[kaaos]

Although the United States has no official language, it's largely monolingual with English being the de facto official language. It's spoken by about 82 percent of the population as a native language and nearly everyone as a daily language. There also have been moves in the past to make English the official language of the United States, but so far, this has been just a minor political issue.

Approximately 336 languages are spoken by the population (spoken or signed) of which 176 are indigenous to the area. 52 languages formly spoken in the country's territory are now extinct (Grimes 2000).

Spanish is taught as a second language to some extent, especially in areas with large Hispanic populations such as the states which border Mexico, as well as Florida and New York. Younger generations of non-Hispanics seem to be learning Spanish in larger numbers, thanks to the growing Hispanic population and increasing popularity of Latin American movies and music performed in the Spanish language. Over 30 million Americans, roughly 12% of the population, speak Spanish, making the U.S. the fifth largest Spanish speaking population in the world after Mexico, Colombia, Spain, and Argentina.

[poochee]

That's interesting.

[loserOlimbs]

very interesting.

Wasn't aware English wasn't the "official" language.

[kaaos]

Originally Posted by loserOlimbs

very interesting.

Wasn't aware English wasn't the "official" language.

kind of puts a new spin on "Its America, speak the language(english) or leave!"

you guys ever hear about the urban legend that GERMAN fell one vote short of becoming the united states official language.

[Ciberblade]

Claim: A proposal to make German the official language of the United States of America was defeated in Congress by one vote.

Status: False.

Origins: Legend has it that in 1795 a bill to establish German as the official language of the fledgling United States of America was defeated in Congress by a single vote. There never was such a vote; indeed, there wasn't any such bill, either. A proposal before Congress in 1795 merely recommended the printing of federal laws in German as well as English, and no bill was ever actually voted upon.

[kaaos]

Originally Posted by Ciberblade

yep, that's the one

[DublHelix]

I heard that too in American History class when I was about 9, here in England. I only found out recently from a book '1001 Things You Didn't Know About American History' - that it was in fact a fallacy.

A friend of mine who grew up under the communist system in the old East Germany had that told to him also, apparently it was early proof of the capitalist conspiracy to deny the immigrant german workers their basic rights, of bourgeois class division, and the roots of the exploitation of the workers.

He later spent two years as a border guard on the Berlin Wall - but couldn't remember anyone ever being shot trying to get in.

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by DublHelix

He later spent two years as a border guard on the Berlin Wall - but couldn't remember anyone ever being shot trying to get in.

Hah!

I posted a link similar to that snopes link in one of the earlier threads here in Civ-Deb. Maybe I'll find it eventually and then hit the 'edit' button on this post...

I have no problem with multi-culturalism, but the 'learn to speak the language' argument kaaos mentioned does have some sway with me. Not bothering to learn the language is a bit of an affront to your gracious hosts, afterall.

[grandpaw7]

Good idea for anyone coming to the U.S. There are likely millions of people who don't speak English who would like to learn to speak it. While there are some who probably aren't interested, I doubt there are many; even the few who come here but whose loyalties are still with the mother country usually want to learn English, if nothing else to better publish their message.

Not so easy if you're working twelve hours a day, seven days a week. Not so easy if there are no English language teacher available. Not so easy if there are English language teachers available but you can't afford them. Not so easy if your parents and most or all of the people around you don't speak English.

Yeah, it can be done, possibly, at least by a good many, maybe most. But most of us have failed to do a lot of things we should have on the basis of lesser excuses.

People learn better and faster when they aren't hungry. And when not being hungry doesn't require a great outlay of time and energy.

[poochee]

Senate Votes English as 'National Language'
Bill Keeps in Place Multilingual Laws

By Jonathan Weisman and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, May 19, 2006; Page A01

After an emotional debate fraught with symbolism, the Senate yesterday voted to make English the "national language" of the United States, declaring that no one has a right to federal communications or services in a language other than English except for those already guaranteed by law.

