promulgated in both Spanish and English.
 
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Dave-W

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the unspoken intent here is to generally denigrate Spanish speakers, I can't see that getting much support.
There are enclaves that speak other languages as well and have for generations. Like the Dutch/German speaking areas in western lower Michigan.

The purpose of having an official language is not to denigrate those who speak other languages but to ensure consistency in official communication. As it is right now, someone could get passed a law in Russian or Mandarin or Arrernte. It would have the full force of law but most US citizens would not understand it.
 
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Armoured

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The purpose of having an official language is not to denigrate those who speak other languages but to ensure consistency in official communication.
That isn't what the purpose SHOULD be, no. Of course not.

Tell me honestly that that isn't the unspoken purpose of the bulk of people actively arguing for it, though?
 
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Dave-W

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Israel has Sephardic Hebrew as its official language, even though almost everyone there has something else as their first language - Arabic, Russian, English .....
 
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Dave-W

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Tell me honestly that that isn't the unspoken purpose of the bulk of people actively arguing for it, though?
Since I have not had much contact with those people I cannot say. Although I can remember hearing about establishing a federal language since I was a kid in the early 1960s. There were not that many native Spanish speakers here then. There were a lot more native German, Italian, Yiddish and Chinese (Cantonese) speakers in those days.

When Canada was established as an independent country back then, there was much animus between English and French speakers. Signs in English were vandalized in Montreal and French signs were vandalized in Windsor. Then DeGaul visits Quebec and tells the French Canadians they needed to secede and become French commonwealth members.

That is my understanding of having dual official languages.
 
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asherahSamaria

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Hi,

Please read Genesis 1:28.

Someone gave you an incorrect story on The Tower of Babylon issue.

This is hard Biblically.
A Blessing by God is also a Command by God.
That's the hard part. It is to see how, that is how God, Biblically treats that issue.

In Genesis 1:28, the Blessing included both Science, with the subdue the earth part, and spreading, with the fill the earth part.

In Genesis 9:1, without looking it up yet, I think that has A Blessing in it, with a fill the earth part also.
Those people at Babylon, did not want to spread. Our preachers and teachers, have said otherwise from time to time with me. Imagine your and my surprise, what it would be, if upon reading the actual accounts, if what you and I had heard from others, was not actually written that way.
I can't find anything, but their filure to spead as being their fault, in those word there, and it is said twice, that then they were spread.
LOVE,
...Mary., .... .

Actually Genesis 11:6-7 says
The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them

"Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."


So it's pretty clear that the god(s) were worried. This is a perfectly understandable position for the "super-human" type gods the Sumarians thought of.
 
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wing2000

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That is a good reason to make it the OFFICIAL language. I heard an old man complain 25 years ago when this was a state referendum. He did not understand why we needed to do that, but I did. For these very reasons, it should be the official language, and let all the other issues line up behind that.

As a nation, English was chosen early on, but that was not the only language widely used. German had a strong base of support, but we eventually settled on using English. It is high time we make it official.

Okay, so make the argument...why?

We have have thrived for 239 years without an official language. I see no reason to start now. English is the International Language of business. Everyone knows, including recent immigrants to the United States, that if one wants to advance in life, English is a necessity. The economic incentives are sufficient.
 
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grasping the after wind

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Since the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written in English to change the regular linguistic usage of the USA to any other language by making it an official language would basically mean instituting a new country in place of the United States of America. English is the language of the USA whether there is a law stating that fact or not. What we ought rather be doing to unite the country is encouraging people to use English with as much clarity and facility as possible and reject being politically correct and attempting to sabotage the language with censorship.
 
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ChristsSoldier115

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Personally, I am well aware of the shifts of change. I am going to take spanish as a language course in college in the spring semester. I suggest you do that as well. lol

Nothing wrong with being bilingual. I think a lot of European countries are in fact bilingual. We should be a more bilingual country it helps with trade and it also helps understanding of different cultures that we trade with if we understand their language. Language provides huge insight into a culture just by itself.
 
