Official English: Beating a Dead Horse?

Opinion by Domenico Maceri, contributor

Legislation was introduced recently in the US Congress to declare English the official language of this country. It would require all official government business to be conducted in English. Exceptions would be made in matters of public health, law enforcement, court translation and tourism.

If the bill is approved, its effect would be the same as that in the 26 states that have approved similar legislation: nil.

The motivating factor in declaring English as the “official” language is the fear among some that the country’s linguistic fabric and culture are coming apart. Year 2000 Census figures revealed that the foreign-born population increased to 30 million and that 329 languages are spoken in the US.

Some Americans are seriously concerned that this diversity of people and languages will cause a Balkanization of the country. Fears of a breakup such as has been attempted in Canada flash to the minds of some Americans. Their solution? To pass English-only laws, force immigrants to learn English and eliminate bilingual education as has been done in California and Arizona (and as some other states are considering).

Declaring English the official language has not solved immigration or assimilation “problems” at the state level. Would the federal government do any better? Some people think so. They believe that passing linguistic laws will maintain the unity and common culture of the country.

Mario Mujica, chairman of the Washington-based US English organization, believes laws must be passed to force immigrants to learn English and thus, supposedly, achieve the American dream.

I never met an immigrant in the US who needed laws to be reminded that English is necessary to succeed. American history tells us that immigrants do in fact learn English and assimilate. It’s a gradual process. The length of time required to learn English depends on a number of factors, including gender, age of arrival in the US, educational background and the immigrant’s native language.

Education affects how fast and how well people learn English. Those with a strong knowledge of their own language have the advantage. Age of arrival affects learning English in surprising ways. The younger they arrive, the better they will learn it, although it may take longer to achieve the same level of fluency as adults. Children will gain a native pronunciation where adults will almost always retain a foreign accent. Yet children take longer to learn because they are not just learning words, they are also learning concepts and at the same time are learning about life.

Men have a slight edge over women because they tend to work outside the home and interact with Americans more than their spouses. As immigrants learn the language, they also assimilate American culture, although it takes a generation or two. By that time the home language and culture have almost disappeared. Immigrants gradually give up their home language because they see opportunities in the English language. Without English, one is condemned to menial labor and to an existence on the fringes of society. It’s impossible to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc., without learning English. No immigrant needs to be told that.

Immigrants need support and understanding such as what they are getting in Oakland, California, where the city recently passed an ordinance mandating services in Chinese and Spanish. This will increase newcomers’ participation in business and government and will help them learn English and integrate.

If Congress makes English the official language of the US it will be a symbolic slap in the face to all immigrants. It will tell new residents that their languages and culture are not worth anything.

George W. Bush may not sign the bill into law. He has been delivering his weekly radio addresses in both English and Spanish. In his first radio address in both languages he stated that when “immigrants come to America legally, their culture and language” must be treated with respect and that the American story has been written and told in “many languages.” Bush does not intend to rescind former President Clinton’s executive order directing federal agencies to assure that non-English speakers have equal access to federal services. With so many problems facing the country, one wonders why Congress is wasting its time on an “official English” bill.

Domenico Maceri teaches foreign languages at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA.