Sign-In
Cart
Nativism Reborn? the Official English Language Movement and the American States
Hardcover
LinguisticsGeneral SociologyImmigration & Refugees
ISBN13: 9780813119182
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Published: Jun 29 1995
Pages: 336
Weight: 1.19
Height: 1.04 Width: 5.82 Depth: 8.82
Language: English
In July 1992 Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) angrily suggested during floor debate ... that the United States should not continue accepting immigrants mho speak no English. I pick up the telephone and call the local garage, Byrd said. I can't understand the person on the other side of the line. I'm not sure he can understand me. They're all over the place, and they don't speak English. We want more of this? Later he apologized for the remark, saying, I regret that in the heat of the moment I spoke unwisely.
Is America in the midst of another backlash against foreigners? In the wide-ranging controversy over multiculturalism that has generated much heat in recent years, one of the most volatile issues is whether the United States should reflect a dominant English-speaking majority or encourage a multilingual culture.
Tied up with this emotional issue is a growing anxiety on the part of many Americans about the new wave of non-European immigrants. It is not without significance, says S.I. Hayakawa, who was a founder of U.S. English, that pressure against English language legislation does not come from any immigrant group other than the Hispanic: not from the Chinese or Koreans or Filipinos or Vietnamese; nor from immigrant Iranians, Turks, Greeks, East Indians, Ghanians, Ethiopians, Italians, or Swedes.
Raymond Tatalovich has conducted the first detailed, systematic, and empirical study of the official English movement in the United States, seeking answers to two crucial questions: What motivations underlie the agitation for official English? Does the movement originate at the grassroots level or is it driven by elites?
Since 1980, fifteen states have passed laws establishing English as the official language--Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Three more laws, in Hawaii, Illinois, and Nebraska, predate the current agitation. The official language laws in ten of the states are wholly symbolic, but in the remaining eight they go beyond symbolism to stipulate some kind of enforcement. Four states have passed English Plus laws--New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. In addition some major cities--Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Tucson, and Washington,
D.C.--have also adopted English Plus laws or resolutions.
Tatalovich hypothesized five possible motivations for the official English movement: race (hostility of the majority toward a minority), ethnicity (conflict between minori-ties), class (reaction by lower socioeconomic groups), politics (partisan or ideological backlash), and culture (anti-foreign sentiment).
His analysis is based on an eclectic range of sources, from historical documents, legal records, and court decisions to news accounts and interviews. In many southern states where the issue has recently assumed prominence, he found that support for the initiative is identified as a residue of nativism. Tatalovich empirically shows linkage between support today for official English and opposition in the South to immigration in the 1920s.
This study not only is definitive but also is a dispassionate analysis of an issue that seems destined to become even more controversial in the next few years. It makes a notable contribution to the current debate over multiculturalism and will be of special interest to sociologists, historians of contemporary social history, linguists, legal scholars, and political scientists who study public policy, minority politics, and comparative state politics.
Also in
Linguistics
The Well-Spoken Thesaurus: The Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases
Heehler, Tom
Paperback
How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
Galer, Sophia Smith
Hardcover
My First Book of Patterns Pencil Control: Patterns Practice Book for Kids (Pattern Writing)
Wonder House Books
Paperback
Korean Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Korean and English (Free Online Audio)
You, Eunsun
Damron, Julie
Paperback
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Winchester, Simon
Paperback
Learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana: A Workbook for Self-Study
Henshall, Kenneth G.
Takagaki, Tetsuo
Paperback
The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules and Quizzes to Master Today's English
McLendon, Lisa
Paperback
Remembering the Kanji 1: A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters
Heisig, James W.
Paperback
Print and Cursive Handwriting Workbook: 35 Lessons to Improve Your Penmanship
Sanders, Sally
Paperback
Japanese Folktales for Language Learners: Bilingual Legends and Fables in Japanese and English (Free Online Audio Recording)
Sato, Anna
Sato, Eriko
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
O'Dell, Felicity
McCarthy, Michael
Paperback
Japanese Stories for Language Learners: Bilingual Stories in Japanese and English (Online Audio Included)
Sato, Eriko
McNulty, Anne
Paperback
Arabic Writing Workbook: Alphabet, Words, Sentences⎜Learn to write Arabic with this large and colorful handwriting workbook. For adults and kids
de Kerdoret, Soulayman
Paperback
Conversational Japanese: A Practical Communication Guide for Visitors to Japan
Kaneko, Anne
Paperback
Vietnamese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Vietnamese (Free Online Audio)
Tran, Tri C.
