California

===Languages===
{{main|Languages of California}}
{{see also|California English|Spanish language in California}}
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-open" style="margin-left:1em; float:right"
|+ '''Languages spoken in California by more than 100,000 persons'''
|-
! Language !! Population{{break}}<small>({{as of|2021|lc=y}})</small><ref name="Language2021">{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=punjabi&g=040XX00US06&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B16001&moe=false|access-date=July 23, 2023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !! [[Percentage|%]]
|-
|[[California English|English]]
|20,763,638
|{{Percentage|20,763,638|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Spanish language in California|Spanish]]
|10,434,308
|{{Percentage|10,434,308|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Chinese language in the United States|Chinese]]
|1,244,445
|{{Percentage|1,244,445|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Tagalog language in the United States|Tagalog]]
|757,488
|{{Percentage|757,488|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Vietnamese language in the United States|Vietnamese]]
|544,046
|{{Percentage|544,046|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Korean Americans|Korean]]
|356,901
|{{Percentage|356,901|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Arabic language in the United States|Arabic]]
|231,612
|{{Percentage|231,612|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Persian language in the United States|Persian]]
|221,650
|{{Percentage|221,650|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Armenian language in the United States|Armenian]]
|211,614
|{{Percentage|211,614|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|Hindi
|208,148
|{{Percentage|208,148|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Russian language in the United States|Russian]]
|178,176
|{{Percentage|178,176|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Punjabi American|Punjabi]]
|156,763
|{{Percentage|156,763|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Japanese American|Japanese]]
|135,992
|{{Percentage|135,992|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[French language in the United States|French]]
|126,371
|{{Percentage|126,371|37,027,601|2}}
|}

[[California English|English]] serves as California's [[de jure]] and [[de facto]] [[official language]]. According to the 2021 [[American Community Survey]] conducted by the [[United States Census Bureau]], 56.08% (20,763,638) of California residents age{{spaces}}5 and older spoke only [[English language|English]] at home, while 43.92% spoke another language at home. 60.35% of people who speak a language other than English at home are able to speak English "well" or "very well", with this figure varying significantly across the different linguistic groups.<ref name="Language2021"/> Like most [[U.S. state]]s (32 out of 50), California law enshrines English as its [[official language]], and has done so since the passage of [[List of California ballot propositions 1980–1989#November 4, 1986|Proposition 63]] by California voters in 1986. Various government agencies do, and are often required to, furnish documents in the various languages needed to reach their intended audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What other languages is the written or audio test available in?//Driver License and Identification (ID) Card Information |url=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#languages |publisher=California Department of Motor Vehicles}}</ref><ref name="AB 800 Analysis">{{Cite web |last=Wesson |first=Herb |author-link=Herb Wesson |date=July 17, 2001 |title=AB 800 Assembly Bill—Bill Analysis |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123142018/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |publisher=California State Assembly |page=3 |quote=In 1986, California voters amended the state constitution to provide that the Legislature and officials of the State of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced. The Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language of California.}}</ref><ref name="Hull English already official">{{Cite news |last=Hull |first=Dana |date=May 20, 2006 |title=English already is 'official' in California |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| width             = 150
| image1            = California Constitution 1849 title page.jpg
| image2            = Proclama al Pueblo de California (1849) (cropped).jpg
| footer            = The [[Constitution of California]] was written in both [[California English|English]] (left) and [[Spanish language in California|Spanish]] (right) by both American and [[Californio]] delegates.
}}

[[Spanish language in California|Spanish]] is the most commonly spoken language in California, behind English, spoken by 28.18% (10,434,308) of the population (in 2021).<ref name="Language2021"/> The Spanish language has been spoken in California since 1542 and is deeply intertwined with California's cultural landscape and history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf|title=The Linguistic Isolation of Hispanic Students in California's Public Schools - Spanish Speakers in California: A Historical Overview (Bernard R. Gifford and Guadalupe Valdés)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2016/12/15/california-losing-ability-hablar-espanol/ideas/connecting-california/|title=Is California Losing Its Ability to Hablar Español? &#124; Connecting California|first=Joe|last=Mathews |date=December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>''"Spanish is deeply intertwined in our society"'' - [https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/10-4-million-people-speak-Spanish-in-16067234.php SFgate - 10.4 million people speak Spanish in California–here's how you can learn, too]</ref> Spanish was the official administrative language of California through the Spanish and Mexican eras, until 1848. Following the U.S. [[Conquest of California]] and the [[Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo]], the U.S. Government guaranteed the rights of Spanish speaking Californians. The first [[Constitution of California]] was written in both languages at the [[California Constitutional Conventions|Monterey Constitutional Convention of 1849]] and protected the rights of Spanish speakers to use their language in government proceedings and mandating that all government documents be published in both English and Spanish.<ref>[https://www.dailynews.com/2010/07/18/english-spanish-share-long-history-in-california/ English and Spanish Share a Long History in California] - [[Los Angeles Daily News]] (Andrew Edwards, July 18, 2010)</ref>

