The United States is home to people from all over the world, and more than 350 different languages are spoken here. Although English is the most widely used language in government, schools, and business, the U.S. Constitution does not specify any official language. At the time the Constitution was written, official documents were in English, but many communities spoke other languages, such as German, French, or Dutch. And Indigenous communities and slave communities spoke their native languages. The country’s identity at the start was as a multilingual nation.

Today, the U.S. has immigrants from all over the world, which has led to an ongoing debate: should the United States establish English as its official language? 

Some people think having one official language would help create a more cohesive society—one where everyone is connected through a common way of communicating. They say that immigrants will transition more easily into American society if they are required to use English. They believe it would make it easier for government agencies to operate and would reduce the costs of translating documents. They point out that more than 90% of countries in the world have an official language, and some have more than one! They say that language is part of what gives those countries a national identity. Some people also believe that if a person wants the benefits of living in the United States, they should be willing to learn English because it is the dominant language.

However, critics of this idea say that making English the official language could constrain or hold back people who are still learning English, especially immigrants and older adults who have spoken another language all their lives. If they aren’t able to use their home language to access public services, they may not be able to access medical care or participate in society like everyone else. They also worry that such a policy could encourage attitudes of xenophobia—that is, fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures.

Some people suggest that the United States should actually represent many languages as official languages. They believe that valuing many languages shows respect for the different communities that make up the nation. They say that right from the start, the United States was a multilingual country and that the many cultures and their languages is what makes America a great country.

In 2025, the President signed an executive order to establish English as the official language of the federal government. But the debate is not over. Executive orders do not have the same weight as laws passed by Congress, so the next President could reverse the executive order. What do you think? Should the government specify English as the official language, or should it continue to recognize and support the United States’ multilingual population?