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 |
11,635,518 |
74.56% |
13,230,765 |
68.76% |
Spanish |
3,443,106 |
22.06% |
5,195,182 |
27.00% |
Other Indo-European* |
279,165 |
1.79% |
358,019 |
1.86% |
Asian Language** |
207,033 |
1.33% |
374,330 |
1.95% |
Other |
41,000 |
0.26% |
83,222 |
0.43% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
15,605,822 |
100.00% |
19,241,518 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,369,036 |
45.60% |
Other Indo-European* |
92,380 |
25.80% |
Asian Language** |
186,504 |
49.82% |
Other Language |
21,683 |
26.05% |
Total |
2,669,603 |
13.87% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,575,652 |
45.76% |
Other Indo-European* |
71,615 |
25.65% |
Asian Language** |
107,471 |
51.91% |
Other Language |
10,985 |
26.79% |
Total |
1,765,723 |
11.31% |
* "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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