Bilingual Language In America

We live in a nation where our neighbors differentiate in race, ethnicity, religious belief, occupation, socioeconomic status, and even the language(s) they speak. In a progressively inclusive world, our tongues are divided by many languages, yet united under one nation, America. Being bilingual is known to many as someone who speaks two languages, and a polyglot as one who speaks multiple. In reality, we call someone who only speaks one language “Americans.” Though many languages are used in the United States, monolingualism is present among many citizens. Dubbed the name, “melting pot,” due to its increasing immigration, our nation assimilates to the various religions, cultures, and languages of the people. With the immigration population

As it becomes more diverse, American citizens are destined to encounter someone who speaks Spanish as their primary or secondary language. A general secretary for the Association of the Spanish Language Academies, Humberto López Morales, along with many demographers have predicted that the United States, starting in 2020, will become the largest Spanish speaking country (Gonzalez-Barrera & Lopez). In order to effectively predict the future of any language, one must consider its current state, history, usage, and importance. Reynaldo F. Macías writes in his 2014 report, “Spanish as the Second National Language of the United States: Fact, Future, Fiction, or Hope?” that the status of a language is measured by the number of speakers and the length of time it has been present in an area. Today, Spanish is spoken as a secondary language in more American homes than any other foreign language (Gonzalez-Barrera & Lopez). Being one of the most spoken languages in the world, the Spanish language furthers it growth by gaining competency across nations through academic curricula, entertainment, and even the functionality of the World’s largest

Many companies have gaged towards bridging the gap between the societal groups by adapting their dialect to accommodate that of the non-English speakers (Sharp). For example, the most recognizable reference to the language can be seen within the American chain, Taco Bell. Sharp emphasizes that Taco Bell uses the lingo of the Spanish language to match and promote their brand: “Yo Quiero Taco Bell!” In fact, Spanish television networks, such as Telemundo, have received higher ratings than those from an American network. To become more marketable and suitable, countless establishments have allowed for information on products, machines, and even resources translatable into Spanish upon request (Gonzalez-Barrera & Lopez). However, a researcher for the Hispanic Policy Development Project, Calvin J. Veltman says in his 1988 report “The Future of The Spanish Language in the United States” that the attainment of the English language is recognized amongst the Hispanic community and is deemed critical to their success in the United States. While the urge to ignore the Spanish language may be existing for some, it becomes progressively harder as the language gains more attention. Spanish's supremacy among many foreign languages has generated concern of the language’s longevity in our nation. Macías responds to the health of the language by