AP: In Miami, Spanish is Becoming The Primary Language

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."

: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.

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.

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.

Welcome to California.

: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!

This is news?

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

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.

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%

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.

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

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.

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.

They could change "Miami" to "Wheaton".

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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:

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?

??

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.

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?

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.

Hard to say we stole the language since it was the predominate language of the settlers. The butchering has come about from the influx of other dialects and languages incorporated into it over the last 200 years. I would concede that we stole the country.