English Designated as Sole Official Language of the United States

Throughout the course of its 250-year history, the United States has had an official bird, namely the bald eagle; an official mammal, the American bison; a national flower, the rose; a national tree, the oak; a national march, the “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa; and of course, a national anthem, the “Star Spangled Banner,” by Francis Scott Key, with the melody borrowed from the classic official song of a gentlemen’s club of amateur musicians, “To Anacreon in Heaven.”

There’s a national flag, often referred to as “the Stars and Stripes,” as well as a seal, known as the Great Seal of the United States: The obverse depicts the national coat of arms, which includes a bald eagle, and the reverse shows a truncated pyramid topped by an Eye of Providence, along with the country’s official national motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” or “In God We Trust.”

Despite all of this officialdom, one thing the country has not had  an official language. That is, until now.

On Friday, White House officials said that President Donald Trump will sign an executive order that will declare English to be the official language of the United States.

The executive order’s summary states that the goal of making English the national language is to promote unity, establish efficiency in the government, and provide a pathway to civic engagement.

The United States has been noted for the number of languages spoken within its borders, the byproduct of the United States’ policy of taking in immigrants from across the globe, but also for those immigrants’ propensity to abandon their former languages as part of an effort to assimilate.

While the United States has not previously had an official language, applicants for citizenship still had to pass a test demonstrating an ability to read, write, and speak English in order to become naturalized citizens.

In addition to making English the country’s official language, the executive order would rescind a federal mandate issued by former President Bill Clinton that required agencies and other recipients of federal funding to provide translation assistance to non-English speakers. Trump’s executive order is in keeping with legislation passed by 30 U.S. states that make English that state’s official language.

The executive order does not prohibit agencies from making forms available in other languages, nor does it prohibit them from offering translation services.

English, incidentally, is the most common official or co-official language in the world, with recognized status in 52 countries, followed by French and then Arabic.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)