Certified Languages International Study Shows Nationwide Shift in Non-English Speaking Population

February 3, 2015
Language Access/Advocacy

Words on a concrete wall reading everyone is welcome.

Certified Languages International Study Shows Nationwide Shift In Non-English Speaking Population

Portland, Ore.-based language services company measures most frequently spoken languages

PORTLAND, Ore. (February 3, 2015) – A recent study conducted by Certified Languages International (CLI) found shifts in the non-English languages spoken throughout the nation, including the growth of Arabic and Chinese Cantonese.

“Assessing language use is one of the most straightforward ways to evaluate demographic trends,” said CLI CEO Kristin Quinlan. “While the growth of these languages may seem subtle, it reflects a continued – and significant – shift in the diversification of the country.”

A countdown of the top 10 most frequently spoken non-English languages in U.S. includes:

Ranking

Arabic grew from the fourth most spoken language to the third and Chinese Cantonese from sixth to fifth. Russian and Vietnamese were spoken less frequently in 2014 as compared to the previous year, and Spanish remains in its number one slot.

CLI’s study measured the interpreting services used by clients.

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