AP: In Miami, Spanish is Becoming The Primary Language

[stwasm]

MIAMI - Melissa Green's mother spoke Spanish, but she never learned - her father forbid it. Today, that's a frequent problem in this city where the English-speaking population is outnumbered.

The 49-year-old flower shop owner and Miami native said her inability to speak "espanol" makes it difficult to conduct business, seek help at stores and even ask directions. She finds it "frustrating."

"It makes it hard for some people to find a job because they don't speak Spanish, and I don't think that it is right," said Green, who sometimes calls a Spanish-speaking friend to translate for customers who don't speak English.

"Sometimes I think they should learn it," she said.

In many areas of Miami, Spanish has become the predominant language, replacing English in everyday life. Anyone from Latin America could feel at home on the streets, without having to pronounce a single word in English.

In stores, shopkeepers wait on their clients in Spanish. Universities offer programs for Spanish speakers. And in supermarkets, banks, restaurants - even at the post office and government offices - information is given and assistance is offered in Spanish. In Miami, doctors and nurses speak Spanish with their patients and a large portion of advertising is in Spanish. Daily newspapers and radio and television stations cater to the Hispanic public.

But this situation, so pleasing to Latin American immigrants, makes some English speakers feel marginalized. In the 1950s, it's estimated that more than 80 percent of Miami-Dade County residents were non-Hispanic whites. But in 2006, the Census Bureau estimates that number was only 18.5 percent, and in 2015 it is forecast to be 14 percent. Hispanics now make up about 60 percent.

"The Anglo population is leaving," said Juan Clark, a sociology professor at Miami Dade College. "One of the reactions is to emigrate toward the north. They resent the fact that (an American) has to learn Spanish in order to have advantages to work. If one doesn't speak Spanish, it's a disadvantage."

According to the Census, 58.5 percent of the county's 2.4 million residents speak Spanish - and half of those say they don't speak English well. English-only speakers make up 27.2 percent of the county's residents.

In the mainly Cuban city of Hialeah and in the Miami neighborhood of Little Havana, 94 percent of residents identified themselves as Hispanic.

Andrew Lynch, an expert on linguistics and bilingualism at the University of Miami, said that the presence of Spanish-speakers first became an issue in Miami-Dade County in the 1960s and '70s with the arrival of Cuban immigrants and intensified in the '80s with immigrants from not just Cuba, but Argentina, Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America. The exodus of English speakers soon followed.

James McCleary, his wife and two children left Miami in 1987 for Vermont, where he is now a farmer. McCleary, 58, said his inability to speak Spanish made it difficult for him to find work - it once took seven months to get hired as a cook.

"The job market was very tough. It was very, very difficult," he said.

His wife, Lauren, was born and raised in Miami and they visit at least twice a year, but she feels that it's no longer her hometown.

"I don't like being there anymore. It is very, very different," she said. "I cannot live there anymore, I can't speak their language."

Nevertheless, she likes the diversity of the population of South Florida and regrets not learning Spanish in school.

Librarian Martha Phillips, 61, believes those who speak Spanish will continue to have more opportunities and she doesn't think that's necessarily fair. Phillips said she is sorry to see non-Spanish-speakers abandoning Miami, and said she's concerned that the area "will be like a branch of Latin America."

"I do resent the fact that people seem to expect that the people who live here adjust to their ways, rather than learning English and making adjustments," she said. "Obviously I don't expect an older person to learn to speak English, but younger people come in and they don't seem to make much of an effort to learn to adapt to this country and they expect us to adapt to them."

Some Spanish speakers say they have their own trouble with those who only speak English.

Mary Bravo, a 37-year-old Venezuelan business owner, moved to Miami nine years ago. She understands English but only speaks a little.

"This land is theirs. We should try to speak English," she said, "but they don't even try to understand us."

[rincewind]

:laugh:



That's ****ing great. Its only a matter of time until this becomes commonplace and, personally, I find it hilarious. I love watching all the 'speak English or leave' people get flustered. Good times.

