n the United States and around the world language is an essential tool for societies to communicate on many different levels. In America literature, other publications, television, radio and the internet are all mainly in English and only occasionally have different language options. Non-English speakers in the United States are constantly pressured to learn English and undergo Americanization. This process calls for newcomers to the U.S. to adopt American values and learn English. These standards for becoming “American” aren’t negative but as represented by the above media it is arguable that the ideal “American” is white. In the early 20th century immigrants, like Mary Antin, came to the U.S. and described how they learned to be American through saturation and church. These immigrants were spoken to by upper class English speaking whites and, “when whites are the only personifications of privilege, social mobility, economic security, and cultural refinement, experiences and products that appear race-neutral are implicitly racialized” (Babb 124). Most immigrants come to America for the chance of upward mobility, and seeing these rich white people made the immigrants aspire to learn English and be like them. This turn of the century immigration is similar to immigration today, one hundred years later. Even before an immigrant leaves their native country they are probably affected by American influences. When many immigrants arrive in a place like New York or Los Angeles (U.S. Dept. Justice) they are met with huge billboards in English, advertising something. They then learn that in order to become upwardly mobile in the U.S. they must learn English and be able to read the billboards and the many other mediums represented in the English language. The point at which these people want to be upwardly mobile in America is when linguistic imperialism begins. No one forces Americaniza...
