AIHW logo
METEOR logo
Our sites
AIHW GEN Aged Care Data Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Performance Framework
Indigenous Mental Health and
Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse
Australian Mesothelioma Registry Housing data Regional Insights for Indigenous Communities
Contact FAQs
  • Find metadata
    • Find metadata
    • Getting started
    • Data set specifications
    • Indicator sets
    • Data quality statements
    • Data dictionary archives
  • Metadata management
    • Metadata management
    • Data standards
    • Registration authorities
    • Registration statuses
  • How to use METEOR
    • How to use METEOR
    • First steps
    • Using My Page
    • Downloading and printing
    • FAQs
    • About METEOR
  • Learn about metadata
    • Learn about metadata
    • Metadata explained
    • How to create metadata
    • Metadata development resources

Australian Standard Classification of Languages 2016

Identifying and definitional attributes

Metadata item type:Help on this termClassification Scheme
Synonymous names:Help on this termASCL 2016
METEOR identifier:Help on this term659337
Registration status:Help on this term
  • Commonwealth Department of Social Services (retired), Standard 20/06/2018
  • Health, Standard 25/01/2018
  • Homelessness, Standard 10/08/2018
  • Tasmanian Health, Standard 27/06/2017
Definition:Help on this term

The Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the consistent collection, aggregation and dissemination of data relating to language usage in Australia.

Classification structure:Help on this term

The ASCL has a three-level hierarchical structure that consists of broad groups, narrow groups and languages.

Languages are grouped together into progressively broader categories on the basis of their evolution from a common ancestral language, and on the basis of geographic proximity of areas where a particular language originated.

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:Help on this term

The ASCL is designed to classify the following language variables:

  • First Language Spoken
  • Languages Spoken at Home
  • Main Language Spoken and
  • Main Language Other than English Spoken at Home
Collection methods:Help on this term

Data should be collected, classified and stored at the language (four-digit) level of the classification to allow flexibility of statistical output and more detailed analysis. It also maintains information for future use and enables comparison with previous data using different classifications.

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:Help on this term

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Origin:Help on this term

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016. Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) 2016. ABS cat. no.1267.0. Canberra: ABS.

Revision status:Help on this term

The first edition of the ASCL was published in 1997. The ASCL was revised in 2005, 2011 and 2016.

Relational attributes

Related metadata references:Help on this term
Supersedes Australian Standard Classification of Languages 2011
  • Children and Families, Standard 22/11/2016
  • Community Services (retired), Standard 17/11/2011
  • Disability, Standard 13/08/2015
  • Health, Superseded 25/01/2018
  • Homelessness, Superseded 10/08/2018
  • Housing assistance, Standard 17/11/2011
  • Tasmanian Health, Superseded 27/06/2017
Value Domains based on this classification scheme:Help on this term

Language code (ASCL 2016) N[NNN]

  • ACT Health (retired), Candidate 08/08/2018
  • Children and Families, Standard 20/01/2021
  • Commonwealth Department of Social Services (retired), Standard 20/06/2018
  • Health, Standard 25/01/2018
  • Homelessness, Standard 10/08/2018
  • Tasmanian Health, Standard 27/06/2017

Help
Downloading

The download may take a while, please wait.

Do not refresh the screen until the download is complete.

<Title>

<body>
<footer>
  • View
  • Print view
  • Download
  • Word™
  • Pdf
  • Advanced Download
  • Review
  • Compare items
© Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Version 1.0.0+20220809.3