Does the USA need an official language?

[Kwaipie]

Do we? or are we doing just fine without one?

 

[palehorse]

need one? no. should we have one? yes.

 

[dmcowen674]

Up until the Mexican invasion the consensus was no, since then we must make it English or Spanish.

 

[0roo0roo]

probably, only because the politicians are too afraid to deal with the continuous massive influx of mexicans. they pretend its the same as the past when it isn't. immigration history has immigration waves then it is turned off to a trickle while they assimilate. now we just flood and pretend it will work, especially considering their home country is right beside them, they do not have to cut ties as previous immigrants did.

 

[Stunt]

No...there should be no enforcement of languages.
If a minority refuses to learn the majority's language, they will automatically be put at a disadvantage. There is absolutely no point in policing this as companies/people can determine for themselves if it's worth while translating.

Wedge issues like this are absolutely ridiculous.
How about flag burning?? 😛

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Stunt
No...there should be no enforcement of languages.
If a minority refuses to learn the majority's language, they will automatically be put at a disadvantage. There is absolutely no point in policing this as companies/people can determine for themselves if it's worth while translating.

Wedge issues like this are absolutely ridiculous.
How about flag burning?? 😛

That used to be the case but I suspect you have not been here to see what has happened. Everything is changing over to spanish so those that speak English are actually going to be at a "disadvantage".

 

[DealMonkey]

Enforcing a national language would make us just like France! <Cue freepers spitting out their dark beers onto their flat panels>

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Stunt
No...there should be no enforcement of languages.
If a minority refuses to learn the majority's language, they will automatically be put at a disadvantage. There is absolutely no point in policing this as companies/people can determine for themselves if it's worth while translating.

Wedge issues like this are absolutely ridiculous.
How about flag burning?? 😛

That used to be the case but I suspect you have not been here to see what has happened. Everything is changing over to spanish so those that speak English are actually going to be at a "disadvantage".

No. As "everything is" HARDLY "changing over to Spanish," I'd say that's more than a little bit paranoid/xenophobic. All you're seeing is occasional bilingual courtesy.

Plus, it's MUCH easier to learn Spanish as a 2nd language than English. For some reason, most Americans can't seem to figure out that English, while wonderfully flexible and expressive, is also one of the most F'ed up irregular languages on earth. Literally impossible for many people to learn as a 2nd language, especially for someone whose native tongue is something beautiful, regular, and orderly like Spanish. Just the tip of the iceberg, but there's a reason they don't have spelling bees in Spanish-speaking countries, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the education.

 

[Tipsy Turtle]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Stunt
No...there should be no enforcement of languages.
If a minority refuses to learn the majority's language, they will automatically be put at a disadvantage. There is absolutely no point in policing this as companies/people can determine for themselves if it's worth while translating.

Wedge issues like this are absolutely ridiculous.
How about flag burning?? 😛

That used to be the case but I suspect you have not been here to see what has happened. Everything is changing over to spanish so those that speak English are actually going to be at a "disadvantage".

You're 100% correct.

I was in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas recently and saw as many street signs and names of businesses in Spanish as I did English.

 

[blackllotus]

Originally posted by: Vic
For some reason, most Americans can't seem to figure out that English, while wonderfully flexible and expressive, is also one of the most F'ed up irregular languages on earth. Literally impossible for many people to learn as a 2nd language, especially for someone whose native tongue is something beautiful, regular, and orderly like Spanish.

Very true. We may think having to learn word genders is bad but think about what people learning English have to overcome. English has no accents, so many pronunciations can only be learned by memorization, and has words whose pronunciation depends on the tense of the sentence (ex: "read"). Plus, common language is littered with idioms. Also, adults have a harder time learning new languages than kids so immigrant adults are at a huge disadvantage. Its not wonder it takes years and years for many of them to learn english.

 

[Sinsear]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Stunt
No...there should be no enforcement of languages.
If a minority refuses to learn the majority's language, they will automatically be put at a disadvantage. There is absolutely no point in policing this as companies/people can determine for themselves if it's worth while translating.

Wedge issues like this are absolutely ridiculous.
How about flag burning?? 😛

That used to be the case but I suspect you have not been here to see what has happened. Everything is changing over to spanish so those that speak English are actually going to be at a "disadvantage".

Seriously; it was like one day I woke up and everything was also written in spanish. We've been invaded.

 

[FoBoT]

i don't see the point

 

[will889]

Ebonics?

 

[beyoku]

Jeez you guys. Too freakin bad, learn spanish. I have been to many places in the world and wherever you have a country that kicked some natives assses and stole thier land a long time ago, you can bet their will be a ton of them on still on that land, living on both sides of the border and your country will have their language as a secondary. Its like this in many countries around the world. The US is not special in some way. - Canada=English/French. China Mandarin/Cantonese. etc.....And many other places around the world English is the second language. What do you expect? Spanish makes the most sense to be on Teleprompt machines, ATM's and DVD subtitles. I dont see what the big deal is.

 

[beyoku]

Originally posted by: will889
Ebonics?

:thumbsup:

 

[skwicz212]

I see nothing wrong with having an official language. People can still have a second language or whatever they want.

 

[babylon5]

Quebec version of attempt succession from Canada awaits USA.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Turn the US into a second EU... Where you need dozens of translators for every single meeting.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Yes, because the nation would benefit from the economic efficiency that would come from having a single official language.

Of course, that doesn't mean that speaking a foreign language in the U.S. or not being able to speak English would or should be illegal, just that government business would be transacted in English.

 

[tomywishbone]

I say we all speak Pimp.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: blackllotus

Originally posted by: Vic
For some reason, most Americans can't seem to figure out that English, while wonderfully flexible and expressive, is also one of the most F'ed up irregular languages on earth. Literally impossible for many people to learn as a 2nd language, especially for someone whose native tongue is something beautiful, regular, and orderly like Spanish.

Very true. We may think having to learn word genders is bad but think about what people learning English have to overcome. English has no accents, so many pronunciations can only be learned by memorization, and has words whose pronunciation depends on the tense of the sentence (ex: "read"). Plus, common language is littered with idioms. Also, adults have a harder time learning new languages than kids so immigrant adults are at a huge disadvantage. Its not wonder it takes years and years for many of them to learn english.

Hum.. actually it's common knowledge that English is the easiest language to learn... The grammar is ridiculously simple when compared to German, French or Italian.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Kwaipie
Does the USA need an official language?

Well it could be another item we could add to our resumé. 😛
Having an "Official Language" makes us sound like some kind of third rate, hole in the wall country.
What next, an "Official Ice Cream Flavor"? :laugh:

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: Kwaipie
Do we? or are we doing just fine without one?

Unfortunately we need one, which would be English.

Why? Because of all the rules having to be created and enforced furhter encroaching on our freedoms to support the myraid of languages that exists. We generate strife by not integrating immigrants. Language is a barrier that can be removed, but not when government actively supports that barrier.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Shivetya

Originally posted by: Kwaipie
Do we? or are we doing just fine without one?

Unfortunately we need one, which would be English.

Why? Because of all the rules having to be created and enforced furhter encroaching on our freedoms to support the myraid of languages that exists. We generate strife by not integrating immigrants. Language is a barrier that can be removed, but not when government actively supports that barrier.

Might want to check out that libertarian line in your signature. The folks who are saying that language will solve itself are right (maybe your lawn guy speaks only spanish, but how about your accountant), but even if they weren't, is it really the job of government to force everyone to speak the same language?

 

[Blain]

They won't force anyone to speak it, they just need to pass bills.
That way they can get back into office in the next election. :laugh:
It's a smoke screen that makes it look as if something in Washington is getting done.