Official language debate deserves further reflection

Go to France and you will hear French being spoken. In Spain, say "hola." Most countries have a national language. In the United States, the case isn't so simple. We don't have a national language, although some people call English our mother tongue.

Recently a vote was cast in Nashville, Tenn. to make English the official language of all government businesses. According to a Jan. 23 article in The New York Times, the proposition did not pass. Despite the proposal's failure, I began to question the reasoning behind the argument for a national language in general. While the issue is complex, upon closer reflection I realized the benefits of having an official common language.

I've always been against making English the official language of the U.S. This country was founded as a melting pot where people of all races and ethnicities could come and, in the best scenario, be accepted on their own terms. When immigrants come to this country, they bring their own cultures, traditions and languages with them. All of these things have helped to create the diverse culture we know. The concept of a national language seems to be a futile attempt to create unity.

But after doing a little research and thinking about it, I have changed my outlook. I discovered that 30 states in the U.S., including Missouri, have passed laws making English the state's official language. If more than half the country officially is English speaking, then why not the whole country? Outside of making the U.S. richer in a cultural context, having many languages just creates unnecessary complexity.

There would be many benefits to making English the national language. First of all, it levels the playing field. If everyone is speaking the same language, then communication of all forms becomes much simpler. For example, I work in a grocery store, and although I try to be respectful of everyone, it's hard to stay calm when someone cannot understand that his or her soda costs $1.67, not just $1. It's incredibly frustrating for both the customer and me when we cannot comprehend one another. I usually end up just selling it for a dollar because I lose patience. When you think about it, most, if not all, schools and media are conducted in English. Knowing the language is an indispensable skill for living in the U.S.

Even though I see the advantages of making English the official language, I do think it is important for those of different ethnic backgrounds to keep their native language. Therefore, the proposed bill in Nashville seemed like a happy medium. It required that all government communication and publications be printed in English but excluded public health and safety. Thus, knowing English would be basically a necessity, but one would not have to give up his or her own language entirely.

Language is extremely vital in a society. Everything involves some type of communication, which is conducted in a particular language. Language is the filter through which a culture flows - rendering language a necessary component of understanding diverse peoples. We need to decide what the U.S. is: an assembly rich in culture or a body uniform in understanding.

Molly Skyles is a freshman communication major from St. Louis, Mo.