English as a Common Language of Communication in the U.S.

English as a Common Language of Communication in the U.S.

In recent discussions of living and working in the U.S., a controversial issue has been whether those who plan on becoming citizens should learn and communicate using the English language. People use language as a means of communication. The discussion by the United States of America to have a common language of sharing experiences, feeling, and ideas through gestures, speech, or writing are timely. It is the high time policymakers think deep on the topic. According to the Bible, in the book of Genesis, God had created people to speak in one common language. They used to agree with and understand one another. They were like a bond, joined together by strong bonds. That explains why they decided to question God’s authority and agree to build the Tower of Babel to reach to heaven. God intervened by creating a difference in languages to confuse them. Eventually, they could not understand one another, and their mission was aborted.

Speaking a common language has both pros and cons. On the one hand, a common language creates a sense of belonging. People find it easier to confide in people they speak the same language compared to others from other mother tongues. In the United States, people identify with their dominant languages in their continents and countries of origin. Indians stay with Indians while Africans stay with fellow Africans, and so does every person residing in the United States. In other words, we are divided by our languages, and the simplest way to unchain ourselves is to urge people to avoid their native languages and learn to speak and write in English.

The government aims to promote English as the model of communication in the parts of the U.S. It is the official language of communication across most parts of the globe. Promoting the use of English among every person living in the country will preserve it from being dissolved and overtaken by other languages. So far, it has spread to all countries as the preferred teaching language. The majority of the people living in the U.S. are from English speaking countries. They also need to be part of the discussion to enrich it so that it cannot be banned.

Having a common language is core in social integration and assimilation. Although the United States can be considered a country of diversity, having a universal language that is fluently used by everyone makes it easier for social identity as an American. Notably, in the public setting, it can be frustrating to find people failing to understand one another due to the language barrier (Sharifian, 2017). One of the standard public settings is the work environment, therefore ensuring that everyone understands and can fluently communicate using English. A common language promotes integration, thus developing a sense of oneness despite the cultural differences among the employees. Although not every work environment is comprised of a diverse workforce, there is no need for people to use English but rather utilize the universal language that the organization may prefer. However, as a way of promoting progress and integration with their social background, understanding both written and oral English is a critical way of promoting a homogeneous population in the U.S.

Given the multilingual societies that exist in the U.S., the English language can be utilized as an effective tool towards national development and promoting national consciousness. As noted by scholars, a common language is a potential vehicle that is used in transmitting values, culture, beliefs, and norms from different generations (Tichá, Abery & Kincade, 2018). As a result, those who live in America or work and may want to become American citizens need to learn both written and oral English as a way of ensuring the promotion of the status of the Nation. Despite the need to pride the diversity of people living in the U.S. by appreciating their languages, the basis of a nation is having a universal language that is acceptable and understandable to everyone living within its borders. Therefore, English being one of their national assets, it becomes a unifying factor that calls for everyone’s ability to speak and write using the language fluently.

A common language of communication will also help the country in resolving conflicts when they arise. At times, conflicts occur as a result of misunderstanding as well as due to communication breakdown. During times of crisis, people tend to identify with the members of their community. Some arbitrators nowadays are biased and make judgments to favor the person speaking their native tongue. A case example is Nepal, where the conflicts witnessed, are caused by conflicts between the warring parties. In contemporary society, most conflicts escalated because of conflicts. Speaking in one language would help bring understanding, and settling the matter becomes easy.

Every country in the World has its specific symbols of national unity, and language is one of the systems linked by either arbitrary or pure conventions. English being one of the popular languages in the World, tend to be a symbol of unity in the U.S. It, therefore, fosters social inclusion and active participation in development programs among U.S. citizens as well as immigrants residing in the continent. Language acts not only as a tool for democratic citizenship but also as a critical factor in the human capital (Otsuji & Pennycook, 2011). Development in a nation is witnessed where both the policymakers and citizens agree.

The United States needs different people with diverse ideas that come from all walks of the earth parts of the World when making and implementing government policies. To harness these ideas and skills, a common language is critical as it enhances the effective dissemination of information. Having an exceptional understanding of written and spoken English offers them an opportunity to play a critical role in economic advancement. Speaking in a common language creates unity and solidarity among different people. When people do the debates with a mutual understanding of one another and public awareness or civic education done by people speaking the same language, they are likely to reach a consensus easier and faster than if the groups are different. A common language will bring the people together to pursue a common agenda, share ideas, opinions, and agree to a common action plan for the future (Sharifian, 2017).

Through speaking of a common language, people will stop discriminating against one another on the basics of race, ethnic group, or first language. When the United States stops the forms of discrimination, it will pave the way for finding solutions to other problems such as education, starvation, inequality, health, and sanitation. One language is likely to open people’s eyes to see the problems at hand and act on them. The division caused by the many languages leaves people only associating with their ethnic mates and not minding about the rest. It is an obstacle to unity and development.

On the other hand, a section of people argues that diversity is critical, and Americans should have the liberty to express themselves using different languages. If passed that all the people in the country start speaking in English, the other languages will feel left out. They shall feel powerless and marginalized because they can no longer have to say in the government. Having many languages in a county like the United States is allowing inclusivity, where everyone feels involved. In the words of promoting universal language in the U.S., one of this view’s chief proponent is that integration among the culturally diverse Americans is critical for the posterity of the Nation. Therefore, even though the language is one of the five most difficult languages in the World, any person who chooses to work, live in, or become a citizen of the United States of America should communicate fluently in the English language, as well as mastering both written and public speaking English.

We need to weigh the two sides of the coin. Choosing English over the other languages is uncalled for. If people transition fully from their native languages, they will start forgiving. This risks the extinction of some languages as English relaces them.  All languages are important, and for the sake of the Nation’s diversity, they do not need to be banned. Since the language has already found its space in science and mathematics, the government should maintain it as an official language and allow the beauty of diversity to prevail. Language is a strong element of culture that cannot be wished away so easily in the 21 century (Sharifian, 2017). Forging a better future path together as a country does not necessarily mean compelling people to, but rather letting they decide to. Since most people in the U.S., as well as any other country colonized by the British, have a sound understanding of English, policymakers should not mind the language one speaks outside office.

In my view, those who intend to be American citizens or even work here need to learn to communicate fluently using English. Though I concede that respecting diversity in linguistic among the citizens is fundamental and valuable towards respecting individuals and their openness towards other cultures, I still maintain that for national cohesion and social inclusion, having a common language among the different members of the society is critical. For example, it helps in solving the frustration associated with being the minority member of the society, thus feeling alienated from the larger part of the society. Although some might object that compelling individuals to learn and fluently use English as part of their mode of communication is critical, I would say that everyone needs to be included in the national discourse. A common language is a mechanism used to steer it. The issue is crucial because it promotes the sense of belonging to the American society even though different people may hail from different cultures and traditions with a distinctive mode of communication.

References

Otsuji, E., & Pennycook, A. (2011). Social inclusion and metrolingual practices. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 14(4), 413-426.

Sharifian, F. (2017). English as an international language. The international encyclopedia of intercultural communication, 1-5.

Tichá, R., Abery, B., & Kincade, L. (2018). Educational practices and strategies that promote inclusion: Examples from the U.S. Socialni Pedagogika, 6(2), 43-62.