Saving money with common language debated

Debra D. Bass

Friday, Aug. 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A movement that claims overwhelming support in Nevada aims to establish English as the official language of the state government and state documents, but there are so many exceptions that many call the effort innocuous.

Nevadans for a Common Language is part of a national campaign to restrict the government from providing certain, non-emergency services in foreign languages. Its initiative would not affect private businesses or public discourse.

The group will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo Road to address its petition. Proponents must gather 38,660 signatures by Nov. 12 to force the 1997 Legislature to vote on the issue. If it is voted down or not acted upon within 40 days, the amendment would automatically go to the voters in 1998.

Many states provide multilingual ballots, welfare forms, driver's license tests and U.S. citizenship ceremonies. Proponents of the campaign say it's a waste of money that could be better spent teaching new immigrants English.

"Gov. (Bob) Miller does not support it and says it has no value," said his press secretary, Richard Urey. "He says there is a potential down side that could drive a wedge between people in the state and reflect a negative attitude of bigotry toward non-English speakers."

Even though it is an election year, no candidate has rallied to defend or decry the measure.

State officials aren't debating the intent of the initiative, but are skeptical that it will actually save resources. Vocal detractors say the campaign won't save money, won't encourage immigrants to assimilate faster and ultimately will be more trouble than it's worth.

But opponents of the initiative, particularly Hispanic representatives, are lining up to voice their opinions.

"Legislating human language is archaic," said Yvette Zmaila, who is affiliated with several Hispanic education organizations. "You really have to read between the lines. This bill is about a lot more than printing documents, it's about controlling a large group of people and putting them in their place."

Zmaila, who is Puerto Rican, points out that she was born with dual citizenship, but the primary language of her region is Spanish. She is coordinating a forum on the issue at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Sawyer State Office Building across from Cashman Field Center.

"If the founding fathers of this movement had the best interests of children and immigrants at heart, I would not be contesting it," Zmaila said. "But this movement has a history rooted in racism and a fear of the browning of America."

Local organizers say that's not the motive behind their efforts. More than 300 languages are spoken in this country and the only way to unify them is to speak a common language, said Larry Weinsteen, co-chairman of the group.

"We are hoping to get across the real meaning of all of this and explain why it's not racist and why it's fiscal," said Ray McKay of Nevadans for a Common Language. He conducted a recent poll of about 400 Southern Nevadans and claims 81 percent of respondents supported the measure.

He reasoned that people understand that the cost of translating documents into other languages raises the value of those forms compared with those provided in English only. Therefore, it would save money if the state produced documents only in English.

Weinsteen said that not printing documents in other languages would encourage immigrants to learn English and assimilate.

UNLV English Professor Thomas Clark calls this view naive.

"Whenever you pass a law or regulation it opens the door to all sorts of abuses. One reason to keep it out of the constitution is that we don't know where this will end."

He wonders if one day we will have language police, who are infamous in France, he said. Businesses are fined for producing signs in English that don't meet regulations, and radio stations are monitored for English song content.

According to Clark, who plans to address the Legislature if the bill is presented, of the 22 states that have passed amendments establishing English as the official language, 15 say they have not seen any changes. Texas passed and then rescinded its amendment after it was flooded with discrimination lawsuits.

"It's a very controversial issue. It's an economic issue and an issue of fairness," said Vicki Holmes, director of UNLV's English Language Center.

The center is dealing with students from 40 to 50 different language groups, helping them master English for their university courses.

"English is our business," Holmes said. "We are an English school immersion program so we don't try to speak their language or produce documents in other language, because if we did, I don't know which languages we would choose."

She was playing the "devil's advocate" in questioning why Spanish speakers are the primary benefactors of foreign language documents, she said.

"At a state or federal level, how do you single out one group and not the other? At what point do we decide to produce in Korean, when there are 20,000 people ... 10,000 ... 5,000 ... 1,000? When do they become statistically significant?"

But she also questioned many who align themselves with the movement who may be thinking "it will get rid of immigrants. A lot of prejudice comes out of the woodwork when something like this comes up."

Assemblyman Brian Sandoval, R-Reno, who is one of only two Hispanic legislators, says he is undecided on the amendment.

"I think the amendment has a chance, but I'm not sure it will serve the right purpose," Sandoval said. "If eliminating Spanish-language documents means we have to hire more interpreters to serve clients, then I don't see the benefit."

He has requested a search of just what the state produces in foreign languages and why.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides written driver's license tests in Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English at a cost of $19.50. It also has audio tests in English and Spanish for illiterate drivers.

Gordon Absher, spokesman for the department, said a person doesn't have to be a citizen to get a license, and the department must be responsive to all interested parties. Tests were generated because of demand, he said. In fact, representatives of the Asian community volunteered to translate tests so the DMV could better meet their needs.

But the director of the division doesn't intend to get involved with the lawmaking process, Absher said.

"The law is the law and if there are changes, we will adapt," he said. The department also produces some traffic safety messages in Spanish, using federal funds.

The Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation produces numerous forms, brochures and videos in Spanish, but a department spokeswoman said it actually saves them money.

"We would have to provide some form of translation, be it verbal or otherwise, to protect workers' rights," Karren Rhodes said.

She said "far less than 10 percent" of the documents in her office are also in Spanish.