Person—main language other than English spoken at home, code (ASCL 2011) NN{NN}

Identifying and definitional attributes

• Children and Families, Superseded 20/01/2021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• Health, Superseded 25/01/2018
• Homelessness, Superseded 10/08/2018 [Non Dictionary]
• Housing assistance, Standard 13/10/2011 [Non Dictionary]

Value domain attributes

Representational attributes

Collection and usage attributes

The Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) has a three-level hierarchical structure. The most detailed level of the classification consists of base units (languages) which are represented by four-digit codes. The second level of the classification comprises narrow groups of languages (the Narrow group level), identified by the first two digits. The most general level of the classification consists of broad groups of languages (the Broad group level) and is identified by the first digit. The classification includes Australian Indigenous languages and sign languages.

For example, the Lithuanian language has a code of 3102. In this case 3 denotes that it is an Eastern European language, while 31 denotes that it is a Baltic language. The Pintupi Aboriginal language is coded as 8713. In this case 8 denotes that it is an Australian Indigenous language and 87 denotes that the language is a Western Desert language.

Language data may be output at the Broad group level, Narrow group level or base level of the classification. If necessary, significant languages within a Narrow group can be presented separately while the remaining languages in the Narrow group are aggregated. The same principle can be adopted to highlight significant Narrow groups within a Broad group.

Data element attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Recommended question:

Do you/Does the person/Does (name)/ Will (name of child under two years) speak a language other than English at home? (If more than one language, indicate the one that is spoken most often.)

Response options for detailed data:

Alternative 1

No, (English only) []

Yes, Mandarin []

Yes, Italian []

Yes, Arabic []

Yes, Cantonese []

Yes, Greek []

Yes, Vietnamese  []

Yes, Spanish  []

Yes, Hindi  []

Yes, Tagalog  []

Yes, Other (please specify) ______________________________

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.

Alternative 2

No, English only []

Yes, Other - please specify ______________________________

Response option for minimum data:

No, English only []

Yes, Other []

This metadata item is consistent with that used in the Australian Census of Population and Housing and is recommended for use whenever there is a requirement for comparison with Census data.

This data element is important in identifying those people most likely to suffer disadvantage in terms of their ability to access services due to language and/or cultural difficulties. In conjunction with Indigenous status, Proficiency in spoken English and Country of birth this data element forms the minimum core set of cultural and language indicators recommended by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Data on main language other than English spoken at home are regarded as an indicator of 'active' ethnicity and also as useful for the study of inter-generational language retention. The availability of such data may help providers of health and community services to effectively target the geographic areas or population groups that need those services. It may be used for the investigation and development of language services such as interpreter/ translation services.

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

Health Data Standards Committee

National Community Services Data Committee

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011. Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) 2011.  Canberra: ABS. 16/8/2011.

Relational attributes