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Census: More South Floridians speak languages other than English

English gives way to other tongues

September 12, 2007

English-only speakers may feel their numbers shrinking in South Florida, according to new Census figures showing the area's growing linguistic diversity.

Census data showing annual changes in key social, economic and housing characteristics indicate a sharp increase in the number of people who speak a language other than English.

Among Broward County's roughly 1.7 million residents, 35 percent over age 5 speak a language other than English, compared to 26 percent statewide, according to Census data released today. Of those, just 21 percent said they spoke English very well. In 2000, 29 percent of county residents over age 5 spoke a language other than English at home, compared with 23 percent statewide.

The increase follows a national surge in the country's linguistic diversity. About 8 million more people spoke a foreign language at home in 2006 than they did in 2000 — or roughly 20 percent of the nation in 2006 and 18 percent in 2000.

The rise in foreign-language speakers has compelled more people to pick up another language, according to Edith Oliva, 50, a translator who teaches Spanish to business owners, executives and other professionals.

"Economically, it's absolutely vital. More and more adult students are coming to me because they need Spanish for their work," said Oliva, who moved to Florida from her native Argentina in 1992. "I also tell immigrants I work with that they have to get out of their communities and learn English and the ways of the United States," she said.

Though Spanish is the most prevalent foreign language in Broward County, the area also includes a rich cross-section of Haitian Creole and Brazilian Portuguese-speakers.

Roger E. Savain, a Haitian-born freelance translator and interpreter who lives in Plantation, says Creole was barely heard here when he moved to Florida 19 years ago.

"There was a stigma attached to it among Haitians," Savain said. "If you didn't speak French [the language of the upper class in Haiti], you were stupid. You were nobody."

In the past few years, he has seen a flowering of Creole in South Florida just as Creole is being embraced in literary and academic circles in Haiti.

Savain said local cities have been slow to tap into the contributions of South Florida's multiple languages and cultures, citing the difficulty some Caribbean festivals have had finding a venue.

"In cities like New York, foreign languages are vital. We need to recognize that everyone who comes here from another country brings something, whether it's food, music or language, that adds to our humanity," he said.

The language trend is similar in Palm Beach County, where 26 percent of residents over age 5 speak a language other than English at home, up from 22 percent in 2000.

Cuban-American Jorge Goyanes remembers the days when ordering a Cuban coffee drew blank stares.

"I remember moving up here in '83. I had to hustle to find out where the Cuban bakeries were and there was only one," said Goyanes, 52, of Lake Worth. "Now I can go anywhere to get my Cuban bread and cafe con leche."

Goyanes is past chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County and serves on the chamber's board. When he joined the chamber 15 years ago, it was a social club of 40 members. Today, its membership is over 500.

Goyanes says about half the customers at his auto-repair business, Car Clinic, speak no English.

"Hispanic immigrants traditionally like to deal with people in their own language, but my clients have no choice," Goyanes said.

As the number of foreign-language speakers grows, some criticize government efforts to translate services.

"I have a problem when I go get my driver's license and you have multiple languages to choose from," said Angela Jackson, 58, of Hollywood and an opponent of legalization for undocumented immigrants. "We have people driving on our streets not knowing English and voting in foreign languages. I wouldn't dream of going to Mexico and demanding that everyone speak English.