Paperback
Quack This Way: David Foster Wallace & Bryan A. Garner Talk Language and Writing
Garner, Bryan
Wallace, David Foster
Paperback
Historically Black Phrases: From I Ain't One of Your Lil' Friends to Who All Gon' Be There?
Anderson, Tre'vell
Hill, Jarrett
Hardcover
Reading and Writing Korean: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Hangeul Writing System (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Kiaer, Jieun
Driggs, Derek
Paperback
Reading & Writing Thai: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Thai Alphabet and Pronunciation (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Ca
Rattanakhemakorn, Jintana
Paperback
Words to Love a Planet: An Illustrated Lexicon of Landscape, People, and Possibility
Sanders, Ella Frances
Hardcover
Korean Folktales for Language Learners: Traditional Stories in English and Korean (Free Online Audio)
Killick, Andrew
Kim, Yeon-Jeong
Cho, Sukyeon
Paperback
Arabic Folktales for Language Learners: Traditional Stories in Arabic and English (Free Bilingual Online Audio)
Risha, Sarah
Paperback
Word Smart, 6th Edition: 1400+ Words That Belong in Every Savvy Student's Vocabulary
The Princeton Review
Paperback
Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English (Online Audio Recordings Included)
Ling, Vivian
Wang, Peng
Paperback
Language and Life on Ocracoke: The Living History of the Brogue
Reaser, Jeffrey
Wolfram, Walt
Gaskill, Candy
Paperback
English Idioms in Use Advanced Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
O'Dell, Felicity
McCarthy, Michael
Paperback
A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Salo, David
Paperback
Arabic Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Middle Eastern Tales in Arabic and English (Online Included) [With CD (Audio)]
Mansur, Lutfi
Brosh, Hezi
Paperback
The Navajo Language: The Elements Of Navajo Grammar With A Dictionary In Two Parts Containing Basic Vocabularies Of Navajo And English
Young, Robert W.
Morgan, William
Hardcover
Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences
Florey, Kitty Burns
Paperback
Writing Japanese Hiragana: An Introductory Japanese Language Workbook: Learn and Practice the Japanese Alphabet
Gleeson, Jim
Paperback
Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages
Deutscher, Guy
Paperback
Chinese Folktales for Language Learners: Famous Folk Stories in Chinese and English (Free Online Audio Recordings)
Wang, Peng
Ling, Vivian
Paperback
Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Sanders, Ella Frances
Hardcover
A Navajo Alphabet Book For Kids: Diné Bizaad: Language Learning Educational Present For Toddlers, Babies & Children Age 1 - 3:
Press, Bilingual Kiddos
Paperback
Japanese Kanji for Beginners: (Jlpt Levels N5 & N4) First Steps to Learn the Basic Japanese Characters [Includes Online Audio & Printable Flash Cards]
Hakone, Kaori
Stout, Timothy G.
Paperback
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
Singh, Simon
Paperback
Ancient Greek Thematic Dictionary. Volume I: General Concepts, Dimensions, and Senses
Rico, Christophe
Hardcover
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
'O Faia Fa'atumua O Samoa Mai Tala O Le Vavau
Papalii, Aumua Mataitusi Sima
Simanu, 'Aumua Mata'itusi
Paperback
The Indo-Europeans Rediscovered: How a Scientific Revolution Is Rewriting Their Story
Mallory, J. P.
Hardcover
Mastering Logical Fallacies: The Definitive Guide to Flawless Rhetoric and Bulletproof Logic
Withey, Michael
Paperback
Japanese Kanji Made Easy: An Easy Step-By-Step Workbook to Learn the Basic Japanese Kanji (JLPT N5)
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
Reading & Writing Farsi (Persian): A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Farsi Script and Language (Free Online Audio & Printable Flash
Vil, Pegah
Ahooie, Amir Hossein
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
English Short Stories for Beginners: Learn English With Stories From an American Life
Guru, Language
Paperback
I Is an Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How It Shapes the Way We See the World
Geary, James
Paperback
How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding and Using Bible Versions
Fee, Gordon D.