The measure, approved 63 to 34, directs the government to "preserve and enhance" the role of English, without altering current laws that require some government documents and services be provided in other languages. Opponents, however, said it could negate executive orders, regulations, civil service guidances and other multilingual ordinances not officially sanctioned by acts of Congress.

More in the illegal immigration thread.

www.washingtonpost.com

[FlashyGirl]

Originally Posted by grandpaw7

Good idea for anyone coming to the U.S. There are likely millions of people who don't speak English who would like to learn to speak it. While there are some who probably aren't interested, I doubt there are many; even the few who come here but whose loyalties are still with the mother country usually want to learn English, if nothing else to better publish their message.

Not so easy if you're working twelve hours a day, seven days a week. Not so easy if there are no English language teacher available. Not so easy if there are English language teachers available but you can't afford them. Not so easy if your parents and most or all of the people around you don't speak English.

Yeah, it can be done, possibly, at least by a good many, maybe most. But most of us have failed to do a lot of things we should have on the basis of lesser excuses.

People learn better and faster when they aren't hungry. And when not being hungry doesn't require a great outlay of time and energy.

Somebody get grandpaw here, a violin, he's breaking my heart.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by FlashyGirl

Somebody get grandpaw here, a violin, he's breaking my heart.

Look who's re-appeared

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by poochee

Senate Votes English as 'National Language'
Bill Keeps in Place Multilingual Laws

Great! Another perfectly useless bill passed by a bunch of lazy politicians who want to look as if they were actually doing something!

I Vote The Senate as 'Blowhards'
Bill Keeps in Place Jobs of Idiots Who Should Be Voted Out of Office

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by grandpaw7

Good idea for anyone coming to the U.S. There are likely millions of people who don't speak English who would like to learn to speak it. While there are some who probably aren't interested, I doubt there are many;

You're wrong

Originally Posted by gp7

even the few who come here but whose loyalties are still with the mother country

These people are the smaller problem. The Bigger Problem is people whose loyalties lie with their hip pocket and who don't mind 'bending' the law to serve their loyalty.

Lawbreakers are bad. I've lived in a refugee camp and I can tell you that there are quite a few people from that camp who I pray never made it to America. The immigration process should serve to keep criminals out of the US! We can't do that with porous borders, now can we?

Originally Posted by gp7

usually want to learn English, if nothing else to better publish their message.

Some aren't all that interested in having their message get out .... especially if it gets anywhere near the Policia.

Originally Posted by gp7

Not so easy if you're working twelve hours a day, seven days a week.

So are you saying I should take up crime?

It would free up a lot of time in my schedule, afterall.

No one should work that much - in fact, I do believe there are laws against employing someone for more than 40 hours/week. Am I wrong?

Originally Posted by gp7

Not so easy if there are no English language teacher available.

Yes, English teachers are tragically difficult to find in America, aren't they?

Originally Posted by gp7

Not so easy if there are English language teachers available but you can't afford them.

I was taught English by a Mrs Gonzalez. This was before bi-lingual classrooms. Bi-lingual education is the biggest impediment to children learning English - take it from an immigrant.

Oh, and, my education was FREE!

Originally Posted by gp7

Not so easy if your parents and most or all of the people around you don't speak English.

Unless you have a schoolteacher who ONLY speaks English. If she would have spoken my language, I never would have learned English.

Originally Posted by gp7

Yeah, it can be done, possibly, at least by a good many, maybe most. But most of us have failed to do a lot of things we should have on the basis of lesser excuses.

People learn better and faster when they aren't hungry.

I don't know about you, but for me, hunger was quite a big motivator. Apparently it helped me learn a lot more than it helped you learn.

Originally Posted by gp7

And when not being hungry doesn't require a great outlay of time and energy.

It's that very outlay that drives the lesson home.

Originally Posted by FlashyGirl

Somebody get grandpaw here, a violin, he's breaking my heart.

What? You're the only one entitled to an opinion?