A Web site - www.mla.org - launched Wednesday by the Modern Language Association allows anyone to track the breakdown of languages anywhere in the United States, even down to ZIP code, based on 2000 census numbers.

Hindi, with 3,17,057 speakers, is the 18th most spoken language in the country. If Urdu speakers (2,62,900; at 20th position) are included the ranking goes up to 13th. The only other Indian language identified for tracking - Gujarati - is at the 21st position with 2,35,988 speakers.