A linguist records that in a border town, 78% of people speak English, 52% speak French, and 35% speak both. If the town has 1,500 residents, how many speak neither language?

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:52:08 +0000

Linguistic Insight: Decoding Language Usage in a Border Town – How Many Residents Speak Neither English Nor French? In border regions where cultures and languages intersect, linguistic patterns reveal fascinating insights into bilingualism and language dominance. A recent linguistic study of a cross-border town found striking data: 78% of the 1,500 residents speak English, 52% speak French, and 35% speak both. But what about those who speak neither language? This article explores how to calculate the number of residents who remain outside the linguistic reach of English and French. ### The Numbers Behind Language Use With a total population of 1,500, the study reveals: