A language right is the right of an individual or a class of people to be free from discrimination based on the person's or the group's language or language speaking ability. Such discrimination will include: accent discrimination, blanket English-only rules in the workplace, lack of comprehensible and meaningful access to education, and lack of interpreter services in health, human, and social service agencies.
The legal premise behind language rights is based on the Constitutional guarantees under the first amendment right of free speech, the 14th amendment right of equal protection, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Language-based discrimination is further complicated by the English Only Movement which calls for making English as the Official language at the federal and state levels. Their goal is to eliminate most language assistance programs which help immigrants access essential services.
- Bilingual Education
- Workplace Language Rights
- Rights to Interpreter Services (Federal) (State)
- Official English and "English Only" Movement
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