Should English be the Official Language of the USA? Why or Why not?
822179
No, they would all have to go back to school and learn it.  Let American english be the official language.
361921
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.
1132908
I don't recall there being any article in the Constitution that gives the English language any official status or that guarantees that American citizens should never be subjected to hearing languages other than the majority tongue. If anything, the United States was actually founded to encourage acceptance of diversity. Remember the First Amendment? It guarantees not only freedom of religion but also freedom of speech, and that means not just WHAT you want to say but also HOW (and in what language) you want to say it.\n\nI agree that immigrants should be encouraged to learn English, but not because Americans have some God-given right to never have to hear any language but English. If you're really all that concerned about immigrants who are having a hard time acquiring the English language, perhaps you should volunteer some of your time tutoring immigrants in English.\n\nEDIT: After all, it can take years to acquire a second language. How many years did it take for you to learn Spanish, and how fluent are you in it? That is, are you conversational? Would you be comfortable speaking in only Spanish all day long in every situation? How about when you travel to Mexico? Do you speak Spanish every second you're there, or do you just use Spanish when you have to ask for directions of something and revert back to English when speaking to other Americans you're traveling with? \n\nOr are you perhaps a second or third generation Latina? Did your parents or grand-parents speak Spanish? And if so, why is it that your mother tongue is English and not Spanish? It's amazing how quickly people become assimilated in this country, isn't it? It is admittedly difficult for those who immigrate to this country as an adult to pick up the English language, especially when most of them work long hours, rely on others for transportation, and can't afford college English classes. After all, it can take YEARS to become fluent in a foreign language. Don't you agree? Yet more often than not, the children and grand-children of these immigrants not only learn to speak English fluently but don't even learn to speak their parents' language, which is a shame, if you ask me. In the meantime, it does admittedly take those first generation immigrants a while to pick up the language, so maybe we should be a little more patient and stop being so judgmental. Those of use who have learned to speak a second language fluently realize how difficult a process it can be. If more Americans took it upon themselves to try to learn a foreign language, they might be a little less judgmental.\n\nFYI: French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is spoken as a first language by people in France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, etc..., but more importantly, it is spoken as a second language in countries where it is the official language or where it has a historical presence, including, but not limited to the following countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Tchad, Senegal, Guinea, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Burkina-Faso, Cameroun, Ruanda, Burundi, Zaire, Egypt, Guyana, Guadelope, Martinique, Reunion, Corsica, French Polynesia, etc...
748919
I agree..... everyone who lives in this country should learn to speak ENGLISH.
305614
no, keeping the laws that are already there and IN FORCING them is the answer.... we have laws that has to be obeyed and learned... we also have a language that should be the national language of America !!! English.......
805314
1/4 of the US was once a territory of Mexico.  Another huge chunk was Russian.  Another chunk was French.  Each of those chunks was purchased or won in combat by the English chunk.   Therefore, English won out.\n\nThere was a push for a long while to establish a national language between German and English!  But that died down once the Great World War started.  I've picked up a great deal of Spanish, because I enjoy it.  Otherwise, I don't think anyone should be forced to learn Spanish.  Just like learning English, it might make some interactions easier!
688855
there is none.  english is the official language in some states, though, and other states have a non-english language as the official one. for example, hawaiian is the official language of hawaii.
1129852
It's better to have two languages spoken. It would be more conveinient if everyone knew how to speak english, but that's a long and hard task to teach many.
240872
Well it is true that the amount of errors and shorthand in the American's language is increasing with every generation.  However, it is the American language, it's just a form of English now.  It happens over time languages change and branch apart, I wouldn't be surprised that over the next few hundred years the language spoken in England and America would be so different you would have to take classes in one to understand other.
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.
536659
The US hasn't actually instituted a "national language" yet.  The measure was recently passed by the Senate, but has to go through House/Senate negotiations and be signed by the President.  \n\nA "national language" is different from an "official language."  An official language means that gov't documents will only be printed in that language--a national language is more non-binding, just to recognize that most of us speak English. \n\nMost countries do have a national or official language, and very many have more than one officially recognized language.  \n\nBut the US is different from most countries.  For the most part, people in France are of French ancestry, people in Germany are of German ancestry -- but people in the US can be of English, French, German, Russian, Irish, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Mexican, Guatemalan, Native American, or any other ancestry.  \n\nI've lived overseas for four years now, and I have come to understand that the US is genuinely unique in this respect.  I think to establish English as our only language is denying our heritage--not just for recent immigrants, but for all of us whose ancestors, at some point, spoke another language.  That heritage is a vital part of what makes us different from the rest of the world and gives us our identity as "American."
951390
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.
895964
I think yes, The American people are setting the standard for what we want our government to do. You see town after town approving these immigration props for a reason. We want something done!\nEnglish will be the official language\nbetter believe that
609388
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights and all of our legislation is written in English. English is the adopted language of America.
99350
I propose we change the version of english spoken in the US, and call it American. Being that we are a bigger and meaner country than England, we can bully them and say we speak proper english, but truth be told, English is from England.
1111130
A lot of people think that English is the only acceptable language of the US.  So when people translate it, they get angry.  Some people are just really ignorant.
432675
I agree with you. There are too many here that do not speak any word of English but yet they want to live here and be treated like citizens. I believe if they want to be taking serious about wanting to be here as Americans then they need to learn the English language as well. It is good to keep speaking your home language but you need to speak English as well