The notion that English is the official language of the United States is a common misconception. Recently, a source close to the administration revealed that President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order establishing English as the country’s official language. If carried out, this order would mark a significant milestone in the nation’s 250-year history, as it would be the first time the United States has had a national language.
American media outlets, such as ABC News, have analyzed the potential consequences of this decision. The Executive Order would reportedly annul a Clinton-era mandate that guaranteed linguistic assistance in government agencies and organizations for individuals who do not speak English. Under the new order, each agency would have the authority to decide how and when to offer this type of support, which could affect millions of citizens with limited English proficiency.
The White House has defended the change, arguing that English is the most widely used language in the country and that its establishment as an official language would promote “unity, improve efficiency in government operations, and facilitate civic participation.” However, this measure has also sparked intense debate on linguistic rights and its potential impact on Spanish-speaking communities and other minority groups.
Why doesn’t the United States have an official language?
Historically, the United States has been a nation of immigrants from all over the world, resulting in significant linguistic diversity. Although English has become the common language among the population, with an estimated 254 million Anglophones, Spanish is the second most spoken language, with approximately 57 million native speakers. Despite its predominance, neither the Constitution nor federal laws have recognized English as an official language, leading to a longstanding debate.
The absence of an official language has allowed each state to regulate language use independently. In fact, about 30 states have declared English as an official language, while others, such as Hawaii, have recognized their native language alongside English. The decision of the founding fathers not to establish an official language was largely based on their strong defense of individual rights and freedoms. They believed that the government should not impose a language on its citizens. Additionally, according to Dr. Wayne Wright, a professor of linguistics at Purdue University, at the time of independence, English was already the dominant language, so there was no perceived threat to its continuity. There was also concern about excluding those who had contributed to the struggle for independence and whose mother tongue was not English.
Now, with Trump’s new executive order, the United States could take a historic turn in its linguistic policy, reopening a debate that has pitted positions on national identity against the rights of speakers of other languages. This move has the potential to affect millions of citizens and could have significant implications for the country’s linguistic landscape.