Introduction
For quite a long time, there have been discussions in American society’s political and scientific circles about whether it is worth recognizing English as the official state language. Many arguments can be given both for and against this decision. Therefore, the consensus over this issue does not subside for long. However, it is essential to understand such a decision’s positive and negative aspects and whether it should be accepted.
Arguments for Designating English as the National Language
The majority of the United States population speaks English, making such a move seem logical and reasonable. It would also allow for harmonizing the various procedures in the country. There is a significant threat that if the United States does not adopt the state language shortly, the country will be split into many linguistic minorities due to the policy of free migration (K.C. McAlpin, 2014). This can serve as a strong argument for recognizing English as the state language.
Arguments Against Acknowledging English as the Primary Language of the State
However, there are many statements why English, like any other language, should not become a state language. The primary reason for this is the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires all companies and government agencies to use the language their customers use (Utt, 2011). This means that recognizing English as the state language would be contrary to this law since not all US residents use this language. In this case, the recognition of English as a state language will mean a global restructuring of the country’s constitutional order, which will negatively affect the entire history of the formation of democracy and freedom. In addition, about 16.3% of Hispanics in the US use Spanish (Utt, 2011). Making English the official language would mean that the States would not recognize these people as US citizens and force them to learn English and use it by force.
Conclusion
Based on the facts studied, we can conclude that English should not be the state language. This would entail many negative consequences for the country, its freedom, and its democracy. Today, the law gives people the right to use the language they want, which will be convenient for them. Creating one format as a state would deprive them of such an opportunity, which is discrimination and infringement on many citizens of the country. Such an action should not also be taken because it would mean the unsustainability of the US Constitution, which has been the guarantee and bulwark of freedom of expression and opinion throughout the country’s history.
References
K.C. McAlpin. (2014). Why English Should Be the Official Language of the United States: Why We Need Official English. ProEnglish. Web.
Utt, J. (2011, May 12). ‘Speak American’ – Multilingualism and the English-Only Movement. Change from Within.