According to new information released by the US Census Bureau, 74 percent of all households in El Paso, TX, speak Spanish as their primary language at home, even if they're fluent in English. That number is coupled with the fact that one out of every five residents of Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico speak Spanish at home too.
One home-Spanish-speaker says, "Spanish was my first language and it's the language that my parents speak, so I just use it when I'm there. I don't even think about it. And although I speak English, I sometimes feel more comfortable speaking Spanish. It's like going back home."
The high at-home use of the language prompts changes in the local culture and government. Most agencies and stores publish notices in both English and Spanish. One spokeswoman for the county of El Paso said it makes sense to write news releases and public notices in both languages. "Our goal is for our message to reach the intended audience as quickly as possible," she said. "If we were to send out notices in English only, the message will eventually get to Spanish-speaking families but it will take some time."
Ludd
Pieces
Hanii Y
All I have to say about this article is... DUH! My mom and stepdad live in Phoenix, and it's practically the same way, as I would guess it is in most border states.
1yeah it's like that here in the bay area too. makes sense to me - if you want to help people you have to be able to communicate with them.
2This doesn't really seem like news. It might piss off some xenophobes who have an unreasonable opposition to public notices in Spanish, but that's also not new.
3Also, that sign is making me crave an Egg McMuffin.
4this is something that we've had to consider a lot of the time in my industry - i work in advertising and when we're in local markets, we have to think about not only whether people are bi-lingual but what hey speak at home since that's one of the strongest points to reach consumers. i'm not surprised that the rate is so high though - with the trend for people to come to the US and to see that a majority of these states are in the south by the border..
5It's like every once in a while someone tries to reignite the English vs. Spanish clash by releasing stuff like this. I agree with True. Not news.
6This isn't news. I get that tons of people speak spanish,heck my husband and his whole family do,even I know some,but I think if you are going to cater to one persons language,then they should have things in all the diff languges.
7Welcome to Texas.
8Agreed True...not news...more spanish is spoken that english in my home...so what???
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