Oklahomans Say "Yes" to Official English; New Statewide Poll Reveals Majority of Sooner State Residents Want Official English Law

2/12/2003

From: Rob Toonkel of U.S.ENGLISH, 202-833-0100

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- More than five out of six Oklahomans support making English the official language of the state, according to a poll released today by U.S.ENGLISH, the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. The poll reveals that 87 percent of Oklahoma residents favor -- with 77 percent "strongly" in support of -- uniting the state with one common language, English.

"We are pleased and not surprised by recent poll results showing the overwhelming support of Oklahomans wanting English as the state's official language," said U.S.ENGLISH Chairman and CEO Mauro E. Mujica. "Oklahomans strongly mirror the opinions of Americans across the country. A national poll conducted by U.S.ENGLISH last year showed that 84 percent of Americans believe than English should be our country's official language.

"Official English legislation is a critical component of the state's future economic health especially when considering that three percent of the state's total population or 99,000 Oklahomans, is limited English proficient," said Mujica. "What I don't understand is why lawmakers remain ambivalent about something that is so obviously needed, and wanted."

Like most states around the nation, Oklahoma continues to experience a profound growth in its limited English proficient population. U.S. Census Bureau data between the years of 1990 and 2000, for example, showed the percentage of Oklahomans with limited English proficiency rose by 73 percent.

"It's time state legislators listen to the people of Oklahoma who have said very clearly they want an official English law," said Mujica. "Declaring English as the official language of Oklahoma is not about exclusion or bigotry. We're not trying to yank the welcome mat from under the feet of immigrants or to deny them their heritage.

"On the contrary, I myself emigrated to the U.S. from Chile and know first-hand the obstacles awaiting newcomers and the connection between understanding English and achieving the American dream," said Mujica. "I respect the courage of immigrants who leave their homes to come to the United States to build better lives. I would never support legislation that would in any way impede upon a legal immigrant's ability to succeed in this great country."

Mujica cautions state legislators, however, about the many implications of a multilingual government. "Can Oklahoma state officials really afford to communicate to their residents in the 140 languages spoken in the state? Is that really in Oklahoma's, not to mention an immigrant's, best interest? Our many years of study and experience tell us this will only provide a great disincentive for immigrants to learn English.

"It is our hope that Oklahoma will learn from the success of the other 27 states that today have official English laws," said Mujica. "As a proud nation of immigrants, it has been our shared tongue, English, that has joined us as one people. For the sake of Oklahoma's present and especially for its future, we hope state legislators enact official English legislation sooner rather than later."

Wilson Research Strategies, a public opinion firm based in McLean, Virginia, conducted the statewide telephone survey of 350 adults from Feb. 7 to 9, 2003, using a random digit dial sample. The survey's results have an overall margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5.3 percentage points.

------ U.S.ENGLISH is the nation's oldest and largest citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S.ENGLISH now has more than 1.7 million members nationwide, and some 16,000 in the State of Oklahoma.