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Vietnamese language in the United States

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Vietnamese language in the United States

Vietnamese has more than 1.5 million speakers in the United States, where it is the sixth-most spoken language. The United States also ranks second among countries and territories with the most Vietnamese speakers, behind Vietnam. The Vietnamese language became prevalent after the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1975, when many refugees from Vietnam came to the United States. It is used in many aspects of life, including media, commerce, and administration. In several states, it is the third-most spoken language, behind English and Spanish. To maintain the language for later generations, Vietnamese speakers have established many language centers and coordinated with public school systems to teach Vietnamese to students who are born and raised in the United States. After several decades of development in a multilingual environment independent of the native country, Vietnamese in the United States has some differences from the Vietnamese language currently spoken in Vietnam, and the community of Vietnamese speakers has consciously tried to preserve those differences.

Infobox

Native to
United States
Ethnicity
Vietnamese Americans
Speakers
1.6 million (2019)
Language family
Austroasiatic VieticViet–MuongVietnamese
Dialects
United States Vietnamese
Writing system
Latin (Vietnamese alphabet)
ISO 639-1
vi
ISO 639-2
vie
ISO 639-3
Glottolog
None
IETF
vi-US

Tables

Birthplace distribution of Vietnamese speakers by year (percentage)[15] · Demographics › Distribution
Vietnam
Vietnam
Birthplace
Vietnam
1980
87.4
1990
82.0
2000
79.7
2010
74.3
2019
71.4
US
US
Birthplace
US
1980
7.0
1990
13.3
2000
17.1
2010
22.7
2019
23.5
Other
Other
Birthplace
Other
1980
5.5
1990
4.7
2000
3.2
2010
2.9
2019
5.0
Birthplace
1980
1990
2000
2010
2019
Vietnam
87.4
82.0
79.7
74.3
71.4
US
7.0
13.3
17.1
22.7
23.5
Other
5.5
4.7
3.2
2.9
5.0
Percentage of Vietnamese Americans by generation · Demographics › Fluency
1
1
Generation
1
Definition
Born outside the US
% 1980
95
% 2006
77
% 2019
60
2
2
Generation
2
Definition
Born in the US
% 1980
3
% 2006
19
% 2019
40
3
3
Generation
3
Definition
Born in the US and having one parent born in the US
% 1980
2
% 2006
4
Generation
Definition
% 1980
% 2006
% 2019
1
Born outside the US
95
77
60
2
Born in the US
3
19
40
3
Born in the US and having one parent born in the US
2
4
Vietnamese and English speaking ability of Vietnamese Americans by generation, 2006[12] · Demographics › Fluency
Minors
Minors
Language ability
Minors
1st
Total
1st
Minors
2nd
Total
2nd
Minors
3rd
Total
3rd
Minors
Total
Total
Vietnamese only
Vietnamese only
Language ability
Vietnamese only
1st
1.1
1st
7.1
2nd
0.3
2nd
0.2
3rd
0
3rd
0
Total
0.5
Total
5.5
English not well
English not well
Language ability
English not well
1st
6.5
1st
28.7
2nd
6.0
2nd
5.9
3rd
0.2
3rd
0.2
Total
5.5
Total
23.3
English well
English well
Language ability
English well
1st
18.7
1st
32.2
2nd
15.5
2nd
14.9
3rd
2.4
3rd
2.4
Total
15.0
Total
27.7
English very well
English very well
Language ability
English very well
1st
26.9
1st
25.7
2nd
58.3
2nd
60.8
3rd
6.0
3rd
7.1
Total
41.5
Total
31.6
English only
English only
Language ability
English only
1st
46.8
1st
6.4
2nd
19.9
2nd
18.1
3rd
91.3
3rd
90.2
Total
37.5
Total
11.8
Language ability
1st
2nd
3rd
Total
Minors
Total
Minors
Total
Minors
Total
Minors
Total
Vietnamese only
1.1
7.1
0.3
0.2
0
0
0.5
5.5
English not well
6.5
28.7
6.0
5.9
0.2
0.2
5.5
23.3
English well
18.7
32.2
15.5
14.9
2.4
2.4
15.0
27.7
English very well
26.9
25.7
58.3
60.8
6.0
7.1
41.5
31.6
English only
46.8
6.4
19.9
18.1
91.3
90.2
37.5
11.8
Voting units providing Vietnamese-language voting material (2021)[47] · Usage › Government and politics
California
California
State
California
Administrative unit
Counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Clara
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
State
Massachusetts
Administrative unit
Town: Randolph
Texas
Texas
State
Texas
Administrative unit
Counties: Dallas, Harris, Tarrant
Virginia
Virginia
State
Virginia
Administrative unit
County: Fairfax
Washington
Washington
State
Washington
Administrative unit
County: King
State
Administrative unit
California
Counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Clara
Massachusetts
Town: Randolph
Texas
Counties: Dallas, Harris, Tarrant
Virginia
County: Fairfax
Washington
County: King
Orthographical differences[85] · Characteristics › Differences from other language spoken in Vietnam
-anh
-anh
Vietnamese language overseas
-anh
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
-inh
Example
tài chánh - tài chính, chánh trị - chính trị
-inh
-inh
Vietnamese language overseas
-inh
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
-ênh
Example
binh vực - bênh vực, bịnh viện - bệnh viện
-ơn
-ơn
Vietnamese language overseas
-ơn
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
-ân
Example
cổ nhơn - cổ nhân, nhơn dịp - nhân dịp
-ưt
-ưt
Vietnamese language overseas
-ưt
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
-ât
Example
nhứt định - nhất định, chủ nhựt - chủ nhật
-o
-o
Vietnamese language overseas
-o
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
-u
Example
võ lực - vũ lực, cổ võ - cổ vũ
-âu
-âu
Vietnamese language overseas
-âu
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
-u
Example
tịch thâu - tịch thu, thâu video - thu video
Vietnamese language overseas
Vietnamese language in Vietnam
Example
-anh
-inh
tài chánh - tài chính, chánh trị - chính trị
-inh
-ênh
binh vực - bênh vực, bịnh viện - bệnh viện
-ơn
-ân
cổ nhơn - cổ nhân, nhơn dịp - nhân dịp
-ưt
-ât
nhứt định - nhất định, chủ nhựt - chủ nhật
-o
-u
võ lực - vũ lực, cổ võ - cổ vũ
-âu
-u
tịch thâu - tịch thu, thâu video - thu video

