CensusScope is a product of the Social Science Data Analysis Network.
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LANGUAGE
The Census asks questions about language use at home to locate groups of people who speak a language other than English. Their isolation or integration into a primarily English speaking community can be determined by their ability to speak English proficiently.
Language Spoken at Home, 1990-2000
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1990 |
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2000 |
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Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Only English |
9,996,969 |
82.65% |
11,569,739 |
76.91% |
Spanish |
1,447,747 |
11.97% |
2,476,528 |
16.46% |
Other Indo-European* |
515,779 |
4.26% |
755,214 |
5.02% |
Asian Language** |
85,994 |
0.71% |
164,516 |
1.09% |
Other |
48,795 |
0.40% |
77,606 |
0.52% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
12,095,284 |
100.00% |
15,043,603 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,187,335 |
47.94% |
Other Indo-European* |
268,263 |
35.52% |
Asian Language** |
75,990 |
46.19% |
Other Language |
23,277 |
29.99% |
Total |
1,554,865 |
10.34% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
729,078 |
50.36% |
Other Indo-European* |
175,974 |
34.12% |
Asian Language** |
40,465 |
47.06% |
Other Language |
15,786 |
32.35% |
Total |
961,303 |
7.95% |
* "Other Indo-European" excludes English and Spanish. "Indo-European" is not synonymous with "European." French, German, Hindi, and Persian are all classified as Indo-European. Hungarian, on the other hand, is lumped into "Other Language."
** "Asian Language" includes languages indigenous to Asia and Pacific islands areas that are not also Indo-European languages. Chinese, Japanese, Telugu, and Hawaiian are all classified here.
Also note that ability to speak English "very well" is based on the self-assessment of those responding to Census questions, not on a test of language ability.
Source: Census 2000 analyzed by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN). Home | About | Help | Contact | Use Policy
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