Nearly 50% of White Republicans Get Uncomfortable When Hearing People Speak Foreign Languages

A considerable fraction of White Americans are bothered by people speaking foreign languages, a new survey from the Pew Research Center shows.

According to the survey, nearly half of White Republicans, or 47%, say that it bothers them “some” or “a lot” to “hear people speak a language other than English in a public place.”

Meanwhile, 18% of White Democrats responded similarly, the Washington Post reported.

The survey, which polled 6,637 respondents earlier this year, looked into people’s views on the country’s growing racial and ethnic diversity.

In terms of total figures per race, Whites emerged on top at 43% being bothered by hearing people speak a language other than English in public, followed by both Black and Asian Americans at 24% and Hispanics at 14%.

Interestingly, most Americans, or 70%, say that they would not be particularly bothered with the idea, with 47% claiming that they would not be bothered at all.

President Trump speaks with a number of key Republicans at the Rose Garden of the White House in May 2017 following the passage of the American Health Care Act.

The survey published on Wednesday has been making rounds on social media, with Asian Americans expressing their thoughts on the issue.

“This statistic sends a chill down my spine: almost half of surveyed Republicans don’t like hearing people speak a foreign language (other than English, I assume) in public places,” journalist Gil Asakawa commented.

Some believe that “a lot” and “some” discomfort do not make significant difference. Others suspect that to Whites, “foreign” is anything “non-White.”

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