The population of the United States of America is nearly 350,000,000 and among those nearly 60 million people are Spanish speakers. There are 44 million native Spanish speakers and 15 million bilingual Spanish speakers. This means that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States after their official language English. If the country were to suddenly announce a second official language, it would definitely be Spanish. Hence, English to Spanish translation services are very commonly availed in the USA. Reasons can include business, government announcements, legal frameworks, medical services, and much more.
Today we will talk about the significance of the Spanish language in US history, culture, politics, and future trends within the country.
Why Does the USA Have So Many Spanish Speakers?
There are many reasons why the US has such a high percentage of Spanish speakers. One cause is that the USA is located near Latin America and most of those Latin people migrate to the USA because it’s convenient. Another reason has to do with the history. During the 15th and 16th Century, many Spanish explorers established colonies. Such colonies include what is now Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and more. When the US began expanding territory in the 17th and 18th centuries, many Spanish speakers were automatically within US borders.
Mexico, Columbia, and South American countries have waves of migration towards the United States. The easy immigration policies of the past have paved the way for many. Another interesting reason is the birth rate, the Hispanic population has a higher birth rate. Lastly, the cultural influence is also popular among Americans. This leads to most American students learning Spanish as a second language in high school and Universities.
Importance of Spanish
There are various reasons why Spanish has a significant role in the United States. We will talk about a few important ones.
Growing Hispanic Population
The birthrate of Hispanics in the USA is higher than any other population. Currently, nearly 20% of the US population is made of Spanish speakers. Researchers believe that this number may grow near 25% in the coming decade. Students in the USA study Spanish as a second language more often than other languages like Italian, French, Mandarin, and more. Given that such a high percentage of US citizens are Spanish speakers, the language plays a crucial role in politics, commerce, law, and culture.
Economic Reliance
When you are applying for jobs in the USA, you will notice that many jobs have a pre-requisite of Spanish. Hence, learning the Spanish language enhances career opportunities within the USA. For instance, English to Spanish translation services are very common in various industries in the USA. Also, English to Spanish translation is common for government positions, teaching jobs, legal jobs, the medical field, and also in Hollywood. Moreover, the US conducts a lot of trade with Spanish-speaking countries that are in the majority in that part of the world.
Cultural Significance
Spanish culture is a big part of the US culture. Food, music, drinks, parties, TV shows, literature, and more is influenced highly by the Hispanic culture. Take the food chain Taco Bell, for instance, it is primarily Hispanic but feels as American as the cheeseburger. We often see big corporations like Mcdonalds utilizing services from the best translation agency they can find to market themselves among the Hispanic population.
Political Campaigns
Well, when 20% of your population is made up of Spanish speakers. They are bound to be in the majority in certain regions of the country. The case is similar around the world, that minorities often accumulate in a specific region of the country. And in that region they are in the majority. There are many political constituencies that are Spanish dominant and political candidates often have campaigns in Spanish. Politicians will hire the best translation agency to ensure the most accurate translations.
What Does the Future Hold?
If you look at the facts, figures, and stats from the last few decades. You will notice that Spanish speakers have a consistent upward trend. I believe that this trend will continue and the US will have more Spanish speakers. We might see Spanish become one of the official languages of the country. But it is more likely that we will see Spanish become the official language of certain states. So I think it’s a good idea to learn Spanish as a second language if you plan to move or live in the United States. Because it will come in handy in many situations.
Conclusion
Collectively, the importance of the Spanish language goes beyond mere conversation. It represents the country’s diverse demographic. Learning Spanish enhances your career opportunities and helps you communicate with the growing Hispanic population. Given the growth rate of the language, you can see why Spanish will continue to hold a strong position in the country.