[Thiebear]

Free speech is just that... The community will sort itself out and then have to deal with the issues at hand.

The "they don't even try to understand us"? is tough if 235 countries are coming in.
Spanish is not the only immigrant language incoming.

[Yusuf06]

Hello last week's news! This has been the case for a loooong time. Back when I was growing up in FL I had some non-hispanic friends in my neighborhood who grew up in Miami and they were quite fluent in Spanish. In fact, they taught me my first Spanish curse words.

[Special K]

Welcome to California.

[Yusuf06]

:laugh:



That's ****ing great. Its only a matter of time until this becomes commonplace and, personally, I find it hilarious. I love watching all the 'speak English or leave' people get flustered. Good times.
Oh, it's going to get even better. Wait until Hispanics outnumber English speaking Americans which will happen in a few short decades. I literally can't wait to see the Hispanics getting angry, telling them
"This is the USA, learn Spanish or go home." Shushaaaa!

[Spaceman Spiff]

This is news?

[DCSaints_fan]

Oh, it's going to get even better. Wait until Hispanics outnumber English speaking Americans which will happen in a few short decades. I literally can't wait to see the Hispanics getting angry, telling them
"This is the USA, learn Spanish or go home." Shushaaaa!

I don't see that happening anytime soon. Hispanics are only 14% of the population. While they are the fastest growing minority group, this estimate I found says that even by 2050 they will only constitute around 24% :

http://www.allied-media.com/Hispanic%20Market/hispanic%20demographics.html

[LegionOfDoom]

I love going to Little Havana and try to get stuff just to get blown off because I don't speak spanish.

Luckily it is Miami and tourists arrive all the time so to worry about people not visiting because Spanish is the primary language will not sway them to push towards learning or speaking English.

[LegionOfDoom]

I don't see that happening anytime soon. Hispanics are only 14% of the population. While they are the fastest growing minority group, this estimate I found says that even by 2050 they will only constitute around 24% :

http://www.allied-media.com/Hispanic%20Market/hispanic%20demographics.html

Those estimates will be off the mark by then. I'm thinking of number between 30 - 35%

[Sticksboi05]

Oh, it's going to get even better. Wait until Hispanics outnumber English speaking Americans which will happen in a few short decades. I literally can't wait to see the Hispanics getting angry, telling them
"This is the USA, learn Spanish or go home." Shushaaaa!

That and the fact that newly born Hispanics will learn english in school.

[USS Redskins]

Sucks if you cant speak English but I bet they have the nicest landscaping of any cities in the country. he he

[stwasm]

What's ironic is that, if you go to many Spanish-speaking countries, they look at you funny if you don't try to learn their language.

[Special K]

What's ironic is that, if you go to many Spanish-speaking countries, they look at you funny if you don't try to learn their language.
Hmm, I don't even have to cross the border to be given those same looks. In fact, I was given that look yesterday at work. And it wasn't because I couldn't speak Spanish, it was that I couldn't speak Spanish well enough.

[IbleedBnG83]

I don't see that happening anytime soon. Hispanics are only 14% of the population. While they are the fastest growing minority group, this estimate I found says that even by 2050 they will only constitute around 24% :

http://www.allied-media.com/Hispanic%20Market/hispanic%20demographics.html

Although not large in number, I'm pretty sure Asians are the largest GROWING immigrants.

[IbleedBnG83]

What's ironic is that, if you go to many Spanish-speaking countries, they look at you funny if you don't try to learn their language.

I have visited several Spanish speaking countries and have never encountered that. If you do attempt to learn Spanish, like any other country and speaking their native language, they treat you better...much like the U.S.

[IbleedBnG83]

I for one don't mind minority groups moving in. I do get upset that Americans must make such a large adjustment to conform to immigrants needs. I also don't like the culture clash brought in by large concentrations. I don't like how groups of a neighborhood feel the need to be forced to move because an over abbundance of another group. I repsect ethnic communities but not when it begins to clash with everything else. If you are going to move to another country, you need to make adjustments to that of the native country not the other way around.

