In 1989, the number of persons in the United States who spoke languages other than English at home was at an all-time high. This number has increased rapidly in recent years as immigration flows have brought in new residents who are native speakers of other languages. To accommodate persons who speak languages other than English, changes are being made in school systems, in the workplace, and in health and social support systems. This report is the first to present information about recent changes that have occurred in the composition and characteristics of persons who speak languages other than English in the United States. It discusses trends between 1979 and 1989 in the numbers and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of non-English language speakers. The report also focuses on the relationship between language usage and progress through school of children 8 to 15 years old and schooling of persons 16 to 24 years old. Appended are a list of data sources and definitions, information on alternate measures of non-English language usage and English language proficiency, information on accuracy of estimates and statistical procedures, and standard error tables. (KM)