GSS 1972-2024 Cumulative Datafile - Release 3

What other language(s) do you speak?  Second response.  
   As of 2024, OTHLANG2 has been recoded to only account for seven 
language categories. This has been retroactively applied to all 
previous years of OTHLANG2. The original OTHLANG2 containing data 
from 2000 to 2022 has been renamed OTHLANG2_0022.

D. Which of these languages other than English do you speak most 
fluently?

E. How well do you speak that language? [IF SPEAKS 2 OR MORE, ASK 
ONLY OF THE MOST FLUENT LANGUAGE] READ CATEGORIES

F. How often do you use that language in your everyday life? [READ 
CATEGORIES]

Is that a language you first learned as a child at home, in school, 
or is it one that you learned elsewhere?

Did/do one or both of your parents speak a language other than 
English at home?

Did/do one or more of your grandparents speak a language other than 
English?

A. How often do you hear languages other than English spoken in the 
local community where you live?

B. How often do you hear languages other than English spoken in the 
place where you work? [READ CATEGORIES]

Do you favor a law making English the official language of the United 
States, or do you oppose such a law?

Now please tell us whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or 
strongly disagree with each of these statements: 
A. Children in the U.S. should learn a second language fluently 
before they finish high school.

Now please tell us whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or 
strongly disagree with each of these statements: 
B. Bilingual education programs should be eliminated in American 
public schools.

Now please tell us whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or 
strongly disagree with each of these statements: 
C. Speaking English as the common national language is what unites 
all Americans.

Now please tell us whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or 
strongly disagree with each of these statements: 
D. Learning a foreign language is as valuable as learning math and 
science in school.

Now please tell us whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or 
strongly disagree with each of these statements: 
E. English will be threatened if other languages are frequently used 
in large immigrant communities in the U.S.

Now please tell us whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or 
strongly disagree with each of these statements: 
F. Election ballots should be printed in other languages in areas 
where lots of people dont speak English.

A. Do you speak [LANGUAGE MENTIONED IN OTHLANG1] at home?

B. Which language do you speak more fluent?

C. How well do you speak that language?

What about the number of immigrants from Latin America (that is, 
Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas)“should it be increased 
a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a 
little, or decreased a lot?

What about the number of immigrants from Asia? (Should it be 
increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, 
decreased a little, or decreased a lot?)

What about the number of immigrants from Europe? (should it be 
increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, 
decreased a little, or decreased a lot?)

What do you think will happen as a result of more immigrants coming 
to this country?  Is each of these possible results very likely, 
somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely? 
A. Higher economic growth.

What do you think will happen as a result of more immigrants coming 
to this country?  Is each of these possible results very likely, 
somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? 
A. Higher crime rates?

What do you think will happen as a result of more immigrants coming 
to this country?  Is each of these possible results very likely, 
somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? 
B. Making the country more open to new ideas and cultures?

What do you think will happen as a result of more immigrants coming 
to this country?  Is each of these possible results very likely, 
somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? 
C. People born in the U.S. losing their jobs?

Just your best guess“what percentage of the United States 
population is each group? [INSTRUCTION: PERCENTAGES DO NOT HAVE TO 
ADD TO 100% AND THE LISTED GROUPS MAY OVERLAP. ENCOURAGE ESTIMATES 
FOR ALL GROUPS, BUT DISCOURAGE RESPONDENTS REVISING THEIR ESTIMATES.] 

A. Whites?

Just your best guess“what percentage of the United States 
population is each group? [INSTRUCTION: PERCENTAGES DO NOT HAVE TO 
ADD TO 100% AND THE LISTED GROUPS MAY OVERLAP. ENCOURAGE ESTIMATES 
FOR ALL GROUPS, BUT DISCOURAGE RESPONDENTS REVISING THEIR ESTIMATES.] 

B. Blacks/African-Americans?

Just your best guess“what percentage of the United States 
population is each group? [INSTRUCTION: PERCENTAGES DO NOT HAVE TO 
ADD TO 100% AND THE LISTED GROUPS MAY OVERLAP. ENCOURAGE ESTIMATES 
FOR ALL GROUPS, BUT DISCOURAGE RESPONDENTS REVISING THEIR ESTIMATES.] 

C. Jews?

Just your best guess“what percentage of the United States 
population is each group? [INSTRUCTION: PERCENTAGES DO NOT HAVE TO 
ADD TO 100% AND THE LISTED GROUPS MAY OVERLAP. ENCOURAGE ESTIMATES 
FOR ALL GROUPS, BUT DISCOURAGE RESPONDENTS REVISING THEIR ESTIMATES.] 

D. Hispanics?

Just your best guess“what percentage of the United States 
population is each group? [INSTRUCTION: PERCENTAGES DO NOT HAVE TO 
ADD TO 100% AND THE LISTED GROUPS MAY OVERLAP. ENCOURAGE ESTIMATES 
FOR ALL GROUPS, BUT DISCOURAGE RESPONDENTS REVISING THEIR ESTIMATES.] 

E. Asian Americans?

Just your best guess“what percentage of the United States 
population is each group? [INSTRUCTION: PERCENTAGES DO NOT HAVE TO 
ADD TO 100% AND THE LISTED GROUPS MAY OVERLAP. ENCOURAGE ESTIMATES 
FOR ALL GROUPS, BUT DISCOURAGE RESPONDENTS REVISING THEIR ESTIMATES.] 

F. American Indians?

People may come from one racial group such as being White, 
Black/African-American, Hispanic, Asian, or American Indian, or 
people may come from two or more of these groups. What percent of 
people in the United States today do you think have parents or their 
ancestors from two or more racial groups?