The English-Only Movement in the US and the World in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

In this article, I examine the English-only movement in the United States and other countries in the fijirst decade of the twenty-fijirst century. Elaborating on research on the hegemony of English, this examination demonstrates English-only ideology, both linguistic and visual, as a primary means of restricting language and ethnic minorities' access not only in the US, but also globally. First, I will present English as a social construction of the Anglo-Saxon elites in the process of the subordination of other language groups throughout American history up to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Second, I will briefly introduce the legislation of the Civil Rights Movement to show that language access increased the political presence of language minorities. Third, I will discuss the reemergence of the English-only movement appealing to nationalist sentiments in order to diminish language and ethnic minorities' rising political presence in the US in the twenty-fijirst century. Fourth, I will examine the spread of English-only ideology within the context of global capitalism, led by the US, in order to show forced compliance to the superiority of English by various diverse social groups on the global level.

Transnational Translation: Reflections on Translating from Judeo-Spanish and Spanglish

“…Despite the United States not having a federal official language, de facto, and in the mind of many Americans, it does. The prevalence of the "English-Only Movement" is wide, and anti-Latinx sentiment can be very public and at times quite vitriolic (Pac, 2012). Despite 75% of the aforementioned 37 million Spanish speakers claiming they speak English "very well" or "well," the fact that they speak Spanish at all, rather than being monolingual English speakers, is viewed as un-American to many (ibid.).…”

The English Only Movement: Revisiting Cultural Hegemony

“…For many, the English language symbolizes a national identity, and English Only measures seek to target linguistic and ethnic groups via education; particularly in times of influx of immigrant populations (Pac, 2012). This phenomenon is clearly visible along the historical timeline beginning with the prohibition of native languages of enslaved Africans, the creation of Indian Boarding Schools, school segregation of ethnic minorities in the 1960s and 1970s, and the current resurgence targeting Spanish speakers today (Pac, 2012;Stewart, 2005).…”

“…For many, the English language symbolizes a national identity, and English Only measures seek to target linguistic and ethnic groups via education; particularly in times of influx of immigrant populations (Pac, 2012). This phenomenon is clearly visible along the historical timeline beginning with the prohibition of native languages of enslaved Africans, the creation of Indian Boarding Schools, school segregation of ethnic minorities in the 1960s and 1970s, and the current resurgence targeting Spanish speakers today (Pac, 2012;Stewart, 2005). Even as national policies have attempted to obligate federally funded agencies to provide language services to the Spanish-speaking population, English Only initiatives have managed to force English language instruction in states such as California, Arizona, and Massachusetts (Proposition 203, 2000;Proposition 227, 1998;Question 2, 2002).…”

“Hella Tongan - Hella Oakland”; Lived Experiences and Educational Reflections of Young Tongan Men in Deep East Oakland, California

“…English and its dominant status are a socially and politically motivated construct (P. A. Cooper 1989;Pac, 2012;Skutnabb-Kangas & Phillipson, 2010). Although the notion of English as the dominant language was enforced using English in every domain of public life, the concept of minority languages was developed through erasure by the conflation of language with ethnicity and by the devaluation of minor language/English bilingualism (García & Mason, 2009).…”

“…Although the notion of English as the dominant language was enforced using English in every domain of public life, the concept of minority languages was developed through erasure by the conflation of language with ethnicity and by the devaluation of minor language/English bilingualism (García & Mason, 2009). Pac (2012) conducted a study on the English-only movement in settler United States and other countries in the first decade of the 21st century. An important finding from this study suggested a reemergence of the English-only movement appealing to nationalist sentiments to diminish language and ethnic minorities' rising political presence in the United States in the 21st century.…”