Immigrants and the English Langauge

Nativists, those who fear the impact of "foreigners," are making a comeback in a big way. They have found in the immigration debate a cause celebre, an issue that has galvanized a large swathe of the nation. You see it in many forms, none more tenacious than the push for "English only" or the declaration of English as the national language. Don't you find it interesting that the Founders didn't choose to embrace such a thing?

The reality is that over time immigrants have assimilated into the broader culture first and foremost by learning English. They have done so not because it was compulsory, but because it was necessary to progress in society. That was true then, and it's true now. First generation immigrants often have limited English abilities. Their children are usually bi-lingual, while their grandchildren likely speak primarily English.

This reality is born out in a new Pew Foundation study reported yesterday in the LA Times and likely other papers across the country.

According to the Pew report, which analyzed surveys with more than 14,000 Latino immigrants, only 23% of adult first-generation Latinos say they can carry on a conversation very well in English, compared to 88% in the second generation and 94% in the third. Mexicans are the least likely to say they speak English well, which the study's authors attribute in part to a lower educational level.

The Pew analysis found that 89% of Latinos recognize that they need English to succeed in the United States, while 46% of respondents this year said language is the leading cause of discrimination against them.

These statistics are really pretty amazing -- consider the speed at which this transition is being made. It also suggests many things to churches. As we seek to create alternative language services and congregations we must recognize that the needs change with each generation.

I remember going to Pasadena Covenant Church while in seminary. The hymnal had a number of Swedish songs in it and about once a year -- for the sake of the old timers -- we'd sing a couple in Swedish. I've not been there in more than 20 years, but it's quite possible that this tradition is no longer with them.

The fear that the English language is being threatened by providing language options for mostly 1st generation immigrants is simply nonsense. The statistics don't bear out this fear. Immigrants understand that to succeed in America you ultimately have to learn English. The fact is, however, that it is the second and third generations that are able to make this jump the easiest because their learning English as children and not as adults.

Here is the link to the Pew Report itself.