* Defining "Speak English" is tricky: Do we mean fluent, conversational, or just understanding some basic phrases?
* The Census: The US Census asks about language spoken at home, but it doesn't distinguish between primary and secondary languages. Someone could speak English as a second language and still be counted as speaking English at home.
* Language is dynamic: People learn and lose languages throughout their lives.
However, we can look at some statistics:
* The 2020 Census: Found that about 6.4% of the US population (over 21 million people) speak a language other than English at home.
* This number is likely an underestimate: It doesn't account for people who speak English but are not proficient, or for those who speak other languages but may also speak some English.
Important Considerations:
* The US is a nation of immigrants: This means a large and diverse population speaks multiple languages.
* Language access is crucial: Many services and resources are only offered in English, which can create challenges for those who speak other languages.
Conclusion: While we can't pinpoint an exact number, it's safe to say that a significant number of people in the US do not speak English as their primary language.