In Nashville, a Ballot Measure That May Quiet All but English

NASHVILLE — In crisp Japanese, the metropolitan councilman read aloud his resolution to limit Nashville government workers to communicating only in English.

Josh Anderson for The New York Times

Eric Crafton, the metropolitan councilman behind the proposal, calls the plan English First.

“Kono jyoukyou wa kaeru bekidesu,” said the councilman, Eric Crafton, who is fluent in Japanese. Translated, it meant, “This situation must change.”

The fact that few people, if any, attending the council meeting understood Mr. Crafton proved his point. Nashville, like most cities in the country, allows government officials to communicate in any language they choose, and Mr. Crafton wants to end that practice.