1267.0 - Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), 1997  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/01/1997   
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Contents >> Chapter 1. Explanatory notes >> Classification criteria and their application

Classification criteria are the principles by which classification categories are aggregated to form broader categories in a classification structure. Two classification criteria are used in the ASCL to form the categories of the classification:

      • the relationships between languages owing to their evolution from a common ancestral language (genetic affinity); and
      • geographic proximity of languages in terms of the areas in which they originated. (This refers to the area where a language first became, or was first recognised as, a distinct entity.)
The use of geographic proximity as a classification criterion in the ASCL has led to some departure from the broad framework of the generally accepted classification of languages, developed and used by academics in linguistics, which is based on genetic affinity. The ABS considered adapting that approach for statistical purposes but found that it was not possible to produce a statistically useful classification based on genetic affinity alone. The decision to use geographic proximity, in addition to genetic affinity between languages, as a classification criterion, was largely supported by individuals, including linguists, who commented on developmental drafts of the classification.

The lowest level of the classification consists of separately identified languages as described above (see: Definition of language). Languages are combined to form the Narrow Groups of the classification primarily on the basis of their evolution from a common ancestral language. Thus, genetic affinity is the usual classification or grouping criterion at this level of the classification.

Geographic proximity is also used, as a secondary classification criterion, in a few instances, when forming the Narrow Groups. For example, the Narrow Group: African Languages (excluding North Africa), is comprised of languages which, although not all evolving from a common ancestral language, are grouped because they form a useful Narrow Group on the basis of geographic proximity. Limited use of geography at this level of the classification also enables the formation of more meaningful residual categories of languages than does the use of the genetic criterion alone. Thus, the secondary use of geographic proximity, though not always in harmony with the genetic criterion, is considered to produce a more coherent, practical and useful structure.

At the first and most general level of the classification, Broad Groups are formed by aggregating geographically proximate Narrow Groups. This aggregation of Narrow Groups was undertaken, as far as possible, so that the Broad Groups formed consist of Narrow Groups which have a degree of genetic affinity. This creates distinct and geographically coherent groups comprised of languages which are, generally speaking, similar in terms of genetic affinity. Where both criteria could not be met, geographic proximity took precedence at this level of the classification. It is considered that for the purposes of the ASCL, which will be used mainly to collect, aggregate and disseminate data from social surveys and administrative collections, the creation of geographically fragmented Broad Groups would impair the usefulness and acceptability of the classification.

Australian Indigenous languages were grouped in a slightly different manner. The ABS, Australian Indigenous organisations, and other advisors agreed that Australian Indigenous languages should constitute a separate Broad Group in the classification. Australia was then divided into seven geographic areas on the basis of current knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and societies, to produce statistically balanced and coherent Narrow Groups of languages similar in terms of the social and cultural characteristics of their speakers. It was considered that this method would create language groups that would provide useful data for the purposes of policy making, service delivery and the further study of Australian Indigenous languages. The structure produced by this method is in harmony with the conceptual framework underlying the overall structure of the classification.

Thus, the structure of the ASCL can be described in conventional terms: Languages (base-level units) grouped to form Narrow Groups on the basis of genetic affinity and geographic proximity where required; and Narrow Groups aggregated to form Broad Groups on the basis of geographic proximity and a degree of genetic affinity.

It should be noted, that the classification criteria were not generally applied when creating the residual categories of a classification (see: Reserved codes for residual categories). Consequently, the Broad Group: Other Languages, consists of Narrow Groups of languages which are not linguistically or geographically related, and do not have sufficient speakers in Australia to form separate coherent Broad Groups. At the Narrow Group level the residual categories generally contain languages which are not linguistically related to the other Narrow Groups in the Broad Group, but originated in the geographic area covered by the Broad Group. At the base or Language level of the classification, the residual categories are comprised of languages which are genetically related to the other languages of the Narrow Group in which they are contained, and are geographically proximate.






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