We honestly never knew that English is the official language of South Carolina. Apparently, in 1987, the state legislature made the decision to codify an official form of communication.

§1-1-696. Official State Language.

The English language is the official language of the State of South Carolina.

§1-1-697. Use of Language Other Than English Prohibited.

Neither this State nor any political subdivision thereof shall require, by law, ordinance, regulation, order, decree, program, or policy, the use of any language other than English; provided, however, that nothing in §§1-1-696 through 1-1-698 shall prohibit a state agency or a political subdivision of the State from requiring an applicant to have certain degrees of knowledge in a foreign language as a condition of employment where appropriate.

§1-1-698. Exceptions to Prohibitions Against Use of Language Other Than English.

Sections 1-1-696 through 1-1-698 do not prohibit any law, ordinance, regulation, order, decree, program, or policy requiring educational instruction in a language other than English for the purpose of making students who use a language other than English proficient in English or making students proficient in a language in addition to English.

So when Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell discovered that the Department of Motor Vehicles had published nearly forty thousand driving manuals en español, he was muy enojado.

But after they are distributed the agency says no more will be printed. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell of Charleston says he was shocked to learn the state had the Spanish manuals.

He says the official state language is English and official business should be conducted in English. [AP]

But ironically, when we went to the DMV’s website to get our Spanish driver manual, we found this gem:

McConnell is right. The folks at the DMV should probably brush up on their English before they print any more “Driver Licens Manuals” – especially if they plan to do so in another language.