As of 1st March 2025 the US of A is no longer one of the few countries that operates without an official language. Is the rather symbolic executive order relating to America’s identity? A Forbes article mentions: “America has always relied on practice and practicality rather than statute. English has became [sic, or is this now official US English?] the de facto language of governance, law, and commerce through usage and cultural dominance, not through a mandate.”
Why did it take so long to designate an official national language (if it was not necessary for 249 years)?
Well, does it have to do with their love/hate affair of the English (rule)? Is the Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing (and no, that is not the flex some believe it to be) not based on distancing from English rule (or anything English)?
Funnily the potus has installed the English language as national language earlier this year and coincidentally “no king” protest are popping up? Anyways, I assume it only has to do with satisfying his fan base.
So, how come the US-EN and UK-EN differ? Well, languages evolve. In 400 years pronunciation, grammar, vocab, spelling, punctuation, idioms and even formatting of dates and numbers have diverged in mostly minor ways. Although even the smallest of variations always tend to be standing out like a sore thumb.
Does it surprise that the metric system (SI: système international d’unités, no translation necessary, I hope) was first adopted by the French in 1795? The US Congress declared the system lawful in commerce throughout the nation in 1866, the US Army and USMC in 1957. Great Britain only adopted the system in 1965. In 1988 Congress passed the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (interestingly you won’t find much about “metric system” here). So why are they still holding on to their freedom units?
As an intermezzo, may I raise that most of the world nowadays speak or understand English (thank you British Empire, Hollywood, internet, etc)? Fascinatingly Europeans often hear the (rather uneducated) US remark “if we did not help you (in the world wars) you’d be speaking German”. Well, many European languages are Germanic, including, yes, English. Also, most people worldwide are at least bilingual. Then again, why would anyone engage in a discussion with someone this ignorant? I will gladly help and educate the people who are unaware or unknowing; but when someone is repeating propaganda, false claims, blatant lies and just incredulous nonsense even when fact-checked, I just hope they get home safe and get the support (psychological and/or psychiatric) they need.
English being a Germanic language, Nordic (also Germanic though) and French (Latin) did have noticeable influence. Yes, European nations love(d) to conquer, and colonize. European nobility (including royalty) loved to control and marriages were (still are?) business arrangements. I do understand the US Americans dislike towards such activities. Anyone acting like or behaving and believing to be worthier than any other human people is despicable.
Perhaps worth mentioning that most of the financial jargon is of Italian origin, French are responsible for their “cuisine”, art and many other jargon, the Dutch for their naval (military) and water-related terminology, etc. Just as most of the world is using English words for technology, so are the English adopting foreign words for new non-English developments or inventions, etc.
Another item that baffles me is that US Americans are made afraid of certain words and ideologies. Is the rest of the world crazy for being social and communal? I need to be more specific, I guess, it is perfectly fine to be social and communal, but don’t ever use socialism and communism (most people do not even know what they actually mean; and no, it is not what media or politicians want you to believe). And since when is being anti fascist wrong?
Another word is “foreign”. One specific anecdote, many non-US airports have added the Stars&Stripes next to the word “All (other) passports”. Absurd that US citizens cannot fathom to be categorized as “foreign(ers)” such bad connotation the word has nowadays.
Not sure why many are scared of foreign influence. Can you guess since when people have been protesting against foreign influences being introduced into English? Aye, not much after the Norman Conquest and later when the French ruled England. English linguistic purism is real.
Has anyone wondered where the name originates from: English? From the Angles that came from… Denmark. It has nothing to do with angels or angles but the tribe Anglii. Basically the tribe were migrants in England. The tribe and language amalgamated, not sure how forceful that unification went though. Then some other events influenced the English language, but now it needs to be protected from foreign influence? I guess we are going back to the Middle Ages…
I don’t really like ‘what if’s but there are many examples of how English would sound like or how English would be spoken if:
How We’d Talk if the English had Won in 1066 by David Cowley, or without French/Latin or Norman influence…
Please do take a moment to watch this:
So, if you want to build a wall around your language (no pun intended) you will overprotect it and perhaps shield it from fun new advancements, think food, entertainment, etc. Is it not interesting that you regard your language as standard and normal. When you swap the French influenced words by Anglo-Saxon alternatives it may sound ancient or plain wrong.
On the other hand I was surprised Dutch mainly uses English computer jargon. How surprised are you if I explain that the English words computer, process, etc are of Latin origin? Another fun fact, the French don’t use computer but ‘ordinateur’, it organizes or orders. Since the French use the Latin “computare” as compter meaning to count or add up. Initially a computer was designed to calculate but soon was capable of more. And when computer and calculator are deemed to similar a philologist (and Latinist Jacques Perret) was consulted to “invent” a new word.
It is easy to become lost in translation when you borrow foreign words and the definition slightly changes over time, or become inadequate to fully describe the object or situation.
Just a disclaimer that I do not watch US news religiously. I do not like soaps however entertaining they may be.
Also, I have lived in Belfast and Dublin, hence I do make a distinction between England, Britain and UK.
Celtic Belgae 