Greek would be the official language on government documents and everyone would continue to speak English in their personal lives.
I'd assume by that ancient Greek is meant, for the intellectualness of it all.
Greek just has too many problems....even the Helenophiles like Lord Byron bemoaned how the "heirs of Homer" had become inferior to the Turkish horde.
Katharevousa/Ancient Greek I can understand, but at least dhimotiki (and its descendant, Modern Greek) is much simpler than katharevousa.
I've read that German was considered, but not Greek. Where did you read about this? At any rate, the decision would very quickly be reversed and the legislators who proposed the original resolution and many of those who voted for it would be thrown/laughed out of office.
Not true. It was a vote to make official copies of government papers in both english and german, due to the high german population within. It actually was a pretty close vote, with one man breaking the deadlock because he said the germans should assimilate to the dominate anglo culture. At least, I think so. I remember it being a close vote with at most a few votes difference, and that one quote, but it might have been less close than I'm making it seem.The old rumor is that in the late 1700s the US considered switching to German to distance itself from England. In reality it was a motion in congress I think to put German and English on signs in areas with high German populations. It got like 1 vote.
Why in God's name would the USA adopt Greek or German as the official language? I don't believe this for a minute.
Why in God's name would the USA adopt Greek or German as the official language? I don't believe this for a minute.
The latter IS an urban legend, at least. As said, the former most likely, too.
IIRC, there was a vote on wether to form a comitee to consider some official use of German, which was defeated by one vote. Urban legend made out of that that a vote on German as official language of the USA was defeated by one vote. Even when it wasnt about German being official languge and teh decision was only to (not) form a commitee.