The Future of the Spanish Language in the United States - Essay Example

 Every language within this world is beautiful when it is spoken by its natives. This is an essential element of comprehending as to how a language can actually be measured through a number of different ways. Spanish is a language that is spoken in different regions of the world. It is equally used in Mexico and Central American countries as it is locally made use of in Spain. Spanish language will continue to rule the roost as far as the related people who use it are concerned. However what is needed is a thought to understand that people must be given the freedom to use their language no matter whichever corner of the world they reside at a particular time within their lives. Within this paper the present day scenario and status of Spanish language within the United States workplaces and basically the whole culture is highlighted. Also the future has been predicted for the very same. Surveys have showed that nearly all US Spanish speakers are indeed Hispanic and this population is increasing at a tremendous rate within the United States. It was in the year 1989 that the Hispanic populace was around 20.1 million within the country which was in essence a 39 percent increase to the figure that was calculated in 1980 Census, at 14.5 million. The rate at which the US population increased during this period was estimated at 9.5 percent but the Hispanic population grew at 7.5 percent. Some studies suggest that Hispanic immigrants who move towards the United States in the wake of seeking better opportunities in life do not make an effort to learn English. They rather focus on their own language – a fact that both works to their advantage and disadvantage at the same time. (Estrada, 1988) The benefiting aspect is that they remain in constant touch with what is happening back home and they can move out and gain acceptance within their own society. The limitation of not learning English is that since English is a universal language, they must out on similar opportunities to gain jobs and the like within United States. One important pointer for consideration lies in the fact that Spanish language is taken up by a teenager if his/her parents force him/her to take up the language within the realms of the United States. Since the young ones have been born and bred within the States itself, they do not feel the inclination to learn Spanish and thus do a great disservice to their own language. They are more inclined to find out more or just have a somewhat easy understanding of the English language as it facilitates them in their day to day tasks and activities. (Garcia, 1983) Even this happens because the culture in which they reside focuses heavily on the English language and thus they have no choice but to learn it quickly and without that many options by their side. Thus it would not be wrong here to state that inexorably the choice of learning English is much more since this is the only language that has been given to him. Spanish loses out in the whole context and this is an aspect of great alarm and worry for the Hispanics. The reason as to why Spanish speakers are not allowed to use their own language lies in the fact that English has taken precedence over any other language within the United States and for this reason, the bosses and top management are more inclined to have English within their organizational ranks than any other language that there could be. Spanish speakers are not given the freedom to use their own mother tongue because an overall understanding of the English language goes missing and this leaves a bad taste in the mouth as far as Hispanics and their cultural traditions are concerned. The top management fears that the related set of Hispanics at the workplace might just start communicating within their own language and thus set a bad example for other employees who might be tempted to make use of their respective mother tongues. What this will do eventually is to have a number of different languages being used in the office place and thus English would be the language that will lose out in the end. Also a sense of indiscipline will creep in within the organizational ranks and thus the organizational settings would receive a setback as far as their disciplinary routines and norms’ abiding are concerned. As far as the future of Spanish language within United States is concerned, one really does not see any hope. This is because the parents themselves are not ready to teach their children their mother tongue as United States is completely dependent on the usage of English language and it would not change this universal and global language in the near future. (Hispanic Policy Development Project, 1988) The global acceptance that this language has makes all the more reason that it should stay the way it is within the current domains. The controversies surrounding the strict adherence towards the English language in the US office places is something to ponder upon in an incisive manner since this is in direct contrast to what US law makers suggest of the diverse workforce measures. However when it comes to organizational discipline then this issue is swept under the carpet as there is no issue bigger than the basic essence of the organization at all. Spanish speakers can do themselves a world of good if they start using their language more and more within their respective locations as well as teach their children their cultural facets – language is a mere part of it. All said and done, one should believe that Hispanics achieve the kind of freedom that they deserve whilst remaining the citizens of the United States of America and at the same time allowed the right to exercise, use and communicate in their mother tongue. This indeed is a basic human right and cannot be negated under any rule whatsoever. References Estrada, L. (1988). Policy Implications of Hispanic Demographics. Tomas Rivera Center Report, Vol. 1, No. 1. Claremont, CA: Tomas Rivera Center Garcia, E. (1983). Early Childhood Bilingualism, with Special Reference to the Mexican-American Child. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press Hispanic Policy Development Project. (1988). Closing the Gap for U.S. Hispanic Youth: Public/Private Strategies. Washington, DC: Hispanic Policy Development Project Word Count: 1,023 Read More