English is the official language de facto. IT has never been declared in our Constitution. If we haven't done it in the past 2-300 years. Do we need to do it now? why? is it NECESSARY?? Why wasn't it necessary centuries ago?
133220
I think the main issue is money.  Do you realize how much it would cost to print every government form in multiple languages?  In Canada, where the official languages are French and English, the government budget for printing all "official" documents is both languages is out of control.\n\nJust imagine if every form, from income tax forms to applying for a driver's license had to be issued in English, Spanish, Cantonese (and Mandarin), and a multitude of others.  Even in places where no one speaks those languages, these forms would have to be on hand, and updated every time one is changed.  It's a monumental waste of time and paper.\n\nI think by instituting an Official Language, it forces immigrants to conform to the country they are coming to, instead of the country conforming to them.
572438
No, Congress has never voted to make any language our official language. In 1795 a group of legislators proposed that sets of laws be published in both German and English. This proposal was never even voted on, but the motion to adjourn and consider at a later date was defeated by 1 vote.
658900
I don't think it's necessary to get my panties in a whad over it, but I do agree that it should automatically be English, especially with the most recent ruling over our national language.  On the other hand, there are those who are doing the right thing by going through the procedure to become a citizen properly and they are learning as best they can to speak our language - English (which should honestly be called Americanese since we wouldn't even understand English if it were spoken properly!).  To reiterate, not worth getting saddle-sore over.
383668
What is the English identity? Is it the same as it was a generation ago? A century ago? Surely a nation's character is in a continual state of flux and evolution? I don't think there is anything to worry about, this is business as usual for a healthy country.
529152
I think being bilingual is a must. We need to start teaching a second language in Junior High (LIKE MOST COUNTRIES IN THE CIVILIZED WORLD). The citizens of most countries are bilingual. We need to make America's education better.
219031
I think it was Noah Webster who when writing his dictionary decided to simplify several spellings in the English Language.  \nSome took, some didn't.  Some even changed the way Brits and Canadians and Aussies spell the word (musick is now music for instance).  \n\nI have never heard of a concentrated effort by the American Government to differentiate their language from British English and it doesn't sound like something that a limited federal government (pre-civil war) would really want to do.     More likely, English, given its ability to evolve quickly branched off because people liked the spelling in the US and a different spelling in the UK.
156923
I believe that English was the language used when our country was founded and should continue to stay our "official" language. I think if we start by adding Spanish as an official language it is unfair to all of the other immigrants who reside here. we cannot possibly cater to all. products and packaging being printed in other languages is the decision of the manufacturer, not law makers. If we are going to print documents in Spanish, shouldn't it be printed in every language for everyone? Could you imagine a group of Americans in Mexico or even Germany and demanding that they do everything in English because we can't understand the language? Of course not. It's a ludicrous idea. All of our ancestors came from many places all over the globe. When they arrived, they had to learn the language and follow the rules already in progress. they didn't demand we cater to their disabilities. So why is it different now? This is a land who welcomes all with open arms. Stop trying to force them behind Miss Liberty's back.
405965
52 other nations besides America have adopted English as their official language.  It sounds normal to me.\nPrinting all documents in several languages costs American citizens money.  People who want to live in America should learn English, as all immigrants in the past 250 years have. \n People should not be able to demand services from the American government in any other language but English.\nWould you move to a country without learning the language?
238475
Absolutely.  A common language is an absolute necessity for a nation formed of disparate heritages.  Official English, then English only.  End bi-lingual programs and put the students in English immersion classes.  If Berlitz can teach adults a foreign language in 6 weeks (and they do), our schools can teach children in a semester.\n\nAnd as for the illegals-----ROUND THEM UP AND SEND THEM HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
647864
Under current US law, there is no strict limitation on your English skills.I know many US citizen who barely mutter a few words in English.\nIn my country, you go thru a hard fluency exam and you must have lived there for at least 3 years. They don't just hand out citizenship to anyone, but I come from Europe and we do have an identity to keep and be proud of. We are NOT a rootless immigrant society like US...They have nothing to lose by letting foreigners in. We do.
238722
I think because English people are sympathetic towards our American cousins and make that extra effort to not give in to frustration and correct their grammar/spelling at every other corner. Due to the fact that the language most Americans speak is also understood by most native English speakers then they justify it as being English.\nCalling it American would cause a political rift in Anglo-US relations and probably allow the spoken and written accuracy level of American to sink to even further lows than it has already. By keeping English as a role-model, they hope to at least retain some vestige of respect for the history and culture of their country.
