English as the national language: Why?

[Curious George]

I've always kind of wondered if there was anything behind this movement besides racism and people being annoyed at the drive-thru. I still pretty much figure this to be the case, but rather than run on suspicion, I figured I'd ask the question of people who think this is important. So... here goes:

Why should we make English the national language?

 

[partier9]

I've always kind of wondered if there was anything behind this movement besides racism and people being annoyed at the drive-thru. I still pretty much figure this to be the case, but rather than run on suspicion, I figured I'd ask the question of people who think this is important. So... here goes:

Why should we make English the national language?

A good question though i'm surprised nobody has awnsered yet.

Well the first point would be that we were a english colony. Then we broke free in a rebellion and had our freedom and our own country. English is our historic language and a language that was the main language that we spoke when we first became a country. So we should stick with it.

Another point would be if today you can't speak english in this country life is much harder than if you can. A majority of the people speak english.

 

[jamesrage]

Yes we should make english officially our national language.Because why should everyone else in the country have to learn a new language every time we get a new group of immigrants too damn lazy and inconsiderate to learn our language?

We shouldn't have to order new text books for schools, add additional languages to ballots, alter signs and government forms,require police officers to learn a new language or learn spanish just so you can place a order at Burger King just to accommodate non-english speaking immigrants.

 

[The silenced majority]

I'm not really sure whether we need to make English the official language or not.

Make no mistake about it, that massive wave of illegal immigration over our southern border is being compelled & promoted by a wide-ranging section of individuals & groups. They are broad coalition spanning the social spectrum from - Communist/Socialists who desire a neo-proletariat in this country with whom their message can resonate to Transnational Corporations and free-market pirates who seek to eliminate the nation-state and societies who've grown and become reliant on a manufacturing base.

In reality, the elimination of the nation-state is the reason for both to encourage massive illegal immigration. One just seeks the end to create a global government while the other want no restrictions (nations included) on trade.

Common Americans, who can't afford to see their national sovereignty eroded at the expense of a Communist revolution or the objectives of free-market pirates have little choice but to do things like floating out national language laws to salvage what had protected them from the demands of Monarchs, Dictators and Religious Totalitarianism for so long - their nation.

 

[Tashah]

Why should we make English the national language?

To get everyone on the same page so to speak. According to U.S. English, the following states have existing official language laws on their books: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.

 

[Hatuey]

National language? What would that mean? That employers can't hire people in whatever language they want? If yes. My answer is no. If the reason is to make government employees all speak English? Yes. If the reason we're doing it is to have niceties like in Canada where it's a "Bilingual nation" yet nobody outside of Quebec and some small province in the Atlantic speaks French. Then I guess. It all depends on what making it our national language will mean.

 

[Cephus]

A nation that cannot communicate cannot stand. We all need a common linguistic standard, it's ridiculous to have to print official documents in 50 different languages, to have to have interpreters for every conceivable language in the courts, etc.

Citizens need to have a functional understanding of the English language in order to become citizens. No other country would do the nonsense we do, it's ludicrous to expect an English-speaking nation to cater to those too stupid or lazy to learn.

 

[Thorgasm]

A nation that cannot communicate cannot stand. We all need a common linguistic standard, it's ridiculous to have to print official documents in 50 different languages, to have to have interpreters for every conceivable language in the courts, etc.

Citizens need to have a functional understanding of the English language in order to become citizens. No other country would do the nonsense we do, it's ludicrous to expect an English-speaking nation to cater to those too stupid or lazy to learn.

What's ludicrous about accomodating people? How would that fare for tourists?

 

[Hatuey]

A nation that cannot communicate cannot stand. We all need a common linguistic standard, it's ridiculous to have to print official documents in 50 different languages, to have to have interpreters for every conceivable language in the courts, etc.

Citizens need to have a functional understanding of the English language in order to become citizens. No other country would do the nonsense we do, it's ludicrous to expect an English-speaking nation to cater to those too stupid or lazy to learn.

