In Oklahoma, the vast majority of residents speak English. English was even voted in as the official language of state actions in 2010. However, that doesn’t mean other languages aren’t spoken in the state, as Oklahoma is far more diverse than many people realize.
Typically, the languages used within a state are a mark of the region’s history, including the presence of indigenous people and the arrival of immigrants from different parts of the world. With that in mind, here’s an overview of Oklahoma’s immigration history, along with the top ten languages of Oklahoma, not including English.
Oklahoma Immigration History
Initially, Oklahoma was the home of indigenous people, but that changed with the arrival of various settlers. In the 1870s, a mining boom drew in a wide array of Europeans, including Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Slavic, and Welsch. Additionally, the land rush in 1889 brought in even more settlers to the region, further altering the demographic mix.
While Native Americans remain a significant part of the Oklahoma population, as the state is home to 39 tribal nations, the bulk of the population is of European descent. Additionally, there are sizeable African American and Hispanic populations, with the latter bolstered by an influx of Mexican immigrants during the 1980s. Additionally, there is a notable number of Asians, including Vietnamese immigrants, who also arrived in large numbers in the 1980s.
Top 10 Languages of Oklahoma (Other Than English)
Oklahoma has approximately 4.02 million residents, and the vast majority do speak English. However, 10.7 percent of residents aged five and up (around 430,119 people) speak a language other than English at home. Additionally, about 3.94 percent of the population (approximately 158,380 residents) are considered to have limited English proficiency (LEP). As a result, many languages are regularly spoken in Oklahoma. Here’s a closer look at the top ten languages of Oklahoma, not including English.
1. Spanish
As is the case in most US states, Spanish is the most widely used non-English language in Oklahoma. The estimated 269,433 Spanish speakers make up approximately 7.30 percent of the Oklahoma population.
2. Vietnamese
Vietnamese is the second most widely-used non-English language in Oklahoma, though the number of speakers pales in comparison to Spanish. There are around 17,684 speakers in the state, giving them a population share of just shy of 0.48 percent.
3. Other Native American Languages
While some Native American languages – such as Navajo – are separately calculated, approximately 13,883 residents in Oklahoma speak Native American languages that aren’t individually tracked. Those Native American language speakers make up nearly 0.38 percent of the Oklahoma population.
4. Chinese
Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin) is the next language on this list, with about 9,675 speakers in the state. That results in a population share of a little more than 0.26 percent.
5. German
With about 7,973 speakers, German is in fifth place on this list. These speakers make up around 0.22 percent of the Oklahoma population.
6. French
French (including Cajun) is the sixth most widely-used non-English language in Oklahoma. The approximately 5,467 speakers represent almost 0.15 percent of the population.
7. Arabic
With 4,607 speakers, Arabic is seventh on this list. They have a population share of nearly 0.13 percent.
8. Korean
There are an estimated 4,451 Korean speakers in Oklahoma. As a result, they make up about 0.12 percent of the population.
9. Ilocano, Samoan, Hawaiian, or Other Austronesian Languages
Ilocano, Samoan, Hawaiian, or other Austronesian languages are spoken by approximately 4,288 Oklahomans, giving them a population share just shy of 0.12 percent.
10. Hmong
Hmong rounds out the top ten non-English languages spoken in Oklahoma. The estimated 4,211 speakers make up a bit more than 0.11 percent of the population.
Do You Need to Communicate with a Diverse Population?
Oklahoma is a diverse state, with many languages spoken by its residents. That’s why having access to experienced translators and interpreters is so vital to organizations in the area. Language service providers provide avenues for reliable, accurate communication, ensuring everyone can share information effectively.
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