Language Divide

This letter is in response to “The Language Divide” by Fely Federizo (Platform, Oct. 10). Tensions in the workplace may arise because people speak languages other than English and these tensions may be addressed in a number of ways.

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing have established guidelines addressing “speak-English-only rules.” An employer may require that employees speak English only at those times where the employer can show that this rule is justified by a business necessity. Asking employees to speak only English around employees who do not speak that same language does not constitute a business necessity. These guidelines were established because language discrimination is national-original discrimination. Language is so closely linked with culture and national origin that the law recognizes the link and protects language and national origin.

There are those who support English as the official language laws because they believe that it is the English language that binds us as a country and keeps different groups from miscommunicating. If this is true, then why is it that African-Americans, who have been speaking English for over 200 years, have yet to reach understanding and parity in this country? What binds us as a country is a shared commitment to equality, freedom and justice.

KATHRYN K. IMAHARA

Staff Attorney

JILL M. MEDINA

Education Coordinator

Language Rights Project, Los Angeles