I live in Montreal, in the province of Quebec in Canada. Multiculturalism policies with both English and French as official languages have been the norm in Canada for decades.
As a person born in Quebec into a French speaking family but then having lived about 30 years in the predominantly English speaking part of the country I can confidently state that speaking multiple languages brings tremendous advantages, both socially and in business. It absolutely helped my career as many jobs were based in a French locale but the majority of the clients were in English Canada or the USA.
Knowing both English and French allowed me to easily learn some Spanish, which actually helped me on business trips to Texas, California and New Mexico. Being able to converse in a client's native tongue, even in a limited way, is appreciated and helps breaks down barriers.
Unfortunately the current government in Quebec has a similar attitude towards 'the others', having forcibly passed many laws to attempt to severely limit the use of English in education, government and even healthcare settings. Quebec is predominantly French and the government insists the laws are about protecting French, not an attempt to eliminate English. The laws are clearly discriminatory and most are being legally challenged.
So take this as a warning to be vigilant, it's a slippery slope if you just shrug your shoulders (understandable with everything else going on in the USA). The government here has done it in small, slow incremental steps but then suddenly felt emboldened to start attacking not only the English language (and also any non-French language) but almost any type of English institutions including our world class universities (sound familiar...?).
So hang on to the option for Spanish (and any other language if needed), this has great value!
I have long theorized that Canadians, by and large, use more of their brains than Americans do, because most Canadians are multilingual to some degree. I have no way to prove that theory, but your insights reinforce it for me.
Here is a fun fact about Montreal. There are many large immigrant groups here, such as Italians, Greeks, Hispanics from all over etc.
It's not unusual for people here to switch back and forth between English and French in the same conversation, even using both in the same sentence. That takes some mental gymnastics to make an effort to use what you think is the more accurate word, regardless of language, that best expresses what you want to say.
The real fun starts when some immigrants get together and use 3 languages in the same conversation! It's not only entertaining to follow but you usually learn interesting stuff as you go.😀
I strongly suspect that a mere Executive Order cannot declare an official language for the US. Fiat is not how we rule.
The honorable Bob Dole floated some legislation before the Senate that had a similar goal. It went nowhere. Thankfully.
If we were to have a declared official language, it properly should be Seminole.
That language is believed to have been the most widespread language here upon arrival of Europeans. It ought to be recognized as the true national language. It is known for its direct eloquence.
As for in the street, this is a free country, we speak as we will. We do not legislate free speech.
Bill, if you wrote that EO, I'm pretty sure *everyone* would be talking about it! :)
In 1776, hundreds of indigenous languages and at least a dozen European languages were spoken in what is now the US. We've always been a multilingual nation, always will be, and no "fiat" (as you put it) can change that.
Diversity is one of the national charms. But we have a problem with the problem and the problem is the problem. We’ve chased our tails for so long. There’s a last line to this song but I can’t sing it.
Is there now a struggle between diversity and a bizarre type of animal husbandry? Politically the government is creating more and more unrepresented and underrepresented communities. Tension. Yet the struggle extends well beyond our borders.
"It’s not hard to imagine that the use of “citizen” here is meant to exclude non-citizen residents from the national culture..." No need to imagine. This is exactly the goal of conservatives, and it has been for decades. Forget illegal immigration - these people want to stop ALL immigration until they can carry out their mass deportation strategy.
I believe the main reason the short-fingered vulgarian wants this to happen is that he is unable to learn another language, and therefore, no one should speak any other language. The bigotry comes second.
The political significance, I totally get. It's one of the government settings that can be adjusted to signal that our nation is "multicultural" or "whites-only"...."welcoming" or "demonizing."
From Google: “Puerto Rico's Organic Act of 1900 (Foraker Act) mandated both Spanish and English for official government use, but it wasn't a simple declaration of "official" status as we know it; rather, it required interchangeable use in all public/official activities, though English became the main language of instruction in schools, creating a complex linguistic dynamic that later laws attempted to clarify, ultimately leading to Spanish and English being recognized as the official languages today.”
The Bangladesh war of independence was fought in part because the Pakistanis mandated the use of Urdu in official government business, a language that is not well understood by most Bangladeshis.
“Making English our official language does not make us stronger as a nation; it makes us smaller, colder, and less humane.” The person who issued the EO doesn’t care about any of these things.
You might be right there! I certainly don't see any evidence to the contrary!
I remain hopeful that people of good conscience can and will respond in ways that make us more inviting, warmer, and more humane. Otherwise, wouldn't be much point in sounding the alarm.
If he’s so fixated on English as the official language of the United States, he really should fix the name of his winter palace in Florida, as well as the name of the state itself.
It's not clear to whom this is addressed. For It's obvious that America is now run by an ethnic nationalist regime. Trump's basic message is NOTof "sociolinguistic" inclusion, but rather its opposite. That's what MAGA means. Republican-run states like Texas and Florida are heavily invested in MAGA cultural warfare. Presumably, "blue" states still do what they can towards inclusion, even when they are impeded by Federal policy.
Yes, I agree. I just meant that there may not be a receptive audience at least in the Federal government now, so presumably this state of affairs will continue. I sympathize with the problems of children adjusting to a different language and culture. I started as a bilingual child since at home two languages were the norm, but neither was English. At five I began first grade at a school where all instruction was in English with a couple of helpers to work with children who understood little of what was being said or expected by the teacher, who was British. In those days, children were still humiliated in public, made to wear dunce caps, etc. Since this was the immediate aftermath of the British Empire, elite culture was heavily influenced by its literature and values. In the encyclopedia at home published in 1947, the Empire was great and good;. The world, history, the sciences and arts, were seen through a British filter. By the time I left school, I had studied two more languages, and went on to a double major at university in economics and French before graduate studies.
Later in life (after acquiring more languages), I married a woman from South America, and ended up speaking Spanish at home. I can still remember the sheer terror as a child of feeling lost before I acquired confidence in English. Language connects, but also distances groups of people, vocabulary and accents are connected to class and prestige (or its lack). After reading Wittgenstein, I can only agree that there is much about which we cannot speak clearly and therefore must be silent. I sometimes wish Americans who are so insistent that English should be the country's sole language, could, like in so many countries in the world, grow up learning to speak and read other languages. Maybe if they could read Cervantes and Lope de Vega, or Neruda and Garcia Marquez in Spanish, and listen to Mexican serenades and understand them, they might not be so closed in their attitudes. Or for that matter, if they could try to appreciate the poetry of Hafez in Persian about love and spirituality.
I don't necessarily have an issue with an "official" language. But I am adamantly opposed to having anything like an "exclusive official" language!
I would like all permanent immigrants to learn English, but I understand how hard it can be to learn a new language as an adult. So I am fine with offering services in multiple languages. I don't see any fair and reasonable way to avoid doing this since many actual US citizens have problems with English as a second language.
I think it's safe to say that English isn't exactly under threat. And we've been getting along just fine without an official language for 250ish years at this point. Why declare one official language now? It's symbolic -- and practical -- exclusion. Vast majority immigrants want to learn English and strive mightily to do so. The EO does nothing to support that effort, and in fact, takes away resources for language learning.
The only point is to elevate the idea that there's only one right way to be American, and it starts with being born to English-speaking parents who were also born here.
Another new low from the Monster Toddler in Chief. They will keep coming. Only Congress can stop him. In the Democratic States of America support your local human candidate running for Congress. Beth Macy for the 6th in Virginia.
The fact that neither Trump nor anyone in his corrupt regime can correctly use the English language makes the entire proclamation even more absurd.
Ha! Funny because it's true...
I live in Montreal, in the province of Quebec in Canada. Multiculturalism policies with both English and French as official languages have been the norm in Canada for decades.
As a person born in Quebec into a French speaking family but then having lived about 30 years in the predominantly English speaking part of the country I can confidently state that speaking multiple languages brings tremendous advantages, both socially and in business. It absolutely helped my career as many jobs were based in a French locale but the majority of the clients were in English Canada or the USA.
