by Colene Pefley

Created on: January 19, 2012

Most countries have an official language, so it seems justifiable that the United States, which was founded by British men, should share its official language with that mother country; but it doesn’t.

The United States has never declared an official language, although most people think that it is English and are often offended by the refusal of many non-English speaking Americans to adopt this language. However, since the founders of the Constitution, neither any legislation since then, has adopted English as the official language of the United States, there is no reason for anyone to be forced to speak this language, which seems fair, right?

It seems fair, until you realize that there are more than 6.500 languages spoken in the world today. That means that the United States should be required to cater to each and every one of those languages, being that it has no official language of its own. Having an official language isn’t discriminatory, it is essential in providing unity where matters of the government are concerned. No one should be forced to speak a certain language in public or in private, but all US citizens should learn English for their own benefit. It is impossible for every document to be published in 6,500 different languages, and by learning English and adopting this language as the official language of the United States, it would be an asset to all Americans.

Cultural diversity is what makes America such a fantastic country to live in. It is also a wonderful place for tourists and working visitors because there really is a place for everyone. Adopting an official language wouldn’t change this. There will always be a variety of languages and cultures to immerse oneself in, and adopting an official language would not force a person to speak a language that he or she isn’t comfortable with. However, learning this language, will help all people, within the country, understand each other better. Even if English isn’t a person’s first language, at least that person could understand laws and instruction in that language. Although the United States currently prints documents in many languages, it doesn’t cater to all people. This would be nearly impossible. If every citizen could read and understand English, this would make things much simpler.

People have the right to preserve their own cultures and languages. Learning English doesn’t prohibit or discourage this, but can enrich the knowledge or this country, how it was founded, and why English is spoken in the first place. This isn’t about discrimination, it’s about communication and the ability to understand each other, no matter what walk of life we come from. I can’t learn 6,500 languages, but if it were possible, I would. I would also choose to learn the language of the country that I would like to live in, no matter what their adopted language may be.

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