Fort Smith

Capitale: Little Rock
Population: 2,6 millions (2000)
Langue officielle: anglais (de jure)
Groupe majoritaire: anglais (97,2 %)
Groupes minoritaires: espagnol (3,3 %), allemand (0,3 %), français (0,3 %), vietnamien (0,3 %), chinois (0,3 %), lao (0,3 %), tagalog (0,3 %), coréen (0,3 %), japonais (0,3 %), italien (0,3 %), etc.
Système politique: 33e État de l’Union américaine (USA)
Articles constitutionnels (langue): aucune disposition linguistique dans la Constitution de 1988
Lois linguistiques: aucune véritable loi linguistique, mais quelques disposition ponctuelles à incidence linguistique dans le Code annoté de l’Arkansas.

Arkansas [AR] is a state, an area of 137,539 square kilometers, located in south-central United States and is bounded on the north by Missouri, on the west by Oklahoma, South by the Texas and Louisiana, east by Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. The capital is Little Rock. The name Arkansas come from a French translation of the word Sioux acansa meaning “place at the end of flow” to where the Mississippi River and the Ohio River.

Arkansas had 2.6 million inhabitants in 2000 and brought together a very homogeneous population in terms of language as more than 95% of the speakers spoke English as their mother tongue. The largest minority speaks Spanish, but represents only 3.3% of the population. And the following allem (0.3%), the ISH eng (0.3%), Vietnamese (0.3%), Chinese (0.3%), Lao (0.3%), the Tagalog (0.3%), Korean (0.3%), Japanese (0.3%), Italian (0.3%), etc..

When the first Europeans reached the present territory of Arkansas, the region was populated by Indian tribes: Osage, Caddo, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Arkansas. Already visited by the Spaniard Hernando de Soto in 1541-1542, the territory of Arkansas was again explored in the seventeenth century by the French Jacques Marquette (1673) and Robert Cavelier de La Salle (1682). In 1686, Henri de Tonty founded a trading post near the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi. Built in French Louisiana , Arkansas was sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803, as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

The area became a federal territory autonomous in 1819. When Little Rock was founded in 1820, the territory had only 14,273 inhabitants. It was from this date that the cotton farmers flocked, accompanied by slaves and by 1830 the population grew to 30,388 inhabitants.

Arkansas joined the Union in 1836, becoming the 25th U.S. state. In the mid-nineteenth century, the exploitation of forest resources and the opening of a steamship on the Mississippi favored population growth, and in 1860 the state population was 435,450 inhabitants, 111 307 slaves.

Slave state, Arkansas seceded in 1861, despite a large current anti-secessionist. It was reconquered by the Yankees in 1862-1863, during the Civil War (1861-1865). The period of Reconstruction was marked by a difficult economic situation. Arkansas was not readmitted to the Union in 1868.

After the Second World War, Arkansas was violently opposed to the federal policy of racial desegregation, especially in 1957, Governor Orval Faubus’s backed by the white population, mobilized the National Guard of the State to prevent racial integration schools in Little Rock. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower had to then bring in federal troops to protect black children. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1992

The state government has not legislated a lot of language. Most laws concerning measures to be adopted for minorities in cases of force majeure, in regard to health care, the trades, services in general, etc.. As for the Constitution of Arkansas, it was adopted in 1947 and amended in 1982 and 1988. It contains no provision regarding the language.

The State has defined in its legislation, “e” minority “as a Black or African American, Hispanic, Indian or American Indian, an Asian or Pacific Islander. We must resort to the texts of the Arkansas Code Annotated (Arkansas Code Annotated) in sections 1-2-503 and 1-2-504:
§ 1-2-503.

“Minority” defined.

For terms of Arkansas law, “minority” means clustering black gold African American, Hispanic American, American Indian or Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander.

§ 1-2-504. Other definitions of “minority”.

(A) When enacting Specific Laws, The Definition of Minority expanded to include engins Other racial or ethnic groups When It Is Necessary regarded by a legislative body.

(B) However, Under No Circumstances should “The Definition of Minority exclude black Americans or African Americans, Hispanic Americans, or American Indians or Native Americans. § 1-2-503

“Minority” defined

Under the terms of the law of Arkansas, “minority” means a Black or African American, Hispanic, Indian or American Indian, an Asian or Pacific Islander.

§ 1-2-504

Other definitions of “minority”

(A) ordering specific acts, the definition of minority is extended to include other racial or ethnic groups where considered necessary by the legislature.

(B) However, under no circumstances, the definition of a minority must not exclude African Americans or African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians or Native Americans.

The texts of the Arkansas Code Annotated allows us to find some provisions in the official language. It was Bill Clinton who, when he was governor of Arkansas, signed the bill making English the official language of the state. Subsection 1-4-117 of the Arkansas Code Annotated, adopted in 1987 declares English as the official language of the state: ARKANSAS CODE ANNOTATED

Section 1-4-117

Official Language (1987)

(A) The English language Shall Be The Official Language of the state of Arkansas.

