An Analysis of Textual Arguments For and Against Utah’s Official English Initiative

This study analyzed arguments presented for and against Utah’s 2000 voter initiative to declare English the official language of the state. The items analyzed were newspaper editorials, letters to newspaper editors, and news article reported speech about the initiative. A total of 191 editorials and letters to newspapers editors and 111 news articles (containing 367 instances of reported speech) on the subject of an official English law were obtained from a search of the archives of Utah’s four highest circulation newspapers during a nine-month time period, including the months before and after the November 2000 vote on the initiative.A content analysis was done on the articles, editorials and letters. The major themes found in statements from the initiative supporters were, in order of frequency: *will cause unity, will teach English, good government, overt hostility, will empower*, and *we love diversity*. The major themes found in statements by those who opposed the initiative were, in order of frequency: *Hostile/divisive initiative, bad government, will disempower, we love diversity*, and *won’t teach English*. There were differences in theme frequencies among editorial content as compared to news article reported speech.In addition to looking for common themes, the researcher also analyzed statements about the language learning process and characterizations of English language learners made by initiative supporters and opponents. Initiative supporters characterized language learning as a relatively quick and easy process. Immigrants/English language learners were described as refusing to learn English and assimilate, demanding too many privileges, and as being a burden to society. Initiative opponents described the language learning process as difficult and time-consuming. They characterized immigrants/English language learners as trying hard to learn English despite many challenges in their lives. Immigrants were described in positive terms as were multilingualism and multiculturalism.The results of this study suggest that the debate over Utah’s official English initiative was also a debate about conflicting views of immigrants, the language learning process, and the definition of unity. Initiative supporters focused on unifying the state under a common language. Opponents, however, defined a unified society as one that includes all, despite language differences.

Thesis Author: Martindale, Rebekah J.

Year Completed: 2003

Committee Members: Lynn E. Henrichsen, William G. Eggington

Thesis Chair: Mark W. Tanner