Preview

English Official Language

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
970 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
English Official Language
There have been many discussions about making English the official language of the United States. And not only has there been discussions, but people are starting to act. There have been movements, unity acts, and even laws have been proposed to make this a reality. So why isn’t English our official language yet? To me the United states has always been a cultural diverse nation. And because it is diverse, it is the reason why America is what it is today. Holding a barrier to one language takes the flavor out of the world and that is why the United States should NOT make English its official language. There should not be an official language at all.
First, let’s discuss where the English language originated from. According to http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/where-did-english-come-from/1571948.html
…show more content…
Throughout the years the Saxons, Angels, and Jutes mixed their different languages together which resulted in what is called Anglo-Saxon or Old English. Old English is very hard to understand and only a few experts can understand it this earliest form of English. About 1,100 years ago the next invasion came from a people called the Vikings. They came from Denmark, Norway, and other northern countries and they raided the coast areas of Britain looking for valuables like slaves and traded goods. Some Viking areas became so powerful that they started to build temporary bases and they eventually became permanent. Later, the Vikings stayed in Britain and many of the English words such as “sky”, “leg”, “skull”, “egg”, “lift”, and “crawl” came from the ancient Vikings and are also from the old languages of the far northern countries. More than 900 years ago, in 1066, the next invasion took place and history experts call it the invasion of Norman Conquest. This conquest was led by William the conqueror. The Normans were French speakers from Normandy in the north of France and became rulers over Britain. These rulers only spoke French for several hundred years and at that time it was …show more content…
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cultural-diversity defines cultural diversity as the cultural variety and differences that exist in the world, a society, or an institution. So, whether it is the holidays you celebrate, what faith you follow, and to stay on topic, the language you speak culture is what makes you, you. And it shapes our identity and has an impact on our own behavior. Living in a diverse world helps recognize the large diversity of culture, respect for the divergence, seeing the value in what other cultures offer, encouraging the gift of other languages and empowering people to strengthen themselves and others to reach their greatest potential and celebrating the beauty of what other cultures have to offer. Eventually, we all will grasp on to one another’s culture and it will become a part of our everyday

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Normans were French-speaking, and as a result of their rule, they introduced many French words that started in the nobility and eventually became part of the English language itself. As Paul K. Davis writes, "William's victory placed a foreign ruler on the throne of England, introducing European rather than Scandinavian society onto the isolated island" in "the last successful invasion of England." Paul K. Davis, 100 Decisive Battles from Ancient Times to the Present: The World's Major Battles and How They Shaped History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999), 113.…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    For as long as the United States has been a country, there has been controversy over establishing English as the official language. Even the idolized US President Theodore Roosevelt had a firm belief the US has “room for but one language in this country and that is the English language”. In a 2010 poll conducted by Rasmussen, eighty-seven percent of American voters said they would support making English the official language. Immigrants would also benefit from establishing English as the national language, because after learning English they would be able to actively participate in the democratic system employed throughout the US. Although the United States is a notorious melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, language should be legislated, because having multiple languages spoken in the public isolates minorities.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    During the Dark Ages, the area of Britannia was invaded and conquered many times, by many different cultures. You had the German speaking Vikings, the Celtic speaking Celts, and the Latin speaking romans. All of them influenced on the English language, and in different ways allowed it to change. The influences came from war, stories, migration, and many other things. When you get all of those different people together you make a melting pot for language, which they will all try to make a common tongue to communicate to each other with. Thus leading to the evolution of the English…

    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although there are many positive aspects of making English the official language of the U.S. there are also just as many negative aspects. The United States was founded as a country of freedom. Freedom of speech is one of our most important rights in this country. Many people believe that making English or any other language for that matter takes away that right. It would take away the individualism that people love so much in this country. Taking away individualism could also keep immigrants from coming to this country and could force many to leave and go back to where they came from. Affecting individualism in this way could also greatly affect…

    • 721 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why the United States does not have an official language has been an ongoing debate for a long time. A lot of people are for it and a lot of people are against it. While conducting my research I learned that if the United States made English the official language of the country it would be going against the first amendment, Freedom of speech. Regardless of going against the constitution 27 states have made English their official language. Why is it so important to so many people that the United States have an official language? Would it aid immigrants in the assimilation process and make it more likely for them to succeed? Can other languages be used in the country for certain official purposes, if English is the sole official language? Does official English offend the idea of American diversity? Does it discriminate against non-native speakers? Does an adequate incentive exist to learn English without it being official? Is there anything wrong with the status quo? Do most countries in the world have an official language? Is it important for any tangible and practical reasons? Do English only laws threaten or enhance public safety? Is official English good public policy? (Debate 2010) These are questions that rise in everyone’s mind when the topic of designating an official language in the US comes up.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Back then, it wasn’t uncommon to hear up to 20 different languages spoken in daily life. Today, those numbers are more staggering. According to U.S. English Inc., an advocacy group that supports declaring English as our official language, 322 languages are spoken in the country, with 24 of those spoken in every state and the District of Columbia. California has the most languages, with 207, while Wyoming has the fewest with 56. So why won’t Congress declare an official language? Because we are a nation of immigrants and these numbers prove it. Because declaring an official language would abridge the rights of individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals who are paying taxes and who are entitled to the same rights as those who speak…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although a common misconception is that the U.S’s main language is English, the United States is a country with no official language. As much of a melting pot the U.S is, there should be one language used across the country to prevent confusion and to grant easy translation. English is already so widely used across the country, being the official language of over half of the 50 states, so making it the country’s language would just be easier on everyone. An official language provides a…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    English should be the official language of the United States because it is the original language of the United States. Everyone that lives in or moves to the United States should have to learn English as a primary or secondary language. Also, I am not saying that it should be the only language spoken in the United States, It should be a requirement to speak this language because when coming to this county there are many people who hold certain jobs that are very vital to your base needs who can only speak English because that is the only language they have every known such…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The researcher stated that English is now the official language in the United States. There are documents that discuss the importance of an official language in America, which supports this statement. In this research there are further details about English as the Official Language in the U. S. and how language can unite people in society, it can be universal as a language, and it also shows that it has the tendency be a challenge, for other cultures to learn as a second language. There should be a way for everyone to co-exist and to function as one nation under God in America. Language is the substance for people to communicate with one another and to co-exist freely.…

    • 1624 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    An imperative question that one must ask themself about whether or not to make English the official language of the United States is that, isn 't it better to learn and become familiar with languages other than one 's own rather than know only one language your whole life? It should be recognizable that different languages and cultures bring uniqueness to our country. Making English the official language here in the United States has advantage and…

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In simple terms, cultural diversity can be defined as the level of diversity or difference in a given society. Societies that display high levels of diversity exhibit many differences across that population. Differences can include skin color, religious affiliation, cultural practices and other ethnic beliefs and customs. Immigration is a major factor in determining the level of diversity that a given society is exposed to. Ever since the dawn of time, humans have traveled the globe in curiosity to interact with other civilizations. These interactions were either well intentioned to share and form partnerships, or militaristic conquests to expand territories and force populations to conform to foreign ideals. These such interactions helped to foster cultural diversity both genetically, as is the case with Attila the Hun, or substantively through the spread of cultural beliefs and practices worldwide.…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Do we really need another bureaucracy controlling how and what we speak?” ("English Should Not Be the Official Language of the United States." n.d.) I think when the government makes English as an official language, people could have a chance to choose what language they want use in their homes. It was surprising to me when I found out that the U.S.A does not have an official language. Although English is many people’s native language, it also often used for business. For me, I think the U.S.A should declare English as an official language for many reasons.…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I feel that English should be the official language of the United States. Though as I read on some of the articles I understand that there are pros and cons to the factor. Though today in the United States most of our country already speaks English. Which is a factor because more people can communicate with one another if they know English as their language. Other pros that I have read and agreed on is the fact if English was the official language that it would save the government a lot of money for printing other text and materials in a different language.…

    • 103 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Diversity In America

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages

    For example in our classroom we have people from different countries and all of us are raised in different cultures which gives us an opportunity to learn about the new culture that we are not familiar with. Diversity creates the curiosity to learn about a new culture. “Diversity is a positive thing not something to fear” (Pendulum).It is important to consider the different aspects in diversity. Diversity plays a major role every day and everywhere. Students exposed to diverse cultures learn and understand better the difference in dressing style, the way they behave and the food they eat which helps them to broaden their view in the way they see the…

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Diversity: I will participate working with different cultures to understand and develop new cultural techniques and apply them to my advancement in life. Being diverse can help a person to be aware of different cultural aspects that take a role in our everyday lifestyles.…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays