Official language is a special language that has a privileged legal status in the state or international organizations, in the international sphere of activity. Accordingly, the official language is used for office work, legal proceedings, official correspondence in public administration, lawmaking and representative activities. Moreover, public statements, communications and speeches on radio and television are also made only in the official language. Thus, it is crucial to analyze the importance of establishing an official language in the state.
Significance of the Official Language
It is essential to note that the official language in a multinational country serves to unite all nations on the territory and is a feature of a unified state. Nevertheless, a state may have several official languages, depending on the number and level of representation of ethnic minorities. Most often, the first official language is the language of the most numerous people, that is, the ethnic group of a particular state. It is used by the authorities in judicial proceedings and legislation, in the system of upbringing and education, and in the sphere of information dissemination (Utt, 2011). Consequently, children in educational institutions are taught only in the official language and accordingly perfect their knowledge of it.
Moreover, the languages or languages recognized as official in the state are also used in the business environment, that is, when drafting official documents or conducting negotiations. Besides, the official language is extremely important at the level of government activities and communications (Brice, 2014). It is because the use of a single language in the media leads to the unification and consolidation of the population. It demonstrates the unity of the state and respect for sovereignty in government activities.
Advantages of Not Having an Official Language
Importantly, the United States is a nation of immigrants. That is why giving the status of official language to one language would infringe on the rights of full citizens who do not speak English. Thus, there is no official language in the United States, the founders deliberately did not include this issue in the Constitution. Although, certain states can declare English as an official language, but it will cause problems. For example, when receiving federal funds to serve citizens, because you cannot limit the list of documents to only one language (Utt, 2011). This is because civil rights laws require that important documents needed by citizens be provided in all languages that are needed for a particular person. Thus, the imposition of English as the only official language in some states creates legal conflicts that are detrimental to people’s quality of life.
The Benefits of Having an Official Language
The United States does not take steps to preserve its linguistic unity, which causes the existence of a linguistically divided society. Accordingly, the government policy of multilingualism does not allow immigrants to assimilate and may cause ethnic and linguistic conflicts in the future. Furthermore, the introduction of English as an official language would have a significant effect, as it would improve communication in state bodies and reduce the number of mistakes in regulations (Brice, 2014). That is because they are written and translated in more than one language, which allows for potential mistakes in translation and interpretation. Also, encouraging immigrants to learn English will strengthen the US economy and tax system. Meanwhile, almost 90 percent of US citizens support the introduction of English as an official language (Brice, 2014). Hence, their desire is almost unanimous and beneficial for the development of the state.
Conclusion
Therefore, an official language is an officially recognized language that has been granted a special legal status in a state, region or other designated part. It is usually used in public authorities, legal acts, government documents, court decisions, in the educational system or in the means of communication. For the United States, there are certain advantages and shortcomings in establishing an official language, which is why there is currently no official language in the country. This is due to the fact that most of the residents are immigrants, and the state cares about their civil rights.
References
Brice, B. (2014). Why English should be the official language of the United States. Washington Times. Web.
Utt, J. (2011). ‘Speak American’–Multilingualism and the English-Only Movement. Change. Web.