(B) This Section Shall Not Prohibit The Public Schools from performing Their Duty to Provide Equal Educational Opportunities to All Children. ARKANSAS CODE ANNOTATED

Section 1-4-117

Official language (1987)

(A) English is the official language of the State of Arkansas.

(B) This subsection does not prohibit public schools to do their duty to provide equal educational conditions for all children.

Typically, such a statement speaks for itself. In this case, it is accompanied by an additional provision very ambiguous: “This paragraph does not prohibit public schools to do their duty to provide equal educational conditions for all children. [Paragraph 1-4 -117 (b)]. One may wonder what such a provision means: allude to bilingual education? minority children? Anyway, this should be in accordance with the provisions of § 80-1605 relating to language education and English monolingualism. Moreover, section 6-16-104 Code Annotated of Arkansas provides that “the only language of instruction in school subjects common to all state schools, public and private, is English.”
§ 6-16-104.

Basic language of instruction.

(A) The basic language of instruction in the Public school branches in all the Schools of the States, public and private, Shall Be The English language only.

(B) It Shall Be The Duty Of The Director of the Department of Education, The Director of the Department of Workforce Education, and city superintendents to see thats the provisions of this section are Carried out.

(C) Any person Violating The provisions hereof Shall Be Deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction fined not engins to Exceed twenty-five dollars ($ 25.00), payable Into the general school fund of The County.

(D) Each day this violation OCCURS regarded Shall Be A separate offense. § 6-16-104

Language Basic

(A) The only language of instruction in school subjects common to all state schools, public and private, is English.

(B) It is the duty director of the Department of Education, the Director of Education Department of Labour and Director of the City to ensure that the provisions of this paragraph are met.

(C) Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon this conviction will be fined not exceeding twenty five dollars ($ 25) payable to the County General Fund school.

(D) Each day of violation shall be considered a separate crime

As in several other states, the Arkansas Code Annotated provides for certain measures to facilitate the use of interpreters in court when the defendant does not speak enough English or ignores. Thus subsection 16-64-111 reads: § 16-64-111.

Interpreters for Persons with Communication Problems Generally.

(A) Every person Who cannot speak or Understand English language The Golden Who Because Of Hearing, speaking, ou autres impairment has Difficulty in communicating with Other persons and Who is a party to “any civil proceeding” or a witness therein Shall Be Entitled To An interpreter Such persons to assist Throughout The Proceedings. § 16-64-111

Interpreters for persons generally having communication problems

(A) A person who can not speak English or understand it or because a hearing problem, speaking or other problem has difficulty in communicating with others and is a party to a civil proceeding or a witness is entitled to be assisted by an interpreter who helps an individual during the procedure.

The courts of the state must establish a list of translators and interpreters available to the Office Administrative Judiciary: § 16-10-127.

Court interpreters.

(A) The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall “ESTABLISH A Program to Facilitate The Use of Interpreters and Transliterator in all courts of the State” of Arkansas.

(B) (1) The director shall “PRESCRIBE The qualifications of persons and certify Who May serve as certified interpreters in all courts and Transliterator Of The State Of Arkansas in bilingual proceedings and proceedings chantiers The Hearing Impaired, whether or not speech impaired aussi.

(2) The director shall “Maintain a current registry of all certified interpreters and Transliterator By The director shall” and carry Annually To The Arkansas Supreme Court On The frequency of Requests for And The Use and Effectiveness of The Interpreters and Transliterator. [...] § 16-10-127

Court Interpreters

(A) The Director of Judicial Administration will establish a program to facilitate the employment of interpreters and translators throughout the state of Arkansas.

(B) (1) The director shall prescribe the qualifications and certifies individuals who can serve as interpreters and certified translators in all courts of the State of Arkansas for bilingual proceedings and proceedings for the hearing has deteriorated, if really as the speech has deteriorated.

(2) The Director shall keep an updated record of all interpreters and translators certified by the Director and reports annually to the Supreme Court of Arkansas frequency applications, the use and effectiveness of interpreters and translators. [...]

Subsection 25-15-102 of the Arkansas Code Annotated also provides interpreting services for people with hearing impairments: the “Interpreters for the deaf”, that is to say, “interpreters the deaf. ” When the services of an “interpreter for the deaf” is needed, the interpreter must take an oath and said he will make a true interpretation (“a true interpretation) in an understandable way for the disabled and that perform to the court the statements of that person “in English” (“In The English Language”) to the best of his skills and his trial.

When a company does business in Arkansas, it must be recorded in English (paragraph e) with the Secretary of State (paragraph 1): § 4-27-120.

Filing requirements.

(A) A document must Satisfy the Requirements of this section and section of Any Other That adds to gold varied thesis Requirements, To Be Entitled to filing By The Secretary of State.

(B) This chapter must require or permit filing the document In The Office Of The Secretary of State.

