By Caroline Roper
Even though a significant number of Floridians speak a language other than English, most still support English as the official language, according to a study conducted by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education.
Eighty-two percent of respondents reported they were in agreement with English becoming the only official language in the United States. The electronic survey collected responses from more than 500 residents from across the state.
“It is interesting in that in a state with a growing immigrant population like Florida, you’re more likely to find yourself in a situation where you are acquainted with somebody who is from another country,” PIE Center director Tracy Irani said. “There is also more of an opportunity to become associated with or become a relative of someone who speaks another language.”
Seventy-one percent of respondents in the study reported speaking only English, while 29 percent reported speaking another language, including 17 percent reporting they speak Spanish.
Bilingual homes are becoming increasingly common in the state of Florida, according to the United States Census Bureau, which reports that in 27 percent of homes in Florida, someone speaks a language other than English. In major metropolitan areas this trend is more common with 32 percent of homes in Orlando and 77 percent of homes in Miami having someone speaking a language other than English.
“Making English the official language has been something that’s talked about, particularly in the southern part of the state, for a while,” Irani said.
Respondents also reported having an experience with immigrants, including experiences where it was hard to communicate. Nearly 70 percent reported that they often come into contact with immigrants who speak little or no English and 61 percent of respondents reported that it bothers them.
“I think that like other aspects of changes in our society that move through the culture over time, people become more accepting when they see something more and are exposed to it more,” Irani said. “As exposure to other cultures happens more and more, people become more acculturated to those types of situations and it becomes more familiar over time.”
