More support for the Amish effect

Mr. Verb reports that German immigrants in Wisconsin were pretty lazy about learning English. Stupid lazy Germans. This is more evidence that there is indeed an Amish loophole because you know the Amish are also German and they don't have to learn English. Compared that with those industrious hispanic immigrants who are learning English like it's going out of style.

In many of the original German settlements in the mid-1800s from southeastern Wisconsin to Lake Winnebago and the Fox Valley, the researchers found that German remained the primary language of commerce, education and religion well into the early 20th century. Some second- and even third-generation German immigrants who were born in Wisconsin still spoke only German as adults.

Everything's Against the Law

Dennis Baron has a great post on driving while Spanish.

Manuel Castillo, a California trucker with twenty years experience, was stopped and ticketed by an Alabama state trooper for failure to speak English well enough.

I did not know this was a crime, but it is for commercial truck drivers.

U. S. Department of Transportation regulations require commercial truck drivers “to be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to” speak with the public, understand road signs, respond to “official inquiries,” and keep records. The states are charged with enforcing these requirements.

Of course enforcement can be tricky.

But since there’s no tube a driver can breathe into that will produce a readout of the amount of English that they know, police officers have no objective standard for assessing whether a driver speaks English well enough to continue safely to their final destination.

These guidelines are funny, especially the scare quotes around hauling:

I can imagine the discussions the team responsible for developing the brochure had about the quotes.

Via Language Log.

Amish loophole is a real problem

In this article on a great program to help immigrants in Philadelphia learn English we learn a startling fact (emphasis mine):

The stakes are high. Immigrant students tend to stay in school and graduate, said Ana Sainz de la Pena, who directs English as a Second Language and bilingual education for the district. By contrast, many American-born English language learners struggle and drop out.

I knew we should be concentrating our efforts on those recalcitrant non-English speakers who are already citizens!

The Media's Anti-Multilingualism Bias

Paul Ames and Robert Wielaard recently did an article for AP on the political/ethnic problems in Belgium called Belgium faces a crisis, in any language. From the headline, and the body of the article, you might think that the issue is all about language. For example,

French- and Dutch-speakers have long been at odds. A vote on power-sharing could spell trouble.

and

Belgium's perennial language time bomb is again approaching critical mass. It has plunged the country into a constitutional crisis that makes some wonder if Belgium can - or should - survive in its present rancorous jigsaw-puzzle shape

and

In the 1960s, when Belgium was cut up into separate language regions - leaving only Brussels officially bilingual - French-speakers in Linkebeek and five other Flemish towns outside the capital received special rights to use French in dealing with their local councils.

Throughout the piece the two sides are consistently referred to by their language, that is there is the French-speaking side and the Dutch-speaking side. However, the real issue is not language, but ethnicity and nationalism. And toward the end of the article we get a glimpse of that.

At its heart, the quarrel is economic. Flanders is richer than French-speaking Wallonia, and resents its taxes going toward subsidizing a territory that is Belgium's rust belt with 15 percent unemployment, triple the rate in Flanders.

At the same time, they believe the influx of French-speaking commuters from Brussels is eroding their cultural heritage. French-speakers say enough powers have been devolved, and accuse the Flemish of trying to cut Wallonia loose.

But since the article is framed in terms of a language issue, the situation comes across as another example of the failure of a 'bilingual state' and more fodder for the idiots that want to make America a monolingual state with English as the chosen language. Because, you know, the ONLY reason the Flemish and the Walloons can't get along is because they speak different languages.

Bruce Tesar recently suggested to me that this is like proposing that the way to stop the Bloods and Crips from killing each other in gang wars is to propose a constitutional ammendment to make the color of the handkerchief that I happen to have in my drawer the official handkerchief color of the US and ban all other colors.

For Eric

see more pwn and owned pictures

The Amish Loophole

Eric seems to have stumbled on the latest language outrage: Why do I have to press 1?I have an old post on similar stuff.

Fortunately neither presidential candidate goes in for this idiocy. But I am curious that they both seem to need to stress that immigrants should learn English. And McCain has this idea that immigrants must learn English should as a condition for citizenship (which is btw, the current law). That totally leaves open the Amish loophole. When only native born Americans are allowed to not speak English than only people who don't speak English will be native born Americans. Or something.

Obama finally eats the right cheesesteak

The Inquirer is reporting:

After a morning stop in Pittsburgh, Obama arrived in Philadelphia and promptly got a cheesesteak of his own. He passed by Gene's and the "speak English" controversy in favor of Pat's King of Steaks. Obama got a wiz wit', and ate it all, before motoring off to a barbershop in West Philadelphia.

Pennsyvania's English idiocy

as Sharon pointed out before, Pennsylvania isn't much different than New Jersey when it comes to English Only bullshit. So, in the interest of fair balance, here is the PA bill.
Pennsylvania House Bill 1958 P.N. 2716:

Providing for the English language as the official language of the Commonwealth.

It is the purpose of this act to preserve, protect and strengthen the unifying role of English as the official language of this Commonwealth.

