by Daniel Nardini
According to a survey by Pew Research, more Latinos are beginning to use English only at home. The study shows that now 37 percent of those Latinos between the ages of five and 17 use English only at home. This is up from 30 percent in 2000. The same study shows that 30 percent of those Latinos between the ages of 18 and 33 use only English at home. This is up from 20 percent in 2000. Further, the percentage of those Latinos who will use English either as the primary language or the only language at home is now at 29 percent overall. Still, according to the Pew Research study, 71 percent of all Latinos use Spanish as the primary or sole language in the household at this point. It begs for the question whether Spanish is losing its dominance among Latinos? This is a question that is far from being answered, despite this survey.
While clearly more and more Latinos are beginning to use English even in the household, Spanish is far from being on its way out. There are whole communities and geographic areas where Spanish has been and continues to be used as the primary or sole language of choice. Those Latinos who live in major urban or suburban areas are beginning to use English more and more simply because it makes sense to use English. In more isolated and remote areas the use of English has hardly had any influence at all. One question not being asked is whether telecommunications today will brake down those barriers where whole Latino communities had been isolated before? But even with this change, those communities where Spanish had been the primary language will most likely remain so. Time does not always change the traditions and circumstances of those communities that have always one way or another held on to their traditions and this includes which language they use. As far as Latinos in the mainstream society that may be a different matter. In ten to 20 years from now, English may be the language more of choice for Latino households.
Is Spanish Diminishing Among Latinos?
by Daniel Nardini
According to a survey by Pew Research, more Latinos are beginning to use English only at home. The study shows that now 37 percent of those Latinos between the ages of five and 17 use English only at home. This is up from 30 percent in 2000. The same study shows that 30 percent of those Latinos between the ages of 18 and 33 use only English at home. This is up from 20 percent in 2000. Further, the percentage of those Latinos who will use English either as the primary language or the only language at home is now at 29 percent overall. Still, according to the Pew Research study, 71 percent of all Latinos use Spanish as the primary or sole language in the household at this point. It begs for the question whether Spanish is losing its dominance among Latinos? This is a question that is far from being answered, despite this survey.
While clearly more and more Latinos are beginning to use English even in the household, Spanish is far from being on its way out. There are whole communities and geographic areas where Spanish has been and continues to be used as the primary or sole language of choice. Those Latinos who live in major urban or suburban areas are beginning to use English more and more simply because it makes sense to use English. In more isolated and remote areas the use of English has hardly had any influence at all. One question not being asked is whether telecommunications today will brake down those barriers where whole Latino communities had been isolated before? But even with this change, those communities where Spanish had been the primary language will most likely remain so. Time does not always change the traditions and circumstances of those communities that have always one way or another held on to their traditions and this includes which language they use. As far as Latinos in the mainstream society that may be a different matter. In ten to 20 years from now, English may be the language more of choice for Latino households.