# data[].attributes.body
Denying someone the right to use a language that they communicate and express themselves with is to me a simple human rights violation. Languages, especially minority languages, are culturally inherited and thus serve as identity markers. If we can agree that Freedom of Speech is a universal human right and not just part of the American Bill of Rights than all languages, dialects, registers, and styles should be allowed and even promoted through language policy.
That being said I do feel that there a myriad of occasions in which although someone may be entitled to use a language, it may just not practically accomplish their goals. In accordance with British linguist Paul Grice's Cooperation Principle of Conversation, one of the main aims of conversation should be comprehension by both parties involved and this is most easily achieved when a commonly understood language is used. All languages have their time and place but mutual comprehension should take priority in conversation over the indexing of one's identity through which language is chosen.

# data[].attributes.body
After my immediate reaction of 'of course everyone should be able to use whatever language they want, when they want', I have come to my conclusion that everyone has the right to use their language everywhere, but does not have the right to be understood using that language everywhere. While that sounds harsh as I type that out, there are circumstances where it just isn't feasible to have translations or interpreters at all times/in all places. Even though English is a global language, I don't expect to travel to all parts of the world and have English translations or someone interpret into English for me whenever I need it. I think we all do our best as humans to work together towards understanding, but in a world with over 6,000 languages a little flexibility and some creativity can go a long way in communicating with each other.

# data[].attributes.body
I think that everyone has the right to use whatever language they choose to use. It's unfair that they learn all these languages and yet are told to only use the "appropriate one" in certain settings. My school doesn't allow their L1 and should only be speaking in English, but I feel like that's hindering them from communicating to their fullest potential. They can't always tell me how they feel or explain things in English like they could in their L1. (We are staff all over the school that can translate)

# data[].attributes.body
How can anyone tell a person they cannot use the language they're comfortable using?  In any given public or private institution, an individual should use whichever language they desire. However,   sometimes hands are tied and you can't always please everyone.  If a person who speaks only Tagalog walks into a medical office offering interpreting service in Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Mandrin it is difficult to say that is an issue with the medical office.  If there was a sign that said "Tagalog Not Allowed" that would be an issue.  Ideally you could go everywhere in the world and be able to communicate with everyone equally but that is just not reality.

# data[].attributes.body
Yikes. I realize that this is an intentionally broad statement, but I believe that the input already made by those who have posted highlights a lot of nuance in the statement and its implications. There are always gray answers to tough questions, and especially in this case.
The principle that I want to live by is respect for everyone, regardless of culture or language, and that means communicating in their L1 has much as is practicable and beneficial. That's about as vague as the initial statement... and I think that's all I'm comfortable saying.

# data[].attributes.headline
I believe people should be able to use their heritage language wherever they are and in most situations. Exceptions would include: 

# data[].attributes.subject
I believe people should be able to use their heritage language wherever they are and in most situations. Exceptions would include: 

# data[].attributes.body
1. Where the use of one's heritage language is deliberately used to exclude others, in overt or covert ways. For example, many public schools in my county have such a large Latin American (L1 Spanish-speaking population) that many of these students could go through most of the school day socializing only with other Spanish-speakers and rarely speaking English except for when it's required. It's not difficult to imagine situations where non-Spanish speaking kids are left out of academic group work (if the teacher's not paying attention), extra-curricular activities, or basic social life, because kids would rather speak their heritage language than speak English.. My county is exceedingly "politically correct" and would never dream of banning kids from speaking their home language, but this policy can (and sometimes is) creating a system of language apartheid and "in"-group identity and is exceedingly unhealthy. (I don't pretend to know what the solution is.)
2. When peoples' health or welfare is threatened because someone is using their heritage language instead of the traditional dominant language to communicate about the crisis/situation.