This act, which doesn't seem to be going anywhere, would make it illegal for the government or any government official to use a language other than English, to prefer another language, or to diminish or ignore the unifying role of English.

English is hereby recognized as the official language of the Commonwealth and shall also be designated as the language of official acts of government.

The Commonwealth shall make no policies expressing a preference for any language other than English or diminishing or ignoring the unifying role of English as designated in this act

In some ways it's pretty mild since it only really affects government. On the other hand, what the hell does it mean to diminish the unifying role of English? So if a congressman or mayor says that English really isn't that important, he or she could get fined? What does that accomplish?
The other scary thing is that there won't be an enforcement agency. Rather, citizens will be on the lookout for foreigners:

Any person who is a resident of or doing business in this Commonwealth shall have standing to sue any agency or official of the Commonwealth to seek a declaratory judgment as to whether this act has been violated and injunctive relief therefrom. A qualified person may file suit even if the Attorney General or other appropriate official of the Commonwealth has not filed such a suit, and the suit may be brought on behalf of all citizens of this Commonwealth.

The funny thing is all the exceptions:

The provisions of this act shall not apply to the following:
(1) When Federal law imposes contrary provisions.
(2) When the public safety, health or justice requires the use of other languages.
(3) Instruction in foreign language courses.
(4) Instruction designed to aid students with limited English proficiency in their transition and integration into the education system.
(5) The promotion of international commerce or tourism.
(6) To provide interpretation for hearing impaired individuals in American Sign Language.
(7) When using terms of art or phrases from languages other than English.
(8) For informal and nonbinding translations or communications among or between representatives of government and other persons if this activity does not affect or impair supervision, management, conduct or execution of official actions and if the representatives of government make clear that these translations or communications are unofficial and are not binding on the Commonwealth.

Thank god we can still use Latin phrases and celebrate Cinqo de Mayo!
And, of course, private citizens would still have the freedom of conscience to choose their primary language.

This act shall not be construed in any way to infringe on the rights of citizens to choose their own primary language, in the use of language for private conduct, nor shall this act be used to dictate language policies for the operation and administration of organizations or businesses in the unregulated private sector.

Another interesting thing is what's missing from the act. There is no provision for the Amish. Those nutty religious non-assimilators still speak German! Also, there is no definition of English. I suppose they go by the "I know it when I see it" precedent.

Of course, Pennsylvania has a long history of this sort of thing.

No less a figure than Benjamin Franklin circulated pamphlets expressing alarm that German settlers, now representing a third of the colony’s population, were failing to learn the language of their English neighbors. ‘Great disorders and inconveniences may one day arise among us,’ he warned, unless the Germans could be assimilated:

Those who come hither are generally of the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own Nation, and as Ignorance is often attended with Credulity when Knavery would mislead it, and with Suspicion when Honesty would set it right; and as few of the English understand the German Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit, 'tis almost impossible to remove any prejudices they once entertain. (Franklin, [1753] 1961: IV, 483–484)

Public uses of German, he added, such as advertisements, newspapers, street signs, legal contracts, and court interpreters, only made the situation worse. Concerned that ‘few of their children in the Country learn English’ (IV, 484) – most were being educated in German – Franklin helped to establish a network of English-language schools under the guise of providing religious instruction. German parents were initially enthusiastic, but when the assimilationist purpose of these ‘charity schools’ was revealed, they refused to send their children (Bell, 1955).

Wasting time

English only

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JOHN E. ROONEY

District 39 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE

District 24 (Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris)

Assemblywoman MARCIA A. KARROW

District 23 (Warren and Hunterdon)

SYNOPSIS

Provides that English shall be the official language of the State.


CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

An Act designating the English language as the official language of the State and supplementing chapter 9 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The English language is designated as the official language of the State of New Jersey.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Same-sex Marriage

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman MICHAEL J. DOHERTY

District 23 (Warren and Hunterdon)

Assemblyman RICHARD A. MERKT

District 25 (Morris)


Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman McHose, Assemblymen Russo, DeCroce, Rooney and Thompson


SYNOPSIS

Includes same sex marriages among marriages declared void; provides that New Jersey will not recognize marriages in other jurisdictions which are void in New Jersey.


CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

An Act prohibiting same sex marriages and amending R.S.37:1-1 and supplementing Title 37 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. R.S.37:1-1 is amended to read as follows:

A man shall not marry any of his ancestors or descendants, or his sister, or the daughter of his brother or sister, or the sister of his father or mother, whether such collateral kindred be of the whole or half blood. A woman shall not marry any of her ancestors or descendants, or her brother, or the son of her brother or sister, or the brother of her father or mother, whether such collateral kindred be of the whole or half blood. Persons of the same sex shall not marry. A marriage in violation of any of the foregoing provisions shall be absolutely void.

(cf: R.S.37:1-1)


2. (New section) A marriage solemnized in any other county, state or territory, if valid where solemnized, is valid here unless it is a marriage that would be prohibited and declared void in this State pursuant to R.S.37:1-1 or R.S.37:1-10.

