English should be the official language of the United States - Essay Example

Making English the official language would inspire new immigrants to learn the language of their adopted country. It is impossible to argue against the unifying power of having an official language. Many wealthy and powerful countries (France, Germany, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Italy) have one official language, and this puts them in very good stead when it comes to rallying people to a cause. In addition to unity, finances would be saved because making English the official language would eliminate the direct costs of bilingual education and translators.

Such costs often run into billions of dollars, and the majority of it is drawn from local governments’ budgets. For instance, in 2002 in Los Angeles, $15 million, or 15% of the election budget was set aside for the printing of ballots in 7 languages and recruiting bilingual election personnel (Adams & Brink 12). The formation of organizations like U.S English, whose main goal is to push for the adoption of English as the official language of the United States, also shows that the issue needs to be seriously considered (King 495).

In addition, there are groups opposed to making English the official language of the United States. It is also worth noting that the undercurrents surrounding the calls for English to be made the official language of the United States have been far much stronger than those opposing it. All those who have supported and tried to vindicate this cause have done so out of worry for the direction the country is headed. Theodore Roosevelt expressed the muted American linguistic-melting-pot theory when he said, “We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intended to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house.

” And: “We must have but one flag. We must have but one language. That must be the language of the Declaration of