American Language
In the beginning, this country wpot. Many different people, from many different countries, of many differas a melting ent ethnic groups, speaking in many different tongues came to America. English arose as the predominant language of the United States. Over time, people realized the importance of staying in touch with their cultural backgrounds, including the language of their native countries. The main problem presented now lies in communication and interaction with each other. It is obvious that miscommunication causes problems. An "English Only" law will unite Americans and give them all a common ground on which to communicate. It will diminish racial conflicts, as well as encourage immigrants to become involved in the U.S. society and become successful. It will also improve the efficiency of government operations. Declaring English as the official language of the United States will resolve current issues and prevent problems in the future.The biggest and most obvious problem with speaking many different languages in one united country is communication. Many immigrants do not learn English at all. In fact, 213 different languages are spoken in the United States, and approximately 10 million U.S. residents do not
Supporters of the English Only movement remind the public that immigrants have, in past years, been able to learn English successfully. In order to become a naturalized citizen, immigrants have to know the English language (Alter 24). So why are they not learning? They must learn to communicate with the world around them, instead of squeezing by, knowing the absolute minimum. Reflections on a Multicultural Society. New York: W.W. "U.S. English, Inc." 26 April 1999. Along with communication difficulties, the language barrier among immigrants contributes to racial tension and segregation. One look at the city of Chicago is a prime example of this situation. Many different cultures are isolated within the city because they cannot communicate with each other. Not having an official language encourages these concentrations of ethnic groups to stick together and not integrate themselves into society. Miscommunication among the groups generates animosity and competition for resources. This in turn alienates the different races from each other (Schlesinger). Mandating one common language would unite these ethnic communities and allow them to communicate freely with each other and with the rest of society.
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Approximate Word count = 1702
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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