What should be the official language of the United States of America?

English should be the official language of the United States. According to the Center for Immigration Studies “1.9 billion people worldwide, one-third of humanity, speak English”. With the flood of immigration, the number of English non-speakers in the US has grown.


Many people are surprised to learn that the United States has no official language, because it has not been voted on by all the 50 States. America is known as a melting pot, exactly 311 languages are spoken in the territory, but English remains the most widely spoken language in the US. Today, 89% of the population speaks English, but the reality is, the English non-speakers are immigrants. By having English as the official language by law, the United States will decrease the number of English non-speakers. That doesn’t mean that new comers to America are not allowed to speak their native language, or keep their traditions. In fact, Official language does not mean “English only.”

Dan Pak, a naturalized American of Korean origin, believes that we need to “Use common language to unite all Americans”. In fact, language is part of the culture of a country. For immigrants to feel integrated in a country, they have to speak the language, in order to communicate with others, and be able to exchange ideas. The U.S. Senator S.I. Hayakawa, founder of the modern official English argued, “Bilingualism for the individual is fine, but not for a country,” in fact, businesses, educations or laws are in English.


In the United States, English non-speakers may feel lonely, isolated, alienated, or even feel separate from the English-speakers. The inability to speak English could be a barrier to non-speakers, that’s why organizations, schools, colleges or universities propose English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learning (ELL) to help English non-speaker learn English. The education system of America uses English, and every person should have the same chance of success. America is a “unique” country that offers opportunity to everyone.


If you have a strong opinion about what the official language should be, please feel free to comment.

Aigline, The Business Shrink Intern
The Business Shrink: Understanding the Psychology of Business and Money