English Only Nashville?

[Michael]

Hot topic on the National Stage today that could draw a global response. What are your comments on the subject? English first and all others fend for themselves? Is there a tourism responsibility to provide accommodations to those that are visiting or is this more about providing for those locally in civil and civic situations. Your thoughts and suggests are welcome. Your audience may be larger than you think.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481707,00.html

[Sarah P]

I personally feel this is a move in the right direction to have English as an "official language" of not just Nashville, but the United States of America. Most people are simply not informed as to what this means. No one is saying you can't speak another language! It simply means that "official government business" must be conducted solely in English. Why in the world would this be a shock to anyone?

Let's say you move to another country, let's say China for that matter. Do you seriously expect that Chinese government to use tax dollars to translate official government docs into your native tongue - so you are comfortably accommodated? Well, if you do, then we can all understand one of the reasons for the term - UGLY AMERICAN, and I must add you're ignorant and ridiculous. You're simply dreaming and I'd love to see you try and fight another country's goverment. Please, let me then just enjoy the show! By declaring English as the official language it means all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies and public meetings are conducted in a county where English is the common language in ....guess what language, yep, you got that right ENGLISH! Why that would surprise or offend anyone, I just have no idea.

Please people, realize that no one is stating your weekly mass can no longer be held in Spanish. No one is saying you won't get emergency care if you don't speak English, no one is saying other languages will not be taught in our schools and and no one is stating tourists will be rejected in Nashville if they don't speak English. This has NOTHING to do with tourism. Nashville welcomes people from all over the world and I'm sure they'll always continue to do so!

English is what unites this country and immigrants who learn the English language have much, much, MUCH more opportunities than if they don't. Not being able to speak English is by far their greatest barrier to success in the USA. Learing the English language is their greatest asset.

A few more notes....English is the official language in more than 90 nations. English is the most common official language on Earth. Trust me, if it was not my native tongue, I would certainly learn it - after all it's the most important language in this entire world.

Adios! : )

[Rosa Josaza]

"English is the official language of more than 90 nations." Are you sure about that? Can you name all of them and is it the MAIN language?

[Sarah P]

English is AN official language of over 90 countries. Can I name, them? You bet! Is it their main language, not always. But...I must ask of you - why would you even try and challenge the most common language in your own country????? That is if you are a United States of America citizen!

[Beer2Share]

Sovereign states
Country Continent Population1
India (associate status) Asia 1,129,866,154
United States14[4] North America 300,007,997
Pakistan[3] Asia 162,419,946
Nigeria[5][3] Africa 128,771,988
Philippines[6][3] Asia 87,857,473
United Kingdom[7] Europe 60,441,457
South Africa[8] Africa 44,344,136
Sudan[3] Africa 36,992,490
Kenya[3] Africa 33,829,590
Canada[3] North America 32,300,000
Uganda[3] Africa 27,269,482
Ghana[3] Africa 21,029,853
Australia14 Australia 20,800,000
Madagascar[3] Africa 19,448,815
Cameroon[3] Africa 16,380,005
Zimbabwe[3] Africa 12,746,990
Malawi[9] Africa 12,158,924
Zambia[3] Africa 11,261,795
Tanzania[3] Africa 40,000,000
Rwanda[3] Africa 8,440,820
Sierra Leone[3] Africa 6,017,643
Papua New Guinea[10][11] Oceania 5,545,268
Singapore[12] Asia 4,425,720
Ireland[3] Europe 4,130,700
New Zealand14[3] Oceania 4,108,561
Liberia[3] Africa 3,482,211
Jamaica[13] North America 2,731,832
Namibia[3] Africa 2,030,692
Lesotho[3] Africa 1,867,035
Botswana[3] Africa 1,640,115
The Gambia[3] Africa 1,593,256
Mauritius[3] Africa 1,230,602
Swaziland[3] Africa 1,173,900
Trinidad and Tobago[3] North America 1,088,644
Fiji[3] Oceania 893,354
Guyana[14] South America 765,283
Solomon Islands[3] Oceania 538,032
Malta[3] Europe 398,534
The Bahamas[3] North America 301,790
Belize[3] Central America 279,457
Barbados[15] North America 279,254
Vanuatu[16] Oceania 205,754
Samoa[17] Oceania 188,540
Saint Lucia[3] North America 166,312
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[18] America 117,534
Micronesia[3] Oceania 108,105
Kiribati[3] Oceania 103,092
Tonga[19] Oceania 100,000
Grenada[3] America 89,502
Seychelles[3] Africa 81,188
Dominica[3] America 69,029
Antigua and Barbuda[3] America 68,722
Marshall Islands[3] Oceania 59,071
Saint Kitts and Nevis[20] America 38,958
Palau[3] Oceania 20,303
Nauru[21] Oceania 13,528
Tuvalu[citation needed] Oceania 11,992

