World History
While on Facebook the other day, I noticed a new meme spreading in people's status updates. It read, "Why the hell do I have to press one for English if I live in America?"
I found that amusing. The obvious answer, "Because English is not the original language of North America?" Here is a response I made to one friend:
Just for the sake of argument, the original languages of the US were Native American. English was imposed later by European immigrants. In addition, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American War assured that Mexican citizens who came into American jurisdiction in what is now six states would have their rights recognized. The English speakers were the "immigrants."
Plus, it just makes good business sense to allow customers who speak another language the option to communicate with you in that language as you take their money. I have an online business and I have a Spanish portal there. I enjoy the dollars that result.
But yeah, I wish everyone used English. However, the history of North American does not support a universal English language. Some accommodations for Spanish, French, Hawaiian (the non-immigrant tongue of the State of Hawaii), or other native tongue will not really hurt anyone. I will gladly push one. I will become annoyed though if is becomes "Press two for English."
It really appears to me that anyone insisting on English only in the USA does not understand history very well. It may be just a populist backlash from some who do understand the historical issues but I think many are just ignorant and do not realize that large portions of the USA have been speaking another language like Spanish centuries before they became American and that English is the language of the immigrants.
- History Carnival Lx
Kristan Tetans has History Carnival LX up at Victorian Peeper. As is usual for this carnival, it is well done and has links to lots of good reading. The next History Carnival will be published in February by Marcin Wilkowski at Historia i Media, a Polish...
- Citizenship Preparation For Adult Esl Learners
The United States of America is a land of immigrants. As the current debate over a new immigration bill in the US Senate shows, this has not changed. One important consideration for all immigrants is how well they will assimilate and accept American culture...
- John Batchelor
John Batchelor - Life story of John Batchelor (1854-1944), an English missionary who became the first westerner to learn the Ainu language, record its grammar in English, and make the Ainu (who live in Japan) known to the western world. From the site:...
- How The English Language Grew (by Borrowing Words From Different Languages)
In this amazing interactive animation lasting just two minutes, the Oxford English Dictionary shows how words taken or adapted from different languages influenced the growth of the English language, from 1150 to the present day. Classroom Connection:...
- Rewordify To Simplify Student Readings
In my World History I ESOL classes I have usually have 25 kids who have been in the US less than four years and half who have been here just two years of fewer. So one thing I use is Google Translate when I am trying to get them to learn to write...
World History
English Only Sentiment on Facebook
While on Facebook the other day, I noticed a new meme spreading in people's status updates. It read, "Why the hell do I have to press one for English if I live in America?"
I found that amusing. The obvious answer, "Because English is not the original language of North America?" Here is a response I made to one friend:
Just for the sake of argument, the original languages of the US were Native American. English was imposed later by European immigrants. In addition, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American War assured that Mexican citizens who came into American jurisdiction in what is now six states would have their rights recognized. The English speakers were the "immigrants."
Plus, it just makes good business sense to allow customers who speak another language the option to communicate with you in that language as you take their money. I have an online business and I have a Spanish portal there. I enjoy the dollars that result.
But yeah, I wish everyone used English. However, the history of North American does not support a universal English language. Some accommodations for Spanish, French, Hawaiian (the non-immigrant tongue of the State of Hawaii), or other native tongue will not really hurt anyone. I will gladly push one. I will become annoyed though if is becomes "Press two for English."
It really appears to me that anyone insisting on English only in the USA does not understand history very well. It may be just a populist backlash from some who do understand the historical issues but I think many are just ignorant and do not realize that large portions of the USA have been speaking another language like Spanish centuries before they became American and that English is the language of the immigrants.
- History Carnival Lx
Kristan Tetans has History Carnival LX up at Victorian Peeper. As is usual for this carnival, it is well done and has links to lots of good reading. The next History Carnival will be published in February by Marcin Wilkowski at Historia i Media, a Polish...
- Citizenship Preparation For Adult Esl Learners
The United States of America is a land of immigrants. As the current debate over a new immigration bill in the US Senate shows, this has not changed. One important consideration for all immigrants is how well they will assimilate and accept American culture...
- John Batchelor
John Batchelor - Life story of John Batchelor (1854-1944), an English missionary who became the first westerner to learn the Ainu language, record its grammar in English, and make the Ainu (who live in Japan) known to the western world. From the site:...
- How The English Language Grew (by Borrowing Words From Different Languages)
In this amazing interactive animation lasting just two minutes, the Oxford English Dictionary shows how words taken or adapted from different languages influenced the growth of the English language, from 1150 to the present day. Classroom Connection:...
- Rewordify To Simplify Student Readings
In my World History I ESOL classes I have usually have 25 kids who have been in the US less than four years and half who have been here just two years of fewer. So one thing I use is Google Translate when I am trying to get them to learn to write...