The Official Language of the United Nations

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“Bilingualism for the individual is fine, but not for a country”, claims S.I Hayakawa in his article “Bilingualism in America”, published in USA Today in 1989. A language is a systematic means of communication. It is used to express ourselves and communicate with others. More than 300 languages are spoken in the United States but English is one of the common bonds among the Americans of all backgrounds. English is the language of freedom, commerce and opportunity around the world. English is the official language of 51 nations and 27 states in the United States of America. Most scholars believe that English is the common language in the United States of America. This is true in fact but not in law. The founders of the United States of America were aware of the importance of the language of nation building. A nation’s language was thought to be the essence of national culture. There were movements to make English as the official language but failed in their attempt. Making English as the official language promotes unity among the people, serves as a means of communication for immigrants, helps in business, and cut government spending on bilingualism. For years, there has been considerable debate on whether English should be the official language of United States or not. There was a movement taking place throughout the country aimed at making English the official language. The main focus of the English Only Movement is to eliminate or limit bilingual education in public schools, prevent state and local governments from spending tax dollars on translations of road signs and government documents, and to abolish multilingual ballots. The legislation places no restrictions on which language a person speaks at home, in the community, c... ... middle of paper ... ...he private day-to-day life of people. They can choose to speak in any language at their home. Having English as an official language helps immigrants as English is spoken by most of the people in the world. English as an official language promotes unity among people but not differences. In conclusion, we can say that having English as the official language has more pros than cons. Works Cited Annals of the Congress of the United States, 1082. Hope Viner Samborn, "Tongue- Tied," ABA Journal, February 1996, 22. U.S. English, Inc., "Making English the Official Language", http:// www.us-english.org Hayakawa, S. (1989). Bilingualism in America. USA Today . James M. Inhofe, C. M. (Oct 23, 2006). Should English be declared America's national language? A nation of immigrants considers the pros and cons of giving English official status. New York Times Upfront .

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