20 percent of people living in U.S. speak language other than English at home
WASHINGTON — Nearly 1 in 5 people living in the United States speak a language at home other than English, according to new Census data that illustrate the wide-ranging effects of immigration.
In South Carolina, about 5 percent of the population speaks a language other than English at home, although that isn't necessarily Spanish. The number of immigrants of Hispanic or Latino origin in the state was 141,721 in 2006, up 7,846 from 2005.
Nationwide, the number of immigrants reached an all-time high of 37.5 million in 2006, affecting incomes and education levels in many cities across the country. But the effects have not been uniform.
In most states, immigrants have added to the number of those lacking a high school diploma, with almost half of those from Latin America falling into that category.
However, at the other end of the education spectrum, Asian immigrants are raising average education levels in many states, with nearly half of them holding at least a bachelor's degree.
"There is no one-size-fits-all policy that you could apply for all immigrant groups," said Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau. "I think most of the attention has been on low-skilled workers coming from Mexico. But we have 10 million immigrants from Asia, a number that's growing."
The Census Bureau today released a host of demographic data about the nation, including statistics on immigration, housing, education and employment.
The data come from the American Community Survey, an annual survey of 3 million households that has replaced the Census Bureau's long-form questionnaire from the once-a-decade census. It does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.
Mather analyzed the differences in education levels among immigrants from Asia and those from Latin America. Together, the groups account for about 80 percent of all immigrants.
About 48 percent of Asian immigrants held at least a bachelor's degree, compared with about 11 percent of immigrants from Latin America. Among people born in the United States, about 27 percent were college graduates.
"Driving this are people coming from China and India," Mather said. "They are either coming with a bachelor's degree or they are coming with visas and getting degrees once they arrive."
At the other end of the spectrum, 47 percent of adult immigrants from Latin America lacked a high school diploma, compared with 16 percent of Asian immigrants and 13 percent of people born in the United States.
Those numbers are fueling overall increases in the number of high school dropouts in four states: Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Texas, said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.
"It used to be the poor Southern states that had low levels of education and income. Now it is the high-immigration states as well," Frey said. "But that isn't to say that the second or third generation won't do better, because they will," he added. "There is upward mobility."
Among the other highlights from the 2006 data released by the Census Bureau:
--Massachusetts led all states in college graduates, with 37 percent of adults 25 and older holding at least a bachelor's degree. West Virginia was last with 16.5 percent.
--Mississippi led all states in high school dropouts, with 22.1 percent of adults 25 and older not graduating from high school. Minnesota was at the other end, with only 9.3 percent.
--California led the nation in immigrants, at 27 percent of the state's population, and in people who spoke a foreign language at home, at 43 percent.
--West Virginia had the smallest share of immigrants, at 1.2 percent. It also had the smallest share of people speaking a foreign language at home, at 2.3 percent.
--New York residents had the longest average commuting time to work, at nearly 31 minutes, while North Dakota had the shortest, at 15.5 minutes.
--More Americans are working later in life. In 2006, 23.2 percent of people age 65 to 74 were still in the labor force, either working or looking for work, up from 19.6 percent in 2000.
--Fewer households consist of a married couple with children, 21.6 percent in 2006, down from 23.5 percent in 2000.
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Comments
poorboy (anonymous) says...
This is what illegal immigration brings us: Un-educated low income wage earners = welfare = tax payers taking care of more degenerates. THE ARE A STRAIN ON THE US TAX PAYERS!
1/ lacking a high school diploma, with almost half of those from Latin America falling into that category.
2/"It used to be the poor Southern states that had low levels of education and income. Now it is the high-immigration states as well,"
September 12, 2007 at 5:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BamaAnn23 (anonymous) says...
I agree completely with you poorboy..we need to STOP illegals now or soon we will be Americo not America...
September 12, 2007 at 6:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
It's really ridiculous how now here in the states signs and commercials are being generated in SPANISH. WTF!?!?!?!?!?! Speak English or get the f!@# out!!!
Poorboy: I completely agree with you and BamaAnn.
