Are We An English-Speaking Country......or Not?

For an official language to be used, it has to be a Constitutional amendment because no where in the Constitution does it make that claim, except maybe the 10th. If the 10th is used, then it is up to the individual states.

You are claiming that my disagreement with you is an insult and yet no insult was done. However, it is true that your knowledge of linguistics is severely limited, a factual basis, in your :retort" to another poster.

What do you think European Spanish means? Od do you know what it means? Or were you trying to use a racial epitaph in your response?

If you were using a racial epitaph, then your retort was a hell of a lot worse than you realized.

 

No it doesn't . The 10th isn't needed. States already have that power. The Feds can simply pass a bill and make it law federally. It is brought up in the House quite regularly in each new session.

I'm claiming nothing, I am stating your words were an insult. This topic isn't about linguistics, it is about being an English speaking country. My retort to Surfer Joe had nothing to do with linguistics, it merely pointed out his inept claims, which weren't about linguistics either. you putting your nose into a conversation about something you obviously don't comprehend and then claim it to be about what you were discussing with another poster is inane.

Here let me "dumb things down" for you to be able to follow along:

This means, not the Spanish as used by Mexico, since Surfer Joe was poorly trying to claim

to which I responded

and his final claim

where I then said

Since Spain was in Texas and portions of the SW prior to Mexico being a nation.

Now where does linguistics come into that conversation?

Maybe you should keep your nose out of my comments and responses if you can't comprehend them.

 

LOL, I doubt your down the middle.

Yeah and? There are nice white families, and trashy white people as well. Not sure what your point is.

 

Lol...Your comments are largely incoherent but they are good comic relief.
And your silly distinction between Spanish spoken in Spain or Mexico is laughable since right-wingers make no distinctions in spouting their prejudices.

 

In order to pass a law federally, it generally has to be based on the Constitjuiton. There is no common law set as precedent for this to happen federally.

You said you are not claiming and then go on and make a declarative statement that it is. It may be your opinion that it was an insult, but the fact is that it wasn't. I was stating that you do not know WTH you are talking about.

Whether you realize it or not, the moment you made the statement "European Spanish" is the moment this became a linguistic issue. The main different between Mexican Spanish and Castilian Spanish is simply a "few" words are used differently or replaced. A person from Span can generally understand Spanish. The syntax is the same and most words are used no matter which region Spanish is being spoken.

Yes, Mexico seceded from Spain and both did hold Texas as part of its territory. But proper names are still proper names no matter if one uses Mexican Spanish or Castillian Spanish. Missions Valero., San Juan, Conception, and Estrada were still named that way whether Spain controlled Texas or Mexico did.

Or do you think the names changed simply because Texas became part of Mexico when Mexico seceded from Spain?

 

This is what people are so quick to forget. America is an immigrant nation and nobody but the Native Americans is indigenous.
If Americans are so obsessed with people having to speak English, it sort of begs the question why they aren't learning to speak, for example, the Comanche language (Uto-Aztecan). They were there first I believe.

 

Why does "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"......require subtitles?

 

I'm saying that there has been a subculture of Spanish-speaking in parts of the USA for quite a while now, and the pressure to accept it will grow as the percentage of the American population that speak Spanish as a first language increases grows significantly in the near future. At this point you would have to have politicians commit to an almost active suppression of Spanish in order to make enforce the sole status of English in the future, and very few politicians would commit to actively alienating a growing group of voters.

In fact, there is good evidence to suggest that Republicans annoying Hispanic voters was the difference in getting President Obama re-elected (Obama's support among Hispanics went to about 78% from about 68% in the previous election). We live in a democracy, and there are more people that will want Spanish rights than there will be people who will want to deny them (in the near future even more than now).

 

No one is saying "take away a person's choice to speak Spanish." We're talking classrooms....PUBLIC classrooms....where there is a curriculum that is taught in English.....testing is done in English.....and the ability to pass, graduate and go on to lead a successful life here in America is based on KNOWING and using English.

 

Wow; I did not know that. California, really? BTW, I see you are in California. So.....what happens in YOUR public schools? Do you teach in English? Is your testing in English? Do those who aren't proficient in English get extra help in the younger grades especially? I have a friend who moved back to Texas....but who once taught in California; I'll also call and ask her what their policies were.

 

Well put. But that rationale is too deep and off the radar for these 'English only' clowns.

 

When my grandfather immigrated here from Norway decades ago, he never learned to speak English. He, his wife and their 10 kids spoke Norwegian in the home and when the kids ventured out into the world they slowly learned to speak English. My Mother had a thick Norwegian accent all her life and still spoke Norwegian with her siblings.

My point is that years ago it was never a problem for newcomers to keep their native language when they immigrated. This is a new phenomenon: republicans using fear tactics against immigrants.

