After English, the second most reported main language was Polish, with 546,000 speakers, followed by Punjabi and Urdu.
Some 4 million – or 8% – reported speaking a different main language other than English or Welsh.
English or Welsh was the main language for 92% – or 50 million – of residents aged three and over. Of the 8% who spoke a different main language, most were proficient in speaking English.
Of those with a main language other than English, 1.7 million could speak English very well, 1.6 million could speak English well, and 726,000 could speak English, however not well. The remaining 138,000 could not speak English at all. More >>
See: BBC News
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United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
I speak English and a little Welsh, plus my mother tongue, French and some German
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
English to Italian
This can be applied to almost every European country...
Local time: 19:20
Spanish to English
+ ...
That's a very valid point.
Netherlands
Local time: 19:20
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
... See more
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-and-quick-statistics-for-wards-and-output-areas-in-england-and-wales/STB-2011-census--quick-statistics-for-england-and-wales--march-2011.html#tab-Proficiency-in-English
The number of non-native English speakers is greatest in London (more than 20%), but the number of English non-speakers is actually greatest outside of London. In other words, London boasts the largest number of immigrants but the immigrants in London typically can speak English as well, as opposed to the immigrants in other regions. ▲ Collapse
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
Hebrew to English
If it were accurate, there'd be a lot of Jedi Knights walking around....(almost 200,000 of them in fact).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/datablog/interactive/2012/dec/11/census-religion
[Edited at 2013-02-17 18:03 GMT]
Spain
Local time: 19:20
French to English
+ ...
If it were accurate, there'd be a lot of Jedi Knights walking around....(almost 200,000 of them in fact).
These are not the census data you are looking for.
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
Hebrew to English
The claim that 138,000 people live in England and Wales and speak no English whatsoever should be taken with more than one pinch of salt.... See more
The claim that 138,000 people live in England and Wales and speak no English whatsoever should be taken with more than one pinch of salt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_census_phenomenon ▲ Collapse
Netherlands
Local time: 19:20
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
If I look at any big town (even in the Netherlands, where the biggest towns don't even have a million inhabitants), there must be at least 50.000 people that don't speak the local language, ... foreign workers, expats, permanent tourists, prisoners, refugees, spouses of 1st generation immigrants,.... etc....
France
Local time: 19:20
French to English
People who don't speak English don't answer census questions...
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
Hebrew to English
People who don't speak English don't answer census questions...
I was thinking the same thing. There's a logical problem there....
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
Just thought I'd throw this into the debate.
All the same a serious comment, having heard this concern from a dietician.
[Edited at 2013-02-18 14:40 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-02-18 14:40 GMT]
Spain
Local time: 19:20
English to Spanish
As some here say, that could be applied to almost any European country. I know many British who have been living in Spain for years, or even decades, who can't speak any Spanish and I don't mean to offend anyone, it is just an example.
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:20
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
Nobody is disputing this.
What I am concerned about is people who cannot speak the language of the country and then find themselves in a very difficult situation when they go to hospital with a serious condition. Interpreters are not ten a penny.
Local time: 19:20
Spanish to English
+ ...
If you go to the doctor's here in Spain and you don't understand Spanish, you have to take a friend or neighbour that does. I suppose you could hire the services of an interpreter but I doubt many do.
Brazil
Local time: 14:20
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Nobody is disputing this.
What I am concerned about is people who cannot speak the language of the country and then find themselves in a very difficult situation when they go to hospital with a serious condition. Interpreters are not ten a penny.
In UK hospitals, at the reception desks, there is a poster with some 30 languages, on which you can indicate (OK, you have to be able to READ your own language) which language you speak, so that the hospital staff can get you an interpreter.
I know for a fact that this works; when we moved to the UK, my partner in the beginning didn´t speak a word of English and once had to go to the Emergency ward while I was out of the UK. He showed his native tongue (PT) on the poster and within 30 minutes, there was a telephone interpreter (granted, not ideal!) who helped him out. I know there are a lot of nasty stories circulating about UK hospitals, but when things are well organized and do work properly, it can be mentioned as well!
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