taking over the airwaves with the jibberjabbering
Posted on 09/13/2006 9:49:01 AM PDT by presidio9
U.S. citizens concerned that Latino immigrants will have them singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish can rest easy, according to an academic study published on Wednesday.
A report in the Population and Development Review found that far from threatening the dominance of English, most Latin American immigrants to the United States lose their ability to speak Spanish over the course of a few generations.
The study by sociologists Frank Bean and Ruben Rumbaut of the University of California, Irvine, and Douglas Massey from Princeton, drew on two surveys investigating adaptation by immigrant communities in California and south Florida.
It concluded that by the third generation, most descendants of immigrants are "linguistically dead" in their mother tongue.
"Based on an analysis of language loss over the generations, the study concludes that English has never been seriously threatened as the dominant language in America, nor is it under threat today," the researchers said.
"Although the generational life expectancy of Spanish is greater among Mexicans in Southern California than other groups, its demise is all but assured by the third generation," it added.
Third-generation immigrants are American-born with American-born parents, but with three or four foreign-born grandparents.
The study, which also included some data from immigrant groups from Asian countries, weighs into a polarizing debate in the United States on the desirability, or otherwise, of linguistic assimilation for immigrant minorities.
Differences flared earlier this year when a group of Latino and Caribbean artists recorded a version of the "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish, prompting condemnation from some public figures including President George W. Bush.
"The national anthem ought to be sung in English," Bush said of the version, dubbed "Nuestro Himno" by the artists. "And I think people who want to be citizens of this country ought to learn it in English."
*Sigh*..
Press 1 if you want to read this article in english, para habla espanol...
LOL
Must explain why I have been looking at taking Spanish courses, IN INDIANA, to learn how to order food in a resteraunt....
and Arabic courses to pay for gasoline purchases...........
Obviously the acceptance of bilingualism in schools and by government offices is impeding the adoption of English as a primary language if it's taking several generations. In my family (not Spanish-speaking), it took exactly one generation after (legal) immigration to the US to make English the primary language.
I'd say some even switch to English in less than one generation. Not that they're Latin American, but within the last 10 years, I have 10 relatives ages 3 to 12 that have moved to the mainland US from Puerto Rico, where Spanish was their primary language, and they most readily lost their Spanish or refuse to use it. English is an easy language to learn and easier to use and more efficient than Spanish.
So we only need to wait 100 years to see if this study is correct?
Also, Most people are not asking for immigrants to lose their mother tongue, we're just asking for these new Americans to use English first.
In Faifax County, the goal is to have each student speak two languages. Not a bad thing really, as long as one of those languages is English!
"most Latin American immigrants to the United States lose their ability to speak Spanish over the course of a few generations."
How gullible do these academic eggheads think we are. Comparing the relatively small number of Latin American Immigrants that were assimilated into our society, along with other ethnic groups, in the past with the current huge onslaught of illegal Mexican and Latin American aliens, many of whom shun assimilation, is ludicrous.
Agreed. My German mother's primary language quickly became English when she came here.
My friend's parents immigrated from the Phillipines. With her mother (as with mine), her English skills are a matter of pride for her.
yeah let them try and tell that to the many companies who are giving jobs to non speaking english Visa foriegners, Making Americans sit through 3 translations for the morning meetings. It is happening more and more. Right under our noses as the politicians keep granting more and more Visa Workers into this Country. Pushing the Americans out of jobs. I will speak English, I have no desire to speak or hear another language. And I don't want to Push 1 for English at the ATM or on the phone. Speak English in Public or get the heck out. IMHO
The massive influx of Mexicans really began with the 1965 Immigration Act and has grown especially over the last 15-20 years...so there is no way to know whether the third generation of immigrants entering the US since in the post-1965 immigration flood will drop their mother tongue at the same rates as Mexicans who entered a much different US before 1965...but I highly doubt it
it is the sheer number of immigrants coming from a single area that will reduce the need for these immigrants to learn English...and to anyone paying attention, the growing role of Spanish in America is beyond obvious
No, no threat at all. Check this out and see the irony:
http://www.current.tv/pods/supernews/PD03437
Not to mention all the Chinese workers who are infilterating into the country. It's not just the Mexicans who are invading. I see it in the NE alot. Have to work with them everyday. Heck even on the radio they are taking over the airwaves with the jibberjabbering. Would like to Time Warp back about 40 yrs.
The larger point is the enormous cost to accomodate those that do not learn English.
Or who do not WANT to Learn English. And even if they Do know it, They refuse to speak it. Like I said In the NorthEast, It's a Growing Problem.
taking over the airwaves with the jibberjabbering
That is spot-on. If this study is based on generations past, then it is skewed due to the spoon-feeding of new generations of Latino immigrants with bilingual signage.
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