[stwasm]

I have visited several Spanish speaking countries and have never encountered that. If you do attempt to learn Spanish, like any other country and speaking their native language, they treat you better...much like the U.S.

Actually, whenever I go to the Chipotle up the street from me, I address the workers in Spanish and try to speak with them as best as I can. They do treat you nicer when you do that. Although, I must admit, when they start into general conversations, I get lost!

[zoony]

Sucks if you cant speak English but I bet they have the nicest landscaping of any cities in the country. he he


I lol'd :)



:laugh:



That's ****ing great. Its only a matter of time until this becomes commonplace and, personally, I find it hilarious. I love watching all the 'speak English or leave' people get flustered. Good times.


I'm certainly one of those who thinks that folks learning new languages is always a good thing. In Switzerland alone they have 4 different languages on their currency. Even in countries as tiny as Belgium they speak Flemish, French, and German. It's amazing to see citizens, even the garbage men, switch from language to language so effortlessly.


Now that said, one of the most important parts of what makes our country strong is a single shared language. I cite the examples from above, but what I don't mention is that most of the Flemish section of Belgium wants independence (Flanders), and has wanted it for years. I won't even mention French-Canada... that's just too easy :)


Fact is, as much as it is fun to make fun of those who think learning is anti-American, there is a larger and much greater point that they have, and don't realize. Language is probably one of the most important uniters and dividers there is.

For that reason, I think the country should have less of a tolerance for other languages than we currently do. But I also believe that every High School graduate in this country should be FLUENT in at least 2 languages. :) (if not 3)



Hello last week's news! This has been the case for a loooong time.


My thoughts on reading this article too :)

[rincewind]

I'm certainly one of those who thinks that folks learning new languages is always a good thing. In Switzerland alone they have 4 different languages on their currency. Even in countries as tiny as Belgium they speak Flemish, French, and German. It's amazing to see citizens, even the garbage men, switch from language to language so effortlessly.


Now that said, one of the most important parts of what makes our country strong is a single shared language. I cite the examples from above, but what I don't mention is that most of the Flemish section of Belgium wants independence (Flanders), and has wanted it for years. I won't even mention French-Canada... that's just too easy :)


Fact is, as much as it is fun to make fun of those who think learning is anti-American, there is a larger and much greater point that they have, and don't realize. Language is probably one of the most important uniters and dividers there is.

For that reason, I think the country should have less of a tolerance for other languages than we currently do. But I also believe that every High School graduate in this country should be FLUENT in at least 2 languages. :) (if not 3)



Don't get me wrong - I think bilingualism is a great thing and really hope my daughter learns spanish as well as english. I just think its ****ing hilarious that people get so indignant when people don't speak the language that we stole from another country and butchered. Noah Webster and Ben Franklin are turning in their graves I'm sure. :laugh:

[Skins24]

I just think its ****ing hilarious that people get so indignant when people don't speak the language that we stole from another country and butchered.
??
Native Americans stole english?

*breaks out a bunch of history books*
:whoknows:
Whatchu talkin' 'bout?

[rincewind]

??
Native Americans stole english?

*breaks out a bunch of history books*
:whoknows:
Whatchu talkin' 'bout?




What? Don't really know how you got that out of what I said. English was stolen from the... well, the English. We Americanized/butchered it.

[Skins24]

What? Don't really know how you got that out of what I said. English was stolen from the... well, the English. We Americanized/butchered it.
So you're saying the English speaking English came over here and stole English from the English?

[jpillian]

What? Don't really know how you got that out of what I said. English was stolen from the... well, the English. We Americanized/butchered it.