Strauss, Mark L.
Paperback
English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners: Learn English and Build Your Vocabulary the Fun and Easy Way
Guru, Language
Paperback
Learn Japanese with Manga Volume Two: A Self-Study Language Guide (Free Online Audio)
Bernabe, Marc
Paperback
An Apple a Day: Learn 25 Idioms and Sayings in English, Spanish, French, and Italian
Tartaglia, Michela
Hardcover
Basics of Akkadian: A Grammar, Workbook, and Glossary
Hugenberger, Gordon P.
Erickson, Nancy L.
Paperback
Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks
Houston, Keith
Paperback
The Lexicon: A Cornucopia of Wonderful Words for the Inquisitive Word Lover
Buckley, William F., Jr.
Buckley, William F., Jr.
Paperback
Aprender inglés para adultos principiantes: 3 libros en 1: ¡Habla inglés en 30 días!
Towin, Explore
Paperback
The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
Deutscher, Guy
Paperback
Elementary Korean Workbook: A Complete Language Activity Book for Beginners (Free Online Audi)
Lee, Insun
Paperback
Learn Korean - The Language Workbook for Beginners: An Easy, Step-by-Step Study Book and Writing Practice Guide for Learning How to Read, Write, and T
Lee, Jennie
Polyscholar
Paperback
Enhancing Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Coaching Practices to Empower Students
Polk, Paula
Paperback
Tuttle Practical Cambodian Dictionary: English-Cambodian Cambodian-English
Smyth, David
Kien, Tran
Paperback
The Slangman Guide to STREET SPEAK 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & Idioms
Burke, David
Paperback
The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves to Sand Worms, the Words Behind World-Building
Peterson, David J.
Paperback
Arabic for Beginners: A Guide to Modern Standard Arabic (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Risha, Sarah
Paperback
Learning Korean: A Language Guide for Beginners: Learn to Speak, Read and Write Korean Quickly! (Free Online Audio & Flash Cards)
Baik, Juno
Damron, Julie
Paperback
Easy Thai: A Complete Language Course and Pocket Dictionary in One! (Free Companion Online Audio)
Rattanakhemakorn, Jintana
Paperback
Trace Letters and Numbers Workbook: Learn How to Write Alphabet Upper and Lower Case and Numbers
Noosita, Nina
Paperback
Basic Tagalog: Learn to Speak Modern Filipino/ Tagalog - The National Language of the Philippines: Revised Third Edition (with Online Audio)
Aspillera, Paraluman S.
Hernandez, Yolanda Canseco
Paperback
English Short Stories for Beginners and Intermediate Learners: Learn English and Build Your Vocabulary
Guru, Language
Paperback
Japanese Kanji Fast Finder: Find the Character You Need in a Single Step!
Matthews, Laurence
Paperback
Japan Now! a Japanese Language Reader: Bilingual Stories and Essays about Contemporary Japan (with Free Online Audio Recordings)
Sato, Anna
Sato, Eriko
Paperback
Vietnamese Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Vietnamese and English (Free Online Audio)
Le, Tram
Tran, Tri C.
Paperback
Chinese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Chinese (Fully Romanized and Free Online Audio)
Ren, Yi
Liang, Xiyuan
Paperback
Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World
West, Jevin D.
Bergstrom, Carl T.
Paperback
The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji: (Jlpt All Levels) Remembering and Understanding the 2,136 Standard Characters
Seely, Christopher
Henshall, Kenneth G.
Paperback
Japanese Kanji and Kana Workbook: A Self-Study Workbook for Learning Japanese Characters
Hadamitzky, Wolfgang
Spahn, Mark
Paperback
Gwynne's Grammar: The Ultimate Introduction to Grammar and the Writing of Good English
Gwynne, N. M.
Paperback
Tuttle Pocket Chinese Dictionary: English-Chinese Chinese-English (Fully Romanized)
Dong, Li
Paperback