CensusScope is a product of the Social Science Data Analysis Network.
|
|
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
|
|
1990 |
|
2000 |
|
|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Only English |
5,492,493 |
80.28% |
5,631,315 |
73.53% |
Spanish |
672,365 |
9.83% |
1,155,221 |
15.08% |
Other Indo-European* |
483,581 |
7.07% |
579,351 |
7.56% |
Asian Language** |
147,299 |
2.15% |
221,402 |
2.89% |
Other |
46,044 |
0.67% |
71,222 |
0.93% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
6,841,782 |
100.00% |
7,658,511 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
624,670 |
54.07% |
Other Indo-European* |
237,723 |
41.03% |
Asian Language** |
98,929 |
44.68% |
Other Language |
22,481 |
31.56% |
Total |
983,803 |
12.85% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
347,807 |
51.73% |
Other Indo-European* |
175,519 |
36.30% |
Asian Language** |
70,985 |
48.19% |
Other Language |
14,968 |
32.51% |
Total |
609,279 |
8.91% |
* "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
|