An eye-popping 20% of U.S. residents abandon English at home

The Washington Times ^ | October 6, 2014 | Stphen Dinan

[research99]

We abandoned our own language years ago, when we optioned to renew the licenses of radio and tv stations that broadcast in foreign languages.

An original “public service” obligation was required by the FCC and enforced into the 1980’s. At the time non-English speakers were a tiny minority demographic, and it could have been questioned how foreign-language programming could meet service standards for the larger “public”.

Since then, networks like Televisa and Univision have discouraged assimilation by immigrant communities by providing them with entertainment in the form of crappy telenovelas in Spanish, rather than challenging them to learn the dominant language language here by providing a percentage of their broadcast time exclusively in English.These are now huge businesses, with total listenership and viewership that in some large cities exceeds the stations broadcasting in our native tongue.

Other countries, notably Canada and France have laws that mandate programming of local origin in the local language, and as a result we’ve lured a larger non-English immigrant population by not requiring them to be challenged to adapt.

[jim-x]

That’s it! Now I am going to speak German at home. Let the schools deal with children speaking German.
Will demand a ballot in German, require a German translator for any interaction with government officials.
It is apparently my right to speak any language and the government must accommodate me. I choose German! (because it is the only other language i have any familiarization with).

[Oliviaforever]

“Americans speak English. We shouldn’t change our society to accommodate these foreigners.”

You are exactly right, but I think it would be difficult, if not impossible to enforce a national policy that people must speak English in their homes.

[discostu]

I only speak dork at home.

[Spirochete]

I guess I was expecting that 1st - 2nd generation would begin integrating speaking English and making something of themselves. I was wrong.

Your expectation would have been right if we were absorbing small numbers of immigrants. We're actually experiencing a tsunami of immigration unprecedented in history. Around 25% of Mexico's population has relocated here.

Not even during the "golden age" of 19th century immigration did we absorb so many foreigners. Small numbers of them form enclaves that eventually assimilate. Larger numbers form parallel societies that will never assimilate, even after generations.

[massgopguy]

My Great-Grandparents came here from Italy around 1900. All them were speaking English very quickly. They would not even teach us Italian when we were young because we were American. My father’s ancestors came here in 1633. I think we knew the language. My home city of Malden MA is now 24% Non-Citizens.

[ExTxMarine]

This is because America is no longer a “melting pot,” it is now a common dwelling of diversity! “Diversity” and “political correctness” are the two biggest killers of American Exceptional-ism!

Instead of coming together as one, and sharing anew that which everyone has to offer in America, we are now suppose to appreciate these outsiders exactly as they are - outsiders within our borders!

You either come here and become American or stay your happy ass in whatever hell-hole from which you are seeking asylum!

[Tennessee Nana]

well aint that speshall ???

[Tennessee Nana]

well aint that speshall ???

[Tennessee Nana]

Nevadans
________________________________

Yes Harry Reid is from that planet..

and tries to communicate with strange squeaks and grunts...odd language...they have that left slanting mouth where he comes from...

[zaxtres]

Americans speak a multitude of languages. The majority of people in America speak English. There are languages spoken in America you have probably never heard of that are not from immigrants to America. There is a language that is spoken by the people off the coast of Georgia. The language is more of an evolved language than any particular one language. Native Americans did not speak English, when America was settled, we did not “assimilate” and the vast majority spoke whatever tribal language that was spoken.

The founding fathers of America purposely left out that English should be the official common language. However, businesses have adopted English as the official business language in America. English is taught only because to do business, you need to know English. While America is exceptional, it too is arrogant and thinking the world must speak its language in order to do business with it. Most Europeans are multi-lingual out of necessity. We are not because there is really no “necessity” for it. Unless you live in a multi-cultural area where you need to know the other language(s). This is and always has been a conservative opinion that America should not officially have English as the country’s language.

There are states that have English as their official language, South Carolina is one of them that I know of. States may designate an official language but the Federal government cannot. It should be kept that way.

[BenLurkin]

Forbid foreign language broadcasts. No more Spanish language TV or radio.

The FCC wants to wield draconian power — let it start doing so for the benefit of the nation.

[bicyclerepair]

Very bad idea to even BE in miami.

[PoloSec]

Is there really an America anymore, we have allowed ourselves to be invaded, having abandoned our language, our borders, our culture.

Here we are, 20% will be 60% shortly, “We The People” seem to be content with that, “We The People” have failed our mandate to overthrow a perverted, corrupt, criminal government, this is just one of the many severe consequences of that failure, many more yet to come.