1264.0 - Language Variables, 1997  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/11/2008   
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Contents >> Main Language Spoken at Home >> Collection methods

Standard question module

35. There are two standard question modules for Main Language Spoken at Home:

      • The Question Module for Detailed Data elicits the most detailed responses and data on Main Language Spoken at Home.
        There are two alternatives for the Question Module for Detailed Data which may be used, depending on space and cost considerations:
          • Alternative one: a set of 'most likely' languages with tick boxes and an 'Other -please specify' response category for writing a language not specified in the tick box list;
          • Alternative two: a tick box for 'English' and an 'Other - please specify' write-in category.
        Alternative two is more compact but will incur additional coding costs.
      • The Question Module for Minimum Data contains only the tick box options 'English' and 'Other' and therefore does not collect details as to which language other than English is spoken.

Question module for detailed data

Alternative one

36. The standard question for Main Language Spoken at Home was designed for self-enumerated and interview-based surveys. However, it could also be used in administrative collections if clear instructions were included regarding the choice of only one language (the language spoken most often) when respondents speak multiple languages at home.

37. The standard question module for obtaining detailed data for Main Language Spoken at Home follows:



Q1.
        Which language [do you] [does the person] [does (name)] mainly speak at home?
        (If more than one language, indicate the one that is spoken most often.)
        .
    English
    Italian
    Greek
    Cantonese
    Arabic
    Mandarin
    Vietnamese
    Spanish
    German
    Hindi
    Other - please specify: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

37a. A computer assisted interviewing (CAI) module for standard language variables has been developed. This module includes four standard language questions including the standard question module for Main Languages Spoken at Home and can be found in the Blaise instrument - see Appendix A for information on how to install and run this module. If you require assistance please contact the Assistant Director of Data Management, Dissemination and Survey Support on extension 6680.

37b. To use the standard question module for Main Languages Spoken at Home please inform Data Management, Dissemination and Survey Support at the question specification stage of survey development by including a statement to that effect in your question specifications.

38. Instructions are included for those respondents who speak more than one language in the home. For self-enumerated surveys, respondents are instructed to indicate the language spoken most often and to mark one box in the checklist or to write in one response where tick boxes don't apply. For interview-based collections, an interviewer could use a prompt like "Which of those languages [do you] [does the person] [does (name)] use most often?" if a multiple response is given after asking the question.

39. The list of languages provided with this module has been included primarily on the basis of the statistical significance of these languages in the Australian context. Cantonese and Mandarin are both included to ensure that the response 'Chinese' is not erroneously coded to one or the other. Approximately 90% of Australians speak at least one of these languages and the use of this list ensures compatibility across collections and minimises coding costs. This list will be reviewed periodically as different languages assume a greater or lesser significance in the Australian context as a result of changing migration patterns.

40. The 'Other' category is included for those people who speak a language in the home that is not offered in the list as a response to the question. 'Please specify' is added to the 'Other' category and a space is provided for respondents to write in their language.

41. Each language response to the question will need to be matched to an entry in the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition Coding Index (see Coding Procedures in Classification and Coding).

Alternative two

42. If there is a need for detailed information but space constraints are an over-riding consideration then the tick boxes can be deleted (except the tick box for 'English'), leaving the 'Other - please specify' option for respondents to write in their language. If this is done, however, there will be significant additional coding costs since each response will need to be matched to an entry in the ASCL Coding Index (see Coding Procedures in Classification and Coding).

43. This is only likely to be appropriate in small scale data collection activities and in cases where data entry of verbatim responses is an administrative requirement or where optical character recognition data capture technologies are used, allowing automatic matching of response data with index entries. The question module would be as follows:


        Q1. Which language [do you] [does the person] [does (name)] mainly speak at home?
    English
    q
    Other - please specify: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Question module for minimum data

44. The standard question module for minimum data for the variable Main Language Spoken at Home follows:


        Q1. Which language [do you] [does the person] [does (name)] mainly speak at home?
    Mark one box only.
    English
    q
    Other

    q
45. This question is suitable for administrative collections or for surveys where there is no requirement for detailed language data or which have space constraints. It is primarily recommended as an identifier of those respondents who may require assistance to access services and information because they possess inadequate English language skills. Owing to its lack of detail, this module it is far less precise in the identification of a person's language usage.

Standard input categories

Input categories for detailed data

46. The standard input categories for the Question Module for Detailed Data for Main Language Spoken at Home are the base level units of the ASCL and are represented by their four-digit codes. For operational reasons, residual categories and codes and supplementary codes also exist to enable 'not elsewhere classified' and 'inadequately described' responses to be processed within a collection coded at the four-digit level. Full details regarding the standard classification and code structure, residual categories and codes, and supplementary codes can be found in the ASCL.

Input categories for minimum data

47. The standard input categories for the Question Module for Minimum Data are:

      • English
      • Other language.


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