Making English Official: Efficiency at What Cost? Persuasive Essay by Nicky

This paper focuses on answering the question of whether or not English should be made the official language of the United States of America. The paper explains that this debate is even older than the country itself, stretching all the way back to the time of the First Continental Congress. The paper asserts that a fair consideration of the question must examine the effects that granting English such an official status has had, in addition to examining the motives behind the passage of such legislation. The paper cites research results suggesting that making English the official language might actually have detrimental results; English can be taught without making it official, but other languages will fade in importance if we rob this state of the heritage that these other languages represent. The paper concludes that there is no need for the protectionism felt by many; acceptance and evolution has been the greatest strength of the English language since its creation, and the linguistic melting pot continues today.