# data[].attributes.body
Although it seems impossible for everyone to be able to speak their preferred language all the time, in a perfect world everyone would be able to. I believe, especially for children in schools, they should be able to speak their native language because bilingualism will help them in the future. I do think code switching in school for academic reasons is important but a student should not be punished for simply speaking in their preferred language. Since we do not live in a perfect world, I can see where people might have a problem with students speaking their preferred language because it could cause exclusion of the teacher or other students. (CM)

# data[].attributes.body
I think that everyone should have the right to use their own language when they need to or when its the best way to communicate themselves. When someone is in a language class, they are usually there by some form of choice and have agreed to at least practice learning a target language, so there they would need to make room for learning. Punishment for using a home language should never be a part of school practice.
That's not only unfair and ineffective, it's bad pedagogy.  In the case of court and medical translation services, I think those places where people are potentially in emergency situations, should provide translation with due diligence, knowing that there may be occasions when a translator cannot be found. That being said, I think anyone who doesn't speak the main language of a location (English or French in Canada for instance) should be prepared to offer their own due diligence to find ways to be understood in cases where no translator is available. It is your right to use your own language, but if you are outside your language community it might not always work to assume someone will be able to meet you where you are.

# data[].attributes.body
I cannot think of any situation that a language should be restricted completely. As mentioned, school situations would be different, but we have learned that completely "target-language only" policies are not the way to go.  The real issue is what services should be provided in which languages. I was wondering about languages when it comes to state driver's license exams and I found this info form 2016 (Note that I am NOT advocating for the site. Ironically, I found this info on a site that is for making English the official language of the USA.).
Fact Sheets: Languages Used for Driver’s License Exams
In Minnesota, license knowledge tests can be taken in 6 languages: English, Hmong,  Russian, Somali,  Spanish & Vietnamese. California offers the test in 33 languages while 6 states offer it in English only.

There is an issue of who pays for translators or translations if needed, I suppose.

I was trying to tie this into people needing ASL interpreters, and read the following: When Is Sign Language Interpreting Required By Law?
However, being deaf or hard of hearing is considered a disability, which makes the comparison less  accurate.

This all leaves me, like other who have posted, feeling a bit unclear on how to support speakers of other languages within our systems and  institutions.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe that language rights should be human rights. After reading some of the posts, I wanted to note that there is a difference in agreeing that institutions should accommodate for all languages vs. believing that it is okay to use any language anywhere. Personally, I think people should be able to use any language anywhere (almost). The waters get murkier in education settings when you want students to practice in a target language, especially if L1 is a fallback that students use instead of pushing themselves to try and explain in L2. With that said, L1 can also be helpful for gaining skills in L2, so it's murky for me.

# data[].attributes.body
I think this is one of those things where we have to say yes for the sake of the cases where it is absolutely a human right. There may be cases where answering this question is more grey, but for the sake of the ones that aren't grey, the answer must always be yes to this question. Language rights are a human right. I could see though how someone could come from the other direction though and say that language rights are just one of those "life is hard" things that suck but just are the way they are. It isn't as basic as the need to eat or drink water. But are offering language rights an important part of what it means to treating people humanely? I think in some cases yes - probably in cases when it is possible to provide language services, for example, it should be done because that is the humane thing to do. With the school example - where kids are punished for speaking their non-dominate home language - language rights are important. Especially because kids are still developing and are learning what it means to be safe and trust people.

# data[].attributes.body
Very interesting questions.  Ideally, yes, everyone should have the right to use their language everywhere.  However, whether this language is accepted and/or understand is a different story.  I went for an annual medical check up today, and was asked if I could speak the lingua franca of the clinic.  I replied yes and was given all documents in said language.  However, if I had requested, I could have received an English translation of my records, etc.  This is not to say I would have received instruction in English.  This made me wonder if non-English speakers would receive the same linguistic assistance at the clinic (for example, native Chinese/Vietnamese/Arabic speakers, etc.).  Again, I am not sure there is an instance where one should not be allowed to use a minority language, but it really seems to come down to the context and what is being represented by using the language. I look forward to reading what others say about this, as I am a little stuck on these questions.

# data[].attributes.headline
Language Rights = Human Rights...usually.

# data[].attributes.subject
Language Rights = Human Rights...usually.

# data[].attributes.body
I think that most of the time, everyone should have the right to use their language everywhere. But I can see instances where people could argue that it isn't appropriate. For example, in a language class it could be fair that a student be reprimanded for not using the target language. In the real world however, I think there are very few instances where someone should be denied the right to speak their own language. It does bring up an interesting point from a legal perspective though. Most countries have declared, official language(s). This means that all government documents must be available in these language(s). But what if your language is not one of the official languages? If I, a native English speaker, go to another country like France or China (I don't speak French or Chinese) and need a doctor or a lawyer, should they be required to find me someone who speaks English? I think this is a topic that could definitely be debated.