There are so many ads in Spanish it makes me wonder why Hispanics living here don't speak English and if they do speak English why are there so many ads in Spanish?

Answer 1

Hispanics make up a huge portion of the US population (I'm assuming that you live in America, right?) They are an integral part of our workforce, our culture and our political atmosphere. In my own personal opinion, this means that they deserve to be catered to just as much as English-speaking citizens. It makes sense for businesses who want to gain Hispanic customers to reach out to them in a language more familiar to them.

As to why they don't speak English, it's probably the same reason you don't speak Spanish-- you live in an area where you feel you don't need to learn, and are more comfortable with your native language. There are places (in states like Florida, California, Texas, NY, etc) where there are large, striving Hispanic communities. Throughout America's history it's pretty easy to see that groups of people (Chinese, Dutch, Jews, various peoples of color, etc) who have a distinct culture tend to concentrate and live in areas with others who respect and participate in their way of life and give them comfort (this also helps insulate them from people who are hostile towards "outsiders"). Hence, it is easier to continue speaking their native language.

I live in an area populated mainly by Caucasian people with European backgrounds and hardly see any ads in Spanish. Another (possible) reason you probably see these ads is you might live in an area where lots of people with Hispanic background live-- in which case, maybe the question is why don't YOU speak Spanish? ;)

Answer 2

Hispanics living in English-speaking countries may still prefer to consume media in their native language for cultural reasons and to feel connected to their heritage. Additionally, businesses may use Spanish-language ads to target a specific demographic or to reach a larger audience, recognizing the importance of the Hispanic market in the U.S. advertising landscape.