September 12, 2007 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
Yeah, the mexicans do all the work none of us would do, but other than that, what good are they? We all are familiar with "Little Mexico" aka Ashley Phosphate. It ranges from right at the old Radio Shack all the way to the damn Wal-Mart on Rivers. Ridiculous. They live like crap in Mexico, they come here to do better, and still end up living like crap but driving newer cars.
September 12, 2007 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
Why would we want to accept Mexico's failures while turning away trained professionals from say Asia or Europe? It makes no sense unless you consider that uneducated welfare recipients vote Democrat! Why is Mayor Summey and every other local leader so enthralled with the Hispanics, when they know the cost to the tax payers? I just don't get it!
September 12, 2007 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
We could all move to Mexico in about 5-10 years. The country will be empty. We can build it up from the s!@#-hole it is, and the Mexicans can have the states. Then again, when the U.S starts turning to crap, they'll just invade wherever we are...AGAIN. It's a lose, lose situation. Maybe we should start sending Americans across the border illegally, see how they like it. I bet they wouldn't.
September 12, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
we cant send our people over there illegal they would put them in prison torture them then send them back home they dont have an open arms policy like we must have I too am tired of having to see spainish on my products i by we didnt put french or greman or asian ETC on anything WHAT makes them so special can anyone answer that notour goverment they may have to tell the truth for a change no matter it be rep. or dem i for one am very tired of it hell the CVS where i go now plays all latino music in the backround
September 12, 2007 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
sorry about the cuss word to all the christians reading this but this subject grips my butt
September 12, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
We're just supposed to accept these "immigrants" with open arms when all they do is make this country worse than it was to begin with. Wherever they move, the property value must go down due to their crappy lifestyles. I lived across from a large family of Mexicans. Every time they opened their front door a nasty smell generated across the hall. Not to mention 5 children, 3 men, and 4 women all lived in a 2 bedroom apartment. They left their door open one day, all the kids were naked, on the floor playing with tools. The carpet was littered with garbage and stains. I almost barfed. If they want to do something for their families, how bout not allowing them to live in the filth they are used to in Mexico. Don't crowd your houses with sooo many people. Yeah, that makes the rent cheaper, but look what your children are gowing up around.
September 12, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
All publically displayed signs should be in English. I should not be able to drive down Red Bank Rd. and see store signs that I cannot read. All government forms should be in English only.
I had an employee trying to use a translating website to provide a quote to a spanish speaking customer. I put a stop to that. The quote was faxed over in English. They can get their own translator or take their business elsewhere. At least I still have control over my own business practices.
September 12, 2007 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
That percentage is a barometer to show how rampant the problem is. Sad...
September 12, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
I have no problem with legal immigration. There was a time when immigrants learned to speak English. We seem to be getting away from that.
September 12, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
roseb (anonymous) says...
Please, I really would like to know what jobs Mexicans do that Americans don't do? Name them. Isn't it Americans won't do these jobs for the low wages they are given. If you are illegal, you can be paid less than the minimum wage have no recourse because you are illegal but if you are American or legal you will be paid at least the minimum wage and if not you do have recourse.
September 12, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
Just like you said, they do the work for WAAAAAAAAAY less.
September 12, 2007 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greyrider (anonymous) says...
None of my great grandparents were born here. They all came here legally around the turn of the 20th century. They all had little education. But they all did what they could to learn the language and interestingly enough, they were so hard-working that none of them really struggled, not even during the depression. They weren't rich, but they got by. When immigrants don't learn english, it hurts them more than us. By the way,I am personally offended when people try to equate illegal immigration with legal immigration. As Dennis Miller once said, "I've got no problem with anyone coming here to better their life, just sign the guestbook on the way in."
September 12, 2007 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blondjes (anonymous) says...
what i don't understand is why when my ancestors came over here HAD to learn english, nobody catered to them, nobody wrote books or manuels in their own languages, they had to suck it up and learn as fast as they could, my grandfather is from puerto rico and when he came to NY with his parents ( and 7 brothers and sisters) his parents told to learn and speak english because that was the American way (even though they couldn't speak english themselves) and being an American was the greatest thing to be, now i'm told that I have to learn to speak another language to help communicate with "wannabee American citizens"? who really don't want to be American the still want to be mexican but have all of the benefits of Americans
September 12, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
This has nothing to do with illegals, I knew by saying the Language word where this would go, but it surprises me to see that we have so many narrow minded people that just jump to that subject and conclusion, when legality has nothing to do with this article on Language. That is the first thing that is brought up. The subject was Language, not Legality, so maybe somepeople need to go back to school with these people to learn the difference or have a dictionary handy to look up the difference or better yet, just stay focused on the conversation at hand.
September 12, 2007 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
I have no problem with Mexicans or other "immigrants" coming here to better their lives. Good for them. They've recognized they need something better. But for god's sake be legal about it. Get your U.S Citizenship, Green Card, working Visa, whatever. Make an attempt to learn the language. Every day my husband comes home from work with stories of how he couldn't fix the family's A/C or get paid because the translator hadn't showed up. People won't let him in to do his job because they can't understand him and he sure as hell can't understand them. He wastes alot of time during the day waiting on translators for the Mexicans. I have ABSOLUTELY NO intent on learning Spanish. I took 6 years of French in school. Spanish, NEVER. I refuse to let my 18 month old watch Dora, Diego, or Handy Manny. I think it's absolutely ludicrous to air these shows teaching kids how to speak Spanish. Especially during peak cartoon times. I can't switch to the Backyardigans, that come on at 5:30, early because Diego is still on. I want to be able for me and my family to enjoy television WITHOUT all the Spanish commercials and shows. I want to be able to drive down the road and read billboards. IN ENGLISH. I want to be able to call ANYWHERE and not have to hear the machine say "For English press 1, For Spanish press 2". GRRRRRRR. That makes me really really mad.
September 12, 2007 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
When you consider that more Americans are killed each year in this Country by illeagle immigrants than are killed in Iraq, you have to ask yourself if we have our priorities right! Another question is why can't we treat the Mexican illeagles the way Mexico treats their illeagle entries? Still a better question is why do our politicans stand and swear to uphold the laws of this great nation and then tell us years later that they can't enforce "That Law". Why didn't they tell us they couldn't enforce that law before they took the oath? Are you listening Lindsey? I doubt it, he's deaf to those who are his constituents!
September 12, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
And it appears Summey has made North Charleston a sanctuary city and will not enforce the laws . If illegal the police are told turn them lose- don't put them in jail we don't want to deal with them. police are not enforcing many laws on them ride past them on ashley phosphate when they are standing on side of road drinking and staggering down side of road. That is right Keith- they are voters and probably live in some of your slum houses. Nothing wrong with legal immigrants but illegal uneducated people we are turning lose letting them drive cars when they normally were driving donkies. Big difference - they can and do kill others.
September 12, 2007 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
Charlene makes a good point. Besides, no one is talking about the 10 million asian immigrants who come over as skilled workers and are actually getting jobs that Americans want. Most of them speak a different language in their home AND they have better education than most normal Americans. Their median household income is a lot higher than any race. Let us talk about that. The US is also sending a LOT of jobs overseas to Asian countries.
Ever called a Dell help line? You be the judge. We get too caught up on the whole illegal immigration issues like these people are taking food directly out of your mouths. No one mentioned also that their are over 100k illegal irish immigrants in this country too. Who knows how many from other European countries? Not much but still if you group one, then group all. The Irish wave their flags all the time and proudly proclaim their irish heritage and no one bats and eye. I dare you to make an anti-Irish statement if you see one of them waving that flag.
Blondjes - it is sad that your parent had to fully assimilate into this culture. USA is supposed to be a melting pot. I would have kept my language as well. All backgrounds are welcome and I know many people who speak both languages.
Has anyone gone to Miami? You would hate it there then but guess what? No one says anything about that b/c they line republican pockets. Technically they come over illegally but b/c of the laws with Cuba as soon they come over they are granted asylum.
Oh, and I have heard some of the English being used and some people who are in uproar can barely grasp the english language themselves. That goes for everyone.