You can't tell me that the Brits pronunciation of aluminum and advertisement is "spot on." That just bloody well ridiculous!!! :silly: :laugh:

BTW -- Zoony, helluva post. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I do think Americans could stand to emphasize the learning of a second language more strenuously. I think it not only broadens your horizons, and generally increases your understanding of another language (and culture), but it stretches your mind in ways that other learning doesn't. It is a foundation of any classical education.

However, a single language is also a uniting force in our country in particular, and in my mind, a prerequisite for any democratic society. Participatory government demands a common language. :2cents:

[Mass_SkinsFan]

This problem could be solved with a few strokes of a pen. Either at the state or preferably at the federal level. Simply sign a measure into law refusing to print government documents in any language other than English and forbidding government employees here in the US to do any official business in any language other than english.

You don't even have to make English the Official Language of the country. Just stop allowing the government to do business in any language other than English. Once they had to learn English to get government assistance, the problem would largely go away.

[rincewind]

So you're saying the English speaking English came over here and stole English from the English?



No. I'm saying we stole it from them when, in the post-Revolution America, we decided we need to have our own unique culture. At that point people like Webster and Franklin made a conscience effort to make the language our own. Hence you have spelling changes like axe to ax and colour to color. We literally tried to steal their language... hell, we didn't even bother to change the name. Franklin even went so far as to claim that only Americans spoke the true form of english. :laugh:

[Cskin]

"We're DOOMED...DOOMED I tell you".

We can thank those who felt it smart to start providing everything a new immigrant needs printed or spoken in their own language. Talk about giving them little incentive to learn English and further assimilate into the US culture. :doh:

[rincewind]

"We're DOOMED...DOOMED I tell you".




http://boortz.com/images/funny/helen_lovejoy_children.jpg

[SkinsHokieFan]

Spot on post Zoony. When I was in Switzerland I was a bit jealous of how the Swiss citizens could speak French, German, Italian and English

I can only do English and Urdu, and enough Italian where I can order a meal, find the bathroom, ask for directions and get a hotel room. I really would have loved to have learned different languages in school growing up, including French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian and now Chineese and Arabic (that may be quite ambitious, but you see my point)

[PiLfan]

English was stolen from the... well, the English. We Americanized/butchered it.

Oh, do you remember the day that if you said that you were gay,
It meant with joy, you could sing and shout?
A fairy was enchanting, and dressing up and camping,
Was something you did with the scouts.
That carefree age when an urgent case of aids,
Was powdered milk we sent to the Sahara.
A fruit was something nice to eat, a poof was something for your feet,
And a queen was an old tart in a tiara.

Ah, look what we've done to the old mother tongue,
It's a crime the way we've misused it.
It's been totally diswoggled, crumbed, and blonged and golly-woggled,
And we've strangled, fangled, mangled and abused it.

Ah, those far off times when a bong meant a chime,
And a buzz was a noise insecticidal,
A joint was something between bones, and getting really stoned,
Only happened to bad people in the Bible.
When if you had a bad trip, it meant you fell and broke your hip,
Cold turkey just meant Christmas at Aunt Dottie’s
Coke was something that you burned, smack was something that you earned,
From your mumzie wumzie when you had been naughty.

Ah, look what we've done to the old mother tongue,
It's a crime the way we've misused it.
It's been totally diswoggled, crumbed, and blonged and golly-woggled,
And we've strangled, fangled, mangled and abused it.

The years have gone I'm afraid, when only eggs got laid,
And only the rhinoceros got horny.
Only kangaroos jumped, and only camels humped,
Getting stuffed meant a little taxidermy.
Swinging was for trapezes, or Tarzan's chimpanzees
Tossing off was something Scotland did with cabers.
Now it means something quite obscene,
And heavy ugly scene is any movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ah, look what we've done to the old mother tongue,
It's a crime the way we've misused it.
It's been totally diswoggled, crumbed, and blonged and golly-woggled,
And we've strangled, fangled, mangled and abused it.