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Maynard Keenan

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Personally, I am well aware of the shifts of change. I am going to take spanish as a language course in college in the spring semester. I suggest you do that as well. lol

Nothing wrong with being bilingual. I think a lot of European countries are in fact bilingual. We should be a more bilingual country it helps with trade and it also helps understanding of different cultures that we trade with if we understand their language. Language provides huge insight into a culture just by itself.

Spain actually has FIVE official languages. I was in Barcelona recently and most signage was in 3 languages. I don't see any practical difference in having no official language but one de facto national language, or having a primary official language while recognizing co-official languages in the areas where those languages are commonly spoken.
 
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Maren

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Spain actually has FIVE official languages. I was in Barcelona recently and most signage was in 3 languages. I don't see any practical difference in having no official language but one de facto national language, or having a primary official language while recognizing co-official languages in the areas where those languages are commonly spoken.

Belgium has three official languages, though previously they only had a single official language. They have a great deal of language issues -- the country is split by those issues. And, to a great degree, that split is caused in large part to the time when they only had a single official language. Belgium would actually seem to support the idea the US is doing the right thing, by not having any official language.
 
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Belk

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There are only 8 countries in the world without a national language.
Every first world country has a national language except the U.S. and Britain.
http://www.englishlanguagefaqs.com/2014/05/which-countries-do-not-have-official.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201508200681.html


A national language can unite the people, why don't we have one on the federal level?

How would that work exactly? We declare a national language and we all just start feeling closer as a people?
 
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GoldenBoy89

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There are only 8 countries in the world without a national language.
Every first world country has a national language except the U.S. and Britain.
http://www.englishlanguagefaqs.com/2014/05/which-countries-do-not-have-official.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201508200681.html


A national language can unite the people, why don't we have one on the federal level?
Because in a country like this it would only divide people further. We should embrace diversity. That's our thing, as a country. Also liberty. The liberty to speak whatever language you are most comfortable speaking.
 
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GoldenBoy89

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The purpose of having an official language is not to denigrate those who speak other languages but to ensure consistency in official communication. As it is right now, someone could get passed a law in Russian or Mandarin or Arrernte. It would have the full force of law but most US citizens would not understand it.
You really think congress is going to pass legislation in Russian or Mandarin? After some 240 years, just now they are going to start passing laws in foreign languages? You know it's not just one person that drafts bills and signs them into law, right?
 
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KarateCowboy

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Because in a country like this it would only divide people further. We should embrace diversity. That's our thing, as a country. Also liberty. The liberty to speak whatever language you are most comfortable speaking.
Unity is our thing. That's why they even ever coined the phrase "Melting Pot". They saw the unity and assimilation of immigrants into the USA and said "Gee, it's almost like a melting pot". Diversity is divisive, and divided we fall. If you really believe in diversity, then just come up with your own traffic rules, different from the law, and follow them. See how long you live.
 
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GoldenBoy89

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That's right! Melt, or get out of the pot!

Unity unites us. Diversity divides us.
And telling people they have to speak an official language to be officially American is only going to divide.
 
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KarateCowboy

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You really think congress is going to pass legislation in Russian or Mandarin? After some 240 years, just now they are going to start passing laws in foreign languages? You know it's not just one person that drafts bills and signs them into law, right?
Well then, might as well acknowledge it by making it official.
 
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GoldenBoy89

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Unity is our thing. That's why they even ever coined the phrase "Melting Pot". They saw the unity and assimilation of immigrants into the USA and said "Gee, it's almost like a melting pot". Diversity is divisive, and divided we fall. If you really believe in diversity, then just come up with your own traffic rules, different from the law, and follow them. See how long you live.
I don't believe I said anything about diversity of law. I was talking more about cultures. You know... languages, food, customs... The things diversity usually refers to in a sociological sense...
 
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