Language Rights

[Marz]

In honor of Dr. Zamenof's birthday, I thought we could strike up a conversation about Language Rights.

There have been many incidents throughout time of one people suppressing the language of another people. Is this still an issue today? Should people be more educated about language rights and abuses? What little ways do abuses manifest today?

[Francis (Nerdfighterlife)]

I'd say it is still an issue today. I know many, many people who are of the mindset that every language other than English should cease to exist (ironically, there are many languages that are spoken by more people, but for some reason, many think English is somehow superiour). I have actually had many people ask me why I want to learn languages, saying that anyone who speaks a language other than English should stop speaking it entirely. One of my uncles actually yelled at the screen at a man to learn english-he was a Venuesulan man speaking Spanish to his coach (also from Venuesula). I know others who have said that they believe those who do not speak english "aren't human". This guy my dad used to work for was beaten up because he looked hispanic.

[Marz]

YIKES! I mean I know it's a problem where I live. People who speak english with an accent definitely suffer from prejudices. I don't get the whole English as our official Language thing. I mean surely that's not good for business and America is all about business. It's crazy some of the things people do when it comes to things they don't understand and language is just one of those.

[Kathryn Foley]

America really shouldn't have an official language, maybe a commonly spoken one determined by statistics and surveys, but America is a mixed pot of all different ethnic backgrounds. We can only be one if language is not a barrier, and assigning one language to speak I somewhat discriminating, even when it does not have that intention.  

[spiderboenz]

You are in luck, it does not have an official language.  English is the ACCEPTED language, but not the official one.