National Identity and Language Rights Research Paper

National identity element and Language Rights - Research Paper ExampleThe official thinking goes that one style is necessary for the built-in unity of the country. However, the unofficial reason for these laws, according to many, is racist at its core because language is not well(p) an abstraction or way to communicate, but also is vital to ones culture and place in society, deeming ones language as inferior is akin to deeming ones culture as also inferior. Another issue is that these laws are in all likelihood unconstitutional, as they disenfranchise potential voters who do not know the language. As voting is a right for all citizens, forcing a citizen to vote without knowing what he is voting for, or forcing this citizen to stay home, is unconstitutional. These are meet more or less of the reasons why English only or official English laws are unworkable. But still, legislatures and the passel try to make them work, as evidenced by the different movements that catch sprun g up in this milieu. on that point are a variety of reasons for the movement to make English the official language. Citrin et al. (1990) identified some of these reasons in their study of the municipalities and states where English only or English as the Official language have been adopted. One of these reasons is historical in nature. English-only in public opinion began in earnest around the cover of the century, as people immigrating from Southern and Eastern Europe stirred xenophobic feelings among Americans, culminating in the Americanization movement that insisted that field of study unity depended upon cultural homogeneity and a common language (Auerbach, 1993, p. 10).