The overwhelming success of English in this country and the eagerness of immigrants to learn English are evidence of the power of the free market.  We became and have remained an English-speaking nation because of competition in the marketplace of language since colonial days, and the debate over English has frequently been intense, even acrimonious.  Ben Franklin wrote a well-known attack on increasing German immigration into Pennsylvania and their continuing use of their language rather than English.  In the late 20th c. there were predictions of a shift from English to Spanish; the President's Commission on Language under the Carter Administration estimated that by 2020 the US would be a majority Spanish-speaking nation.  The success of English has required no legislation; it simply reflects the free market at work.

I've made this case with a number of friends of mine who favor legislation to make English the official language and to restrict the use of other languages in civic and governmental matters.  They are largely conservative in their politics and so strongly favor free market solutions--except in the case of language, where it has obviously worked well but where they want government intervention nonetheless.

Herb

Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN  47306
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________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dick Veit [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: December 13, 2009 8:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: "We speak English ...

Peyman,

I wonder why you think the United States "does not honor her own language"? It is my experience as an English teacher of forty years that Americans have a great interest in and affection for our language. Dictionaries always sell well, and English-language-related books, web sites, and discussion lists (such as this one) are popular and inspire passionate discussion. Moreover, English courses are required of students at all levels from the earliest grades through college, and English-language proficiency is required of anyone wishing to become a citizen.

Are you concerned just because we do not have a law designating English as our official language? For me that is a cause of pride. I'm all for a governmental role in areas where it can be helpful, but, as a linguist, I do not want any government interference in our language--since none is needed. Our language is doing very well indeed and is in no danger. As you point out, people all over the world study English as a second language. Our nation has a history of ongoing immigration, with hundreds of tongues being spoken here. Despite that diversity and a large population of people who were born elsewhere, English is the overwhelmingly dominant language here. We have always followed a three-generation pattern: immigrants (like my grandfather) arrive here speaking no English, their children are bilingual, and their grandchildren are fluent English speakers. It is virtually impossible to find a third-generation Hispanic-American, or German-American (like myself), or Iranian American who isn't a native speaker of English. As you point out, the advantage of learning English is evident. Surveys of immigrants show an intense interest in having their children gain mastery of English.

To my mind, a far greater problem is that so few Americans have mastered any language other than English. This puts our country at a serious disadvantage. Our high schools generally require some study of a second language but few students master them. I would like more Americans to be like you--fluent in multiple languages. The government can play a useful role by supporting the study of other languages, but it would do only harm if it passed legislation restricting the use of those languages.

Happy holidays to you too.

Dick Veit

On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 5:04 PM, peyman javadi <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:

As a naturalized United States citizen, who happens to be from Iran and speaks two other languages(other than English), by the virtue of having been born and brought up in Iran, I absolutely have no problem whatsoever ever with the idea of requiring all immigrants to lean English. Myself and thousands like myself had to learn English to assimilate into this culture and I know of not one single individual who resents that requirement.  I think we do a disservice to all minorities in this country(myself included)when we send confusing mixed messages that suddenly English is not our language, when the international world for years now has seen English as America's language.  There are people in places like Armenia, Kazakhstan and the like who pay money they can't even afford, in order to learn English, in the hope that someday they can migrate to the United States. It is a complete disservice to those immigrants when they do all that work, come here and see
 that this nation does not honor her own language.  It is very disappointing.

Requiring that English be spoken as the official language of the United States is in fact open mindedness, in the sense that America realizes most people in the world are already familiar with English and have no objection to learning it and also in the sense that America does not all of a sudden wish to throw a curve ball at Indian, Pakistani, Arab, Russian, and other immigrant minorities with yet another language burden by requiring these other minorities to learn yet another language other than English.  It is also open mindedness for some one who is from Armenia, for example is already at the least tri-lingual(usually Armenian, Russian and English).  This Armenian immigrant would then be allowed to assimilate into English more by living here and promote her own language of Armenian for her children and grand children.  If she is required to learn yet another language other than English, she further goes into the never never land of never having an
 opportunity to honor her own language in her own house with her own culture and people because America is now all of a sudden requiring her to learn yet another European language instead practice her own indigenous language of Armenian.  Life is short and we don't all have an eternity(at least in this earth and life time) to continue learning other languages. It is right and in deed equal protection for all minorities if America would stop feeling guilty for having English as her language.  By the way in the Iran I lived in at least for 16 years, Farsi was and is the state language. As an Azerbaijani an Iranian, who happens to speak Azeri because that is my ethnicity, I personally see that as having been right. You see I understand that my Azeri ethnicity is not the only minority in Iran; there are others like rash-ti, mazandarani, Kurdish and the like; the Farsi language united us, and I am grateful for that language unity; it is good to have it so
 there is communication that is common for all. To this day, I believe that Farsi must be the official language of Iran and I will believe that to the day I die, just as I believe that English must be the official language of the United States and will believe that to the day that I pass on from this earth.

Thanks for the discussion.  You all have a Merry Christmas and holiday season, as well as a great new year.

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