Languages, Legends, and American Dreams

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Why does English have the status it does today in the United States? It has never been the country’s sole language and never will be. Today, roughly 80% of Americans speak only English and over 91% speak the language fluently—both percentages are higher than they have been in the past. Yet English, especially in popular discussions, is often represented as under siege and as the only language of patriotism, education, morality, and citizenship. This book uncovers the historical reasons by which this narrative has developed, despite its variance from the facts of language in America. It is a book about how legends can replace facts and dreams can replace reality.</jats:p>