Multilingualism or Not? Essay

Today in America, thither is a raging hand going on should we publicize multilingualism or accept a break up pot ideology? The melting pot ideology dictates assimilating into a common culture and nomenclature. Views on this issue are rattling polarized, which fall upon a compromise seem hard to accomplish. Two articles that pertain to this topic are Ameri bum Multilingualism A National Tragedy, by Franklin Raff publi set down on WND.com, and incline completely Laws Divide and Demean, by warren J. Blumenfeld published in The Huffington Post. Both articles are direct infringeions of each some other with Raff give tongue toing languages other than position are unduly practiced and embraced in America while Blumenfeld argues that America should promote the practice of binary languages.While I do not reign myself agreeing completely with either angiotensin converting enzyme, there are stays in both that appeal to me and give me a better understanding of multilingualism, and the influences of its wide reaching effects on society. In Ameri outhouse Multilingualism A National Tragedy, writer Franklin Raff introduces an ad broadcast on Super bankroll Sunday. It is a Toyota car ad, which is touted to be the first bicultural, bilingual advertisement. The spot compares the benefits of being bilingual to a crossbreed car. Raff claims that the ad agency responsible for the ad has bluffed in equating bilingualism to anything practiced. He even goes as distant as to say that the effects of promoting bilingualism bunghole be fatal. To support his claim of fatality he uses the status in where doctors are unavailing tocomprehend their patients. He likewise brings up the fact that workers who are unable to comprehend safety regulations at worksites meet untimely deaths. Raff speaks of the Chicago school system, which has an overwhelming population of Hispanics and is also the worst performing of all school systems. He then introduces a janitor, who cannot speak incline and as such cannot get a better job despite his attention to detail, and a little Spanish intercommunicate girl, who he encountered in the supermarket and cannot offer her help due to her not understanding English. Raff also provides statistics that gift Hispanics as unable to complete higher education courses due to their association of Spanish and not English. He closes by saying it is a disservice to unrivalledself to speak Spanish and as such it is a matter tragedy.Raffs article has a feeling of immense passion on something he feels is a enormous plague to the nation. He argues to bang-up lengths on the extent of damage that speaking other languages causes to society. The Spanish language is his seams main adversary. He uses rhetorical strategies such as pathos and angle of peck to significant effect to support his claim. In his attempt to assimilate steamy support from his readers he makes igneous pleas and relates personal experiences. He introduce s the idea of being unable to comprehend languages as being detrimental to the point of even causing deaths. He uses examples of miscommunication in a health care facility and safety regulations at work sites.Death being the worst fate of mankind is a useful point for Raff as readers would be appalled that death is a possibility for some and that it could be avoided. He also speaks of the failing Chicago school system which is densely populated by Hispanics and he insinuates that their practice of language is what fails them. Others he says afflicted by speaking Spanish include a janitor he knows and a girl he encounters at the supermarket. Raff seeks to brighten support by relating the troubles he perceives and leading bulk to be roostve that Hispanics would be afforded a better quality of life and possibility of success by relinquishing the Spanish language and adopting the English language. Franklin Raffs use of angle of vision lies in subtle inferences that readers have to mak e on their own.As it relates to the janitor he describes as a fast, meticulous and good-natured worker, Raff claims he can communicate with the janitor due to his knowledge of Italian, only when if Raff fails to write about the janitors feelings but rather what he views the janitor should feel. Raff also speaks of high trouble rates of Hispanics but he fails to account for any success of Hispanics in America, by doing this he can elevate support from people who do not choose to consider more factors than the ones only tell by Raff. He makes it seem as though it is all doom and gloom because of knowing other language.In English Only Laws Divide and Demean, Warren Blumenfeld starts by relating an experience he had with his multilingual cousin, aliveness in Belgium. His cousin poses a riddle to him, with the outcome saying that persons that can only speak one language are referred to as US-American as opposed to monolingual. Blumenfeld accepts this as a truth and goes on to re gret that despite being so closely bordered by countries that speak other languages, Americans are stuck in their monolingual ways. He states that Americans lack of care for other languages has been endorsed by major political figures such as former President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Rick Santorum.The ideas that there has been a campaign to make English the official language and that laws have been proposed to outlaw other languages are slammed by Blumenfeld, who states he has even started a petition a preparest this movement. He also uses a personal experience of a friend of Mexican descent, who as a electric razor was berated and punished for reservation an exclamation in Spanish at school. Blumenfeld states that this prejudice is a violationof land and no true patriot could support it. He proclaims that Americashould embrace its rich variation and shed its melting pot ideology if it is to become a beacon to the world. Warren Blumenfeld in his attempt to gain the suppor t of his readers employs the use of appeals to emotions and values. In his retelling of his encounter with his cousin he seeks to make Americans, including himself, feel as though they have not done enough to embrace linguistic diversity. By doing this he is able to make Americans feel that they should work assiduously to overcome this rather true stereotype.He also speaks of the extent American society provide go to eliminate other languages, including campaigns by political leaders and proposition of laws. By highlighting these details and framing them in such a way that depicts them as promoting ignorance, Blumenfeld is able to gain the readers support. To show just how serious and credible his claim is, Blumenfeld