East Asia

The English-only movement in America

By Patrick Cox ⋅ October 28, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
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A conversation about making English the only official language in the United States. Tim Schultz, lobbyist with Washington-based US English makes the case for this, ahead of an English-only vote in Oklahoma.

This is not the usual fare on The World in Words: we don’t often offer the microphone to people who discourage the use of other languages. But Schultz argues that English is what keeps America — a land of immigrants and therefore of many languages — intact. He believes that Spanish in particular is fast becoming an unofficial official language here (if that makes sense). He says government agencies use Spanish and other languages without thinking about the message they are sending. What they should be doing, he says, is using English so that non-English speakers are encouraged to learn the language, and succeed in their adopted homeland. Finally, he acknowledges that bigots and racists may be among the supporters of English Only. But as far as he’s concerned, they do not form the mainstream, nor does he share their views.

Also, an election ad in Chinese, aimed at Americans who don’t speak Chinese. This comes courtesy of conservative think tank/advocacy group Citizens Against Government Waste, which clearly doesn’t think this glossy ad in a foreign language is a waste of money.

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Discussion

14 comments for “The English-only movement in America”

  • Kathleen Anderson

    Mis-spent Energy!!
    What goes around comes around. No one remains “top dog” forever–and this applies to nations.

    Here’s an idea: Instead of wasting energy on “official English” campaigns, how about some “learn foreign languages” campaigns?

    It’s the economy, stupid! Will your children thank you for preparing them for jobs in a world economy by insisting that they learn foreign languages? Or will they resent you for focusing your energy and resources on “official English language” B.S?

    How will you and they fare when the language of business becomes Chinese?

    It’s the economy, stupid? Ask a hospital administrator or a health care provider if it is more or less expensive to provide information in multiple languages? What the real cost is of not communicating clearly in all languages.

  • http://www.mariatheproblem.wordpress.com Maria

    It’s not BS, Kathleen — the article is correct. Multi-lingual nations are inherently unstable.
    Care to check into what’s going on in Canada, Belgium, and other officially “multi-lingual” nations?

    Why would anyone prefer “diversity” to “unity”? Diversity is inherently “divisive” — they have the same root.

    Yes, we should step up our learning of other languages, but the official language and lingua franca of the US must remain English.

  • Ryan Warner

    This mp3 is not working. can you try re-uploading it please.

    • http://www.theworld.org The World

      Hi Ryan,

      Just updated the files. Should be working now.

      Thanks for listening!

      -The World

  • Gary Carlson

    Like visiting the dentist, I found this interview difficult to sit through but I went through it ‘for my own good.’ I did try to listen carefully for some intelligent argument that might affect my thinking. In the end, I found myself more alienated to the English Only point of view rather than more sympathetic.

    Patrick Cox, kudos for an excellent job — I didn’t hear your teeth clench once. Mine were.

    Thanks for not ‘being an echo chamber’ now please return to the smart topics I love you for.

  • Andrew MacNaughton

    Wow, Gary. The fact that you referred to it as going to the dentist makes me very much doubt you went in with an open mind “listen[ing] carefully for some intelligent argument”. (If you had you would have heard plenty). What it does sound like is the same condescending tone many people dislike in those who are so anxious to be seen as progressive, and so desperate to distance themselves from what may be perceived as ‘backward’ that they totally ignore perfectly valid and cohesive arguments from more conservative stands. I was actually very pleasantly surprised by the tone and message of the interviewee. Despite not being in agreement with everything he said, he made extremely cogent, non-biased, and obviously very non-xenophobic or bigoted points, openly encouraging multilingualism. And he was friendly to boot. Yet you have no qualms about mocking it as alienating, teeth-clench inducing, and unintelligent.

  • Vickers Bryan

    I am a student at Northern Virginia Community College enrolled in an Intercultural Communications Class. I, too, was curious to hear this argument for Official English laws. I took the advice to listen with an open mind and did find that Mr. Shultz presented an interesting case for the laws and I think he presented it clearly and passionately. One of those things that makes this country great is that there are so many differing views and we can agree to disagree. I was surprised and interested to learn that so many states have adopted Official English laws – 31 now with OK. Listening to this podcast has prompted me to gain further insight into this issue and I will continue to watch and learn more about it. Thanks for airing it.