BamaAnn - You do know that "America" is not exactly and English name right? Just like California, Arizona, Dakotas, Minnesota etc.. Get a grip.
September 12, 2007 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
singleroni - I am still betting that more americans are committing most of the crimes here. If this was another board we would be talking about how blacks commit all the crimes so basically it all just differs on who we want to hate today.
Be careful of who you call uneducated as well. Do you mean a college degree or high school diploma? Because last time I heard SC has been at the top of the low graduation rate list WAYYYYYYYYYY before illegal immigration became an issue. They at least have an excuse. What excuse do regular South Carolinians have?
September 12, 2007 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...
I agree, Test. Besides it seems the people who make the biggest fuss are the people who have done nothing to even contribute to what makes America great.
English is the common language in America but it should not stop people who may speak another language from using it in their home (isn't this what the whole article is ACTUALLY about, let's stay focused here). Test almost makes an excellent point about the contradictions in our own government's immigration policies (illegal and otherwise and don't even get me started on the inconsistencies in asylum cases). Essentially, we only make a big deal about illegal immigrants when they don't fit into our crystal clean "assimilationist" box oh yeah and when we don't get our jollies criticizing their home countries (ahem, Cuba).
singleroni: I would be haste to suggest we put an education model on who should and shouldn't be allowed in our country, because then I would argue it should go both ways (i.e. lets kick out all the ignorant fools) and this board alone would be devoid of most of its usual suspects
And more to all of the people who talk about "we couldn't get into their country illegally", um we don't have to ..have you driven in mexico, I think all you have do is show a driver's license or something, if that. And we wouldn't have to come illegally because one of our privileges as citizens of the USA is that we can roll in and out of anyone's countries with not so even a "peep"
Really this whole "all illegal immigrants are criminals, dangerous, waiting to take your job" blah blah blah nonsense is a bunch of majority rule fear. Are any of you suffering? Oh, my bad bhippey someone fixing something didn't know English! And you refuse to learn ANY Spanish, well kudos to you for learning French, but just as many Belgians know both Dutch and French and many Africans know (well tons of languages), people often accomodate their linguistic styles not only to "cater" to people of different cultures, but to enrich and boost their own education level and understanding. You will clearly be left behind because unless you plan on moving to France, West Africa and residing in West Harlem where there are tons or maybe working at the UN (highly doubtful by your attitude), your knowledge of French is commendable but a folly at best.
September 12, 2007 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
SCDEACINNYC: I WILL NOT learn Spanish. I have no need to. My husband refuses to learn as well. We should not have to learn someone elses language because they chose to move here. Ridiculous. I have no need to talk to someone who speaks Spanish. And alot of times, the mexicans CAN speak English and chose not to. They much rather speak in their native language. They should be the ones "conforming" not us.
September 12, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
I won't bother learning a foreign language. I took a year of French in HS but that was only because the teacher had big hooters :) All I know now is how to order three beers and three french fries in French. The McDonalds in France sells beer, but only if you order food too :)
SCdeacinNYC, you mention that most of the users on this site would be gone if the country kicked out ignorant fools and then you slam those that state "all illegal immigrants are criminals". You may want to take a step down off of your educated stool... it is a fact... all illegal immigrants ARE criminals. Good thing you're typing and not talking. That way, the foot in mouth thingy won't cause many problems.
September 12, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...
"I have no need to talk to someone who speaks Spanish"
Let's just take that statement alone and think about it for a second. No one should be "conforming", and no one thinks Americans will actually "conform" to "Mexicans" or speaking Spanish. This is ridiculous. What also is ridiculous the insane amount of focus that is being placed on Mexican immigrants, I know they are considered the largest number as of now but they are not the only immigrant group, illegal or otherwise in this nation (illegal immigrants are from MANY nations and linguistic backgrounds).
You never have a need to to speak to anyone who speaks Spanish, well I guess you will never travel to any of those dozens of nations where people mostly speak Spanish. On this same veing, I sincerely hope you are not one of those people that either a) doesn't travel internationally, b) only travels to countries where people speak English or "conform" to your linguistic background or c) travels internationally but expects others to understand YOU. Because thats EXACTLY how you sound.
