official English

[sagehen]

What would be the point of an "Official" language?  On the face of it, it
would seem that it might only be to remove  from officials the burden of
having to pay any attention  to anyone not expressing himself in it, no
matter what the situation.
No doubt it is advantageous for newcomers to become functional in the
dominant language, but it is doubtful that the motive for this bill is
benevolence toward immigrants.
While it may be an exaggeration to forecast greatly increased  xenophobia
and racism as a result of passage of HR1984, it would have the effect of
putting a stamp of approval on a kind of discrimination.
A. Murie