why isn't there an official language in the US?
540371
When the Constitution was written, people spoke English in New England, Dutch and German in Pennsylvania, Spanish in Texas and California and Florida, French in Louisiana, 500 Native languages across the continent, and pretty much everything in New York. Which one should they have chosen?
129695
The US does not have an offical language.  Some people would like to make English the one (I tend to agree).  But with our diverse culture I hardly think it would be fair or right
975521
The USA already uses English as the language of its government and legal system.  Making it official, like France or England does, calls into question whether we can then spend government money to publish things in Spanish, Vietnamese, or other languages.  \n\nSo, the language of the USA is English, but we do not deny our immigrants the help they need in their own languages while they are becoming American (which takes a generation).\n\nI think that most of the people who want to make English the Official Language want to do so to make it more difficult for immigrants to assimilate here.  I think they feel threatened by other cultures and want a return to an America they perceived as white and European.\n\nI think we should not adopt an official language, or 2 or 3, but we should continue to use English for our government and laws, and use multiple languages where people need help.
1060092
Americans have a Constitutional Right to say anything they wish, in any language, as long as they are willing to pay the consequences in civil action suits. It is called Free Speech. But, if  I say something untrue about someone and it is considered damaging to their reputation, they can sue me. If I say something that incites hate, I can be taken to civil court.\nIn Canada there are two official languages, English and French, but there is a large Asian population in Canada and the Asians use their native language much of the time. \nIn the USA many people speak Spanish. It is certainly not illegal. I think Americans are patriotic, and in light of current events they are touchy about the subject. I think there may be some concern that Spanish will become a 2nd official language.\nThe whole subject is about communication, and honest communication breaks down barriers.\nThanks for the question.
536659
The US hasn't actually instituted a "national language" yet.  The measure was recently passed by the Senate, but has to go through House/Senate negotiations and be signed by the President.  \n\nA "national language" is different from an "official language."  An official language means that gov't documents will only be printed in that language--a national language is more non-binding, just to recognize that most of us speak English. \n\nMost countries do have a national or official language, and very many have more than one officially recognized language.  \n\nBut the US is different from most countries.  For the most part, people in France are of French ancestry, people in Germany are of German ancestry -- but people in the US can be of English, French, German, Russian, Irish, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Mexican, Guatemalan, Native American, or any other ancestry.  \n\nI've lived overseas for four years now, and I have come to understand that the US is genuinely unique in this respect.  I think to establish English as our only language is denying our heritage--not just for recent immigrants, but for all of us whose ancestors, at some point, spoke another language.  That heritage is a vital part of what makes us different from the rest of the world and gives us our identity as "American."
536820
we are not used to quantifying the number of words necessary to function in society.\n\nif your question is any indication of your language ability, you'd do just fine. i agree that the US is about 10% immigrant, about 25% in major cities, so there is no shame in not having a "full" vocabulary.
759967
In Europe countries that speak different language are closer together geographically so it makes sense to lean other languages. In the states there is Spanish to the south and a little French in parts of Canada. Many people in the southwest do speak Spanish. It’s hard to learn and keep up fluency if you don’t use it a lot.
880501
I think if you live in the US you should know how to speak English.  And when you are out of your home in front of others - like at work, etc, it is rude to speak a different language.
1136319
Lots of countries do. Canada, for one, uses both English and French and has lately adopted Inuit as the official languages in its northern province. Switzerland has three official languages, Swiss, German and French. Begium has a couple. Many of the African nations have more than one official language.
126053
I think the main reason is common language and culture.\n\nAlthough America is a land of immigrants, the founding fathers were British and the English language has become dominant in the UK.  \n\nThe 20th century brought the UK/US closer together where we were allies in 2 world wars and how both countries worked to set up the UN and NATO.  \n\nNow the culture of the 2 countries is inextricably linked primarily through the benefit of a common language.
