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English as the official language of the US -

In March 2025, President Donald Trump designated English as the official language of the United States through an executive order.

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First time -

This is the first time that the United States will have an official language attributed to it. This may be surprising, to the international community given that it's the largest English-speaking nation in the world.

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Domination of the English language -

But it’s the root of this decision that is under examination. Namely, the domination of the English language from a historical and contemporary analysis.

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Almost 80% of Americans only speak English -

In the United States, the vast majority of its citizens do indeed speak English. Just under 80% of Americans only speak English at home.

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Who is American? -

The issue with Trump’s executive order and how it speaks to the broader political climate is defining what it means to be American, with English at the center.

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Material consequences -

This move is not symbolic. It has material requirements that accompany its implementation. Federal agencies and funding will be shaped by this order.

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Assistance -

In the United States, those who do not dominate the English language have access to assistance to seek federal support.

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Government services -

This means that until now, millions of Americans were able to access government services, regardless of their ability to speak English.

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Facts and figures -

The numbers aren’t small. Approximately 8% of Americans do not have a strong grasp of the English language, which means that access to critical information will be seriously impaired.

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Domination beyond borders -

But what’s behind the policy? What makes this move so troubling, and how does it relate to the domination of English beyond American borders?

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Belonging -

By defining English as the language of Americans, Trump defines belonging in the country. English then becomes a marker of being American. It is an act of exclusion.

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International politics -

The dominance of the English language is key to understanding American politics, but also international geopolitics and culture.

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Explanation -

Rosemary Salomone, author of the book ‘The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language,’ gives an explanation of English domination.

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Colonialism -

The story begins with British imperialism. British colonialism is no doubt a major driving force behind the historical spread of English.

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Designated elite -

However, in British colonies, the majority of the population in these countries didn’t speak English. In fact, it was a language primarily reserved for a country’s designated elite.

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Rise of American relevance -

The fall of the British Empire occurred simultaneously with the rise of American relevance, in terms of its economic, social, and military influence.

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Soft power -

The “soft power” of American culture is given particular attention in Salomone’s analysis, as the consumption of American media has become a worldwide phenomenon.

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The role of Hollywood -

Hollywood productions, mostly spoken in North American variations of English, had a major role in spreading the language around the world.

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TV and film influence -

The influence of film and TV seeped into the teaching of the English language around the world, as more schools moved toward teaching North American English.

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Integration of slang -

English slang is integrated into a great deal of other languages. Expressions such as “wow!” or “bye!” can be heard sprinkled into people’s everyday conversations in their native languages.

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Global economy -

Economically, English has a significant value within the global economy. Multinational companies boost this around the world.

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Value of the language -

Parents around the world understand the market value of learning English, enrolling their children in private courses and encouraging their mastering of the language for future professional prospects.

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Detaching from the American link -

Interestingly, English is losing its geographic reference. Previously tied to American hegemony, it’s slowly detaching from that link primarily due to the country’s foreign policies.

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Common language -

Instead, English has been simplified as a common language of communication from a pragmatic perspective.

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Anti-immigration debates -

Interestingly, in the West, where anti-immigration debates are rocking nations, multilingualism, particularly the use of English, has been seen as a source of conflict. Pictured is Geert Wilders, a Dutch anti-immigrant politician.

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European multiculturalism -

Many nations in Europe and beyond have integrated English as a common second language among their populations. In turn, European cosmopolitanism has attracted multiculturalism.

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Negative sentiments -

English has infiltrated advertisements, information, and even everyday speak. Some have begun to associate their negative sentiments toward immigrants with the growth of the English language in their countries.

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Vilification of language -

The rise of nationalism that has accompanied anti-immigration movements has almost vilified English-language taught programs in universities and other English-language diversity.

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Populations who benefit -

Ironically, this is occurring among populations that largely dominate the language and often utilize it for their own economic benefit.

Sources: (MSNBC) (Global Dispatches) (‘The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language’)

See also: The oldest words in the English language

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