Either way your comment is silly. Those Mexicans you disdain so much because of their lack of English skills at the moment, will learn, but will also continue to speak to each other in their language. There is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is that your statements are dripping with cultural isolationism.
That is all....Good Talk.
September 12, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...
OK MHA you got me........wait, not really.
I'm sorry but I don't equate coming into this country illegally with murder. All "crimes" are not created equal. Sorry, I can't take any crime seriously where people are only called out on it when they have done something wrong in our eyes (we usually only deport people when some sort of attention is called to them illegally or otherwise). You know darn well what people mean by saying "all illegal immigrants are criminals" they aren't saying they broke the law by getting into this country illegaly they are insinuating that they are all murderers, rapists, drug dealers....ETC.
So, the next time you get on your pseudo-educated soapbox about wordplay, I wouldn't start the conversation talking about how you won't bother learning a foreign language and that you only learned how to say two words in French (after a year of learning) and that those words are "fries" and "beer".
Again...Good Talk.
September 12, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
I'm very proud of my abilit to order beer in many different countries, thank you very much :)
In all honesty, I wasn't messing with word play. People tend to call illegal immigrants "undocumented workers" and such. THAT is word play. illegal immigranst come in to our country illegally. That makes them criminals. Pure and simple.
Having said that, the article is about people that don't speak English, not illegal immigrants. I find that to be a problem too. If you move to the US, learn to speak English... we'll ALL be better off for it.
September 12, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
I lived in Japan for 6 years and GUESS WHAT, I learned Japanese. You know why??? SO I COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THE JAPANESE. I didn't expect them to learn English to talk to all the americans. I learned THEIR language. I will flat out say that I hate mexicans. Period. Pick that apart SCDEAINNYC.
September 12, 2007 at 12:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjmehlhose (anonymous) says...
All illegal immigrants ARE CRIMINALS and should be treated as such. Set up a concentration camp in the desert in Arizona or New Mexico and incarcerate them.
September 12, 2007 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
You hate ALL Mexicans? No wonder immigrants are reluctant to learn English and communicate with you. Now, at least they can actually filter out your hatred and bigotry.
September 12, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hipchick (anonymous) says...
I'm happy to hear they speak another language AT HOME. However, when not at home, please speak ENGLISH like the remaining 80% of the population. Thank you.
September 12, 2007 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
I dont want them to communicate with me. I don't want them here.
September 12, 2007 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjmehlhose (anonymous) says...
No, I don't hate Mexicans, just criminal behavior. Being here illegally makes them criminals. My family came here legally many generations ago. In fact, my great-grandparents had to leave one of their daughters behind to come here.
September 12, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
Sorry for the ambiguity, sjmehlhose. Comment was directed @ bhippey.
I agree that illegal immigrants are a problem. I do not agree, however, that we should hate all immigrants -- or even just Mexicans -- blindly or based on a stereotype.
September 12, 2007 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
Why should i have to read spainish in my food stores or on bill boards if we go to mexico will they have english on thiers. I think not, this politically correct crap is just that C R A P. I dont care if they are here with a passport or not I am an AMERICAN I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT IT IS AN ENGLISH speaking country and from the time people have been coming over here from other lands the learn the language. GOD BLESS this country even if it is going to the dogs. I will still love it
September 12, 2007 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
This country is going to the dogs because people like the posters on this board exist. Wahh wahh wahh a sign is in spanish. Wahh wahh wahh someone spoke spanish or chinese or korean and i could hear them. Don't frickin listen!!! America has a majority of english speakers (though if you ask the british, we really DON'T speak correct english as the supposed" original" settlers were English) but that doesn't mean a thing. The only people who can really call it THEIR country is native americans. They are probably saying the same crap about you all. They are sitting around saying "This country is going to the dogs. They all need to go back to England/Ireland/Russia/Africa etc". Psssh your country!! Yeah right.
September 12, 2007 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
bhippey - You hate mexicans. I hate you. It's all a great circle of life.
September 12, 2007 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DuMonde (anonymous) says...
