PALMDALE TO CONSIDER AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer City Council members will consider a resolution declaring English as the city's official language. In addition to declaring English as the city's official language, the resolution supports making English the official language of the nation and supports "logical, coherent, Language of Government legislation" aimed at saving tax dollars by eliminating the need to provide government services in multiple languages. "I'm firmly convinced that we need to have one official language even though we are multilingual mul·ti·lin·gual adj. 1. Of, including, or expressed in several languages: a multilingual dictionary. 2. ," said Councilman Joe Davies, who asked that the issue be put on Wednesday's council agenda. "We have to have the best communication possible." Davies points to the separatist sep·a·ra·tist n. 1. One who secedes or advocates separation, especially from an established church; a sectarian or separationist. 2. movement in Quebec province in Canada as an example of the potential danger of not having one official language. A ballot measure to create a separate, French-speaking republic, was narrowly defeated in Quebec. "They (federal and state officials) need to know that they have support at the grass roots grass roots pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity. Often used with the. 2. The groundwork or source of something. level," Davies said. The council will consider the resolution at its meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers, 708 E. Palmdale Blvd. Peter Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
tr.v. af·front·ed, af·front·ing, af·fronts 1. To insult intentionally, especially openly. See Synonyms at offend. 2. a. To meet defiantly; confront. b. to all the cultures that make up the nation's populace. "It's understood the working language is English. I believe people should make an effort to learn English," Robles said. "But to designate des·ig·nate tr.v. des·ig·nat·ed, des·ig·nat·ing, des·ig·nates 1. To indicate or specify; point out. 2. To give a name or title to; characterize. 3. English only is an affront. What about the Jewish community, the Asian community, the Russian community?" English already is recognized as the language of government, business and international diplomacy, Robles said. "Of all the things Palmdale needs to worry about, this is too much," Robles said. "To me, crime, the tax base, affordable housing and traffic issues are much more relevant." Councilman David Myers said the language resolution isn't necessary. "In Palmdale we already do business in English. We don't have a resolution, but that is the de facto [Latin, In fact.] In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to characterize an officer, a government, a past action, or a state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate. language," Myers said. "I'm concerned about the message it (the resolution) sends to a large portion of our population." |
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