(C) The document must Contains the information required by this chapter. It peut Other information as well.

(D) The document must Be typewritten or printed.

(E) The document must Be in the English language. A corporate name in English Need Not Be Written in English if letters or Arabic or Roman Numerals, And The certificate of existence required of foreign corporations Need Not Be In English if Accompanied by a Reasonably authenticated English translation. § 4-27-120

Classification requirements

(A) A document shall satisfy the requirements of this paragraph or any other section that adds or modifies the requirements to qualify for filing by the Secretary of State.

(B) This chapter must require or permit filing the documents in the office of Secretary of State.

(C) The document must contain the information required by this chapter. It may also contain other information.

(D) The document must be typed or printed.

(E) The document must be in English. The name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of registration required foreign companies is not necessarily in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.

However, the name is not necessarily in English provided it is written with letters (alphabet) English or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of registration required foreign companies is not necessarily in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.

According to Code Annotated 20-64-210 of Arkansas, whenever a manufacturer sells or distributes drugs or narcotics, it should be fixed on the container labeled in legible English the name and address of the seller and the amount, kind and form of the medicine. Finally, under section 23-74-202, the minutes of meetings of the board of directors of any company based in the state must be written in English.

The language policy of Arkansas is relatively simple in that state where English may not be in danger, as it is spoken by 95% of the population. It is a fragmented policy, which should probably reflect its high linguistic homogeneity. In sum, we can say that nothing particularly distinguished from other states of Arkansas, except that he has proclaimed English as official language, while the status of this language seems quite useless. It is as if the state did not want to take any chances and wanted to prevent any possible intrusion of another language.

Osage, Caddo, Cherokee, Choctaw and Arkansas. Already visited by the Spaniard Hernando de Soto in 1541-1542, the territory of Arkansas is again explored in the seventeenth century by the French Jacques Marquette (1673) and Robert Cavelier de La Salle (1682). In 1686, Henri de Tonty founded a trading post near the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi. Integrated into French Louisiana, Arkansas is sold in the United States in 1803, as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

When Little Rock was founded in 1820, the territory has only 14,273 inhabitants. But it is from this date that cotton farmers flock, accompanied by slaves and by 1830 the population stood at 30,388 inhabitants. Arkansas joined the Union in 1836, becoming the twenty-fifth U.S. state. In the mid-nineteenth century, the exploitation of forest resources and the opening of a line of steamboats on the Mississippi promote population growth, and in 1860 the state population is 435 450 inhabitants, of whom 111 307 slaves.
Slave state, Arkansas seceded in 1861, despite a large current anti-secessionist. It was reconquered by the Yankees in 1862-1863, during the Civil War (1861-1865). The period of Reconstruction (see United States) is marked by a difficult economic situation. Arkansas is readmitted to the Union in 1868.

After the Second World War, Arkansas violently opposed to the federal policy of racial desegregation (see African Americans) in 1957 in particular, its governor Orval Faubus, supported by the white population, mobilized the National Guard State prevent racial integration in schools in Little Rock. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower must involve federal troops to protect black children. The 42nd U.S. president, Bill Clinton, was governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1992

In 2009, Arkansas and Canada continued their mutually beneficial business relationships. The state exports to Canada have surpassed the $ 943 million, while imports reached nearly $ 866 million. In total, bilateral trade totaled $ 1.8 billion. For the ninth consecutive year, Canada remains the largest export market of the state, which has sold a fifth of its products in international trade, that is to say, more than its three other most important trading partners combined. In addition, jobs depend on trade between Canada and Arkansas rose 9%, an estimated 68,800 jobs in a state with 2.9 million inhabitants. In 2009, Arkansas turned to Canada to meet its energy demand growing. Energy imports, which were only $ 17 million the previous year, increased to $ 206 million, sales of crude oil reaching $ 194 million. Nearly a quarter of all state imports from Canada are from the energy sector. In 2009, bilateral trade in transportation products totaled $ 15 million. The sale of auto parts (excluding engines) of the state to its northern neighbor has generated $ 64 million, while purchases were $ 23 million. Overall, the transport sector has been profitable for the state’s economy, giving it a surplus of $ 62 million. Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, a company based in Vancouver (Canada), which is among the leaders of second-generation technologies to convert biomass into biofuels, has signed a long term contract with Springhill Land & Timber, a company Arkansas and a leading producer of lumber in the southeast United States. Each year, Springhill Land & Timber Dynamotive USA to provide 220,000 tons of green sawdust for a plant producing BioOil ®, whose construction is planned in southern Arkansas. BioOil ® is an industrial fuel produced from green organic materials. For Dynamotive among the attractions of Arkansas include policies on alternative energy adopted by the State, which offer financial incentives for developing new energy sources. Its location will create skilled jobs and sustainable Arkansas. “We look forward to working together to develop value-added products from waste timber, thus creating new opportunities in the region,” said President and CEO of Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, Mr. Andrew Klingston.