I agree. If we're talking about our government then all processes and day to day government work should be done in English. Everything else that is private should be left up to the people.

 

[Hatuey]

What's ludicrous about accomodating people? How would that fare for tourists?

Ummmmmm you ever travel? We've had this conversation. I've gone to countries where the large majority of people I've met don't speak a word of English or speak broken English. When I was walking around looking for things to buy I'd have a dictionary/travel guide with me that would have basic phrases. I didn't get pissed off people who lived in Osaka didn't speak English.

 

[rsixing]

Ummmmmm you ever travel? We've had this conversation. I've gone to countries where the large majority of people I've met don't speak a word of English or speak broken English. When I was walking around looking for things to buy I'd have a dictionary/travel guide with me that would have basic phrases. I didn't get pissed off people who lived in Osaka didn't speak English.

I too have experienced the same thing. I was stationed in Germany and The Republic of Panama and their "national" language was the tongue of the majority of their peoples. Now there was high and low German and some sub-dialects in Panama however the citizens of these nations spoke the predominant language. I too took the time and effort to learn basic phrases of each language which enabled me to fare much better then my counterpart who refused to learn even the simplest of words. I saw it as a certain sign of disrespect for our host nation and its peoples.

This is an English speaking nation, and has been since its inception of 13 colonies. IF a person comes to the U.S. and doesn't understand English perhaps it would behoove them to carry an English dictionary when interacting with others rather them "expecting" their own language to be accommodated.

 

[Lightdemon]

It's important to know why, but what about how?

Those who do not speak english in the US, are they rich? Are they well off? Do they have stable jobs? Do they own thier own homes? Do they have time to learn english? Do they have the money to pay for english classes? How can they learn english? What will enable them to learn english?

In CA, there is a large number of refugees from El Salvador from the 80s thru the 90s. How are refugees going to learn english?

It isn't because they are lazy or inconsiderate, though it certainly is a factor. It's hard for them to learn it more than anything, I think. Considering that many students in school do not all ace thier english tests, and even grown adults who lived thier entire lives in the US still cannot speak properly or know what a freakin predicate is.

The why is ideal, the how is practical.

 

[rsixing]

It's important to know why, but what about how?

Those who do not speak english in the US, are they rich? Are they well off? Do they have stable jobs? Do they own thier own homes? Do they have time to learn english? Do they have the money to pay for english classes? How can they learn english? What will enable them to learn english?

In CA, there is a large number of refugees from El Salvador from the 80s thru the 90s. How are refugees going to learn english?

It isn't because they are lazy or inconsiderate, though it certainly is a factor. It's hard for them to learn it more than anything, I think. Considering that many students in school do not all ace thier english tests, and even grown adults who lived thier entire lives in the US still cannot speak properly or know what a freakin predicate is.

The why is ideal, the how is practical.

...predicate? oke

 

[Thorgasm]

Ummmmmm you ever travel? We've had this conversation. I've gone to countries where the large majority of people I've met don't speak a word of English or speak broken English. When I was walking around looking for things to buy I'd have a dictionary/travel guide with me that would have basic phrases. I didn't get pissed off people who lived in Osaka didn't speak English.

I understand. People who don't speak english are having this debate. People have various levels of understanding of the language as they learn. Since when was helping people a bad thing?

 

[rsixing]

I understand. People who don't speak english are having this debate. People have various levels of understanding of the language as they learn. Since when was helping people a bad thing?

Is it really about helping people or is it about their unwillingness to learn. Maybe a little of both I think.

 

[Thorgasm]

Is it really about helping people or is it about their unwillingness to learn. Maybe a little of both I think.

Well, if you concede that some are being helped, isn't that a good thing. People abuse every system. Should we abolish the rest of the Constitution because Bush abused it?

 

[rsixing]

Well, if you concede that some are being helped, isn't that a good thing. People abuse every system. Should we abolish the rest of the Constitution because Bush abused it?

I concede that some are being helped, yes. However it makes me wonder how many aren't seeking assistance and are happy to depend on the gov't and businesses hungry for their $$ to cater to their linguistic needs.

