Nashville voters deciding 'English First' proposal

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Brian

New Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2003
Messages
4,747
Reaction score
1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville voters are heading to the polls to decide whether to make English the mandatory language for all city business.

The charter amendment dubbed "English First" would prevent city government from translating written materials into other languages or using interpreters for people who don't speak English well. There are exemptions for public health and safety.

If approved Thursday, it would make Nashville the largest U.S. city with such a law.

Councilman Eric Crafton, who has led the proposal, argues that requiring one language is an orderly way to unite the city of more than half a million people.

Opponents say it would drive businesses, tourists and potentially millions in federal grants away from a city known for its Southern hospitality.

The Associated Press: Nashville voters deciding 'English First' proposal
 
If Nashville gets its way -- would this mean there would be no ASL interpreters available for the Deaf community?
 
Brian said:
If Nashville gets its way -- would this mean there would be no ASL interpreters available for the Deaf community?
Click to expand...

The city already has a decidedly oral only orientation toward deafness. That is one of the major reasons I left the area.
 
If approved then you can take this case to state court or supreme court to rule as unconstitutional and strike down.
 
Brian said:
If Nashville gets its way -- would this mean there would be no ASL interpreters available for the Deaf community?
Click to expand...

I would hope not in this case but if Nashville does gets it's way -- It's not going to look pretty because there are a lot of people out there that needs an interpreter to bridge the communication barrier.

Understandably, English is one of the main language and it is virtually everywhere but this should not be a reason to exclude these interpreters out of the picture.
 
i have a question. wouldn't the deaf and hh who use terps be excluded from this law based on disability?
 
Wow.....only 73,896 people voted out of 600,000? :roll:

That's 12% of the population......
 
Byrdie714 said:
Wow.....only 73,896 people voted out of 600,000? :roll:

That's 12% of the population......
Click to expand...

Do you support this measure?

Don't forget about children, they aren't counted in vote.
 
Foxrac said:
Do you support this measure?

Don't forget about children, they aren't counted in vote.
Click to expand...

Hear Again said:
oh well. at least it failed. that's the important thing.
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter if I support this measure or not. Federal law already dictates that if 8% of the population speaks another language besides English--they have to provide for an interpreter/translater in that particular language.

Individuals with disabilities that use ASL are exempt from this "English-speaking" law.

The primary reasoning for this law, as some people see, is to encourage immigrants to learn English as quickly as possible. I don't agree with that point of view but.....I didn't vote for the law. :)
 
Byrdie714 said:
It doesn't matter if I support this measure or not. Federal law already dictates that if 8% of the population speaks another language besides English--they have to provide for an interpreter/translater in that particular language.

Individuals with disabilities that use ASL are exempt from this "English-speaking" law.

The primary reasoning for this law, as some people see, is to encourage immigrants to learn English as quickly as possible. I don't agree with that point of view but.....I didn't vote for the law. :)
Click to expand...

Yup, it would take while for them to speak english so well and not easy to learn.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top