Person—first language spoken, code (ASCL 2011) NN{NN}
Data Element Attributes
Identifying and definitional attributes | |
Metadata item type: | Data Element |
---|---|
Short name: | First language spoken |
METEOR identifier: | 460120 |
Registration status: | Community Services (retired), Standard 13/10/2011 Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 Health, Standard 13/10/2011 Homelessness, Superseded 10/08/2018 [Non Dictionary] Housing assistance, Standard 13/10/2011 [Non Dictionary] |
Definition: | The language the person identifies as being the first language that they could understand to the extent of being able to conduct a conversation, as represented by a code. |
Data Element Concept: | Person—first language spoken |
Value Domain: | Language code (ASCL 2011) NN{NN} |
Value domain attributes | ||
Representational attributes | ||
Classification scheme: | Australian Standard Classification of Languages 2011 | |
---|---|---|
Representation class: | Code | |
Data type: | Number | |
Format: | NN{NN} | |
Maximum character length: | 4 |
Data element attributes | |
Collection and usage attributes | |
Collection methods: | Data should be captured, classified and stored at the base level of the classification wherever possible as this allows the greatest flexibility for output. Recommended question: Which language did you/did the person/did (name)/will (name of child under two years) first speak as a child? While agencies are encouraged to use the recommended question described above, it is acknowledged that this is not always possible in practice. For example, where the data collection is a by-product of the provision of a health or community service, the information may be ascertained using different means. However, this standard should be used wherever practically possible. Response options for detailed data: Alternative 1
The above list includes languages based on their statistical significance in the Australian context. The list is reviewed when data indicate that different languages have been more or less frequently reported in the Census of Population and Housing. Alternative 2
Response option for minimum data:
|
---|---|
Comments: | Persons whose first language is not English have been identified by service providers as a population group that may experience disadvantage when seeking to obtain equal access to government and community programs and services in Australia. Data relating to 'First language spoken' may thus provide a surrogate indicator of disadvantage potentially associated with a lack of English competence or with other factors associated with cultural background. The ABS Language Standards, 2012, Version 1.1 (cat. no. 1200.0.55.005) was released in September 2012. The recommended question recognises children under two years of age. |
Source and reference attributes | |
Origin: | Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011. Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) 2011. Cat. no. 1267.0. Canberra: ABS. |
Reference documents: | Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012. Language Standards, 2012, Version 1.1. Cat. no. 1200.0.55.05. Canberra: ABS. |
Relational attributes | |
Related metadata references: | Supersedes Person—first language spoken, code (ASCL 2005) NN{NN} Community Services (retired), Superseded 13/10/2011 Health, Superseded 13/10/2011 Housing assistance, Superseded 30/05/2013 See also Person—main language other than English spoken at home, code (ASCL 2011) NN{NN} Children and Families, Superseded 20/01/2021 Community Services (retired), Standard 13/10/2011 Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 Health, Superseded 25/01/2018 Homelessness, Superseded 10/08/2018 Housing assistance, Standard 13/10/2011 See also Person—main language spoken at home, code (ASCL 2011) NN{NN} Health, Recorded 24/04/2014 See also Person—proficiency in spoken English, code N Community Services (retired), Standard 01/03/2005 Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 Health, Standard 01/03/2005 Housing assistance, Standard 10/02/2006 See also Person—proficiency in spoken English, code N Health, Standard 05/10/2022 Homelessness, Standard 10/08/2018 |
Implementation in Data Set Specifications: | Cultural and language diversity cluster Community Services (retired), Standard 10/04/2013 Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 |