Speaking in Strange Tongues

Americans have long been xenophobic when it comes to language.

This is apparent in Benjamin Franklin's warning about German "aliens" who he feared would gain prominence over the English-speaking populace:
"And since Detachments of English from Britain sent to America, will have their Places at Home so soon supply'd and increase so largely here; why should the Palatine Boors [Germans:] be suffered to swarm into our Settlements, and by herding together establish their Language and Manners to the E...