Should English Be Declared the official Language of the United States?
Language is considered to be one of the most important communication elements of national identity (Storey 57). Each nation is represented by its own official language and thereby demonstrates its unity and power. If one country cannot decide on its own official language, it may cause numerous misunderstandings among other nations and make these nations doubt about this country’s ability to manage its civilization. This is why English has to be declared the official language of the United States: 1) in order to solidify the unity of this huge country, 2) to help people speak one language in one country, 3) to appreciate American history and its founders, and 4) to provide its citizens with a chance to master English on the highest level.
In order to reinforce the unity of such a huge country, it is necessary to connect each of its citizens with a common, official language. If people cannot commit to an official language, it may bring lots of misunderstandings among other countries. The American nation is one of the most powerful and influential in the world; its Constitution and Declaration of Independence are written in English (Adickes 1). This is why it is damaging if the official language of the United States is not established as English.
It turns out to be surprisingly difficult for American citizens to communicate with each other in their own country. Nowadays, people of the same block may speak two or more different languages and be broken into separate groups in accordance with the language; this is why people might have a strong desire to make one language as their official language (Crystal 74). To avoid inflaming prejudices and passions of American citizens, there needs to be a single, clear-cut agreement on English as the official language. Thus there will be no question as to whether other languages are competing with English. It will be clear that English is the official language, such conflict and confusion will be minimized.
Regardless of the fact the both the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence do not proclaim the official status of the English language (Tottie 240), its creators spoke and wrote in English and all the American presidents spoke English as well. This is why now, it is time to declare English as an official language and demonstrate the American people’s respect for their history, to their ancestors, and to their past. There are not many crucial symbols which demonstrate national identity; however, language is one of those