Ask anyone what the national language is for the United States and chances are they will tell you English. Many American’s believe that English is the official language and is the only language people should use. It is a deeply held belief that Spanish, French, German, and other languages should never be heard or seen while in the United States.
One of the most common statements made towards immigrants is to speak English. American’s have a sense of entitlement towards the English language, even while traveling abroad. It appears to many that Americans expect everyone to speak English. There have even been fights between American soldiers and local citizens across Europe and Asia when the citizen of the host nation did not speak English, and the American became irate.
Is this sense of English-only accurate under federal law, or just the imagination of a public weary of other nations? Continue reading →