549370
I know how irritating this seems. To me too. The only reason that seems feasible is that the language and how it's used are constantly changing.  The way we speak English now would be nearly unrecognizable to people living 400 years ago.  Phrases that were all the rage in my teens are now hopelessly out of date and the pronunciation of some common words has changed in the last 10 years. As grating as it sounds, "bored of" is probably a part of the river of language changing its course as it often does.  If you want some entertaining information on words and how they've changed try www.word-detective.com. It really broadened my view of language and made it easier to live with the occasional ear twisters like "bored of".
655188
It makes sense. Some people ARE American citizens but struggle with English. You wouldn't want them to vote for the wrong person just because they couldn't read the ballot. Right?\n\nI see many people bringing "issues" into play. And I'd like to mention that they could have been very interested in the issues. There are many Spanish (and other language) news channels in the U.S. that cover American issues (as well as closed captioning in other languages) in which case they'd understand them perfectly. So that can't be used in a debate against multi-lingual ballots.\n\nThere's multi-lingual tax forms and they pay American taxes, so why should voting be treated differently? If they are American citizens they have EVERY right to vote as one. (Actually probably even MORE of a right then random rednecks in nowheresville USA that don't even have a tv to watch the debates or anything else.)\n\nJust thought of an analogy here (I'm not trying to start a fight, just make a good debate).\n   Say you were taking a foreign language in school or something. We'll say French. You're pretty good at it, but not great. It's still a little tough. Then you go to France and still hang out with a lot of your English-speaking friends and family and use English a lot. Don't practice your French too much. Then you need to do something REALLY important. Would you want to do it in French? I mean, your French isn't all that good, and it IS really important, you wouldn't want to mess anything up. You would ask to do it in English. Right? (personally, I know I would).\n      Same thing.\n\nAgain, no offense (seriously, I don't want to piss anyone off, I'm not being sarcastic or anything), I'm just trying to help make a sturdy, well-founded argument. Many people don't seem to have a clear grasp on WHY exactly we have multi-lingual ballots. I think it's perfectly fair and everyone should have a chance. But hey, that's just me :-)\n\nPS: Back to Bow Wow. I know it takes 7 years to become a citizen. But have you ever tried to learn an entire language in 7 years? It's HARD! I mean seriously HARD. I have been taking Spanish for almost 9 years and I'm STILL not fluent and I've studied abroad twice. And Spanish and English are at least somewhat similar languages. What about if they're from Japan? They need to learn a whole new alphabet, new numbers, a new political system, new everything! That must be even harder! So that can't really be used as an excuse either.
281648
Do you mean that *official* communication is English-only?  Or that those who speak Spanish, Japanese, or Malayalam are forbidden to speak to others who speak their language other than in English?\n\nI think the first is short-sighted.  The second is discriminatory.\n\nYes, if you live in America, you should speak English.  But you, living your entire life in one language have no idea how difficult it *is* to learn a foreign language as an adult.  Some people will never learn much beyond the basics.  Most will learn quite a bit, but never be as fluent in it as in their native language.  Only *very* few people have the talent to really thoroughly learn a new language.\n\nAnd, to correct a couple of "facts" in other answers, you do *not* need American citizenship in order to get a Green Card or work visa.  In fact, if you are a US citizen, you would need neither one; they are *only* for non-citizens.\n\nAnd "most of the world" does *not* speak English.  Many people around the world do speak English to *some* degree.  Over 300 million people speak English as a first language; less than 200 million speak it as a second language (see URL in sources section below).  The world's population is about 6.5 billion.  If one in thirteen has become "most" in recent years, I am unaware of it.
30285
English is the offical language... but this being a free country they do not require you to learn it... it would go against certin rights if they required it... but I do agree with you that everyone should need to know at least the basics... I hate being asked "ah spanish?"\n\nGets very nerve racking....
106655
Well it sounds great with 1907 standards, one nation one language this all good; as long as it does not keep going into one religion, one leader, one race, just like it did in Germany under Hitler just a few decades after Teddy said these things. I have no doubt, if he was alive today he would tweak his idea and rhetoric according to what happened in the last 100 years. I am not Hispanic but I know that Spanish was spoken in parts of US way before English was adopted as an official language (just a few votes ahead of German and Dutch by the way), are you going to kick them out because they have been speaking Spanish since before the US was founded?
315070
If it's the American National Anthem, then of coarse it should be sung in English. English is our national language, like it or not.