Standard output categories
Output categories for detailed data
49. The hierarchical structure of the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition (ABS cat. no. 1267.0) allows users the flexibility to output statistics at the level of the classification which best suits their requirements. Data can be presented at broad group level, narrow group level, or the base (language) level. If necessary, significant languages within a narrow group can be presented separately while the remaining languages within the narrow group are aggregated. For example, the base level category 'Tiwi' can be separately identified as an output category within the 'Arnhem Land and Daly River Region Languages' Narrow Group, with the remaining base-level categories in this narrow group aggregated in an 'Other Arnhem Land and Daly River Region Languages' category. The same principle can be adopted to highlight significant narrow groups within a broad group.
50. Regardless of the level of aggregation envisaged for the dissemination of statistics, data should be captured, classified and stored at the base-level of the ASCL wherever possible. Collecting and storing data at the most detailed level of the classification allows the greatest flexibility for the output of statistics, enables more detailed and complex analysis, facilitates comparisons with previous data using different classifications, and preserves information that provides maximum flexibility for future use of the data.
51. However, the constraints affecting each statistical collection or other application, such as problems with confidentiality or standard errors, may not permit the collection or output of data at the lower levels of the classification.
52. The following is an example of standard output categories for the nine broad groups of the ASCL, Second Edition, which have either significant narrow groups (second-level categories) or languages base level categories) highlighted. This example allows separate identification of all languages with more than 35,000 speakers (aged five years and over) according to data on Main Language Other Than English Spoken at Home in the 2001 Census:
 | | | | |
| Speaks English only
| |
| Main other Languages:
| |
| Northern European Languages | |
| | | Dutch
German | |
| | | Other Northern European Languages | |
| | | | |
| Southern European Languages | |
| | | French | |
| | | Greek | |
| | | Italian | |
| | | Maltese | |
| | | Spanish | |
| | | Other Southern European Languages | |
| Eastern European Languages | |
| | South Slavic | |
| | | Croatian | |
| | | Macedonian | |
| | | Serbian | |
| | | Other South Slavic | |
| | West Slavic | |
| | | Polish | |
| | | Other West Slavic | |
| | Other Eastern European Languages | |
| Southwest and Central Asian Languages | |
| | | Arabic (including Lebanese) | |
| | | Turkish | |
| | | Other Southwest and Central Asian Languages | |
| Southern Asian Languages
Hindi
Other Southern Asian Languages | |
| Southeast Asian Languages | |
| | | Filipino
Indonesian
Tagalog | |
| | | Vietnamese | |
| | | Other Southeast Asian Languages | |
| Eastern Asian Languages | |
| | Chinese | |
| | | Cantonese | |
| | | Mandarin | |
| | | Other Chinese
Korean | |
| | Other Eastern Asian Languages | |
| Australian Indigenous Languages | |
| Other Languages | |
| | | | |
Output categories for minimum data
53. The standard output categories for the Question Module for Minimum Data are:
- English only
- Other language
Supporting variables
54. Main Language Other Than English Spoken at Home does not require any supporting variables.
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