Knowing both English and French allowed me to easily learn some Spanish, which actually helped me on business trips to Texas, California and New Mexico. Being able to converse in a client's native tongue, even in a limited way, is appreciated and helps breaks down barriers.
Unfortunately the current government in Quebec has a similar attitude towards 'the others', having forcibly passed many laws to attempt to severely limit the use of English in education, government and even healthcare settings. Quebec is predominantly French and the government insists the laws are about protecting French, not an attempt to eliminate English. The laws are clearly discriminatory and most are being legally challenged.
So take this as a warning to be vigilant, it's a slippery slope if you just shrug your shoulders (understandable with everything else going on in the USA). The government here has done it in small, slow incremental steps but then suddenly felt emboldened to start attacking not only the English language (and also any non-French language) but almost any type of English institutions including our world class universities (sound familiar...?).
So hang on to the option for Spanish (and any other language if needed), this has great value!
I have long theorized that Canadians, by and large, use more of their brains than Americans do, because most Canadians are multilingual to some degree. I have no way to prove that theory, but your insights reinforce it for me.
Here is a fun fact about Montreal. There are many large immigrant groups here, such as Italians, Greeks, Hispanics from all over etc.
It's not unusual for people here to switch back and forth between English and French in the same conversation, even using both in the same sentence. That takes some mental gymnastics to make an effort to use what you think is the more accurate word, regardless of language, that best expresses what you want to say.
The real fun starts when some immigrants get together and use 3 languages in the same conversation! It's not only entertaining to follow but you usually learn interesting stuff as you go.😀
I strongly suspect that a mere Executive Order cannot declare an official language for the US. Fiat is not how we rule.
The honorable Bob Dole floated some legislation before the Senate that had a similar goal. It went nowhere. Thankfully.
If we were to have a declared official language, it properly should be Seminole.
That language is believed to have been the most widespread language here upon arrival of Europeans. It ought to be recognized as the true national language. It is known for its direct eloquence.
As for in the street, this is a free country, we speak as we will. We do not legislate free speech.
Bill, if you wrote that EO, I'm pretty sure *everyone* would be talking about it! :)
In 1776, hundreds of indigenous languages and at least a dozen European languages were spoken in what is now the US. We've always been a multilingual nation, always will be, and no "fiat" (as you put it) can change that.
Diversity is one of the national charms. But we have a problem with the problem and the problem is the problem. We’ve chased our tails for so long. There’s a last line to this song but I can’t sing it.
Is there now a struggle between diversity and a bizarre type of animal husbandry? Politically the government is creating more and more unrepresented and underrepresented communities. Tension. Yet the struggle extends well beyond our borders.
"It’s not hard to imagine that the use of “citizen” here is meant to exclude non-citizen residents from the national culture..." No need to imagine. This is exactly the goal of conservatives, and it has been for decades. Forget illegal immigration - these people want to stop ALL immigration until they can carry out their mass deportation strategy.
I believe the main reason the short-fingered vulgarian wants this to happen is that he is unable to learn another language, and therefore, no one should speak any other language. The bigotry comes second.
The personal psychology is beyond me. :/
The political significance, I totally get. It's one of the government settings that can be adjusted to signal that our nation is "multicultural" or "whites-only"...."welcoming" or "demonizing."
From Google: “Puerto Rico's Organic Act of 1900 (Foraker Act) mandated both Spanish and English for official government use, but it wasn't a simple declaration of "official" status as we know it; rather, it required interchangeable use in all public/official activities, though English became the main language of instruction in schools, creating a complex linguistic dynamic that later laws attempted to clarify, ultimately leading to Spanish and English being recognized as the official languages today.”
I'm glad you brought up Puerto Rico.
So we're gonna hold a territory where Spanish is the dominant language, but make it harder for those citizens to interact with the government?
"Not cool, bruh," as my teen might say.
Basque is an unusual language in that it’s in a class all itself. I can’t imagine telling someone who is Basque they can’t speak their language.
The Bangladesh war of independence was fought in part because the Pakistanis mandated the use of Urdu in official government business, a language that is not well understood by most Bangladeshis.
