Census learning centre
First official language spoken

Release date: March 29, 2023

Catalogue number: 982000032021017

Hello and welcome to the "First official language spoken" video.

This video will help you understand the concept of first official language spoken. It explores the usefulness and relevance of the first official language spoken and how it is developed, disseminated and analyzed. You will also learn how the concept of first official language spoken takes into account knowledge of both official languages, mother tongue and language spoken most often at home.

Subject
Language
Length
00:06:04
Cost
Free
Links

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Concept video: First official language spoken - Transcription

(The Statistics Canada symbol and "Canada" wordmark appear on screen with the title: "Concept video: First official language spoken.")

Welcome to the video on the first official language spoken.

This video allows you:

  • To discover the usefulness and relevance of data on the first official language spoken
  • To understand how the variable of the first official language spoken is developed and how it is disseminated and analyzed.

The census collects a wealth of information on the languages of people living in Canada.

Why are these census data on languages important?

These data are used in the application and administration of various federal and provincial laws, including:

  • the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • the Official Languages Act of Canada
  • the Official Languages Act of New Brunswick
  • and Quebec’s Charter of the French Language.

In addition, these data are used to study linguistic practices and the knowledge and use of official and non-official languages in Canada. Data on language knowledge and use is taken into account by researchers, community groups, health professionals, businesses and other organizations across the country when addressing issues related to human resources policies, community education and training, the social and economic integration of newcomers, health promotion, and community programs and services.

The first official language spoken is a variable that was developed as part of the implementation of the Official Languages Act.

Even though, since 2019, it is being phased out with respect to the application of this Act, the first official language spoken is still used in several analyses of the linguistic behaviours and characteristics of Canadians.

This variable identifies a person according to their first official language spoken, that is, English or French.

The derivation method takes into account, first, the knowledge of the two official languages; second, the mother tongue; and third, the language spoken most often at home.

(The words, "Variable derivation – Step 1," appear on screen. A flowchart appears, animated to accompany the upcoming explanation of steps one to three.)

Let’s start with step 1.

In developing the variable, for the question regarding knowledge of official languages, those who claim to be able to conduct a conversation in English only are assigned “English” as their first official language spoken.

Those who report that they can conduct a conversation in French only are assigned “French” as their first official language spoken.

The answers to questions about mother tongue and language spoken most often at home are then used to establish the first official language spoken by those who say they speak both English and French well enough to conduct a conversation, or who report that they cannot speak either of the two official languages.

(The words, "Variable derivation – Step 2," appear on screen.)

This brings us to step 2.

If a person responds “English and French” to the question on knowledge of official languages, they proceed to the second step of the derivation, the question on mother tongue.

If a person responds either “English” or “English and other” to the question on mother tongue, they skip the third derivation step and are assigned “English” directly as their first official language spoken.

The same principle applies for those who respond “French” or “French and other” to the question on mother tongue.

If a person responds either “English and French”, “English, French and other” or “Other,” they proceed to the third step of the derivation, the question on language spoken most often at home.

If a person responds “Neither English nor French” to the question on knowledge of official languages, they proceed to the second step of the derivation, which is the question on mother tongue.

If a person responds either “English” or “English and other” to the question on mother tongue, they skip the third derivation step and are assigned “English” directly as their first official language spoken.

The same principle applies for those who respond “French” or “French and other” to the question on mother tongue.

If a person responds either “English and French,” “English, French and other” or “Other,” they proceed to the third step of the derivation, which is the question on language spoken most often at home.

(The words, "Variable derivation – Step 3," appear on screen.)

This brings us to step 3, which is the final step.

For those not classified according to the preceding criteria, if a person responds “English and French,” “English, French and other” or “Other” to the question on mother tongue in step 2, they proceed to the third step of the derivation, which is the question on language spoken most often at home.

If a person responds either “English” or “English and other” to the question on language spoken most often at home, they are assigned “English” as their first official language spoken.

The same principle applies for those who respond “French” or “French and other” to the question on language spoken most often at home.

If a person responds either “English and French,” “English, French and other” or “Other,” they are assigned “English and French” as their first official language spoken.

If a person speaks neither English nor French well enough to conduct a conversation in step 1, and their mother tongue and language spoken most often at home is a language other than English or French in step 2 and 3, they are assigned “Neither English nor French” as their first official language spoken.

The classification of the first official language spoken is as follows:

  • English
  • French
  • English and French
  • Neither English nor French

In short: The first official language spoken is a variable derived from the variables on knowledge of official languages, mother tongue and language spoken most often at home.

(The words "Thank you for watching the 'First official language spoken' video" appear on screen.)

This concludes the video on First official language spoken. Thank you for watching this video!

(The census logo appears with a link, which is also available to view here: Census of Population. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 978-0-660-44660-8 appears underneath the link.)

For more detailed information on concepts, variables, methodology, historical comparability and other elements, please refer to the Statistics Canada census pages.

(The "Canada" wordmark appears.)

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