Data Element Detail

Show All
Identifying and Definitional Attributes
Representational Attributes
Collection and Usage Attributes
Relational Attributes
Source and Reference Attributes

Person-preferred language (ASCL 2011)

Identifying and Definitional Attributes

Identifier & Version

QH 041586 v2

Metadata Item Type

Data Element

Data Element Type

Data Element

Approval Status

Current
01-Jul-2012

Superseded
29-Jan-2018

Approval Type

Standard

Approving Authority

Effective From

01-Jul-2012

Effective To

30-Jun-2017

Definition

The language (including sign language) most preferred by the person for communication.

Context

Health and welfare services

Short Name

Preferred language (4-digit)

Name in Other Contexts

Representational Attributes

Datatype

Numeric Character

Representation Class

Code

Format

N(4)

Minimum Character Length

Maximum Character Length

Permissible Values

Permissible_values


A valid code from the current Corporate Reference Data System (CRDS) Language (ASCL 4 digit) data set maintained by Statistical Standards and Strategies, Statistical Services Branch (SSB).

Supplementary Values

Supplemenary_values

Collection and Usage Attributes

Guide for Use

Preferred language for communication may be a language other than English even where the person can speak fluent English.

The Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) is an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) classification that includes:
- Those which are universally recognised as distinct and separate languages,
- Separately identified dialects,
- Creoles and pidgins,
- A group of linguistically distinct languages (American languages),
- Australian indigenous languages, and
- Sign languages.

Supplementary codes for inadequate data:
These codes commence with 000 and facilitate the coding of data such as inadequately described languages, etc., which contain insufficient information in that a language code cannot be allocated.

0000 Inadequately Described
To be used when insufficient preferred language information is provided or the information is unknown (e.g. when a person is unconscious).

0001 Non Verbal, so described
To be used when communication is by other than verbal means (e.g. facial expression, body language, gesture). Does not include sign language.

0002 Not Stated
To be used when no preferred language information is provided (e.g. when a person refuses to provide the information).

Supplementary codes to preserve data that might otherwise be lost:
These codes commence with 000 and are used to preserve data relating to meaningful data that would otherwise be lost (that is, they would be allocated other incoherent or inadequately described codes).
0003 Swiss, so described
0004 Cypriot, so described
0005 Creole, nfd
0006 French Creole, nfd
0007 Spanish Creole, nfd
0008 Portuguese Creole, nfd
0009 Pidgin, nfd

New

Verification Rules

Should not be blank.

Collection Methods

The question that should be asked is 'What is your preferred language for communicating when receiving health care services?'

The reference to 'receiving heath care services' will assist in advising that the question relates to their preferred language for communicating in a health setting as opposed to at home or any other general social interaction.

Comments

This metadata item is an important indicator of ethnicity, especially for persons born in non-English-speaking countries. Assists in the planning and provision of multilingual services and facilitate program and service delivery for migrants and other non-English speakers.

Relational Attributes

Related Metadata References

Related Metadata References_IR

1 - 4

Relationship	Metadata Item Type	Metadata Item Subtype	Name	Identifier & Version	Approval Status
Supersedes	Data Element	Data Element	Person-preferred language (ASCL 2005)	QH 041586 Version 1	Superseded
Has been superseded by	Data Element	Data Element	Person-preferred language (ASCL 2016)	QH 041586 Version 3	Current
Is used in the derivation of	Data Element	Data Element	Person-preferred language (ASCL 2011 Index)	QH 040722 Version 2	Superseded
Relates to	Data Element	Data Element	Person-country of birth (SACC 2011)	QH 040161 Version 6	Superseded

Implementation in Metadata Sets

Implemented

No Metadata Items

Data Quality Declaration

Source and Reference Attributes

Source Organisation

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Australian Bureau of Statistics

Source Document

METeOR data element: Person-preferred language, code (ASCL 2011) NN{NN}, identifier 460123, Health standard 13/10/2011 https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/460123/meteorItemView/long
ABS cat. no. 1267.0. Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL) 2011 (Second edition, Revision 1)

Keywords

Language; Preferred language;