The Navajo code-talkers were invaluable in WWII
So true! One of the coolest — though far from the only— examples of how linguistic diversity makes us stronger and safer as a nation. 💪🏼
“Making English our official language does not make us stronger as a nation; it makes us smaller, colder, and less humane.” The person who issued the EO doesn’t care about any of these things.
You might be right there! I certainly don't see any evidence to the contrary!
I remain hopeful that people of good conscience can and will respond in ways that make us more inviting, warmer, and more humane. Otherwise, wouldn't be much point in sounding the alarm.
Thanks for chiming in on the conversation.
smaller, colder, and less humane seems to aptly describe this administration every day!
If he’s so fixated on English as the official language of the United States, he really should fix the name of his winter palace in Florida, as well as the name of the state itself.
Ha! Good point!
It's not clear to whom this is addressed. For It's obvious that America is now run by an ethnic nationalist regime. Trump's basic message is NOTof "sociolinguistic" inclusion, but rather its opposite. That's what MAGA means. Republican-run states like Texas and Florida are heavily invested in MAGA cultural warfare. Presumably, "blue" states still do what they can towards inclusion, even when they are impeded by Federal policy.
Nothing to disagree with here!
I think the EO is addressed to the MAGA base: it’s of a piece with mass deportation, travel and visa bans, and other anti-immigrant policies.
Yes, I agree. I just meant that there may not be a receptive audience at least in the Federal government now, so presumably this state of affairs will continue. I sympathize with the problems of children adjusting to a different language and culture. I started as a bilingual child since at home two languages were the norm, but neither was English. At five I began first grade at a school where all instruction was in English with a couple of helpers to work with children who understood little of what was being said or expected by the teacher, who was British. In those days, children were still humiliated in public, made to wear dunce caps, etc. Since this was the immediate aftermath of the British Empire, elite culture was heavily influenced by its literature and values. In the encyclopedia at home published in 1947, the Empire was great and good;. The world, history, the sciences and arts, were seen through a British filter. By the time I left school, I had studied two more languages, and went on to a double major at university in economics and French before graduate studies.
Later in life (after acquiring more languages), I married a woman from South America, and ended up speaking Spanish at home. I can still remember the sheer terror as a child of feeling lost before I acquired confidence in English. Language connects, but also distances groups of people, vocabulary and accents are connected to class and prestige (or its lack). After reading Wittgenstein, I can only agree that there is much about which we cannot speak clearly and therefore must be silent. I sometimes wish Americans who are so insistent that English should be the country's sole language, could, like in so many countries in the world, grow up learning to speak and read other languages. Maybe if they could read Cervantes and Lope de Vega, or Neruda and Garcia Marquez in Spanish, and listen to Mexican serenades and understand them, they might not be so closed in their attitudes. Or for that matter, if they could try to appreciate the poetry of Hafez in Persian about love and spirituality.
I don't necessarily have an issue with an "official" language. But I am adamantly opposed to having anything like an "exclusive official" language!
I would like all permanent immigrants to learn English, but I understand how hard it can be to learn a new language as an adult. So I am fine with offering services in multiple languages. I don't see any fair and reasonable way to avoid doing this since many actual US citizens have problems with English as a second language.
The nuance you offer there is important, Mark!
I think it's safe to say that English isn't exactly under threat. And we've been getting along just fine without an official language for 250ish years at this point. Why declare one official language now? It's symbolic -- and practical -- exclusion. Vast majority immigrants want to learn English and strive mightily to do so. The EO does nothing to support that effort, and in fact, takes away resources for language learning.
The only point is to elevate the idea that there's only one right way to be American, and it starts with being born to English-speaking parents who were also born here.
Ditto Dr. Sweetland - AND, if just an EO can cause the damage mentioned above, then woe betide us if it became encoded as 'official' in law!
Another new low from the Monster Toddler in Chief. They will keep coming. Only Congress can stop him. In the Democratic States of America support your local human candidate running for Congress. Beth Macy for the 6th in Virginia.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, becoming “smaller, colder, and less humane” would appear to be one of this administration’s goals