Debate over English Only Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Debate over English Only - Essay Example ThecaseofJoseph Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks in Philadelphia,willbediscussedinthisregard. InDecember,2007,thecaseofPhiladelphiaCheesesteakShopOwner,JosephVento,whohaddisplayedthesign'ThisisAMERICA:WHENORDERINGPLEASE'SPEAKENGLISH'hadbecomehighlycontroversial(foxnews.com).Tothis,Ventoreiteratedthathewasnotindulgentinmakingdiscriminatoryremarksoractivities.HesaidthathewasofItalianoriginandevenhisparentsandhe,hadtolearntheEnglishlanguage.Thiswasbecause,EnglishwastheunifyinglanguageinacountryliketheUS,wherethepopulationisdiverse.Onecannotpossiblyconverseinalllanguagesthatthepopulationwouldcomefrom. Hence,hefelt,thattheEnglishlanguagebeingtheinternationallanguage,wouldbeidealforunifiedcommunicationandavoidinganybreachincomprehension.Healsosaidthatsincethecountryhadimmigrantsfromdifferentcountriescomingin,theywouldspeakintheirownlanguage.Thiscouldnotbeunderstoodbyoneandall.Hence,hehadtoputuptheboard,tobeabletopassonthemessagethatcustomersatisfactionforabusinessisindeedimportant,forwhichservingtherightitemswasimperative.Onlyaunifyinglanguagecouldhelpincommunicatingwhatthecustomerneeds,inabetterway.Fullyconvincedbyhisreply,Vento'sattorneyShannon.L.Goessingsaid,"Thecaseshould,withoutquestion,bedismissed.Thereisalegitimatebusinesspurposeforthissign." Inspiteofthedecision,anumberofpartiesareforandagainsttheissueofputt... he'Whitesonly"postingsoftheJimCrowera.'Thesignsgiveafeelingofbeingunwelcomeandbeingexcluded, Charlessaid."(Philadelphia Cheesesteak Shop Owner Defends 'Order in English' Policy Saturday,December 15, 2007,Associated Press http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316939,00.html) ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE US Many people in the US debate that English should be made the official language of the country. This would bring about a common ground for unhindered communication and minimize comprehension errors, misunderstandings and misinterpretations. By making the English language the official language, even immigrants can converse without really having a problem. However, the challenge here lies in getting the immigrant force to understand and comprehend English. This largely depends on their backgrounds and it translates into meaning that if they do not know English, it would be very difficult for them, to live at ease in the US and converse. On the other hand, this would help all and sundry in gaining a common understanding and linguistic identity. This would work towards promoting unity in diversity. It would go a long way in unifying the masses under one common umbrella of linguistic unity, irrespective of subjective linguistic orientations and origins. ENGLISH AS THE ONLY LANGUAGE If English is made the only language in US that is officially recognized, it would spell doom to the huge number of citizenry that come from other linguistic backgrounds. Ever since globalization has impacted the world, US has gained immensely from the steady influx of immigrants