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- Title
The question of an official language: language rights and the English Language Amendment.
- Authors
Marshall, David F.
- Abstract
This study examines the issue of an official language for the U.S., the history of not having one, and the reasons it does not, as well as the wording and the ramifications of the Constitutional amendments proposed in Congress as of July 1986. The Congress have proposed in both houses joint resolutions that would amend the Constitution, making English the official language of the U.S.. At first glance, nothing could seem more obvious or uncontroversial, seemingly correcting an oversight of the Founding Fathers. But after a careful study and thought, there appear few issues that could be more politically sensitive for the future of the if not handled delicately and with great care. The issue of an official language is fraught with potential hostility and is conductive event to possibilities for violence. The effect of such an amendment's ratification upon the language statutes on six selected states is also studied. these state were selected both for their language laws and how these impact on their non-English-speaking citizens, and also for their diverse stances to the questions of multiethnic and multilingual culture and its preservation. After reviewing the U.S. history of language rights, the proposed amendments, and the arguments for advancing them, followed by the effect such amendments would have upon the six selected states, this study will suggest some possible avenues for legislation that might prove less volatile for the U.S. and its many diverse peoples.
- Subjects
UNITED States; LANGUAGE policy; LANGUAGE &; history; CONSTITUTIONAL amendments; UNITED States. Congress
- Publication
International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 1986, Vol 1986, Issue 60, p7
- ISSN
0165-2516
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1515/ijsl.1986.60.7