To all:
Language: What's the big deal? If you are lazy ass, then sit and wait for someone to learn English. But if you haven't opened your eyes completely, 85% of what comes into this country comes from Foreign places: the labels are in the language of origin.
As for the immigrants, everyone complains as if they are a sort of plague. Trust me, if the economy were put on hold by all these immigrants, where would the US GDP go to? And for production plans, construction, restaurants, ect.... farms, what would happen?
I guess some of you would have to take the extra drive up to the farm to pick your fruits or whatever.
September 12, 2007 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
Do you think I CARE that you hate me??? I think not. I could really care less. I don't care what people of me. Maybe others should follow that belief. Think for yourselves and don't be so worried about what others think about you or what you say.
September 12, 2007 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
Yes, if you go to Mexico, most signs, etc. will include English. No one is forcing anyone else to speak Spanish (or any other language). As long as signs and labels and instruction booklets include you ever-so-precious ENglish, what do you care?
September 12, 2007 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DuMonde (anonymous) says...
IT's funny how some of you complain about how this grand nation is ENGLISH BASED. Hahaha, please educate yourself on the history of it before you come out here and post on the fact that immigrants are comdeming this nation.
First of all: the people who were first here didn't have a chance or a choice. THE "White man" drove them out. The Trail of Tears. This nation was build because of immigrants and thanks to the cooperation of the Indigenous people, we are here today.
And guess what, as mentioned by Halfsheli, most of what you see (if targeted to you) will be in both English and Spanish. If you run into a sign in spanish, then it has nothing to do with you.
FYI: I unlike many closed minded, ethnocentric, individualistic beings here, I dedicated my self to learn English, studied and now I SPEAK 4 languages!
EDUCATE SI QUIERES HABLAR!
September 12, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brownround (anonymous) says...
This story actually has nothing to do about language. If I read correctly it talks about education and the census bureau. So what are you all talking about? BTW, knowing a second language is very beneficial but I quess some of you are to smart to know that.
September 12, 2007 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
AGAIN PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE LANGUAGE NOT THE LEGALITY.... L-A-N-G-U-A-G-E. WHY IS THAT SO HARD? AND YES IM ANGRY THATS WHY ITS IN CAPS SO WHAT? I CANT BELIEVE THIS ARTICLE JUMPED FROM THE CONVERSATION OF LANGUAGE TO LEGALITY AND MOST OF ALL MEXICANS WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE SPOKEN NOT ONLY MEXICANS OR HISPANICS SPEAK FOREIGN LANGUAGES PEOPLE......... COME ON HELP ME HERE........ WE ARE TALKING AGAIN ABOUT LANNNNNNNNNNNGUUUUUUUUUAGGGGGEEEEEEEEE NOT LEGALITY........IDIOTS. IM SORRY WHOEVER THAT OFFENDED BUT I JUST HAD TO GET IT OUT
September 12, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
I almost brought my self down to the level of some of the people in here I wont do it again sorry to the people that I offended but I speak english may not be the perfect Queens english but thats what I speak and will not Learn another unless I plan on moving to another country then I will learn another language
September 12, 2007 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
OK, I will bore you with my story, my grand parents came to this country, legally I assume, at the turn of the last century. They were uneducated and did not speak the language. I am sure that they spoke their native tongue at home and with there friends - I know my grand mother spoke broken English and talked to her friends in her native tongue. But their children and grand children became educated and fluent in the English language (except for me) and over all became good Americans.
This is off the subject, but I am having trouble getting on to Charleston.net and moving around in it, has anyone else had problems. I don't have problems getting on other sites such as Noaa.gov.
September 12, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blondjes (anonymous) says...
Test2007
my family was HAPPY to assimilate into American culture!! my grandfather speaks fluent spanish, he never taught my mom or uncle because he felt their was no need for it, he does not choose speak spanish because he believes in America english is what is spoken
September 12, 2007 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
prosperous_hb (anonymous) says...
hey guys, don't forget about us paying higher car insurance for these illegal immigrants...
September 12, 2007 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
juniemoon1957 (anonymous) says...
