English is Our National Language – What Now?
On Saturday, March 1, President Trump signed an Executive Order officially designating English as the national language of the United States. This comes amidst a slew of attacks on immigrants and reversals of DEI programs.
I believe this order is thinly veiled xenophobia and racism towards immigrant communities, particularly immigrants of color. The effects will be massive. Almost 1 in 5 people in the United States speak a language other than English at home, representing languages from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and every corner of the world. Anyone who is not fluent in English may now face difficulties accessing information.
So how do we respond and ensure that people of different linguistic backgrounds maintain access to media and information?
What Will This Order Do?
The first effect of this executive order is that English is now the only official language of the United States. Some of these changes can already be seen. Shortly after taking office, the new administration removed the Spanish language versions of the White House website and social media.
As part of this change, government agencies and recipients of federal funding will no longer be required to offer language assistance to people with LEP. It does not require that these organizations eliminate language assistance either, but it does make it an option.
How are We Affected?
Many government agencies and organizations will soon have less available information in languages other than English. Whether in response to tightening budgets, difficulty finding workers to offer services, or simply disinterest in maintaining access, resources in languages other than English may soon be difficult to find. The quantity and the quality of information in other languages will diminish.
For US citizens with LEP, voter outreach and voting itself could become far more difficult. Educational resources, including notices of your polling location or when your election will be held, will not reach everyone. Ballots themselves will become less accessible as well. Without requirements to offer language assistance, voters with LEP may not be able to understand the instructions to fill out their ballot or know the issues they are voting on. This order will disenfranchise marginalized voters and make it more difficult to have an informed, engaged public.
Regardless of citizenship status, government resources and information are now less accessible to people with LEP, and they will become even harder to access as this rule change is implemented. This ultimately will make it more difficult for individuals with LEP to interact with our government and stay active in their communities.
Immigrants and others with LEP already face enough challenges, and this order will only make their lives more difficult. What will this mean for government information on acquiring citizenship? Will those searching for a better life be able to access the requirements to legally enter the US? Will they be able to find much needed resources to adjust in an environment that they don’t understand and that doesn’t understand them?
Across the US, families speak hundreds of languages from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This order will not affect any one group or region exclusively—it will impact communities everywhere.
How Do I Ensure Audiences with Limited English Proficiency Get My Message?
If possible, include translations or pages in other languages on the information you put out–your website, social media platforms, and other outreach. This will allow people to learn about you and your organization without any barriers.
Spanish is a common language around the country, but other languages vary by region. Many communities have a strong presence of African and Asian languages. Look into what communities are present in your area and offer resources in their common languages as well.
Connect with local organizations whose work connects immigrants with resources. Refugee service programs, resettlement agencies, and other community groups work closely with people with LEP. They may be able to refer individuals to you as a resource or offer insights to you on how to remain engaged with your local communities.
Reach out to media outlets in other languages. Many news organizations have some coverage in Spanish, and there are outlets who provide news coverage exclusively in non-English languages. Even if you don’t speak the language, you can still offer valuable information for that outlet to translate and use.
Language shouldn’t restrict who gets to see what you do. Your work can be beneficial to people with LEP, and it’s important to intentionally connect with those communities. As government officials and rules change, it’s all the more important for you to maintain efforts to ensure the most people possible are hearing what you have to say.
Sophia Shannon is a media relations associate for Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out our other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.