Can English Be The Official Language Of US
United States is an interesting democracy where there is still no official language. Many languages are spoken including French, German, Spanish and English. English is spoken by more than 80% of the population (Salaberry, 24). In regards to making an official language, it therefore becomes easily understandable that English is most appropriate for this title.
There are many other reasons for it becoming an official language as well. As English will become the official language, it would then become easy officiating the government and offices. Currently, with many immigrants working at different posts it becomes quite difficult for most of the English speakers to clearly interpret what is being said to them. Though, making English doesn’t mean that the accent of the immigrants will not stay as a hinder but will definitely provide a lot of help. A bishop in a church recently gave his speech in Spanish in order to make more room for making Spanish an official language, but this not counts towards anything. The language issue has become a political issue and therefore should be dealt democratically. This should not be considered as the sabotaging of other language speakers. Today, Spanish is the second most spoken language, but in small chunks in many. It would be fine if Spanish becomes an official language in a state or a municipal, but definitely not the whole country where most of the people can hardly understand it. If Latin Americans want it to be spoken, they can do so but they definitely will not be able to socialize if they move into places where English is spoken. This will even limit their chances of progress. If English is that much important in America, then there is no reason that it cannot become an official language.
Being a bilingual society, it is important to speak one language. Most of the countries, except few, have national language. Many times the issue of language has arisen but the debates against making an official language have been abrupt. The US law of “Justice for All” has been the key contributor for not having an official language. In all the countries who have official languages, the official language is seen as the sign of unity where people from different regions when try to socialize they can easily interpret what is being said to them or what they speak is easily understandable (Salaberry, 46). The situation is US is still same as well. English is spoken even by the Latin American immigrants but they don’t want it to become the national language. The sign of unity in and around definitely revolve around the people getting closer and in touch with each other, but not having a national language will prove harsh for different societies as well.
Many students come here in US for taking up higher education and each and every one has to pass either TOEFL or IELTS in order to show their competency with English which will easily allow them to socialize apart from the fact that it is used as an instruction language in most of the institutions (Salaberry, 80). If we are looking at a society that is very sensitive and requires English to be considered as sole standard for the provision of higher education, then why not make it official? The main emphasis should be made on the point that whenever an alien come to USA, he is basically adjusting into an existing society. He has to take full responsibility to become acquaintance with this society he cannot just come here and ask for voting to make French or Punjabi as the official language. Even in India where Punjabi is understandable to everyone, Hindi is the official language. Therefore the situation must go in the favor of English.
Nevertheless, there are still many issues that creep up when this issue heightens up like the rights of the immigrants and other citizens who cannot speak language. The racism and discrimination has prevailed in American culture for so many years and it still does. Having English an official language will certainly limit the progression of non English speakers officially. The discrimination will start officially as well if a Latin American is not given a job even if he is more competent and no law in US will go against it because it will then be the requirement, according to law, to speak English. One example is the case where in California, an organization requires everyone to speak English and report if someone doesn’t making a possibility of being fired.
The constraints are there and the benefits as well. The situation is far more intriguing then it looks. The main emphasis should be of having a national language and it is quite necessary too. The solution is of political importance and should be resolved democratically. The rights of many communities might undergo but the mutual benefits surely make this society to prevail.
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