The internal struggles and unsuccessful Articles of Confederation displayed the perilous situation America was in without a shared national identity. It was out of necessity for the Constitution to developed on their revolutionary principles (343). Furthermore, The Constitution was adopted as the national identity until one developed. The Constitution, the founding fathers, and their documents were deified by Americans. Americans studied, wrote, praised, and debated the constitution, but more importantly they endorsed the constitution’s…
In his essay "In Plain English: Let's Make It Official," Charles Krauthammer mentions English being the key to unifying a multicultural society like the United States. There is no doubt that the United States is a nation composed of immigrants from all over the world. However, it is not a nation composed of immigrants trying to ostracize themselves to create their own territory. We are a melting pot of many linguistic, cultural, and ethnic groups that are constantly interacting and coming together to form the American culture. Nonetheless, people are now rejecting the melting pot theory and embracing a "bi-nationalism" concept.…
In this article Edwin L. Battistella approaches the idea of how the English language throughout history has been seen as representing the American identity and unity, and explores the attitudes towards other minorities languages and foreign tongues. The article focuses on why those who choose to speak foreign languages are seen as bad citizens and the fear of multilinguistic within the time line. Batistella also mentions the concerns for standardization of the founders of the United States, that is, the need to have a standardized usage and pronunciation which would represent the ideals and cultural values of the people. The idea that a common language helps resolve differences and widens the understanding between those of different backgrounds…
When anyone comes into the United States to make a new life they have to assimilate in order to progress their life here. One way is to learn the English language, but with that sometimes their own language is lost, along with their culture and their true identity. In Gloria Anzaldua, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, she explains how the Anglo attacks her language and violates the First Amendment, which made way for a new language to form along with a new identity. In the beginning she gives a scene where she is at the dentist and they are trying to “tame her wild tongue” and explains how speaking Spanish at recess could get her “three licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler” (Anzaldua 2947).…
If Only We Spoke Two Languages By Ariel Dorfman is an editorial which explains the importance of knowing two or more languages. Ariel Dorfman is a human rights activist and A professor of literature, he has written many books, and writes for the New York Times, The Washington Post, and many others which would make him a credible source. Dorfman has credentials in the area he is discussing because he is an immigrant who experienced the lack of multilingualism in America when he had to move to Manhattan for hospital treatment with no one speaking Spanish there, forcing him to never speak spanish again for 10 years. Dorfman uses his books and articles he has written to try to show and explain reasons for why America should adapt to a second language.…
While there is no official language in the United States, English is used throughout the country. This leads nearly every American down a path that requires them to learn and speak at least some English. However, the roots of America lie in immigrants coming to the country for a chance at a new start. Therefore, multiple languages, whether dominant or minor, should be viewed as an example of what makes America what it is. These languages should not be purged in favor of English, but preserved in order for future generations to garner an understanding of the various cultures and ideologies that go along with different languages.…
Comley, Nancy, ed. Fields of Reading: Motives for Writing. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. Print.…
Introduction Prior to the Bilingual Education Acts Prior to the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, the U.S. government had a change in attitude towards bilingualism and bilingual educations. At times, there was this permissive attitude that allowed teaching through the mother tongue acceptable. As long as it was within the jurisdiction of local towns and districts, schools were allowed to teach in the child’s native language. However, there were times in which higher authorities were strongly against languages other than the English. This hostile climate would culminate in the some of the nation’s most drastic changes in the public schools resulting in the reduction of any type of bilingual instruction offered by some states (Nieto, 2009).…
1. Throughout Charles Krauthammer’s essay his overall argument is that English should be the official language in the United States in order to keep things simple and easy. Krauthammer supports his claim by stating that the United States becoming a bilingual country would just tear it apart. He begins his essay with saying how he was from Canada and having two different languages in that country almost tore it apart when Canada did not even have a choice on if it would be bilingual or not. He states the U.S. has the choice and it would be making the wrong choice to allow the country to be bilingual and not have English as the official language.…
The primary argument that Richard Rodriguez addresses in Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood is the issue of bilingual education in America. He claims that he can’t be fully merged in American Society due to his “private” life, in other words his second language. Rodriguez also claims that because his original language is not the same as the “public” language, he is unable to create intimacy with someone who speaks a different language other than the public one. Lastly, he claims the use of a native language is impossible to have coexist with the “public” language. “It is not possible for a child, any child, ever to use his family’s language in school” (Rodriguez 448).…
Warren J. Blumenfeld is a progressive author dedicated to the forward evolution of the United States and its extremely reserved systems. Being a well decorated writer in the Purple press and The Beacon press with modern and progressive articles means that Blumenfeld has a plethora of knowledge when appealing to the reserved audience of The Huffington Post. Using this background serves him well in his opportunity to convey the problems with modern English through his extensive use of logos and ethos. In his argument about modern linguicism, Warren starts off the introduction with a joke his friend from Belgium told him about Americans’ arrogant anti-linguistic culture and their self-righteous beliefs.…
Language is an essential part of people becoming their own person, as its huge range of vocabulary that can be used to express different ideas and thoughts. Since the Orwell’s main goal in 1984 is to remove individuality, a new language was developed to take away the citizen’s old language. This new language limited the citizen’s freedom of thought and leaves citizens no option to have any of their own thoughts. “In fact there will be no thought, as we understand it now,” since the vocabulary is changing the belief of thoughts each year.…
Language gives to you opportunity to share potential ideas to an audience or simply use your voice to advocate. Being able to express yourself intelligently and fluently is not only a vital role in a meaningful…
What is the language? The language is a most powerful weapon that we can used for to create a great impact on others; moreover, it could be influenced over and over the time. In “Politics and the English Language”, George Orwell stated that language is a reflection of our culture and society. On the contrary, in “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr. shows his belief about the segregation and tried to bring his community up to against the unjust law. In the both texts, George Orwell and Martin Luther King, Jr. both shows that political leaders use the language to empower the individuals in society by making an encouragement to bring them together and convince them to believe as his or her belief.…
Countries have gotten used to being monolingual. If you speak, read, and write in more than one language than…