Despite the initial recognition of Spanish by early American governments in California, the revised 1879 constitution stripped the rights of Spanish speakers and the official status of Spanish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.languagepolicy.net/archives/1879con.htm|title=Language Policy Web Site|website=www.languagepolicy.net}}</ref> The growth of the [[English-only movement]] by the mid-20th century led to the passage of [[1986 California Proposition 63]], which enshrined English as the only official language in California and ended Spanish language instruction in schools.<ref name="Time Bilingual">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4041224/history-california-bilingual-education/|title=The Complicated History Behind California's Vote on Bilingual Education|date=November 2, 2016|magazine=Time}}</ref> [[2016 California Proposition 58]] reversed the prohibition on [[bilingual education]], though there are still many barriers to the proliferation of Spanish bilingual education, including a shortage of teachers and lack of funding.<ref>[[Los Angeles Times]] -[https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-01-31/how-language-affects-identity-for-latinos How second- and third-generation Latinos are reclaiming the Spanish language]</ref><ref name="Time Bilingual"/><ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/29/499867678/the-debate-over-bilingual-education-in-california NPR - After Nearly 2 Decades, Californians Revisit Ban On Bilingual Education]</ref> The [[government of California]] has since made efforts to promote Spanish language access and bilingual education,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksbw.com/article/dollar178-million-grant-uplifts-california-spanish-speaking-students/41236323|title=$1.78 million grant uplifts California Spanish-speaking students|first=Christian|last=Balderas|date=September 16, 2022|website=KSBW}}</ref><ref>[San Diego Union Tribune] - [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2022-03-10/dual-langage-programs-bilingual-english-spanish California wants most students to be bilingual by 2040. Here's why.]</ref> as have private educational institutions in California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/03/10/el-eco-leads-more-spanish-language-courses-california-lutheran/4551110001/|title=California Lutheran University staff create more Spanish-language options|first=Shivani|last=Patel|website=Ventura County Star}}</ref> Many businesses in California promote the usage of Spanish by their employees, to better serve both California's Hispanic population and the larger [[Hispanophone|Spanish-speaking world]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sponsored/will-spanish-overtake-english-as-the-most-spoken-language-of-california/article_0a193d8e-88f9-11ec-b067-bbf4bca11bba.html|title=Will Spanish Overtake English as the Most Spoken Language of California?|date=February 8, 2022|website=San Mateo Daily Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://janerosenthal.com/live-in-california-learn-spanish/|title=Should You Lean Spanish If You Live in California? &#124; Jane Rosenthal Author|first=Janes|last=Team|date=January 17, 2023|website=Jane Rosenthal}}</ref>

California has historically been one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world, with more than 70 indigenous languages derived from 64 root languages in six language families.<ref name="Native Languages 1770">{{Cite map |publisher=Coyote Press |title=Native Tribes, Groups, Language Families and Dialects of California in 1770 |url=http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html |edition=1966 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430112732/http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html }}</ref><ref name="Indian Root Languages 1994">{{Cite map |publisher=California State Parks |title=California Indians Root Languages and Tribal Groups |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23545 |edition=1994 |access-date=December 27, 2009}}</ref> A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Indigenous Farmworker Study—Indigenous Mexicans in California Agriculture. Section V. Language and Culture |url=http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> All of California's indigenous languages are [[endangered language|endangered]], although there are now efforts toward [[language revitalization]].<ref group="note">The following are a list of the indigenous languages: Root languages of California: Athabaskan Family: Hupa, Mattole, Lassik, Wailaki, Sinkyone, Cahto, Tolowa, Nongatl, Wiyot, Chilula; Hokan Family: Pomo, Shasta, Karok, Chimiriko; Algonquian Family: Whilkut, Yurok; Yukian Family: Wappo; Penutian Family: Modok, Wintu, Nomlaki, Konkow, Maidu, Patwin, Nisenan, Miwok, Coast Miwok, Lake Miwok, Ohlone, Northern Valley Yokuts, Southern Valley Yokuts, Foothill Yokuts; Hokan Family: Esselen, Salinan, Chumash, Ipai, Tipai, Yuma, Halchichoma, Mohave; Uto-Aztecan Family: Mono Paiute, Monache, Owens Valley Paiute, Tubatulabal, Panamint Shoshone, Kawaisu, Kitanemuk, Tataviam, Gabrielino, Juaneno, Luiseno, Cuipeno, Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi</ref> California has the highest concentration nationwide of [[Chinese language in the United States|Chinese]], [[Vietnamese language in the United States|Vietnamese]] and [[Punjabi American|Punjabi]] speakers.

As a result of the state's increasing diversity and migration from other areas across the country and around the globe, linguists began noticing a noteworthy set of emerging characteristics of spoken [[American English]] in California since the late 20th century. This variety, known as [[California English]], has a [[vowel shift]] and several other phonological processes that are different from varieties of American English used in other regions of the United States.<ref name="Bucholtz">{{Cite journal |last1=Bucholtz |first1=Mary |display-authors=etal |date=December 2007 |title=Hella Nor Cal or Totally So Cal?: The Perceptual Dialectology of California |journal=Journal of English Linguistics |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=325–352 |citeseerx=10.1.1.516.3682 |doi=10.1177/0075424207307780 |s2cid=64542514}}</ref>