 

[Lightdemon]

...predicate? oke

The predicate is one of the two parts of a sentence, the other of which is the subject. Though not all sentences have a predicate, sometimes the predicate is assumed without being stated.

The point was this: Are immigrants, especially the refugees and the ones who are in poverty, are they going going to worry about what is the predicate or the subject of the sentence, or worry about how they are going to keep a roof over thier heads, or how they are going to find a new job if suddenly they cannot find work, or what can they fall back on in case of emergencies.

Learning english is important, yes. It certainly isn't the most important thing, though it will help you tremendously. But there are just circumstances that will get in the way for people to prevent them from being able to learn english. I think we need to step away from the mindset that those who do not want to learn english is because they are non-conformative, or lazy, or whatever.

 

[rsixing]

The predicate is one of the two parts of a sentence, the other of which is the subject. Though not all sentences have a predicate, sometimes the predicate is assumed without being stated.

The point was this: Are immigrants, especially the refugees and the ones who are in poverty, are they going going to worry about what is the predicate or the subject of the sentence, or worry about how they are going to keep a roof over thier heads, or how they are going to find a new job if suddenly they cannot find work, or what can they fall back on in case of emergencies.

Learning english is important, yes. It certainly isn't the most important thing, though it will help you tremendously. But there are just circumstances that will get in the way for people to prevent them from being able to learn english. I think we need to step away from the mindset that those who do not want to learn english is because they are non-conformative, or lazy, or whatever.

I was joking but since you expounded...

...you have some points that I agree with however when someone assimilates into a society, in particular one which does not speak their language, it's amazing how necessity overcomes other stumbling blocks.

 

[Cephus]

What's ludicrous about accomodating people? How would that fare for tourists?

That's why I said things about 'official documents' and 'citizens'. :roll:

 

[mikhail]

Wasnt there a bill passed recently to make the offical language of America english? THough this makes about as much sense as a bill deciding Americas favorate color is blue.Besides this i think people should be able to talk English if they live in America and that the government making signs etc in sopanish was a big mistake.You cannot have good relations among people if they dont speak the same language.In the UK we had to spend millions of tax payers money to convert signs in wales into welsh.Which is even more stupid because welsh should be a dead language.

 

[rsixing]

Wasnt there a bill passed recently to make the offical language of America english? THough this makes about as much sense as a bill deciding Americas favorate color is blue.Besides this i think people should be able to talk English if they live in America and that the government making signs etc in sopanish was a big mistake.You cannot have good relations among people if they dont speak the same language.In the UK we had to spend millions of tax payers money to convert signs in wales into welsh.Which is even more stupid because welsh should be a dead language.

There is a very strong agendized movement in the U.S. to pander to spanish speakers. Were we a true egalitarian society every language need would be met by multi-lingual translations encompassing all languages. NOT just the needs of spanish speakers. I don't disagree with universal street signs because we have multi-culture drivers who come to this country and drive its highways and streets but istm as the influx of illegal immigrants from south of the U.S. border hemorrhages we see more and more special privilege for spanish-speakers.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

It is impossible to get by, by and large, in this country without speaking English. Jobs, going to the store, handling business dealings for where you live. English is the first language that official documents and bills are printed in this country. All new immigrants should be required to have a basic understanding of English. It is essential in order to get a job and interact, day to day, with the public. If English is made the official language, this would cause two things to occur: it would raise the level of importance for immigrants to learn the language to assist with their assimilation and prosperity, and might create programs to assist in basic understanding of the language for these immigrants.

 

[Cephus]

It is impossible to get by, by and large, in this country without speaking English.

Oh, I don't know, I've seen some people try. In fact, I've seen some spanish-speakers get really pissed off at people who didn't speak spanish, as if it's somehow their right to have people cater to them in their native tongue. You have to admit, there's a hell of a huge entitlement belief among the lunatic liberals in this country. :roll:

 

[mpg]

choices 2 & 3 and also unity