The Truly American Language
by Arjun Singh ‘12
Throughout America, people come from many cultures and have different customs and languages. The majority of people living in America speak English, which raises the question whether English should be the official language of the United States.
There are 337 different spoken languages in the United States. Even with so many individual languages, however, approximately 82 percent of Americans claim English to be their native tongue and 96 percent claim to speak it “well” or “very well.” English is already the de facto official language of the United States since a majority of people speak it, and making it the official language would unify citizens and make communication between diverse ethnicities and cultures much easier and simpler.
Critics of an official language claim that the United States is a “melting pot” and creating an official language would discredit the foundations of diversity and tolerance in America; however, in reality, making English the official language would increase the unity of all citizens, regardless of race or ethnicity. America’s image as a great nation relies in its foundation of shared beliefs and cultures. With a shared language, citizens of the United States would see the similarities of different cultures rather than only focusing on differences. A common language allows citizens to see each other as Americans instead of as their different ethnicities or races.
A common language not only affects adults in America but also young children. English is spoken in nearly every business, so it is already a basic requirement for a U.S. resident to know English in order to live a successful life. Without the emphasis on English in children’s education, interacting with larger society later in life would be extremely difficult. While implementing English as the official language would create a core for learning English, it would not eradicate or discourage the education for other languages. Having a school system that highlights the importance of learning English sets up students to have future success in America.
With the number of various languages present in America, would it not be simpler to have one common language among the people that everyone could understand and communicate through? From simple transactions such as buying groceries to major communications such as applying for a job, having one single language would allow society to run smoothly. People wouldn’t mishear or misinterpret someone, information could be printed in one language and all citizens would have the ability to speak with one another.
Already, 30 states have implemented English as the official language. With so many Americans speaking English and with the immense emphasis on English both in America and around the world, it only makes sense that English should be the official language of the United States. It is time to stop discussing different languages and to finally just accept one, English.