Their Language Means Nothing

Immigration is the staple of America. Without it America wouldn’t be what it is today. There are so many immigrants that come into America whether they’re from Mexico, the middle east, Europe, etc. Even while America was technically established by immigrants, there’s always been a bias against anyone coming into America. A lot of the time it’s how an immigrant speaks and uses the English language. It’s one of the first things that makes them stand out amongst others. There are many who come in with a basic understanding of the English language but have not been able to perfect it or, at least bring it up to standard with the other English language users in America. Which ends up creating a gap between people who are native speakers of English and those who aren’t. Just because they’re not speaking the way they’re expected to, it perpetuates the idea that they’re not trying hard enough, or that they don’t want to try at all. That idea also implies that the language they came with from their home country, wasn’t good enough to get them around in America. That they need English otherwise they wouldn’t be a part of American society. These ideas bring about the myth that some languages aren’t as good enough compared to others.

Due to stigmas and stereotypes that are placed on immigrants, it gives people a chance to make jokes about them. On Reddit, a well-known forum page, around a little over 2 years ago the user MLG50 made a joke talking about immigrants. He/She posted this joke on r/jokes, “What’s the difference between an illegal immigrant and E.T. E.T learned English and wanted to go home”. In the comments section there were a few replies, one stating that this joke was just as old as the movie itself, and another referring to the wall that was proposed by President Trump during the 2016 election. The joke implies that immigrants don’t learn English and that they don’t want to go back to their country, while fictional characters such as E.T. an alien can. Seeing one of the replies saying that this joke is just as old as the movie shows that the joke has been out there for a while. While this person more than likely meant no harm in the joke, there are many who believe these ideas more than likely finding the joke to be true in their minds. The joke makes a very broad assumption about immigrants, placing them all into one box where they all come into a certain country, not putting in any effort and effectively making them a problem to that country’s society. Saying that they don’t want to come here and learn the language, makes them seem lazy, unwilling to change for their own benefit. It also implies that their language isn’t good enough, that the language they come in with isn’t going to be as useful as English is. While this joke might be as old as the movie, like that commenter said there are still many who believe that sentiment.

               Since it’s such a common belief that immigrants come here with no English background or knowledge of it, makes it seem like it’s a fact. Which leads into the article which was published on the Huffington Post named GOP Candidates Say Immigrants Don’t Learn English, But Report Proves Them Wrong, by Marina Fang. She talks about the idea that immigrants come to America and don’t attempt to learn English which is something that a few of GOP candidates implied, she also had a side point about crime throughout immigrant groups to disprove the idea that they all commit crimes. The time that this was published was September 23rd, 2015 before the presidential election in 2016. Throughout the article, she showed how these ideas were incorrect with information from the Consensus Study Report in a report they made called The Integration of Immigrants into American Society. The author provides examples of the candidates stating that immigrants don’t try and learn English, she used a statement made by Senator Lindsey Graham explaining that” “They can come here, but they should learn to speak our language,” he said. He then quipped: “I don’t speak it very well, but look how far I’ve come”” (Fang, 2015). Afterwards she refers to the report done on immigrants which disproves the idea that they do not learn English. Later, she brings up more statistics on immigrant crime rates in America. Throughout her article what’s able to be taken away is that this idea that they don’t learn English is false. And while it may not be perfect English at the start that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. Saying that immigrants should learn English to stay in America also shows the bias towards English as well as its superiority over the other languages spoken in America. The way that its dangled over them as a means of access into society shows how its put above other languages to show them that their language won’t be useful to them in America. Immigrants are busy making a new life for themselves so it’s hard to be able to learn English and perfect it. Just because they don’t use English or its not as good that doesn’t make them any less of a person. Someone’s native language shouldn’t be treated as inferior just because they aren’t capable of speaking English properly.

Both the article and joke speak on immigrants and how they’re seen in society. The idea that their language itself isn’t good enough and they should come to America and learn English. While English is commonly used in America that does not make it the main language of America. The point was made dot not have a national language for America because it was meant to house immigrants. It was meant to provide new homes for those who didn’t want to be where they were or didn’t like what they were dealt and wanted a change for the better. At this point in American history there is so much diversity that these ideas of language should not continue to be how they are. Other people’s language should all be treated with the same respect, and ideas shouldn’t be forced on them because of the language they use.

Americas main purpose was to house those who wanted to start a new life in a new country, while English is the main language in America that gives no one the right to treat other languages as not good enough because all language has a purpose, to communicate. Rather than alienating those who aren’t great with English they should be helped with either translation or learning English. Its important to promote diversity in language because there are many people out there who struggle with these ideas being placed onto them. These ideas about immigrants cause them to be viewed in a negative light which make it harder for them to learn and adapt to America. The fact that people come up to them and tell them to learn English just shows that they feel a superiority over them which just isn’t the case. No one should be looked down upon just because of their language.

Citation:

Fang, Marina. “GOP Candidates Say Immigrants Don’t Learn English, But Report Proves Them Wrong.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 5 Oct. 2015, www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-immigration-learning-english_n_560315ace4b0fde8b0d124ea.

“r/Jokes – What’s the Difference between an Illegal Immigrant and E.T?” Reddit, 11 July 2017, www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/6mou47/whats_the_difference_between_an_illegal_immigrant/.