In my home state of Illinois, the official language was “American” from 1923 to 1969. To many, this may seem like an absolutely ridiculous official language, and the Illinois government would agree with you — it changed the official language to English in 1969. I, however, think that there could not be a better official language of a state.

Since “American” is not an actual language, in a way it represents any language spoken within the United States or possibly even the entire North and South American continents. The designation of an official language in a state typically means that all official state information, unless mandated by federal law, will only be communicated in English. 

While in practice, an official language designation of “American” in Illinois was interpreted as English by the state’s judiciary, a designation of “American” could mean so much more now. The passage of a bill designating “American” as a state’s official language nowadays could be written in such a way that requires all government documents to be issued in all languages spoken in the U.S. This is one of the only correct ways to instate an official language that is accessible and inclusive to all of the state’s residents.  

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

Today, there is a growing movement to make English the official language of states across all 50 states. Wyoming Statute 8-6-101 is one of many pieces of legislation across the country declaring English as the official language: “English shall be designated as the official language of Wyoming. Except as otherwise provided by law, no state agency or political subdivision of the state shall be required to provide any documents, information, literature or other written materials in any language other than English.”

The language of this statute makes it increasingly difficult for non-English speakers to access government documents in their native language. The lack of access to documents that non-English speaking Wyoming residents can read in their native language puts them at greater risk of improperly filling out forms and losing access to state-level government services that they need to live, such as obtaining a state ID or applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In states where there is no official language, government officials are required to provide documents in the native language of the person requesting assistance. This is also the case on the national level, because there is no official language of the United States. 

States not being legally obligated to provide services and support to speakers of endangered languages deeply affects government accessibility for Native Elders. Many Native Elders only speak their indigenous language, with the Navajo Times reporting in 2017 that there were 7,600 living Navajo-only speakers.

Navajo-only speakers are important figures of the Navajo Nation and would not be able to access essential government services in approximately 30 states across the country if those states were not required to provide support in the Navajo language. 

This movement to make English the official language across the U.S., both at the state level and federally, is built on the legacy of forced assimilation in the U.S. The U.S. has a long history of forced assimilation, often weaponizing the English language against Native American children.  

Between the years 1819 and 1969, the U.S. ran boarding schools for Native American children with the express purpose to “kill the Indian, save the man.” They attempted to achieve this twisted goal by ripping native children from their language, culture and identity. In the boarding schools, Native children would be punished severely if heard uttering a single word of their native language.  

Languages are a powerful tool, and the U.S. government and other colonial powers know this. Oppressors always try to eliminate the language of the people that they are attempting to colonize. The British tried to exterminate the Irish language and the indigenous languages of Australia and New Zealand when they colonized those lands — and the U.S. continues to attempt to eliminate native languages by trying to legislate English as the official language.

English should never be the official language anywhere in the U.S., as it is a direct attack on the Indigenous peoples who have spoken their native languages on this land for millennia. This movement is nothing more than another step in the U.S.’ long tradition of trying to colonize and silence Indigenous voices and should be opposed with the utmost ferocity by U.S. citizens. 

Protect native peoples and their languages. Say no to English as an official language.  

Peyton Dacy is a junior writing about the importance of language revitalization as an indigenous language dies out every 40 days. Dacy’s column, “Every 40 days,” runs every other Tuesday. Dacy is also the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director at the Daily Trojan.