We have a trivia question for you: What is the United States’ official language?
You may think it’s English, and we wouldn’t blame you. But right now, our country has no official language. English is certainly the de facto official language, but Congress has yet to codify that tradition. Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom similarly boast English as the unofficial standard language, so we are in good company.
Amid an increase in anti-immigration sentiment, many groups have called for the government to officially declare English as the official language. Shoppers in stores have angrily told non-English speakers that “To live here, you need to speak English.” Even former President Donald Trump argued that it’s necessary to assimilate to American culture. In response, statehouses across the country have penned and passed legislation legally designating English as their official language.
In everyday life, these laws are mostly toothless. It’s a different story, however, if someone with limited proficiency interacts with government bodies. “Official English” laws restrict the use of other languages in workplaces and schools. These policies also end bilingual education, driving exams, and outlaw ballots written in any other language. So, in addition to alienating non-speakers, these laws complicate some of the most essential sectors of our civic life.
Let’s call a spade a spade. These laws are racist.
Proponents argue that such policies will save the government money in translation services and improve immigrants’ economic productivity. Inherent in these assertions are the ideas that immigrants don’t want to learn English and that this legislation will boost proficiency. Both these arguments are deeply flawed.
There is no data to suggest that immigrants are, by nature, unwilling to learn English. Alternatively, the Migration Policy Institute concluded that the lack of English as a second language (ESL) classes is the main culprit for low proficiency in immigrant populations. The same report found an astounding enthusiasm to take these courses, which was hampered by a general lack of federal funding. Besides, data doesn’t even support the idea that such laws increase proficiency. Eleven states have had language policies for 25 years, and six of those claimed the highest percentage of less-than-proficient residents.
In short, mandating English throughout government does nothing but complicates life for those who need our support the most. There are plenty of other arguments against passing such laws. Not only does multilingualism support global competitiveness, but English-only documents would sacrifice useful tax revenue by the millions. These are just a few of the arguments against “official English,” but the most important one is a lot simpler.
It gives racists an excuse to harass people with different colored skin, not that they have ever needed one.
Whenever “official English” worms its way back into the news cycle, it’s our duty to beat it back. Far-right politicians, activists, and talking heads alike have begun to endorse cultural battles rather than focus on concrete policy to improve their constituents’ lives. You can be certain that videos of racists confronting less-than-fluent speakers in stores will continue to go viral. As that happens, it’s important to remember that these policies tangibly affect the wellbeing of communities of color everywhere.
