Languages in Arizona

No, You Don’t Need to Know Spanish

Editors Note: People often ask Arizona for Boomers about how sharing a border with Mexico impacts life in the state. So here you go… our first post on the subject.

The Numbers
As a cornerstone of the American Southwest, there is no question that Arizona’s culture and lifestyle share influences from the neighboring country of Mexico. It’s noticeable in the architecture, fashion, cuisine, and language.

First off, overwhelmingly, (73%), people in Arizona speak English. However, you will likely run across Spanish. According to the latest census numbers, Spanish is spoken in approximately 20 percent of Arizona homes. Compare this to the whole United States. Across the country, 13 percent of the population speaks Spanish at home. Additionally, census records indicate that up to 9 percent of Arizonians speak only Spanish, contrasted to California’s 13 percent and Maine’s quarter of a percent.

By the way, Spanish isn’t the only non-English language spoken in Arizona. Other 7 percent speak (at home) languages including Navajo, German, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

English – It’s Official
While the people of Arizona cherish many facets of Hispanic and other cultures, in 2006, voters passed Proposition 103 by an overwhelming margin to make English the official language of the state. The provision did not outlaw the use of other languages; it merely established that the official business of the State of Arizona is in English.

Proponents claimed that the move was necessary because the proliferation of multiple languages could divide residents and lead to wasteful spending in translating millions of state documents into multiple languages. Further, it was acknowledged that trade and tourism, and other key state functions, will still use multiple languages.

What Arizona Proposition 103 does:

•    Requires English for all official actions of state and local governments
•    Prohibits discrimination against a person that uses English in any public or private communication
•    Arizona citizens and business can enforce English requirement in court

What Arizona Proposition 103 does not do:
•    Not unlawful to speak other languages in Arizona
•    Prohibit non-English on signs or advertising in Arizona

Prop 103 has made no noticeable impact on daily life in Arizona. English is still the primary language spoken in public places, yet Spanish or other native tongues are used more so in some pockets of the state. For the most part, signs and other materials are printed in English. Just enough, multilingual influence remains visible to help native people connect with their roots and newcomers expand their vocabulary.

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Arizona visitors and residents need not be concerned: Arizona’s rich southwest culture is here to stay; and so is the English language.