Issues in U.S. Language Policy

Factual disputes are a feature of every policy debate. But they loom especially large in the conflict over English Only. While language diversity is hardly a new issue in U.S. history, it is a new issue to most living Americans. So there's a vacuum of reliable information. This has created an environment in which ethnic stereotypes, romantic myths, and folk wisdom can flourish.

Such a vacuum favors those who advance simplistic claims. For example:

• that English has been the "common bond" of American nationhood
• that earlier immigrants were quick to learn English 
• that bilingual accommodations discourage today's Hispanics and Asians from doing so 
• that diversity inevitably causes dissension
• that English Only restrictions will foster unity

To take a small but irritating example: the claim that 30 states have adopted Official English legislation has been reprinted in scores of popular articles. (Irritating to me at least, a former reporter who expects some attempt at fact-checking.) In fact:

• The organized English Only movement – which dates from 1983 – can claim credit for inspiring such measures in 24 states.
• Three states – Nebraska, Illinois, and Virginia – enacted Official English laws at earlier times.
• In 1978, Hawai`i adopted both English and Native Hawaiian as its official languages – that is, official bilingualism, which contradicts everything the English Only movement represents.
• Official English measures have been declared unconstitutional by state courts in Alaska and Arizona, although Arizonans passed a less restrictive version in 2006.
• Louisiana – which U.S. English recently added to the list – has no Official English policy whatsoever. To the contrary, its constitution recognizes minority language rights (one of the few states to do so). Yet Louisiana continues to be hailed as an English Only state in the national press and the halls of Congress.
• Massachusetts, another state claimed by Official English advocates on the basis of a casual (and uninformed) statement by a state court in 1975, has never had such a law. Efforts to enact one have been rejected several times by the state legislature since the late 1980s.
• A fair and accurate total of Official English states – 24 + 4 - 2 (Alaska and Hawaii) – is 26. For more details, see my language legislation page.

Washington Post Blames Bilingual Education for Increasing LEP Population

Ron Unz, Ventriloquist

Ron Unz on Bilingual Education

Diane Ravitch on Bilingual Education

Demographic Change

"Multilingual Government"

Official English Opinion Polls

Puerto Rico

"Babel" in the Schools

Bilingual Voting Rights

Muhlenberg Legend

Language and National Identity