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 |
4,440,633 |
54.58% |
4,032,614 |
45.87% |
Spanish |
2,564,775 |
31.53% |
3,330,935 |
37.89% |
Other Indo-European* |
380,612 |
4.68% |
459,392 |
5.23% |
Asian Language** |
676,001 |
8.31% |
875,515 |
9.96% |
Other |
73,380 |
0.90% |
92,640 |
1.05% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
8,135,401 |
100.00% |
8,791,096 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,845,364 |
55.40% |
Other Indo-European* |
183,686 |
39.98% |
Asian Language** |
482,637 |
55.13% |
Other Language |
30,818 |
33.27% |
Total |
2,542,505 |
28.92% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,496,461 |
58.35% |
Other Indo-European* |
145,600 |
38.25% |
Asian Language** |
379,921 |
56.20% |
Other Language |
23,866 |
32.52% |
Total |
2,045,848 |
25.15% |
* "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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