The two fastest growing foreign languages in the United States are Arabic and Urdu. Arabic is the most popular language in the Middle East and Urdu is the native language of the Pakistanis and is regarded as their national language. Both languages are associated with Muslim nationals who have immigrated into the region in high numbers in the recent past.
According to Census’ Bureau 2014 American Community Survey (ACS), in a new report by the Center for Immigration Studies, Arabic and Urdu are quickly taking over many American households. They attribute this to a rapid increase in the number of immigrants from Muslim countries.
Statistics show that more than one out of five U.S. residents uses another language, apart from English, when they are at home. In the period between 2010 and 2014, the use of Arabic has increased by 29 percent, while that of Urdu leaped by 23 percent.
Previously, the United States has been in the limelight for having the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world. But this is likely going to change soon if the increase in Muslims is anything to go by.
Persian, a language spoken in Iran, has also gained popularity among residents, having increased by nine percent in the last five years.
According to other previous studies, the Muslim bloc is getting bigger and stronger as a result of increasing levels of immigration from Asia. Annually, the number of Muslim foreigners immigrating to the U.S. is estimated to be at least 280,000.
The country provides them with visas and other benefits such as social welfare, resettlement of relatives, and finally citizenship and voting rights on application.
The rapid growth of these languages is causing worry among native U.S. nationals. Steve Camarota, the author of the report, said, “English as our common language is part of the glue that holds our country together.” Camarota said the surge in Muslim immigrants will cause a huge strain on the bond that unites Americans. “With no pause in immigration levels in sight, the nation is headed into uncharted territory.”
As the 2016 presidential election continues to shape up, immigration laws are coming into focus. While Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would deport all immigrants, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has called for tolerance with regard to immigrants, saying attention should be shifted to the law.
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