This may come as surprise to many: Although English is the primary language in the U.S., it is not the official language at the federal level, reminds Grumpy Editor.
However, most states and territories within the U.S. consider English as the official language.
People in this country have been speaking languages other than English since before the founding of the republic.
Going back to the 13 colonies, common languages spoken at that time included English, Dutch, French and German, plus languages spoken by Native Americans.
Some lawmakers over the years have tried to ensure English is used above all other languages.
In 1981, U.S. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California introduced an amendment to do just that. But it failed to pass. The Senate tried again in 2006, passing an amendment to a comprehensive immigration bill that would have made English the official language. The bill never passed the House.
However, English remains the language of government documents, court proceedings and business contracts.
The U.S. is a melting pot of languages with at least 350 spoken. After English, the top five in terms of native speakers are Spanish, Chinese (including Cantonese, Mandarin and other varieties), French/French Creole, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
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