Why is there no official language in the Great U.S.A. ?
609388
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights and all of our legislation is written in English. English is the adopted language of America.
759967
In Europe countries that speak different language are closer together geographically so it makes sense to lean other languages. In the states there is Spanish to the south and a little French in parts of Canada. Many people in the southwest do speak Spanish. It’s hard to learn and keep up fluency if you don’t use it a lot.
1018411
Spanish is a growing language in the United States. Those who have latino(s) heritage are growing in great numbers and will outnumber any other minority group soon. \n\nIn order to accomodate this growing population, bilinugal "aids" have been added. This group may help decide who our future leaders will be. \n\nAs for learning a new language- it's fun and and it's worthwhile. Americans are so egocentric. Citizens in other countries know more than one language and are able to get along just fine. \n\nPara mi, me gusta much espanol. Estudio en la escuela secondara y en la universidad. \n\nComprende?
694119
Because it has never been passed by congress to make English the official language.  In the 1780's there was a bill to do this but because of the German speaking population it did not pass.  In fact by a 1 vote margin German failed to become the second language of America.  \n\nAll laws are written in English (other that Latin phrases) and some states require other languages be used as well.
316119
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.
367365
greenpeacein79 has a valid point...  America does not have an 'official' language.\n\nIn the early days of the formation of this country, when it came time for our forefathers to write the documents that would lay the foundations of our sovereignty, English beat out German as the language of choice BY ONLY ONE VOTE.\n\nThat said, English is the predominant language used in the U.S., and the language in which all of this country's laws are written.\n\nFurthermore, anybody who wants to be economically viable in the global market, at least at this point in history, needs some command of the English language, it's that simple:  It's not an opinion, it's not a theory...\n\nIt's just a f*****g fact of life,... so get used to it.
1156056
It is official.  Has been for centuries, actually.  It won out by only one vote over the proposal that we speak German.  Can you see how history might have been different if we didn't have this as our official language?\n\nAnd if Ben Franklin had his way, our national bird would have been the turkey.  Yikes!
579934
I believe that the inability to communicate effectively is one of the root causes of conflict in this world.  A common language is extremely important to foster better communication.  \n\nTo this end, all government activies, including voting, public schooling, etc. should be conducted in one language, ONLY!  Of course the government should have intensive language programs in place to ensure that EVERYONE is given the opportunity to learn the language.\n\nAs for the choice of language...  I would rather have seen the Senate be a bit more forward thinking and choose the language of the next century.  No, not spanish...  Chinese.\n\n;-)
502866
The CIA World Fact book states clearly that the language of the U.S.of A. is:\n\nLanguages:   \nEnglish 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census) \n\nDoes not say the official language is English, sorry but try and argue against them apples!
150411
The U.S. public school system is horrible.  Grammar and spelling are just the only subjects that show up here.  Outside of N. America, most US children couldn't label a map.
238728
Because its artificial. No one speaks it as a native tongue, so those of us who are too lazy to learn a second language (and there are a lot of us) keep our native languages in play.
695631
this sounds like a homework question.  Perhaps, think about it a little for yourself.  Here are a few ideas to ponder:\n\nIn favor:\n(1) It's a cost-saving measure.  With an official language the government needs only print documents in one language, so you don't have to print ballots, bills, notes, etc. 2, 5, 10 times for every possible language under the sun that anyone MIGHT use.\n(2) It encourages assimilation.  We are a VERY diverse country, but what kept our country together (outside of armed military conflict in the 1860s of course) was the fact that when people got here, they learned the language, they learned "American" traditions, and they melded together.  Today, with so many cultures striving for cultural identity, we've become a less cohesive country, which has caused lots of strife. At a minimum, mandating English as an official language will send the signal that all Americans have the responsibility to communicate using the same tongue.\n\nAGAINST:\n(1) It's racist.  Just because English is the language spoken by the Founders of our country doesn't mean it's "official."  Official language makes people feel like second-class citizens, like their identity and culture are not important.  It also marginalizes the large minorities in this country who have not yet learned English.\n(2) It denies people equal access to the government.  There are many LEGAL immigrants and others who have not learned the language.  Making English "official" means that many of them cannot access government services (such as VOTING, social services, knowledge of the government, etc.) because they cannot read or communicate in English.  Such a result is unfair, unreasonable, and is probably violative of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendement, thus unconstitutional.\n\nSo you think about it.
507370
Why not!\nThe US is a country of immigrants and is marked by ethnic diversity. When India can have several(14) national languages, surely two is no big deal.
1120219
Spanish shouldn't be America's national language but neither should English. The US has survived for over 200 years with a national language. We don't need one now.
367470
USA, or The United States of America is one country comprised of 50 states and one federal district.\n\nIt's capital is Washington, which is in the federal District of Columbia, or D.C. for short.\n\nEnglish is the main spoken language.\nIt is the third largest country in the world with an estimated 298 million people.\n\nThe states in alphabetical order are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
1131734
People can speak whatever language they want.  Just don't expect the Americans who speak English to change.  I think it'd be like going to France and forcing them to speak English.
266385
wth? they dont actually state the language in the constitution my dear...\n\nbut it does seem a bit odd seeing as though the whole document is written in...*ahem*...ENGLISH!\n\nand what kind of question is this? you have absolutely no grounds for this foolishness...it doesnt even makes sense...