Contrary to belief, the United States has no official language. Federal legislators have been proposing laws intended to make English the business language of the United States. Almost every session of the Congress proposes an amendment to adopt English as the official national language. Despite efforts for this proposal the nation has over the years not yet made English as its national language.
The definition of an official language is that which has been specifically designated in the rule of the country. In many countries, officially used or recognized languages are mistaken for official language. An official language is defined in a country’s constitution (Crystal 2012, pp.83). Many countries in the world have official languages defined by their constitution. Examples of such states include Paraguay, India, Switzerland, South Africa, and Finland, amongst others. As a result of globalization and diversity most of this nations use English to strike balances and accommodate the language barriers. A significant population of U.S is also marked by these diversities as a result of globalization. To accommodate these diversities, conform to standards, and contribute to globalization US should make English language official.
The increased level of international and national movement also calls for a need to have a common language in the state. US rank as the first country where migration levels both domestic and international are reported. Most of the incoming citizens or visitors hail from countries where English is used as a second language. For example, most Africans use their local languages as their first language, and consider English as a second language. This has created cultural differences like language barriers that deter effective communication. To accommodate such diversities, US need to make English official.
The modern business world is marked by globalization and international integration in trade. The state trades with most neighboring states, and other potential markets all over the world. Globalization processes like internationalization and immigration lead to a situation where different originalities with different cultures and languages meet. There is a theoretical challenge in meeting the needs of these originalities if there lacks a common mode of communication (Crystal 2012, pp.86). The business nature of US also calls for an official language so that needs and demands are effectively communicated. This will also eliminate the
The state marks the world’s first business center where most business innovations are made. Most globalization tools such as the internet that are innovations of US homogenize the world. They encourage diverse lingual societies to revitalize and connect their endangered languages. Some of these innovations need to be sold outside the nation. To conform to the policies of the world, the United Nations has introduced the language to more than fifty nations. So as to meet the globalization need, US, therefore needs to conform to the state of affairs in these states, and the rest of the world. It will also lead to a recognition that while US citizens respect and value unity, they want to preserve a common language that identifies them.
In addition to conformity to the needs of citizens, immigrants, US Army, and the federal court system having an official language means avoidance of costs, burdens and conflicts. States like Canada and organizations like European Union that attempt to conduct international business using different official languages face challenges related to costs, and conflicts. These nations are obliged to outsource recourses to assist in communication or train personnel on the language to use in different states. Having a common language will create the state’s brand in that any immigrant or citizen in the country must relate to the language (Crystal 2012, pp.83). Instead of spending on costs of training employees, facing cultural shocks of language, and experiencing conflicts related to misunderstandings, US needs to adapt one official language.
In conclusion, making English official in US will boost its relationship with other nations that have made the language official, and those in the process of making it official. It will allow for increased innovations as the needs of customers will be effectively communicated, and will assist the nation in establishing its identity. The accommodative nature of the country requires that all citizens and immigrants communicate with a common language to promote unity and cohesion.
Reference.
Crystal, David. English As a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print.
