A growing trend for English primacy?
Earlier this month the LPGA, the biggest worldwide association of professional women golfers amended their membership rules to stipulate that all of their members (including some 121 international members from 26 different countries) must show a demonstrable proficiency in English by next year, or be stripped of their membership.
Now in a similar move, a City Council in Los Angeles State is making moves to make English the only officially recognised language…and it seems that although the reasons behind both of these moves are completely different, they are proving equally controversial. Councilwoman Sherry Marquez of Lancaster City Council, Los Angeles, is spearheading the English-only push which has been labelled divisive and unnecessary by critics.
Councillor Marquez apparently first decided upon the idea during her candidature campaign for the post of Councillor, some four months ago: she was outraged at the extra costs involved in having to translate her candidature statement and have it printed in both English and Spanish…the crux of her argument is that America is an English speaking country and so should only be obliged to make provision in English.
Of course, detractors have quickly pointed out that America is a society of ‘unity in diversity’, where all components are important to the whole; they also point out that California has a long history of Hispanic influence as the whole of the State and, in fact, several neighbouring States used to be Spanish Crown Territories.
We await the outcome of these moves with interest.