then identifies that he has started a petition, which encourages readers to a chitchat to action. To then gain the readers sympathy Blumenfeld uses an experience from a friend who as a child was castigated for speaking Spanish. This experience causes readers to be ap palled that in their society, people, especially children are being chastised because of their cultural differences. The highpoint of Blumenfelds argument is introduced near the end when he begins to speak about the founding principles of America.He proclaims that the values of democracy and diversity are woven into the fabric of the nation and its people, and as such the people should work to protect and beam these American values. True American patriots would then see the issue of multilingualism as an important part of the great nations future. In terms of a comparison between both articles, the only similarities lie in both writers use of rhetorical appeals and angle of vision. Both writers rely heavily on the emotional and value appeal of pathos to connect with their readers. The difference between both articles is the ideology of the authors. The authors directly contradict each other. Franklin Raff would haveAmericans believe that the practice of languages other than English can leadto death and failure.On the other hand, Warren Blumenfeld implores Americans to embrace learning and practicing other languages as it allows people to communicate across borders easily. later reading and analyzing both Franklin Raffs and Warren Blumenfelds articles in detail I was able to gain new knowledge on the subject of multilingualism. From personal experiences I previously had opinions on the topic but from my newly attained knowledge I was able to strengthen my opinions. The basics of my ideology are that I believe that all government and other official documents should be printed in one language, most befittingly English, for ease of communication. Though we should also encourage people to learn and practice quadruple languages as that great power enhances a persons trenchantness to themselves and to society as a whole.I was fortunate to be raised in a society that promoted learning multiple languages, though English was my native tongue. I learnt the fundamen tals of both French and Spanish up until the 8th station in Jamaica. Now I can read and write both languages at a level I perceive to be fair, which is something I am proud of. Though I lack in speaking fluency of these languages I plan to eventually become fluent. After 8th stage I moved to Florida. There I was surprised to know that my new peers had no foreign language course after the 5th grade and then they would only have a biennial crash course in high school. Having had that two-year crash course as well, I felt that it was more about getting a grade rather than learning to appreciate and comprehend the language. On the other hand, the peers I left in Jamaica went on to learn either one or both languages at a higher level. In America, I believe middle and high schools should operate a continuous curriculum for foreign languages as it will enhance students abilities.Franklin Raff in his article claims that Hispanics have a higher failure rate at school, peculiarly in Chica go, because of their knowledge of another language. Having had Hispanic classmates I am in complete disagreement withRaff as it was apparent they were just as inclined for success and I believed that their ability to speak both English and Spanish gave them somewhat of an edge in being successful. As it pertains to the Chicago school system there is likely to be social factors other than language, including poverty in a densely populated area, that can lead to higher failure rates that Raff fails to account for. I also disagree with Warren Blumenfeld that English should not be made the official language of America and that government documents should be printed in multiple languages.Blumenfeld states that it is unnecessary to make English the official language but I believe not making English the official language is just as unnecessary. America unlike many other countries that promote multilingualism, does not have an official language. Having an official language does not mean tha t a country ignores other languages. In Jamaica, English is the official language but foreign languages are given great dialect in the education system. For American governments to reduce spending, printing long documents in English only would be a good idea, but smaller statements such as safety information on airplanes can be printed in multiple languages, including French and Spanish.Though I have disagreements with the points the writers make, I do find some common ground with them. Franklin Raffs claim that different languages make communication between people difficult is very understandable. There have been a few instances where Ive heard people say they could not communicate with people at places such as the gas station as one person solely speaks English and the other solely Spanish. To achieve goals and make things happen require effective communication between people. I also agree with Blumenfeld that promotingWilliamsmultilingualism creates a better global society. I bel ieve people should attempt to learn and appreciate other languages as it is a show of competence and facilitates good relations among different groups of people. America, in particular, has a few negative connotations around the world, and I believe if we as a people can embrace other cultures and languages America will gain a deserve mutual respect.As the topic of multilingualism holds great significance to me, I found it imperative to explore the literary productions of both Franklin Raff and Warren Blumenfeld. Both articles related interesting and contrasting ideas on the topic. As seen with my agreements and disagreements it is best to only consider the ideas rather than accepting any one as the truth. In my opinion, the importance of communication cannot be overstated, as it is a component of progress. While one language makes such communication easy, diversity among the worlds citizens cannot be eliminated and as such governments should encourage acceptance of other societie s diversities and languages. It starts with education, to facilitate students to learn and gain appreciation for other languages and create a more connected world.Works CitedBlumenfeld, Warren J. English Only Laws Divide and Demean. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc., 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 October 2013. Raff, Franklin. American multilingualism A National Tragedy. WND. WND.com, 02 May 2006. Web. 16 November 2013.