The United States has never had an official language in its almost 250 years of history. English has been imposed as a dominant language, but living with dozens of other languages in a country of immigrants of very varied backgrounds. He has never needed the official language seal. However, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, prepares to approve a decree that makes English in the official language, as various US media have advanced.
The Constitution, the declaration of independence and the main documents of the history of the United States were written in English, the language used in politics and administration dominantly. Those who request American nationality must approve an exam that demonstrates their ability to read, write and speak English. In addition, more than 30 of the 50 states of the country have approved laws that designate English as their official language, but there has never been a statement for the whole country, which makes the United States one of the few countries in the world without official language.
As soon as he returns to the position of president, Trump of the White House, the new team has also suppressed the White House profiles in Spanish on social networks: “This account does not exist,” on @lacasablanca.
Within his Xenophobic speech and against immigration, Trump pointed out in the campaign that people who spoke languages ”that no one has ever heard in the United States” were arriving in the country, something that described as “horrible.” During a debate from the 2015 Republican primaries, Trump criticized former Florida Jeb Bush governor for speaking Spanish in the electoral campaign. “This is a country where we talk English, not Spanish,” he said.
The White House defends the measure of declaring English as an official language stating that, although hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, English is the most used. In addition, he argues that the establishment of a national language unifies the country and its citizens. “Establishing English as an official language promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations and creates a way for civic commitment,” he says in an argument defending the measure.
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States, especially by dozens of Latin immigrants of different generations living in the country. five years or more spoke only English at home, according to the latest five -year estimates of the (ACS).
Among those who spoke a different language from English in the quinquenio 2018-2022, the Spanish was the most spoken language at home, for 61.1%of those who did not speak English, followed by the Chinese (5.1%, including all dialects) and the tagalo (2.5%). Among those who spoke a language other than English at home, 61.0 % of Spanish speakers also spoke English “very well.”
The White House has not yet made public the literal content of the decree nor has announced the date for approval, which is expected for this Friday, as has advanced The Wall Street Journal. The declaration of English as an official language will allow federal agencies to maintain their current policies and continue providing documents and services in other languages. However, the gesture “encourages new Americans to adopt a national language that opens the doors to greater opportunities,” according to the White House.
Trump’s decree will also terminate one of former president Bill Clinton that required agencies and other receptors of federal funds to provide services to people with a limited domain of English.
The measure is produced in the middle of Trump’s crusade against immigration and also in full offensive against programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. On his first day in office, the president signed an order in which he ordered federal agencies to put an end to all subsidies or contracts “related to equality.” Then, he signed an order in which he demanded that federal contractors certify that they do not promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
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