84% Say English Should Be America’s Official Language

Thursday, May 14, 2009 Email to a Friend ShareThisAdvertisement
Eighty-four percent (84%) of Americans say English should be the official language of the United States. Only nine percent (9%) disagree, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seven percent (7%) are not sure.

The support for English as the country’s official language remains steady from three years ago.

Eighty-one percent (81%) say a U.S. company should be allowed to require employees to speak English on the job, up four points from November 2007. Thirteen percent (13%) disagree.

Eighty-two percent (82%) also reject the idea that requiring people to speak English is a form of racism or bigotry, up three points from 2007. Just 10% think such a requirement is racist or bigoted.

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Support for making English the nation’s official language is strong across partisan lines. The concept is supported by 96% of Republicans, 74% of Democrats and 85% of adults not affiliated with either major party.

Similarly, while 90% of Republicans believe companies should be permitted to require employees to speak English on the job, that view is also shared by 80% of unaffiliateds and 74% of Democrats.

Seventeen percent (17%) of Democrats believe that such a requirement is racist or bigoted, down eight points from 2007. But 90% of Republicans, 85% of unaffiliated adults and 72% of Democrats disagree.

Eighty percent (80%) of U.S. voters believe those who move to America should adopt American culture. This level of support has been roughly consistent for many years.

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