References

  1. Dietrich & Hernandez (2022), pp. 3
  2. Library of Congress
    https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/langcodes-keyword.php?SearchTerm=vie&SearchType=iso_639_2&Submit=Go
  3. Dao & Bankston (2010), p. 128
    https://books.google.com/books?id=1uIC4wLNaeQC&pg=PA128
  4. "Language Spoken at Home"
    https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/press-kits/2017/esri/esri_uc2017_language_spoken_at_home.pdf
  5. Shin & Ortman (2011), pp. 10
  6. Thompson (1988), pp. xvii
  7. Thompson (1988), pp. xv
  8. Dao & Bankston (2010), p. 130-131
    https://books.google.com/books?id=1uIC4wLNaeQC&pg=PA130
  9. Brazil 2018.
  10. "More Than 1 Million United States Residents Speak Vietnamese at Home, Census Bureau Reports"
    https://www.census.gov/newsroom/archives/2013-pr/cb13-r92.html
  11. "Top Languages Other than English Spoken in 1980 and Changes in Relative Rank, 1990-2010"
    https://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/045/
  12. Dao & Bankston (2010), p. 141-144
    https://books.google.com/books?id=1uIC4wLNaeQC&pg=PA141
  13. Mitchell (2015)
  14. Tran, Do & Chik (2022), p. 260-262
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Mbw-EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT260
  15. Ruggles et al. 2021.
  16. Slate
    https://slate.com/culture/2014/05/language-map-whats-the-most-popular-language-in-your-state.html
  17. Dao & Bankston (2010), p. 133
    https://books.google.com/books?id=1uIC4wLNaeQC&pg=PA133
  18. United States Census Bureau 2019.
  19. Dao & Bankston (2010), p. 134-135
    https://books.google.com/books?id=1uIC4wLNaeQC&pg=PA134
  20. San Jose Mercury News
    https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/09/14/hoang-xuan-nguyen-prominent-vietnamese-editor-dies-at-74/
  21. Tran, Do & Chik (2022), p. 262
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Mbw-EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT262
  22. McDaniel (2009), p. 115
    https://books.google.com/books?id=pLV1AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA115
  23. Houston Chronicle
    https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Radio-Saigon-lures-Vietnamese-to-Houston-1530958.php
  24. Roosevelt 2015.
  25. Vien Dong Daily News
    http://viendongdaily.com/dai-vnatv-573-co-them-2-bang-tan-moi-tai-san-jose-va-houston-oyMpq7ZK.html
  26. Caruthers (2007), p. 210
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  27. VTV News
    https://vtv.vn/news-20180331114023606.htm
  28. Center for an Informed Public
    https://www.cip.uw.edu/2021/06/28/early-findings-vietnamese-misinformation-crisis/
  29. BuzzFeed News
    https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katejohnston2/vietnamese-american-youtube-misinformation-covid-vaccine
  30. KQED
    https://www.kqed.org/news/11872941/cultural-brokers-for-our-families-young-vietnamese-americans-fight-online-misinformation-for-the-community
  31. Tran (1989), p. 102-104
  32. Tran (1989), p. 105-106
  33. Tran (1989), p. 107-108
  34. Lieu (2011), p. 81-82
  35. Lieu (2011), p. 86-87
  36. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-10-et-vietmusic10-story.html
  37. Nguyen (2001), p. 114
  38. Tran, Do & Chik (2022), p. 323
    https://books.google.com/books?id=haQ_EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA323
  39. Người đô thị
    https://nguoidothi.net.vn/giai-ma-su-thanh-cong-cua-cac-nha-van-my-goc-viet-27717.html
  40. Tran, Do & Chik (2022), p. 263
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  41. Tran, Do & Chik (2022), p. 268
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  42. Eckstein & Nguyen (2016), p. 264
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  43. Le & Nguyen (2012), p. 97
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  44. Eckstein & Nguyen (2016), p. 273
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  45. Small (2019), p. 95
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  46. San José Spotlight
    https://sanjosespotlight.com/the-first-in-vietnamese-small-business-center-in-u-s-opens-in-san-jose/
