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Monday, June 29, 2026
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Afaf Meleis | It's about home - not where you're from

(09/12/06 9:00am)

The events of Sept. 11 have made many of us immigrants question our identities and sense of belonging and shocked us into the realization that we as a nation are as vulnerable as any developing country - unprepared for the attacks and the subsequent renewal. But equally alarming is the stereotyping that has resulted from the actions of the terrorists, who were Muslims and Arabs.

https://www.thedp.com/article/2006/09/afaf_meleis_its_about_home_not_where_youre_from

Excuse me, do you speak English?

(10/31/05 10:00am)

"Si, si," responded the Hispanic woman sitting in the middle of my driving class when the teacher had asked her if she had understood everything that had been said. The five-hour defensive driving crash course, mandatory for those wishing to take the road test, was entirely in English. The lessons, videos and practice quizzes were all in the same language as the road signs that we would eventually have to read. Yet, after she had failed to comprehend the instructor's question in English, he had to ask her in Spanish. This is just one example of the growing language issue in America. We are slowly becoming the next Babel. In no way am I condemning a multicultural America; our country was founded upon the ideal of providing freedom for all those who want it; however, we must have a united language. Most are surprised to learn that there is no official language of the United States. English is obviously what the government and most of the people use, but there is nothing to ensure it remains this way. America has been a haven for a diverse mix of cultures from the beginning. In 1795, Congress considered legislation to print all government documents in German, in addition to English, but the vote barely failed. In the present day, government agencies print forms in many of the 322 languages spoken in the U.S. The numbers, however, are somewhat disturbing. The IRS began catering to different languages in 1994 by creating a toll-free Spanish telephone hotline. It also wasted $113,000 distributing 500,000 1040 forms in Spanish -- of which less than 1,000 were used. In the same year, Hawaii spent $34,000 for Japanese voting materials so that four people could eventually vote. Now, the IRS accommodates over 30 languages ranging from Yiddish to Chamorro, the native tongue of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. According to the 2000 census, 10.7 percent of households speak Spanish as their primary language and another 4 percent or so use a language other than English or Spanish. Furthermore, 3 percent of Americans cannot speak English "well" and 0.8 percent (over 2 million people) speak absolutely none of the "unofficial" language of the U.S. However, most Americans are hardly aware of the decline of English as the predominant language. Cities are the most notable havens for multiple languages. Take the 1 train through Harlem on a typical day and you are likely to hear more Spanish than English, but how often is the average American on the Upper West Side? There are nine counties in the U.S. where over 100 languages are spoken and 38 where English is not the majority. It is not comforting to envision having a medical emergency while traveling through these areas, exchanging insurance information after an automobile accident or even doing something more trivial such as asking for directions or buying a meal. In 1996, the House passed H.R. 123, which established English as the official language of the United States, but the bill never made it through the Senate committees. Currently, there are 22 states that recognize English, at least partially, as the official language for operations. Yet there are also plenty of states who have to foot the bill for bilingual education, which costs $8 billion annually across the nation. While 92 percent of countries have at least one official language, it does not seem like America is close to joining that list. One of the biggest problems with the United States, perhaps a flaw in its political system, is that we fail to address problems until they are clearly visible; often too late. Not having an official language may not seem pressing, but slowly we are going to begin to realize how vital this issue really is. The gap between English and Spanish is closing, not fast enough to present a problem during our lifetimes, but to certainly create trying times down the road. The day is not far away where, in certain areas, one must wait through multiple language options when dialing 911. In many states, drivers can speak one of over 10 different languages and get their licenses, including California, which accommodates 35. It is time for lawmakers to realize the gravity of the situation. Perhaps the government must more effectively subsidize those who wish to learn English, so that we can fix the problem instead of continually offering solutions for the short run through accommodation. It may also be time to revise immigration policies and begin to mandate stricter requirements for developing a proficiency in English. I love America and the diverse people within, but in the interest of our future, we need an official language. I hope we won't be too tarde.

https://www.thedp.com/article/2005/10/excuse_me_do_you_speak_english
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