Winners of wars have traditionally sought to impose their language on the vanquished. In an era in which many believe that policies promoting diversity, tolerance, and multiculturalism are out of favor, it is encouraging that the US government and the public now seem to recognize that there aren't many benefits to this practice.

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Orin Hargraves is an independent lexicographer and contributor to numerous dictionaries published in the US, the UK, and Europe. He is also the author of Mighty Fine Words and Smashing Expressions (Oxford), the definitive guide to British and American differences, and Slang Rules! (Merriam-Webster), a practical guide for English learners. In addition to writing the Language Lounge column, Orin also writes for the Macmillan Dictionary Blog. Click here to visit his website. Click here to read more articles by Orin Hargraves.