Of course, a Norwegian with pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes makes a big difference when you compare it with an immigrant with dark skin, dark hair and eyes who speaks Spanish. The blondes get a pass.

 

Throughout our history, mostly by the 2nd generation to migrate here, they were speaking English. The students in this Middle School could speak English. They were CHOOSING not to inside class and that was the problem. Teachers and Principals get to make the rules and since the students have their tests in English and must take TAKS tests in English and were lagging WAY behind the average in other schools in Texas......speaking English in class was the right thing to do.

 

Yeah, I can see that slipping away. In some states people will have the choice of being primarily educated in Spanish and will take English as a second language if they are worrying about improving their prospects after graduation. On the other hand, speaking both languages fluently will be a bigger plus for getting ahead, especially in government. Is it any harder for a Hispanic to learn English than it is an English-speaking American to learn Spanish? Maybe some parents will send their English-speaking kids to Spanish language schools to improve their prospects in life.

 

You got that right.......there is a huge difference between the pre-1965 European immigrants and today's third world and Mayan immigrants.......a very big difference. We should go back to the immigration laws in effect before Teddy Kennedy decided to destroy the country by destroying its White majority

 

Shouldn't all the Spanish speakers be doing everything possible to learn English? The fact that there is a choice to forgo learning English growing up or in daily life, speaks volumes about how pandering is leading to a slow decline to 3rd world status. Logically, why would we pander to people coming from countries that are decades behind us? Its very sad.

 

Here's the end result....English being taught as a foreign language to every pupil in a U.K. school:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-language-pupils-50-nationalities-pupils.html

 

Right winger prejudice? Typical Progressive.

Go back to basic history class.

 

So you really don't know how laws are made. Color me surprised. Congress has a Bill every Session that would make English the official language of the US, sometimes it makes it out of committee to die in the other chamber.

Congress can pass any law they so choose, The President can either Veto it or sign it. Once the President signs it, it becomes law. It can be challenged based on the constitutionality of said law to which SCOTUS will make that determination.

Go take a basic government class since you don't comprehend basic law.

Coming from the person that fails in basic law and how laws become binding.

I'm glad you take it upon yourself to mis-comprehend what I said, but its nothing new. There are many Spanish (being from Spain) in the world, back then it was Spanish from Europe that named the small towns, villas, and missions, to include many other areas with Spanish names. It wasn't the Spanish Mexcican's that did it, as it was the European Spanish that did. WOW, look at that, its not a linguistic statement at all.

You see, you do get what I stated, you simply wanted to run your fingers over your keyboard to give the impression your are semi-intelligent, yet failed miserably.

 

Some of those states have more than one official language, like Hawaii, which has English and Hawaiian. But most states that have English as an official language also are by de facto, bilingual. Louisiana is on such state as well as California.

 

I know how laws are passed, but that was not my point. The point was if you want the law to stick, it will have to pass Constutional guidelines in any court challenge. The only way to do that is by a Constitutional amendment. Or are you ignoring intentionally judicial review?

So says t he person who ignores judicial review when wanting to pass a law.

You just now demonstrated your complete ignorance of the Spanish Language.

See point above.

 

When you encourage groups to cloister among themselves and not integrate into U.S. society that sends a message that they are not wanted. Wanting them to speak English says to me that we very much want these people; as part of our society, not as separate groups.

 

Making any language as official usually, for some reason, has the perverse effect of encouraging parallel languages. Countries such as New Zealand (Maori second language) and Canada (French second language) often have "official languages." The U.S., Australia and Great Britain do not have official languages. English is in less trouble in the latter group of countries.

 

It would first be law, and to have SCOTUS look at it, it would have to be challenged by someone with standing (in this case it will be very hard to get). So no Constitutional Amendment would be needed unless challenged and SCOTUS determined it unconstitutional. So, the law sticks until SCOTUS can say it is unconstitutional by someone with standing to challenge it.

The judicial review comes after the fact by somone who has standing to challenge said law. Again, learn how the process works.

Except I haven't discussed the Spanish language.

No need, you miscomprehended my comment and have been shown how you miscromphended it. Now you simply try to CYA.

 

Having an official language or languages is controlled mostly by historical and cultural impact in that region than the law itself. For instance, India has two official languages, English and Hindi. Switzerland has three official languages, Italian, French, and German. Singapore has three official languages, Chindese, English, and one other that I cannot think of. And some countries have one, like France and Germany.

The point is that having an official language is much a part of the culture and history of a specific region than the legality of having a official language. For me legally, it is a state rights issue under the 10th Amendment. For Texas, it will have to be both English and Spanish, but written in such a way as to not drown or suffocate other languages that are spoken. But for some who want English as an official language, the law is most often used not to leann another language or culture. As a result, you will have popele with limited ability to interact in a ever transparent global world.