3. (New section) Marriage between persons of the same sex is against the public policy of the State of New Jersey.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.


STATEMENT

This bill provides that marriages between persons of the same sex are prohibited and void in New Jersey. The bill additionally provides that a marriage solemnized in any other county, state or territory, if valid where solemnized, is valid here unless it is a marriage that would be prohibited and declared void in this State pursuant to R.S.37:1-1 (which would include same sex marriages) or R.S.37:1-10 concerning New Jersey's policy of not recognizing common law marriages.

This bill expressly affirms public policy in support of marriage and makes clear that marriage is limited to marriage between a man and a woman. The bill further provides that same sex marriages and others not recognized in this State, whether or not sanctioned by another state, are not recognized in New Jersey.

McCain not afraid of languages

Language Log rightly singles McCain out for being smart about English Only.
This appears to be a long-held opinion by Senator McCain. In 1996, he went on record against an English only bill--even threatening a filibuster.

According to the best estimates of committee staff, opposition lobbyists, and other semi-informed sources, here's how the Governmental Affairs votes appear to break down:

5 solidly in favor: Stevens (R-Alaska), Roth (R-Del.), Cochran (R-Miss.), Smith (R-N.H.), and Brown (R-Colo.)
5 1/2 solidly against: Glenn (D-Ohio), Levin (D-Mich.), Lieberman (D-Conn.), Akaka (D-Hi.), Dorgan (D-N.D.), and McCain* (R-Ariz.).
4 undeclared or uncommitted: Cohen (R-Me.), Thompson (R-Tenn.), Nunn (D-Ga.), and Pryor (D-Ark.)
Senator John McCain's name is asterisked because his position is politically problematic. On the one hand, in communications with constituent groups he has reaffirmed his longstanding opposition to English-only legislation – even implying that he would stage a filibuster against S. 356 on the Senate floor, if necessary. On the other hand, now that English-only has become a partisan issue, his opposition creates tensions with fellow Republicans. McCain is now being mentioned as a possible running mate for Bob Dole, an English-only supporter who may decide to exploit the issue during his Presidential campaign. Thus far McCain has managed to absent himself at two hearings, and at today's markup, on S. 356.

And here he is quoted in a Time article from 1988on the issue:

Even conservatives like Arizona Senator John McCain oppose initiatives like the one just passed in his state. Says McCain: "Our nation and the English language have done quite well with Chinese spoken in California, German in Pennsylvania, Italian in New York, Swedish in Minnesota and Spanish in the Southwest. I fail to see the cause for alarm now."

Official English is popular among the people

A new poll released this week indicates broad support for making English the Official Language of the US.

ARLINGTON, Va., March 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Americans overwhelmingly want
English to be declared the official language of the United States, according to
a recent poll by Zogby International and commissioned by ProEnglish, an
Arlington, Va.- based national organization that backs official
English.
ProEnglish Executive Director K.C. McAlpin said, "Eighty-five
percent of likely voters incorrectly think English already is the official
language of the United States. But when informed that the United States does not
have an official language, virtually the same number -- 84 percent -- agree that
we should make English the official language of governmental
operations."
McAlpin added, "Eighty-four percent is the highest level of
support we have seen for official English in a national public opinion survey.
The last Zogby poll on official English conducted in June 2005 found 79 percent
support, which indicates public support may be rising."

ProEnglish website explains:

Having English as our official language simply means that for the government to act officially, it must communicate in English. It means the language of record is the English language, and that no one has a right to demand government services in any other language.
Official English would also reinforce America's historic message to new immigrants - that we expect them to learn English as the first step in their assimilation -- and that we are committed to ensuring that all Americans share in the economic, social and political benefits of having a common language.

They are using these pollnumbers to drum up support for the Official English bill now in congress (Hr 997). The bill has a large number of cosponsors including Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ).

Let's ignore for a second the trustworthiness of the poll numbers, and think about why we would need to have a law making English the official language of the US. The stated goal of ProEnglish is to help immigrants assimilate better, because assimilation will lead to economic prosperity. That seems like laudible.

Yet from my limited understanding of second language learning (I took a course on it once a long time ago), I understand there are two main factors to successful second language learning: motivation and opportunity. Making English the official language seems to address the former. It says the US government is only going to talk to you in English, so if you want to get anything from the government you're going to have to learn English. This legislation assumes that immigrants are not motivated to learn English. But given the touted economic benefits of learning English that doesn't make sense at all.

And sadly, the legislation doesn't address opportunity. If immigrants live in subcultures that are separate from English speakers, opportunities to speak English are reduced. So, if the real goal of this legislation is to get immigrants speaking English faster, it seems misguided. What we really need is a way to encourage integration between English speakers and non-English speakers. To create more opportunities for non-English speakers to practice their English skill. But that type of social engineering probably requires an intrusive governmental program. It's much easier to simply take a tough love approach and expect the immigrants to assimilate to us.