ok...this may sound like a dumb question...but is English the actual official language of the United States.....I mean i know its the predominant language spoken and you have to learn it in school, has it been declared by the U.S. that this is the official language? I said that it was, and a TA and a bunch of student in one of my classes disagreed with me, so I was wondering if it actually is, and if not, why not?

US has no offical language. Never has. There have been a few bills to make English (or "American") the official language, but they've all died on the national level. I believe some individual states have official languages (as English), but its a very small handful, only 1 or 2.

Setting legislation on language was unpopular with the founding fathers because it was something they felt was not the responsibility of the government, and it trampled on individuals rights. Most of them believed in a small government that didn't interfere with the daily lives of its citizens.

But, I do believe you have to pass an English test to become a naturalized citizen. I think thats the only major language restriction.

nKoan hit the nail on the head. The US has no official language as set by the federal government. Some states have adopted english as thier official language in thier constitutions. There have been attempts to standardize it federally, but many feel it's unconstitutional.

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_lang.html

thanks

this is broken down by state. i think at this point, approximately 2/5 of the states have made English their official state language

ok...this may sound like a dumb question...but is English the actual official language of the United States.....I mean i know its the predominant language spoken and you have to learn it in school, has it been declared by the U.S. that this is the official language? I said that it was, and a TA and a bunch of student in one of my classes disagreed with me, so I was wondering if it actually is, and if not, why not?

On Planet Earth, English is recognized as the official language of business in most regions.

Though hispanic groups have fought efforts to have english as the official U.S. language, hispanics are the ones that ultimately pay the largest price for not becoming proficient at it. Lack of proficiency is career limiting unless you want to do business solely in spanish speaking countries.. though much of business is done there in English.

I don't think our founding fathers would have imagine that the U.S. would support immigration policies that would result in fractured societal pockets of different language and culture, but would support assimilation and a common, more unified culture.

Why is so much outsourcing taking place? It's because there are many other countries where English is spoken well, such as India. If Mexico got off its ass and fixed their education system (i.e. made Mexicans learn English), it would help Mexico fix their economy.

It's ironic that hispanics would argue against speaking English primarily to preserve Mexican heritage and culture, yet that same resistance makes them second-class citizens in the U.S.

I don't think our founding fathers would have imagine that the U.S. would support immigration policies that would result in fractured societal pockets of different language and culture, but would support assimilation and a common, more unified culture.



You need to edumacate yourself on how things were back in the day. Our country has always had "societal pockets" wih unique social norms, traditions, and, yes, even language. That is the American fabric.

Yeah, the only reason all government documents aren't duplicated in German is strictly economic. There was a close vote in the late 1700's to keep two copies of the law of the land, one in English and one in German. Some liked the idea, but most all agreed that it would be too costly to implement.

You need to edumacate yourself on how things were back in the day. Our country has always had "societal pockets" wih unique social norms, traditions, and, yes, even language. That is the American fabric.

You could call an "ethnic" neighborhood a societal pocket, but that's not what I meant. You could walk through those neighborhoods and speak English, though you might get your ass kicked.

I'm talking about areas where U.S. towns look like Mexico, and more than half the people can't speak english. Even in the bay area, you can pick up a group of mexicans to dig ditches or clean toilets and none of them can spell "for sale."
If they were educated in English, they could get much better jobs.

Do you disagree, or just want to make some red herring personal attack?

You could call an "ethnic" neighborhood a societal pocket, but that's not what I meant. You could walk through those neighborhoods and speak English, though you might get your ass kicked.

I'm talking about areas where U.S. towns look like Mexico, and more than half the people can't speak english. Even in the bay area, you can pick up a group of mexicans to dig ditches or clean toilets and none of them can spell "for sale."
If they were educated in English, they could get much better jobs.

Do you disagree, or just want to make some red herring personal attack?


You're an idiot, man. The whole point of our country is that you CAN have pockets of language, society, and religion that DO NOT have to be assimilated...you really have a twisted view of what the founding fathers wanted.

You need to edumacate yourself on how things were back in the day. Our country has always had "societal pockets" wih unique social norms, traditions, and, yes, even language. That is the American fabric.


Exactly

You're an idiot, man. The whole point of our country is that you CAN have pockets of language, society, and religion that DO NOT have to be assimilated...you really have a twisted view of what the founding fathers wanted.

Again, in your liberal-esque all-or-nothing lunacy, pockets in the form of neighborhoods are fine, but when a foreign culture begins to dominate a large area, it might as well not be the U.S.A.

How does it feel to know the vast majority of American Citizens, even the 1st generation ones, identify with an opinion you call idiotic?

And I thought you were a promoter of diversity? I guess not.

Exactly

Yeah.. me three!!! Oh, wait a minute...

You do have to ask yourself when lack of participation becomes self segregation.

LA RAZA ;)

And I thought you were a promoter of diversity? I guess not.


Are you seriously trying to spin this from you wanting assimilation in America, and me defending diversity, to you accusing me of not wanting diversity? Did you forget to take a pill today when you woke up?

Are you seriously trying to spin this from you wanting assimilation in America, and me defending diversity, to you accusing me of not wanting diversity? Did you forget to take a pill today when you woke up?

No, it seems as though your definition of diversity is very different from mine. I'm for diversity as a component of American culture, not "countries within countries."

This is what happens when you don't properly assimilate or integrate the immigrant pool:
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116920

No, that's what happens when religion blinds people to reality.

In that case I think it's a little bit of both.

You're an idiot, man. The whole point of our country is that you CAN have pockets of language, society, and religion that DO NOT have to be assimilated...you really have a twisted view of what the founding fathers wanted.

Hey MVWRX... is this what you want?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/04/MNGIOFJ3P91.DTL

Right out of a pinko lefty paper, too, explaining why they don't clearly state the rioters are Muslims.

The title is "Riots by angry youth expose French schism
Millions of residents of African descent not yet integrated."

Oh, and by the way, many of the rioters are 3rd generation.

Keep reading the news... the problems in France are due to "lack of integration."