Oh, I don't know. I can think of a few signs along the highway that maybe oughta be in languages other than English....
Posted on 12/11/2004 5:37:20 AM PST by Ron H.
The United States government took a stand against the possibility of enormous highway signs featuring instructions in hundreds of languages by passing legislation yesterday to maintain English as the sole language of America’s highways. The measure, passed and signed into law as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for FY2005, prohibits the government from mandating that any highway sign be posted in a language other than English.
The measure, which passed by overwhelming margins in the House and Senate, includes the provision, “None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to require a State or local government to post a traffic control device or variable message sign, or any other type of traffic warning sign, in a language other than English...”. Cultural and commercial reasons for multilingual signage are specifically exempted, including the names of cities, streets and events, as well as signs related to an international border.
“The tide of government multilingualism is turning,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “In a time of unprecedented immigration, people are beginning to realize that if we are to live as one nation, we must be able to speak as one nation. With more than 300 languages spoken in the United States, multilingual highway signs could create legal and economic chaos.”
In October, a Toronto Justice of the Peace threw out a traffic ticket because a “No Left Turn” sign did not appear in both of Canada’s official languages —English and French. The ticket was scrapped despite the defendant’s admission that she saw, read and clearly understood the sign in English, and furthermore, had no proficiency in French. If multilingual signs were to be mandated, the cost would increase the government expenditure of $24 CAD ($19.62 USD) currently spent on multilingualism per Canadian annually.
“We applaud our Representatives for taking a decisive step toward unity under one language,” continued Mujica. “Multilingualism may be beneficial for the individual, but it is a costly and divisive practice by the government. We are hopeful that Congress will follow up by declaring English the official language of the United States and achieving English language proficiency for all Americans.”
U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.
ping
I just bought one of those build it yourself computer desks. Thing had a big thick manual of instructions I'm thinking oh great this is gonna take a while. Then when I opened it only 5 pages were english rest were languages from french to chinese. What a relief!
The key word in the above phrase is "require". If I read this correctly, it means the feds can't require states to use these fed funds for such signage, but the states are free to do so at their own choosing. The states are also still free to use their state generated revenues.
Yep. That pretty much sums it up.
Tossed salad ain't gonna work Hitlary.
The sign I'd love to see in many languages is, "Go home!"
Oh, I don't know. I can think of a few signs along the highway that maybe oughta be in languages other than English....
Lenina Huxley: Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the Franchise Wars. Now all restaurants are Taco Bell.
I realize it's a baby step but a step in the right direction for a change.
bttt
I would like to see the vote on this one.
A small step yes, but forward nontheless.
I drove to Laredo last week and was amazed at the signs on HWY. 83. I beleive it was Starr County that had all the creek sign saying "Arroyo whatever". None of these signs said Cattle Creek or whatever, they all said Arroyo then the name of the creek or river. These signs should be changed also.
2004
bttt
Wait a Minute! Aren't we leaving out Braille?
I drive the 401 from Windsor to Toronto quite frequently, and the Canadians have one sign in English and then another one further on in French.
Add more languages and then you would have a sequence like the old "Burma Shave" road ads.
Are you sure they are referring to the same thing? "Arroyo" in English refers to a dry creekbed or dry riverbed. It becomes a river or creek when there's agua in it.
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