Language Rights
AACRE supports policies that ensure individuals can access services and make informed decisions about their lives, regardless of language ability. Although there are strong federal and state civil rights laws that mandate equal access regardless of language ability, limited English proficient individuals continue to face enormous barriers when accessing public services and in participating fully in critical decisions that impact their lives.
More than one-third (1.4 million) of California’s Asian and Pacific Islander American population is limited-English proficient. The US Census definition of limited-English proficient (LEP) includes anyone who responded less than “very well” to the question, “how well do you speak English?” Put simply, an LEP individual is someone whose primary language is not English and has a limited ability to understand or communicate in English. Language proficiency data in the Asian and Pacific Islander American population:
- The largest Asian group, Chinese, is nearly majority limited-English proficient, with 48% speaking English less than “very well.”
- Six other Asian groups (Vietnamese, Hmong, Taiwanese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Korean) are majority LEP.
- Pacific Islanders have the third highest level of limited-English proficiency among the major racial or ethnic groups (15%).
- More than one in five APIA children are limited-English proficient.
- APIA households have the highest rate of linguistic isolation in the state. A linguistically isolated household is one where everyone over the age of 14 is limited-English proficient.
- San Francisco County has a majority limited-English proficiency APIA population, the highest among the ten counties with the largest APIA populations.
- Orange County and Los Angeles Counties are also among those with the highest APIA limited-English proficiency rates, 45% and 46% respectively.
- Half a million APIAs in Los Angeles are limited-English proficient.
For more information on language needs in California see APALC report, California Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by Legislative District.
See AACRE Agenda for positions AACRE is taking on important legislation.