The June issue celebrated the near arrival of one million words in the English language. As someone who has tried to teach reading to a young child, I say enough already. When we try to teach phonetic reading, we quickly find that there are too many exceptions and new non-phonetic spelled words are added frequently. A recent example is the word "segue", which means transition, that elite writers and broadcasters are fond of using. I suspect to show their erudition. Unfortunately, it is not pronounced as it is spelled (try segway).

I think English should be the official language of the U.S., but I also would discourage the introduction of new words that cannot be spelled phonetically.

I wholeheartedly agree that if a person can't learrn English, he/she should go back where they came from--or stop complaining that there aren't enough translators! Our United States of American used to be a melting pot, but diversity is slowly turning it into the UNTIED States of America. We keep hearing the word 'diversity,' That word, according to Webster's dictionary, means "separate, apart, dissimilar, unlike." We need UNITY--for strength. Yes, it's wonderful for families to speak their country's language at home and amongst friends, but USA is one nation with one flag, and we should have one official language, English. It's very costly for taxpayers providing all government papers in foreign languages, providing translators in hospitals, etc., but it's the law. In his last days, then-President Clinton signed Exec. Order # 13166, which requires every federal and state government agency to provide translators whenever anyone asks! Even one person seeking government benefits can force an agency to hire a translator--in any language! It's the law, beneficial to the 'outsider,' not to the American taxpayer. Diversity is Perversity--it creates ghettoes and antagonizes 'outsiders.' 

To hmlough AND an open letter to Congress...

Please strongly consider making English the official language of our UNITED States of America. I live in Brooklyn NY  and find that when I walk around sections of Brooklyn, especially Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach, the store signs and awnings above most store windows are written with foreign letters...and I don't understand what the heck they're selling within. It makes me very angry, for I wonder if those window signs are a warning for/against certain individuals/groups. I haven't a clue as to what many handwritten signs convey, and I absolutely REFUSE to enter noted stores, because they surely aren't inviting me within by posting signs ONLY in foreign languages. If they want my American money, they should welcome would-be shoppers with English signs.
USA must bring back the 'melting pot' of years gone by; Diversity stubbornly smacks of separatism! ! ! !

YOUR ARTICLE IN THE JUNE 2006 ISSUE ON ENGLISH WAS VERY INTERESTING. ENGLISH IS NOT AT ALL DIFFICULT AND IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO NOTE THE COMPARISON THAT WAS DRAWN OUT BETWEEN THE BRITISH ENGLISH AND THE AMERICAN ENGLISH, THOUGH I FOR ONE WOULD CERTAINLY MENTION THAT BRITISH ENGLISH IS FAR MORE SOPHISTICATED AND CHARMING THAN THE AMERICAN ENGLISH. TRUE, MR.WEBSTER SIMPLIFIED BRITISH ENGLISH FOR AMERICAN USAGE BUT MR.WEBSTER WHILE DOING THAT DID NOT REALIZE THAT HE WAS MAKING AMERICAN ENGLISH LOOK POORER AS COMPARED TO THE BRITISH ENGLISH. BRITISH ENGLISH IS FAR MORE FASCINATING AND BEAUTIFUL THAN AMERICAN ENGLISH. IT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE TO MENTION THAT ENGLAND'S CONTRIBUTION TO ENGLISH IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT OF AMERICA. WITH PEOPLE LIKE SHAKESPEARE, THOMAS HARDY, BRONTE SISTERS, GEORGE BERNARD SHAW, CHARLES DICKENS,WILLIAM SOMERSET MAUGHAM, TO MENTION ONLY A FEW, THE LITERARY WORKS OF THESE WRITERS ARE FAR BEYOND THAN MANY OF THE AMERICAN WRITERS. AT A TIME, DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA, WHEN ENGLAND PRODUCED SUCH MARVELOUS POETS AS WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, JOHN KEATS, LORD BYRON, TENNYSON, MILTON (PARADISE LOST AND PARADISE REGAINED), TO MENTION ONLY A FEW, THAT ENGLAND BECAME TO BE CALLED AS A NEST OF SINGING BIRDS. ENGLANDS CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAUSE OF ENGLISH IS MOST WONDERFUL.

IT WOULD ALSO BE EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CREDIT FOR MAKING ENGLISH AS THE LINKING LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD GOES ONLY TO ENGLAND. WITH COLONIZATION FROM CANADA AND NEW FOUNDLAND TO ALL THE WAY THROUGH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND IT WAS ENGLAND THAT INTRODUED  ENGLISH IN ALL THESE REGIONS OF THE WORLD AND THEREBY INTRODUCING WESTERN CULTURE ALSO TO ALL THOSE PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE LIFE STYLE WAS VERY PRIMITIVE. IT WAS ALSO  DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA THAT IT WAS SAID 'THAT THE SUN NEVER SET ON THE BRITISH EMPIRE'. I AM NOT ADVOCATING ANYTHING TOWARDS  THE CAUSE OF BRITISH EMPIRE BUT ONLY LAYING STRESS ON THE ASPECT HOW ENGLAND MADE ENGLISH THE LINKING LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD.

WE, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SHOULD HAVE AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH IS THE ONE WE SHOULD OPT FOR. IT SOUNDS VERY STRANGE, THAT BEING THE MOST POWERFUL NATION OF THE WORLD, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN