-
Essay / A Question of English Language in America
Throughout American history, the United States has been one of the most developed countries in the international community. Success through economics and diplomacy has improved America as a political and social entity. However, it is very surprising that English has not been established as an official language in America, considering how many people speak English on a daily basis. English should definitely be legalized as America's official language because of the economic benefits of a better budget and the social implication of learning English and mastering the language. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay America is known for being a very diverse country on its east coast and west coast. We have Latin American culture, Asian culture and Islamic culture in our society, which creates such a special community. Even if the whole world comes together in America, it would definitely be a good decision to legislate English as the official language because of the economic benefits. In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13166 which required utilities to hire interpreters for those who do not understand English. This is a great example of spending funds on an unnecessary cause. An Economist Journal published on October 3, 2015 explains how America spends over $4.5 billion every year due to translation and interpreting services. This ranges from healthcare to real estate, which represents a significant portion of our budget. Translation services and funds come from local governments and cities. This comes from taxpayer revenue, which is ridiculous when you consider how much of that money can be spent on education or infrastructure. In 2002, 15% of the election budget was spent on ballot translation and simplification for all immigrants of different ethnicities and cultures. Federal and local governments are essentially spoon-feeding immigrants and giving them a reason not to learn the English language. Almost every foreign country in the world has institutions that teach the English language, but immigrants still do not learn the language and rely on the government to guide them. Additionally, making English the official language will encourage immigrants to learn English. Not only will this integrate immigrants into the community, but it will also improve their lives. This can help immigrants find jobs, communicate with colleagues, and improve their financial and social lives. Unfortunately, second generation immigrants have difficulty becoming adults because their parents do not know the English language. In Amy Tan's story "Mother Tongue," she writes: "And I believe it affected my scores on achievement tests, IQ tests, and the SAT." » Amy Tan's mother was very bad at English and therefore relied heavily on her daughter, leading to lower test scores and even just knowledge of the language. This has happened to many second generation immigrants and it should be the responsibility of parents to be role models for their children. Teaching their children to foster English as America's official language and revitalize the community. A December 31, 2014 Washington Times report analyzes the academic impacts of second-generation immigrants whose parents do not attempt to learn English. Many of these second-generation immigrants struggle to find jobs, improve their test scores, and improve their work ethic..