The debate over whether English is named as the official language in the United States is peaking again. U.S. English.org states, “Declaring English the official language means that official government business at all levels must be conducted solely in English. This includes all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies and public meetings.” (US English.org) Concerns over language are expressed everywhere and it is currently a hot topic as we approach another Presidential election. This debate is as important as it ever was, but this debate is not new. It has been a topic in the United States since very early in the country’s existence. “Documented concerns about linguistic unity in the U.S. date back to Benjamin Franklin’s opposition to the use of German — at one time the native language of about a third of the residents of Pennsylvania.” ( Linton pg.10) The people of America, as well as politicians and non-citizens reside on both sides of this polarizing issue as passing an official language bill is always on the front burner of America’s stove. But, while this is an issue that triggers an emotional response, American citizens should refrain from allowing their emotions to decide where they stand without taking a deeper look inside the issue.

     It is certainly a polarizing issue. So much so that individual states are passing their own laws regarding “Official English.” Like immigration, when the Federal Government fails to act or acts differently than some views held by local state governments, state governments pass their own laws. So now, not only are we divided by our opinions, but we are becoming divided as a nation. Like immigration, this issue must be uniform across the entire country or state laws will further determine where immigrants (legal and illegal) choose to live thus creating unfair situations for states that experience an influx of immigrants that do not have the infrastructure to handle them. All of this happens because a neighboring state changed a law. One state’s stand on a policy directly affects other states. This is something that is often ignored.

     There is plenty of support for an “Official English” law. Rasmussen Reports is a media company that collects, publishes and distributes public opinion information. They claim that, “87% Say English Should Be U.S. Official Language.” (Rasmussen Reports)  Proenglish.org published a “Top Ten Reasons to Make English the Official Language of the United States,” with #8 on the list being “To conform to the rest of the world: Eighty-five percent of the UN’s member nations have official languages. Fifty-three (53) of those nations have adopted English as their official language.” (proenglish.org) That is a great reason to name an official language, but the United States hardly has a reputation as a nation that “conform to the rest of the world.”

     There is also plenty of support against an “Official English” law. Dennis Baron is a professor of English and Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the author of several books on the English language. (PBS.org) His essay that appears on PBS.org reports that, “...opponents of official English remind us that without legislation we have managed to get over ninety-seven percent of the residents of this country to speak the national language. No country with an official language law even comes close.”  He dispels the argument that without an official language, immigrants never learn English. English speaking among immigrants is very high without passing a bill, so why do it? There are those who go so far as to say that not only should English not be the official language, but that it should be banned. David Baron states in his essay on PBS.org that, “I would like to offer a modest proposal to resolve the language impasse in Congress. Don’t make English official, ban it instead.” (Baron PBS.org) While this is a tongue in cheek statement, the author makes the point that it is as ridiculous as naming an official language.

     The debate over “Official English” is alive and well and America as a cohesive country, not as a group of individuals must learn the many sides of this tricky issue.

                                                           Works Cited

Baron, Dennis. “Don’t Make English Official” Do You Speak American? http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/officialamerican/banenglish/

Web. October 7, 2012.     

                                                                                                                                                 

Linton, April. “Language politics and policy in the United States implications for the immigration Debate” pages 10-37. EBSCOhost.   http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.ohio-                                                                                                                                                                                                                         state.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=02777be5-dacc-4e0e-bced-     679b4aeb8788%40sessionmgr14&vid=4&hid=25. Web. October 7, 2012.

Pro English.org. “Ten Reasons to Make English the Official Language of the United States”     http://www.proenglish.org/data/backgrounders/167-ten-reasons-to-make-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states.html  Web. October 7, 2012.

Rasmussen Reports.com. “87% Say English Should Be U.S. Official Language” May 11, 2010.                                                                                                                         http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public    content/politics/general_politics/may_2010/87say_english_should_be_u_s_official_language Web. October 7, 2012.

U.S. English.org. http://www.us-english.org/view/8 “Official English” Web. October 7, 2012.