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 |
2,064,597 |
84.13% |
2,385,486 |
73.74% |
Spanish |
292,511 |
11.92% |
655,910 |
20.28% |
Other Indo-European* |
42,944 |
1.75% |
76,967 |
2.38% |
Asian Language** |
44,642 |
1.82% |
92,303 |
2.85% |
Other |
9,325 |
0.38% |
24,255 |
0.75% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
2,454,019 |
100.00% |
3,234,921 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
369,018 |
56.26% |
Other Indo-European* |
21,187 |
27.53% |
Asian Language** |
46,029 |
49.87% |
Other Language |
6,846 |
28.23% |
Total |
443,080 |
13.70% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
141,025 |
48.21% |
Other Indo-European* |
11,181 |
26.04% |
Asian Language** |
24,060 |
53.90% |
Other Language |
2,598 |
27.86% |
Total |
178,864 |
7.29% |
* "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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