United States does NOT have an official language....

[Hockey9019]

[Big Sexy]

Yes we do. It's the same as our GOD. You know it as m-o-n-e-y, money. ;)

[Hockey9019]

yes we do. It's the same as our god. You know it as m-o-n-e-y, money. ;)

:D :D Haha

[mxwelch]

There is and it's English. I don't care how many libs say otherwise. Just because our pitiful congress doesn't have the balls to make it official for fear of offending a few people who can't legally vote anyway is irrelevant.

[Injunkop]

Sure we do, its NATIVE AMERICAN. Just ask any Indian at your nearest Casino. LOLROFLMAO.

You may have taken our land, but we've built casinos and we're taking your money!!!!
Pilamyia.

[4goods]

there is and it's english. I don't care how many libs say otherwise. Just because our pitiful congress doesn't have the balls to make it official for fear of offending a few people who can't legally vote anyway is irrelevant.

+1

rep sent!

[Hockey9019]

Now they've added something on here...

National languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
here

WTF is a National Language?

[Nate#2]

A language used most often within a nation.

[canuckofapeach]

I forgot that the USA has no official language at the federal level. You have a "de facto" one, which is English but it is not " de jure" one, or ordained by law.

Roughly a third of the world's nation/states have official language provisions in their constitutions, yet only a few of these designate one language for government.

Canada has two official languages that has created and perpetuated two solitudes - English and French. We are still an English-speaking nation in North America. Canada was founded by the French and there are 3 provinces where there are several pockets of French speakers, who may I add, also speak English without a trace of an accent or with rancor. Quebec is the exception.

Old establishment types in Quebec, referring to the English robber barons living in Montreal, never learned the other language (French) and the French, who were in the minority (population-wise for years), were forced to learn English as a requirement for work. Then in 1976 the Separatist movement threw off it's shackles and came into power in Quebec. A fierce xenophobia against the English language and any individual whose surname was English became a form of war cry. There was blatant discrimination against English speakers. An exodus of anglophones to other parts of Canada and the world became the norm. This became a sad notation in 20th century Canadian history.

All of this happened because some idealogue in power believed his beloved home would be destroyed by the erosion of his maternal tongue. This has proved now the opposite. English is on the rise for the financial well-being of that province!

Go forward 30 years later and you will find a province that was suffering economically and whose generations after that language revolution still speak one language, which in essence deprives them of future possibilities to travel and work elsewhere. As I have mentioned, that is rapidly changing. Do not compare Quebec to Puerto Rico, whose state language is Spanish yet whose inhabitants can speak two languages with relative fluency - at least that was my experience upon visiting there.

Now more than ever, we need a comprehensive plan for managing language resources and ensuring language rights. To understand that there must be an official language or two that doesn't provide political fodder and play into partisan politics.

English is the universal language throughout the world. I have visited over 20 countries and most locals I have met in these countries speak this language. I speak almost 4 languages, as I am in the process of re-learning one of my childhood languages which is German. I have never had a problem in my travels whether it be on a vacation or for work. If I could utilise one of my languages - terrific. If not, we reverted to English without a fuss on anyone's part.

Now, on the other side of the coin, I don't see why the government should be responsible for the costs in printing brochures and the like in a multitude of languages because you don't choose to learn the dominant language. Some departments bend over backwards to accommodate every language except the ( in this instance) unofficial one - English. Different levels of government do go overboard at appeasing all as to not offend the few. Subsequently, someone is always offended regardless of origin and colour.At times, this "multi-cultural diversity" mantra has grown a bit thin in my books, although I suppose it is cheaper than visiting these people's country of origin.

Although it is said that one has more difficulty in learning a new language after the age of 25, I believe if you choose to live in a country whose predominant language is different than yours, then suck it up and learn it. What people fail to understand is that they will not lose their maternal tongue, only enhance their lot in life by learning the accepted language of their home; to live a life in a country that will provide so many more opportunities besides enriching their pocketbook.

[retdetsgt]

. A fierce xenophobia against the English language and any individual whose surname was English became a form of war cry. There was blatant discrimination against English speakers.

From what I've read, the French are the same way. They're paranoid that English words (such as email) will be used. And since a lot of computer terms are English, that's keeping them hopping. They seem to be overly protective of their language.

Ireland is trying to go back to Gaelic. When I was there 10 years ago, all the traffic signs were in Gaelic. I ran into several people in Western Ireland who couldn't speak English. Of course, with the history of the English and them, who could blame them?

[Cris1102]

There is and it's English. I don't care how many libs say otherwise. Just because our pitiful congress doesn't have the balls to make it official for fear of offending a few people who can't legally vote anyway is irrelevant.

absolutely and another +1!!

[BP348]

Ireland is trying to go back to Gaelic.

That's great, that means somewhere along the way my ancestors lost the ability to speak, Gaelic, German, & French :mad:

[retdetsgt]

That's great, that means somewhere along the way my ancestors lost the ability to speak, Gaelic, German, & French :mad:

Once I overheard an old Scotsman talking on the phone to someone using the Scottish brand of Gaelic. I seriously thought he had a stroke or something. :eek:The sounds he was making were terrible! He saw me looking at him kinda worried so he stopped and told me it was Gaelic.....

[BP348]

I don't know if I've ever heard someone speaking Gaelic

[mxwelch]

I don't know if I've ever heard someone speaking Gaelic

I have and it first it almost sounded like English with a real heavy accent.:D