(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Few adults in the United States believe Spanish should have a more prominent role in their country’s life, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 43 per cent of respondents believe Spanish should be taught as a second language in U.S. primary and high schools, and only 28 per cent would consent to Spanish becoming the country’s second official language.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Few adults in the United States believe Spanish should have a more prominent role in their country’s life, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 43 per cent of respondents believe Spanish should be taught as a second language in U.S. primary and high schools, and only 28 per cent would consent to Spanish becoming the country’s second official language.
In all, 30 American states have passed legislation that makes English their official language. Puerto Rico is the only U.S. territory that is officially English and Spanish bilingual. Spanish is spoken by about 12 per cent of U.S. residents, which means the U.S. houses the fifth largest Spanish-speaking population in the world after Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Colombia.
In February, Republican Iowa congressman Steve King introduced the English Language Unity Act of 2009, which seeks to establish English as the official language of the U.S. The bill would mandate the federal government to conduct business in English without placing restrictions on languages spoken or on the private sector.
Polling Data
Do you believe Spanish should be taught as a second language in U.S. primary and high schools?
|
Yes |
43% |
|
No |
50% |
|
Not sure |
7% |
Would you support or oppose one day making Spanish the United States’ second official language?
|
Support |
28% |
|
Oppose |
64% |
|
Not sure |
8% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,011 American adults, conducted from Jun. 13 to Jun. 15, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
