Languages of the United States

Languages of the United States refers to the variety of languages spoken in the United States. The country is highly diverse linguistically, with over 350 languages reported as a mother tongue in the 2000 census.

Official language

The United States does not have a national official language; however, English is the de facto national language. It is the primary language used for legislation, regulations, executive orders, treaties, federal court rulings, and all other official pronouncements.

Major languages

Besides English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and Tagalog are the most spoken non-English languages in the U.S. Spanish is the second most common language in the country, spoken by over 40 million people (or 13% of the population) as a first language.

Indigenous languages

There are also numerous indigenous languages, many of which are endangered. These include languages like Navajo, Cherokee, and Ojibwe.

Language education

Language education is a complex issue in the U.S. While English is the most commonly taught language in schools, there is a growing emphasis on learning second languages, particularly Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese.

Language policy

The language policy in the U.S. is largely a matter of state and local regulation. Some states, like California, have made English their official language, while others, like New Mexico, have not.

See also

• Demographics of the United States
• Culture of the United States
• Education in the United States