Neponset....yes this news site is slow at times. Since I am off to work and won't be able to read comments, I would like to say that the Mexicans I have come in contact are all nice, polite, CLEAN, appreciative, RESPECTFUL. They say "please" and "thank-you". They do not wear designer clothes, carry expensive handbags,have their nails 6 inches long and spray painted with outlandish designs, they do not have the latest in cell phone technology. Their children are nice and polite, clean as well. Well behaved in public. If they do speak English they speak it appropriately. It is not "Whut yp", "Dude", "goin' on, man", and you never hear them scream about thier rights. At least they will WORK, are not CONSTANTLY trying to get HUD, welfare,food stamps,assitance with home gas,electricity, etc. They usually have 1-2 children, not 4-5 on Medicaid. They never ask for free anyhting. Usually working for what they get.
September 12, 2007 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Savion (anonymous) says...
Where do you live??? There are people of all races that may be on government assistance.
September 12, 2007 at 7:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
As the article says, there are lots of people who speak a language other than English in their own homes. I could not care any less how many people fit that category. If everyone spoke a "foreign" language in their home, that would be fine by me. There is nothing in the article to suggest that these people do not also speak English.
Quite frankly, I don't even care if these people only speak Spanish or whatever other language they use even in public. No one is FORCING anyone to learn another language, but if I want to (or if you want to), then that is fine.
These fears that people seem to have that English is going to become a minority language are silly. At times, there have been many parts of this country which have seen even larger waves of immigrants, and there has never been a single one which did not learn English within a generation. At times, 40% of some states' population were first-generation German immigrants, but Pennsylvania and Ohio are not speaking German today.
Lastly, I have to note a certain irony about the terrible English grammar and spelling being used by some of those who are the most adamant about the use of English in this country!
September 12, 2007 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
reader
I like your last sentence.
September 12, 2007 at 7:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
bhippy, please allow your child to learn spanish at their earliest age. Many jobs require you to be bilingual or will pay several dollars more per hour if you know 2 languages. That is like telling a man not to learn how to cook or a daughter not to learn minor car repairs. It doesn't help them in the rat race.
test2007 --that is exactly what us native americans have been saying when we hear about illegal immigration
as for the rest of you
mexico doesn't have a unified spanish....it is many different dialects from what I hear. The spanish that we learn in school is from spain. Their spanish is mixed with various native american tribes.
Many mexicans would love to learn english but they weren't offered schooling in their country and they are trying to learn as adults on their own. I took spanish in high school and college and made decent grades. I still hate speaking it but I can understand it. What we need are more spanish to english programs in the community. We also need to put some schools in mexico. If they understand english better, they will get more tourists and they will want to stay there. People stay where money is found. Most of the mexico border towns are filthy from what I saw and my friends have been.
September 12, 2007 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wormmyswife1 (anonymous) says...
I didn't read all the comments posted but I did read quite a few and got the general gist of everyone's opinion. Here's my take on the subject: when you call places like Dell, dish network, medical insurance companies (United Healthcare) and Compaq for example it is because you have spent hard earned American dollars to purchase a service or product. Then when you need assistance you call these places and you get "James" (yeah right, you know that isn't their real name) and "James" doesn't speak a lick of English so you don't really get the help you need. My point is if you pay American dollars for an American product/service then when you call you should get an English speaking representative on the other end of the line! A couple posts I read talked about people taking foreign language in school and they took French because they refused to conform to the immigrants illegally coming into our country. I took Latin, 3 years of it and not that long ago. It is the basis for the English language and I feel like I have a better understanding of most complex words and where they are derived from.
By the way- I have always said that I speak "the King's English" ---Elvis was a Southerner!
September 12, 2007 at 7:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
When I call with a question about my Sony, why can't I get someone who speaks Japanese? And don't even get me started about problems with my Mercedes!
(Just kidding, Wormmyswife1. I've been there, and it is frustrating.)
September 12, 2007 at 7:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
I wish I studied latin
rome is one of my favorite subjects
September 12, 2007 at 9 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gamecockcougar (anonymous) says...
Eye went to schoole in Charlezton countie, whatz dis article about?
September 12, 2007 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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