Justin Honra WRD Week 4 Readings 10/1/13

Simon (152) Why Good English Is Good for You The American English language has been abused by many who do not know how to speak and write proper English. It is good to speak correctly because speech is a foundation that is always at the use of those with a voice. Speaking with precision and clarity saves time and space for both the speaker and recipient. Speaking proper English strengthens the senses of discipline and memory. Paying attention to what we are saying and how we say it trains us to multitask. Language is constantly evolving, but to keep ignorance from gratuitously eroding it, people should be educated in corrects definitions and usage. Good English could and should be better enforced by teachers, government, jobs, parents, etc. It is an acquired skill that should be learned before playing with it and creating ones own writing style. Reflection I really enjoyed reading John Simons essay. It makes me step back and see where modern day English is going and what I have contributed to that movement. I agree with Simon when he says that there is definitely a pure, concise structure to the English language that is becoming diluted with improper gratuitous usage due to ignorance. Immigrating to America as a child, I did not know any English other than maybe the simple words yes and no. Growing into the English speaking person I am today was a journey much aided by instructors, friends, media, etc. I believe that if everyone knew English as their first language in America, society would run a lot smoother because of effective communication.

Mujica (161) Why the U.S. needs an Official Language It is easy for non-English speaking immigrants to function in American society because of bilingual education, multilingual ballots, government funded translators, etc. The increasing amount of non-proficient English speakers causes many conflicts between locally concentrated populations and the state such as the case in a Miami high school. 20% of seniors did not graduate due to a standardized test being not available in Spanish. Multilingualism cost billions to U.S. tax payers and costs workplaces accidents due to miscommunication. The continuation of growing linguistic enclaves may threaten the U.S. with a similar situation in Canada where French-speaking Quebec talks of succeeding. Reflection Its mind blowing to imagine what America would look like if its many linguistic sects wanted to separate from the state. There are languages from all over the globe which are spoken in America. It would be like a whole entire World War in one country. I promote the idea of having English as the official language, which I thought was already the case. It would create a

sense of unity for the various groups in America and create a fluid American culture in which everyone is not limited to take part in linguistically.

McGray (191) Lost in America Children in America are ill-equipped for the oncoming globalization of culture and business even though they are always surrounded by foreign languages, cultures, good, etc. Public education, at its beginning years, was designed to manufacture citizens by a pro-American focused curriculum, free of continental influence. Foreign language classes were more so rejected by the government in World War I and II, Cold War, etc. Interest in global cultures has naturally increased in the American youth. In order for United States to stay as a world power, the isolationist education system has to go.