Language Use

One-Year Estimates 

Beginning with the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS), and continuing every year thereafter, one-year estimates are available for geographic areas with a population of 65,000 or more. This includes the nation, all states and the District of Columbia, all congressional districts, approximately 800 counties, and 500 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, among others.

Multiyear Estimates 

In 2008, the ACS released its first multiyear estimates based on ACS data collected from 2005 through 2007. These three-year estimates are available for geographic areas with a population of 20,000 or more, including the nation, all states and the District of Columbia, all congressional districts, approximately 1,800 counties, and 900 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, among others.

For areas with a population less than 20,000, five-year estimates (data collected from 2005 to 2009) will be available in 2010.

Data Tables, Products, and Reports

Native North American Languages Spoken at Home in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2006-2010 (ACS) 

• Report [PDF], by Julie Siebens and Tiffany Julian. (ACSBR/10-10)
• Supplemental Tables [XLS - 40K]

Language Use in the United States: 2007 (ACS-12) 

• Report [PDF - 1.1M] , by Hyon B. Shin and Robert A. Kominski. (ACS-12)
• Appendix Table

Detailed Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Older by States: 2006-2008 

• Detailed Tables [XLS - 859K]
• User Note

Available Tabulations

There are 35 recurring tables on language use and English-speaking ability available from American Factfinder   since 2000.

Other Technical and Analytical Reports

Comparison of the Estimates on Language Use and English-Speaking Ability from the ACS, the C2SS, and Census 2000 

• Report and Tables [PDF - 189K] , by Hyon B. Shin.

Language and English-Speaking Ability Fact Sheet 

The Language Spoken at Home Fact Sheet highlights the legal requirements federal, state, and local uses of the American Community Survey data as well as the history of each question.

Related Papers and Presentations

Non-English Language Students in Palm Beach School District: An Examination of Administrative and American Community Survey Data: SEHSD Working Paper Number 2013-06  Robert Kominski and Tiffany Julian. SEHSD Working Paper Number 2013-06. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, New Orleans, LA, April 11-13

• Paper [PDF - 216K] , by Robert Kominski and Tiffany Julian.

Language Segregation in U.S. Metro Areas  Tiffany Julian. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, New Orleans, LA, April 11-13

• Poster [PDF - 4.8M] , by Tiffany Julian.

Language Projections: 2010 to 2020  Jennifer Ortman and Hyon B. Shin. Presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Las Vegas, NV, August 20-23, 2011

• Paper [PDF - 71K] , by Jennifer M. Ortman and Hyon B. Shin.

Language Projections: 2010 to 2020  Hyon B. Shin and Jennifer Ortman. Presented at the 18th Federal Forecasters Conference, Washington, D.C., April 21, 2011

• Paper [PDF - 297K] , by Jennifer M. Ortman and Hyon B. Shin.
• Presentation [PDF - 256K] , by Jennifer M. Ortman and Hyon B. Shin.

Language Acquisition of U.S. Children  Robert A. Kominski and Hyon B. Shin. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Dallas, TX, April 14-18, 2010

• Poster [PDF - 784K]
• Presentation [PDF - 1.0M]

People Who Spoke a Language Other Than English at Home by Hispanic Origin and Race: 2009  ACSBR/09-1. Tallese D. Johnson, Merarys Rios, Malcolm P. Drewery, Sharon R. Enni and Myoung Ouk Ki. Issued October 2010

• Report [PDF], by Tallese D. Johnson, Merarys Rios, Malcolm P. Drewery, Sharon R. Ennis, and Myoung Ouk Kim. (ACSBR/09-19)

The American Community Survey Webinar Series (October - November 2008) 

This four-part webinar series was presented over the Internet every week starting in October 30, 2008. This webinar series was produced jointly with the Census Committee of the Federal Interagency Committee on Limited English Proficiency.

1. An overview of the American Community Survey
   • Presentation [PPT - 5.1M]
   • Webinar Transcript [PDF - 91K]
   • Webinar
2. American Community Survey Data Products
   • Presentation [PPT - 2.4M]
   • Webinar Transcript [PDF - 70K]
   • Webinar
3. Geographic Areas and Concepts for The American Community Survey
   • Presentation [PPT - 2.3M]
   • Webinar Transcript [PDF - 56K]
   • Webinar
4. Language Data from the American Community Survey
   • Presentation [PPT - 219K]
   • Webinar Transcript [PDF - 70K]
   • Webinar

Language Needs of School-Age Children  Robert A. Kominski, Hyon B. Shin, and Karen Marotz. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, New Orleans, LA, April 16-19, 2008

• Paper [DOC - 46K] , by Robert A. Kominski, Hyon B. Shin, and Karen Marotz.
• Detailed Tables [XLS - 82K]
• Poster [PDF - 3.0M]
• Presentation [PPT - 936K]

How Does Abillity to Speak English Affect Earnings?  Jennifer Cheeseman Day and Hyon B. Shin. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of American, Philadelphia, PA, March 31-April 2, 2005

• Paper [PDF - 430K] , by Jennifer Cheeseman Day and Hyon B. Shin.
• Presentation [PPT - 774K]

Spreading, Growing, Adapting: Non-English Language Use and English Ability of School-Aged Children in the United States: 2000  Kurt J. Bauman, Nikki L. Graf, and Rosalind R. Bruno. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Atlanta, GA, May 9-11, 2002

• Paper [PDF - 17K] , by Kurt J. Bauman, Nikki L. Graf, and Rosalind R. Bruno.
• Presentation [PPT - 176K]