  47. United States Department of Justice
    https://www.justice.gov/crt/page/file/1460416/download
  48. www.irs.gov
    https://www.irs.gov/vi
  49. The Sacramento Bee
    https://web.archive.org/web/20210507092049/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article251222954.html
  50. "San Jose Vietnamese service center gets infusion of funding"
    https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-county-san-jose-vietnamese-american-service-center-gets-infusion-of-funding-mental-health-treatment-clinic/
  51. Dymally–Alatorre Bilingual Services Act: State Agencies Do Not Fully Comply With the Act, and Local Governments Could Do More to Address Their Clients' Needs
    http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2010-106.pdf#page=44
  52. Internal Affairs
    http://blogs.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/2016/04/18/councilmans-radio-program-yanked-off-air/
  53. The Mercury News
    https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/03/san-jose-councilman-files-complaint-against-tv-station-over-political-ads/
  54. Dao & Bankston (2010), p. 137-138
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  56. Nhân Dân
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  57. Người Việt
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  59. Education Week
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  60. Culpepper (2015)
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  62. San José Spotlight
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  63. Tran (2008), p. 262-264
  64. Như Trang (2004)
  65. Caruthers (2007), p. 204
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  67. Tiền Phong
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  68. Tuổi Trẻ
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  69. Radio Free Asia
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  70. Người Việt
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  73. Lieberman (2003), p. 82-83
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  74. Lieberman (2003), p. 84
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  75. Vietnamese Nom Preservation Foundation
    http://www.nomfoundation.org
  76. Tiền Phong
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  77. Đàm Trung Pháp (2020)
  78. Ngô Hữu Hoàng (2013), p. 734-735
  79. Đào Mục Đích (2003), p. 65-66
  80. Đào Mục Đích (2003), p. 67
  81. Tang (2007), p. 24-25
  82. Đào Mục Đích (2003), p. 62
  83. Pham 2008, pp. 23.
  84. Truitt 2019, pp. 250.
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Ms-gDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA250
  85. Đào Mục Đích (2003), p. 63-65
  86. "Giữ gìn văn hóa và tiếng nói rất khó khăn tại hải ngoại. Nhà báo Trần Phong Vũ"
    https://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/in_depth/to-conserv-langu-n-cultur-10142015132822.html
  87. Người Việt
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  88. Việt Báo
    https://vietbao.com/a284493/hoi-nghi-thong-nhat-chinh-ta-tieng-viet-tai-hai-ngoai
  89. "Bản Đúc Kết HNTNCTTV 1"
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  90. The Houma Courier
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  91. Truitt 2019, pp. 246–247.
  92. Truitt 2019, pp. 249–251.
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Ms-gDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA249
  93. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/politics/more-asian-immigrants-are-finding-ballots-in-their-native-tongue.html
  94. San Jose Spotlight
    https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-census-officials-work-to-gain-trust-cooperation-of-vietnamese-community/
  95. NBC Bay Area
    https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/ana-billboards-for-san-jose-to-vietnam-flights-spark-outrage/2043556/
  96. Cronkite News
    https://cronkitenewsonline.com/2014/03/lost-in-translation-non-english-speakers-grapple-with-obamacare/
  97. Lam (2006), p. 8-9
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