Ah, look what we've done to the old mother tongue,
It's a crime the way we've misused it.
It's been totally diswoggled, crumbed, and blonged and golly-woggled,
And we've strangled, fangled, mangled and abused it.

[Baculus]

:laugh:



That's ****ing great. Its only a matter of time until this becomes commonplace and, personally, I find it hilarious. I love watching all the 'speak English or leave' people get flustered. Good times.

I fail to find the humor in our nation being balkanized.

Why would this be funny?

[rincewind]

I fail to find the humor in our nation being balkanized.

Why would this be funny?


I answered that question in the post you quoted. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

[Baculus]

I answered that question in the post you quoted. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

Because you "...love watching all the 'speak English or leave' people get flustered"? Is that it?

So, just to spite someone, you find it amusing that an entire section of our population is virtually separating themselves from the nation in which they live?

[rincewind]

Because you "...love watching all the 'speak English or leave' people get flustered"? Is that it?

So, just to spite someone, you find it amusing that an entire section of our population is virtually separating themselves from the nation in which they live?


To a point, yes. Especially since some them get so upset over something that, in the end, isn't really that important.


As for the seperation thing - as I've stated, I don't really think its a good thing for them to speak no english. Bilingualism is definitely the way to go, it gives people a tremendous advantage and I think we should try harder to make the entire population bilingual.

[Baculus]

To a point, yes. Especially since some them get so upset over something that, in the end, isn't really that important.


As for the seperation thing - as I've stated, I don't really think its a good thing for them to speak no english. Bilingualism is definitely the way to go, it gives people a tremendous advantage and I think we should try harder to make the entire population bilingual.

You have to understand that this is the sort of issue that can have terribly negative effects by the end of the century, when the US as we know it may not exist.

I certainly understand that some in some European nations, such as Luxembourg, several tongues are spoken by their inhabitants and I think that's great. But, the difference being, that's well-understood within the context of the overall character of the nation and its history.

Citizens, through language and culture, identify when their home country. When this fades away, so does the nation. That is why I do not approach this issue with any humor, because I think it's that important.

This isn't saying, of course, that many of the Spanish-speaking citizens lack affinity or loyalty to this nation. But, for many, the US is simply some large place to work, not a place they'd call "home," especially if they despise the Gringos. This is contrary to the many Hispanic-Americans who are keen to find their way within American society--helping to shape the nation---while preserving parts of their own culture.

Sure, some English-speaking folks are sticks in the mud, but this isn't an issue of American tourists visiting abroad and being amazed that they have to speak another language. It is here--in the US--in a major metropolitan city.

There are even Europeans who would be unhappy if their native tongue was being supplanted by another language.

[rincewind]

You have to understand that this is the sort of issue that can have terribly negative effects by the end of the century, when the US as we know it may not exist.

I certainly understand that some in some European nations, such as Luxembourg, several tongues are spoken by their inhabitants and I think that's great. But, the difference being, that's well-understood within the context of the overall character of the nation and its history.

Citizens, through language and culture, identify when their home country. When this fades away, so does the nation. That is why I do not approach this issue with any humor, because I think it's that important.

This isn't saying, of course, that many of the Spanish-speaking citizens lack affinity or loyalty to this nation. But, for many, the US is simply some large place to work, not a place they'd call "home," especially if they despise the Gringos. This is contrary to the many Hispanic-Americans who are keen to find their way within American society--helping to shape the nation---while preserving parts of their own culture.

Sure, some English-speaking folks are sticks in the mud, but this isn't an issue of American tourists visiting abroad and being amazed that they have to speak another language. It is here--in the US--in a major metropolitan city.

There are even Europeans who would be unhappy if their native tongue was being supplanted by another language.


Well, first off this scenario won't happen for at least another century or so.


Second, for me, I really don't care if it does. American culture has taken drastic turns before, this would just be one more. If spanish becomes the primary language it would be, obviously, because there are more spanish speaking people than english speakers at that point - ahh... the dangers of a democracy.