1132908
I don't recall there being any article in the Constitution that gives the English language any official status or that guarantees that American citizens should never be subjected to hearing languages other than the majority tongue. If anything, the United States was actually founded to encourage acceptance of diversity. Remember the First Amendment? It guarantees not only freedom of religion but also freedom of speech, and that means not just WHAT you want to say but also HOW (and in what language) you want to say it.\n\nI agree that immigrants should be encouraged to learn English, but not because Americans have some God-given right to never have to hear any language but English. If you're really all that concerned about immigrants who are having a hard time acquiring the English language, perhaps you should volunteer some of your time tutoring immigrants in English.\n\nEDIT: After all, it can take years to acquire a second language. How many years did it take for you to learn Spanish, and how fluent are you in it? That is, are you conversational? Would you be comfortable speaking in only Spanish all day long in every situation? How about when you travel to Mexico? Do you speak Spanish every second you're there, or do you just use Spanish when you have to ask for directions of something and revert back to English when speaking to other Americans you're traveling with? \n\nOr are you perhaps a second or third generation Latina? Did your parents or grand-parents speak Spanish? And if so, why is it that your mother tongue is English and not Spanish? It's amazing how quickly people become assimilated in this country, isn't it? It is admittedly difficult for those who immigrate to this country as an adult to pick up the English language, especially when most of them work long hours, rely on others for transportation, and can't afford college English classes. After all, it can take YEARS to become fluent in a foreign language. Don't you agree? Yet more often than not, the children and grand-children of these immigrants not only learn to speak English fluently but don't even learn to speak their parents' language, which is a shame, if you ask me. In the meantime, it does admittedly take those first generation immigrants a while to pick up the language, so maybe we should be a little more patient and stop being so judgmental. Those of use who have learned to speak a second language fluently realize how difficult a process it can be. If more Americans took it upon themselves to try to learn a foreign language, they might be a little less judgmental.\n\nFYI: French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is spoken as a first language by people in France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, etc..., but more importantly, it is spoken as a second language in countries where it is the official language or where it has a historical presence, including, but not limited to the following countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Tchad, Senegal, Guinea, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Burkina-Faso, Cameroun, Ruanda, Burundi, Zaire, Egypt, Guyana, Guadelope, Martinique, Reunion, Corsica, French Polynesia, etc...
1036483
You are  exactly right.  Also I'm tired of having to press 2 or 4 for English when it is the official language of the United Statesof America!  One thing that will help is to write or e-mail your congressman.  They figure one letter will represent about 10 opinions, so let 'um have it.
508370
It's just going to take practice. We also use a lot of slang terms....contracations...which makes our language flow.It's just like any language...it will just taks time...and a few americans to speak with.
858026
Who's refusing?  I love studying languages!  However, should we alow a secondary language to be official?  I don't think that's necessary.  We're creating a new language with the Spanglish and all the other wonderful linguistic creativity that is alive & well in the US
221341
It's up to the states to decide...opponents like the ACLU debate that making English the offical language would be unconstiutional because it would not enable the Spanish-speaking, German-speaking, and French-speaking immigrants and citizens from a fair and just trial, liberties and such.\n\nGoogle it, but I think because the United States is soo big and diverse, that it wouldn't be fair to the first immigrants of this country.
316119
I think the main issue is money.  Do you realize how much it would cost to print every government form in multiple languages?  In Canada, where the official languages are French and English, the government budget for printing all "official" documents is both languages is out of control.\n\nJust imagine if every form, from income tax forms to applying for a driver's license had to be issued in English, Spanish, Cantonese (and Mandarin), and a multitude of others.  Even in places where no one speaks those languages, these forms would have to be on hand, and updated every time one is changed.  It's a monumental waste of time and paper.\n\nI think by instituting an Official Language, it forces immigrants to conform to the country they are coming to, instead of the country conforming to them.
24405
It was the defacto official language in the 19th century when immegrent would say we are Americans now we will speak English.  The problem is Illegal Aliens from around the world that really don't want to be apart of the country\n\nIt should be.  Something has to bind us together as people or we will split apart.