  • Franchesca Leonardo

    It’s true that English is important to survive here in America. However, America is made up of different people came from different country that makes them not a native speaker of English. There are many people whose advocacy is to promote English only policy. Like Schultz argued that being a bilingual doesn’t result positive, he gave the example of Spanish people that instead for them to learn English they are slowly terminating English language by being bilingual and it’s also encourage other people to learn Spanish language. I also agreed about the immigrant system of Canada that Schultz gave, Canada only allow people who can speak their language to enter Canada. The result is people in Canada can communicate effectively. I think English policy will be great. I also experience some misunderstanding with people who cannot speak English. One of my experienced is in my working place. I work in a fast food, one there is a Hispanic lady that order, I greeted her nicely but instead of doing the same way for me she shouted “noh comprende (did I spell it right?) Hispanic please”(with an angry face). I feel bad for that, I mean can they even try to speak or learn simple English. I think that’s why nowadays company is now hiring people that can speak English and Spanish. It is very interesting why the government is allowing this thing happen here in America. I’m not against with others about their idea this just my opinion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/LauraEGaylord Laura Gaylord

    @Jihadisco (TM)

    First off that doesn’t work if you do not speak English, have you ever dealt with paper work with a nonEnglish speaker? Or tried to get that nonEnglish speaker a job? If English is the officially the language then by law the nonEnglish speaker is on their own with no help by them. You are living in a dream world if a country is going to put out money to help those people unless its by law. It has nothing to do with your private life what language you want to speak but if you can use a language regally why would you speak it?

    • http://www.facebook.com/LauraEGaylord Laura Gaylord

      I know that the world is full of ethnocentrism, but I try my best to be open minded about other cultures and their languages. Language barriers are a big deal the states might be spending money but there are other things that I could find less important then funding interpreters for those who are none English speakers.

  • Melodie Tebyanian

    I am a student in CST 229 course taught by Professor Philip Tirpak.

    I think it is very important to know the English language when you are living in America. If you do not know the English language it is very difficult to do certain things. Everything you do on a daily basis has something to do with communication and if you can’t communicate with the one language most people know you’re going to have a hard time. I work at a hair salon as a stylist and sometimes get a client that can’t speak a word of English. How am I supposed to understand the wants and needs she/he desires? It’s hard to communicate with some people and that tends to cause problems. I think it’s a great plan to have children learn English as soon as possible because that will only benefit them in the long run. Children that go to school can also teach their parents that don’t speak English. It’s a win win situation. But also on the other hand I don’t believe English needs to be the official language. Why? Because we are a country of so much diversity. We have so many different people that come from different cultures with different languages. I don’t think that English should be an official language because we have the right to speak whatever language we want. If English is the official language does that mean that everyone has to speak, write, read and understand it? Wouldn’t that be invading our rights? English should not be the only “official” language that we have, but all the other languages that are out there could be official languages as well.

    Melodie Tebyanian

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZUMPM7GUDNDVNQYSZL3XYVO4SQ Tarzan

      DIEversity is not a strength… It is a weakness, and has been the undoing of many a civilization throughout history.”

      Dude, name ONE country that is diverse, multilingual that is NOT A 3RD WORLD SHITHOLE? American schoolchildren score far lower than kids from Finland and South Korea. . . two of the least diverse nations on earth!!Ok fine, have it your multilingual country i can 100 percent promise you it will be a hell hole. America in the past was better today, its only going to devolve.
      “Cultural diversity is NOT a good thing. Cultural Diversity is another name for the welfare state as the diverse cultures invading this country are failed cultures and the people coming here from these failed cultures are of the lowest caliber. They couldn’t ‘make it’ in their own countries. They come here only for tax payer provided freebies, i.e., welfare. Stick with the winners culture. That is, Western Capitalist Judeo-Christian. In other words, plain ol’ American. You cannot coexist with other cultures and preserve your own. Hence the need for strict immigration control.”

  • Melodie Tebyanian

    I am a student in CST 229 course taught by Professor Philip Tirpak.

    I think it is very important to know the English language when you are living in America. If you do not know the English language it is very difficult to do certain things. Everything you do on a daily basis has something to do with communication and if you can’t communicate with the one language most people know you’re going to have a hard time. I work at a hair salon as a stylist and sometimes get a client that can’t speak a word of English. How am I supposed to understand the wants and needs she/he desires? It’s hard to communicate with some people and that tends to cause problems. I think it’s a great plan to have children learn English as soon as possible because that will only benefit them in the long run. Children that go to school can also teach their parents that don’t speak English. It’s a win win situation. But also on the other hand I don’t believe English needs to be the official language. Why? Because we are a country of so much diversity. We have so many different people that come from different cultures with different languages. I don’t think that English should be an official language because we have the right to speak whatever language we want. If English is the official language does that mean that everyone has to speak, write, read and understand it? Wouldn’t that be invading our rights? English should not be the only “official” language that we have, but all the other languages that are out there could be official languages as well.

    Melodie Tebyanian

  • http://www.facebook.com/LauraEGaylord Laura Gaylord

    You should talk to an interpreter