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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>[Sorry, an incomplete version was accidentally sent prior rto
this]</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>This question is spot on. One gets the impression that it is
felt to be the ultimate legal tool to a particular end. I'm very interested how
this concept entered the discourse, over 2 centuries after founding of the
republic, at a time when English is globally in ascendance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Unfortunately there is not much that is readily available to the
public that clarifies the issue. The article in Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_language
, for instance, could use more work. Related terms such as "national
language" are equally obscure (the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_language
is even more problematic). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Some scholars look down on Wikipedia, but it is commonly used
and a good (and easy) place in which to improve the kind of info available to
the public on such hot topics. (Please take this as an invitation to contribute
& improve).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The specific proposal in the USwon't be clarified by
improvements in what is in Wikipedia or elsewhere on the web, but if we're
lucky it might encourage some critical thinking about the topic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Don<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
owner-lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
[mailto:owner-lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Harold
Schiffman<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, June 23, 2007 1:50 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> lp<br>
<b>Subject:</b> What the heck is an "official" language?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4><a
href="http://www.windypundit.com/archives/2007/06/what_the_heck_is_an_official_l.html"><span
style='color:#810081'>What the Heck Is an Official Language?</span></a><o:p></o:p></h4>
<p class=byline>Mark Draughn<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>I don't understand what the issue is when people talk about making English
the official language.It was one of the questions at the presidential debates
of both parties. Closer to home, Fran Eaton at <em>Illinois Review </em><a
href="http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/06/americans-want-.html">links
approvingly</a> to an <a
href="http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2007/june07/07-06-20.html">article by
Phyllis Schlafly</a> and to a report that Carpentersville has <a
href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/437642,3_1_EL21_A1CVILLE_S1.article">passed
a symbolic resolution to make English its official language</a>, commenting
that "it should also be the state and nation's policy, as well." <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>What the heck does that mean? Talk about making English the official
language is pointless without discussing the details of what exactly it means
to have an official language. Do supporters of English as the official language
really want the United States Congress to pass a symbolic resolution? That
would be pretty shallow. I assume supporters have something more specific in
mind, as must opponents, but neither side ever spells out the details. Do the
supporters just want to make sure that English is considered necessary and
sufficient for legal purposes? Do they object to non-English signs in
government offices? At airports? In supermarkets? What about "E Pluribus
Unum" on the back of our money? Is that just caving in to the Latin Lobby?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Is it just me? Am I the only one who doesn't know what "official
language" means? Or is it just feel-good legislation for the
anti-immigrant crowd.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://www.windypundit.com/archives/2007/06/what_the_heck_is_an_official_l.html">http://www.windypundit.com/archives/2007/06/what_the_heck_is_an_official_l.html</a><br
clear=all>
<br>
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