Spanish Language Here to Stay

July 20, 2005 08:21 AM US Eastern Timezone
Spanish Language Here to Stay; Study Shows Spanish Speakers to Increase 45% in Coming Years

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 2005--A Landmark Study titled: "The Future Use Of The Spanish Language In The USA -- Projected to 2015 & 2025" just released by Hispanic U.S.A. Inc. reveals startling results about the dramatic continued growth of Spanish-Speakers in America.

The study challenges the assumption that the use of Spanish will decrease in coming years as succeeding generations of Hispanics are born and grow up in this country. In fact, the study shows that the number of Spanish-dominant and bilingual Latinos will increase by 45 percent over the next two decades - adding 12.4 million Spanish-speakers to today's population.

And it's not just because of continuing immigration. Unlike other immigrant groups, even third-generation Hispanics - those born of Latino parents who themselves were born in the United States - will continue to speak Spanish in extraordinarily large numbers.
"We know that the number of Acculturated Hispanics will continue to grow, but what this study clearly shows, is that Spanish is here to stay, and in a big way. Our study has far-reaching implications from a marketing and media perspective. The fact is that Spanish connects on an emotional and visceral level with Hispanics in a way that English does not. We want to be courted in the language we make love in, for most of us, that would be in Espanol," stated Jose Cancela, Principal of Hispanic USA Inc.
The study, conducted by Roslow Research Group on behalf of Hispanic U.S.A., is based on a comprehensive analysis of census data and national research by multiple internationally recognized institutions, which projects the use of the Spanish Language through the year 2025. "We believe this study sets the record straight as it relates to the future use of the Spanish Language among Hispanics here in the States," stated Peter Roslow, Founder of the Roslow Research Group.

Among its findings:
-- By 2025, the number of Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States will reach 40.2 million, up from 27.8 million today.

-- Fully two-thirds of Hispanics 5 and older will speak Spanish 20 years from now.

-- On average, 35 percent of third-generation Latinos in the United States speak Spanish.

-- The 18-and-older Spanish-speaking population will increase by 53 percent, to 15.2 million by 2025.

-- The key 18-to-49 year old demographic will grow by 7.5 million, and will include 59 percent of all the Spanish speakers.

In addition, the study gives a detailed breakdown of the expected growth of Spanish-speakers in the top 25 Hispanic markets in the country. The projections show striking across-the-board increases of 40 to 55 percent in every one. Los Angeles, the biggest, leads the way in terms of sheer numbers. But such major cities as Boston, Las Vegas and Austin top the charts with an expected 55 percent growth in each. San Diego, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta are close behind.