Non-sovereign entities
Entity Continent Population1
Hong Kong2[3] Asia 6,898,686
Puerto Rico3 America 3,912,054
Guam4 Oceania 108,708
U.S. Virgin Islands5 America 108,708
Jersey6[3] Europe 88,200
Northern Mariana Islands7 Oceania 80,801
Isle of Man8 Europe 75,049
Bermuda9[3] America 65,365
Guernsey10 Europe 65,228
American Samoa11 Oceania 64,869
Cayman Islands America 44,270
Gibraltar[3] Europe 27,884
British Virgin Islands[3] America 22,643
Cook Islands[3] Oceania 21,388
Turks and Caicos Islands[3] America 20,556
Anguilla[3] America 13,254
Montserrat America 9,341
Saint Helena Africa 7,460
Falkland Islands South America 2,967
Norfolk Island[3] Oceania 1,828
Christmas Island12[3] Oceania 1,600
Niue Oceania 1,600
Tokelau Oceania 1,400
Tristan da Cunha Africa 273
Pitcairn Islands13[3] Oceania 67

Source: Wikipedia

[Unregistered]

I lived in another (non-English speaking) country for a few years and in order to survive, I had to learn the basics of their language. It was fun and it made my stay so much more pleasurable and easy! I always found that the anger comes into play when you expect another country to speak your language. You can simply avoid that by making an effort to learn their language. Be nice - you'll be treated so much better and doors will open! --George

Oh yea, and I have travelled extensively - you will always find the language of the country (of course) as well as ENGLISH! Why would anyone choose not to learn this most common language, especially in a country where the majority of the people speak it?

[Ron]

Why would all you people in Nashville NOT vote for English as the "Offical Language for Goverment use?

Please read these 2 statments:

In 1914, President Theodore Roosevelt stated, "We have room for but one language in this country, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house.

And if your going to say "that's so outdated" how about this from the New President that most of you Nashville people voted for and was his policy BEFORE he came into office which means you have supported this next statement for the last 2 years which is:

Support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens...

Did you see it?... "LEARN ENGLISH"...

So....you voted for a man whose National Policy is for immigrants to "LEARN ENGLISH" and yet you turn around and vote against it in your own town?

You all should be ashamed of yourselves!

Ronnie D Davidson
ALL AMERICAN BOY

[Unregistered]

In four of the past six years members our family have ventured to Nashville for a getaway week/weekend. In the future we’ll visit cities not embarrassed to speak English.

[Ron]

ENGLISH is the Offical Language of My State:CALIFORINA!



Why would all you people in Nashville NOT vote for English as the "Offical Language for Goverment use?

Please read these 2 statments:

In 1914, President Theodore Roosevelt stated, "We have room for but one language in this country, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house.

And if your going to say "that's so outdated" how about this from the New President that most of you Nashville people voted for and was his policy BEFORE he came into office which means you have supported this next statement for the last 2 years which is:

Support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens...

Did you see it?... "LEARN ENGLISH"...

So....you voted for a man whose National Policy is for immigrants to "LEARN ENGLISH" and yet you turn around and vote against it in your own town?

You all should be ashamed of yourselves!

Ronnie D Davidson
ALL AMERICAN BOY

[psychick]

Apparently, American deaf people who use American Sign language to communicate are simply left out. ASL is not ENGLISH so sign language interpreters could not use ASL but may be required to use Signing Exact English, which is not the same as ASL.

Compared to Spanish, French and Italian, and many other langauges, English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. It takes 3 years to acquire BIC (Basic Interpersonal Communication) and more than 7 years to acquire CALP (Communicative Academic Language Proficiency). Learning any language is very difficult to learn on one's on with no help. Try finding a place in Nashville or surrournding rural areas that teach English to non-English speakers for low cost. You will not find many and if you do they are ALWAYS full! It my experience that most immigrants are highly motivated to learn English, especially if they have children. Trust me, as parents they would rather not have their children translating for them.