Wednesday, March 21, 2007

English is the lingua franca of the United States of America

I have never understood why Americans have allowed Spanish, as a language, to grow and grow in the States.

Having just returned from a vacation in the States, I couldn’t help but notice when I was there that Spanish is growing in importance. So many things one buys in the supermarket are labelled both in English and Spanish.

The lingua franca of the States is still English. Immigrants should be encouraged to learn the language of their host nation. That, of course, is English.

I have myself lived as a foreigner in a country which has a different tongue. In my case it was Switzerland, and the lingua franca was German. I did my utmost to learn that language.

Looking back on it, I wouldn’t have wished to have it any other way. I was ‘forced’ to learn the language of the country I lived in; and that, today, is to my benefit. It will be to the immigrants' benefit also if they are 'forced' to learn English. So the States should do the same: immigrants should be made to make the effort. In the long-run, it is kinder to them. It helps them not one jot to be mommy-coddled. If immigrants wish to become a part of the country in which they have chosen to live, and if they wish to be upwardly mobile, then it is imperative that they adopt the language of that country. It’s time to get tough!

Make English our official language

©Mark Alexander

4 comments:

Mark said...

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Winesy!

cybercrusader said...

Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of those who come to the UK from the Middle East, do so to take what they can get, with no thought of contributing to the society, much less learn the language. They also come to spread their seventh century religious ideas -- and Sharia law -- to the UK. They have neither tolerance nor respect. So much for multiculturalism then as it is all one-way with them. When will the British people say 'enough is enough'?

Mark said...

Winesy, it's the only sensible way. A common language is the buckle that binds a nation. Take that buckle away and the nation will eventually fall apart.

Mark said...

US Iconoclastic Patriot:

Yes, that's exactly what they do. They come here to spread their backward religion.