2011 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations

Topic-based tabulation: First Official Language Spoken (7), Detailed Language Spoken Most Often at Home (232), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population Excluding Institutional Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 Census

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About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :

98-314-XCB2011037

Release date :

October 24, 2012

Topic :

Language

Variables :

1. Geography Geographic Index
2. Age groups (17A)
3. Sex (3)
4. Detailed language spoken most often at home (232)
5. First official language spoken (7)

Note

Note: Population excluding institutional residents universe

The population excluding institutional residents includes Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants (permanent residents) excluding those who live in institutions (institutional collective dwellings). Canadian citizens and landed immigrants either: (1) have a usual place of residence in Canada; (2) are abroad either on a military base or attached to a diplomatic mission; or (3) are at sea or in port aboard merchant vessels under Canadian registry or Canadian government vessels. Since 1991, the target population also includes persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who are claiming refugee status, who hold study permits, or who hold work permits, as well as family members living with them; for census purposes, this group is referred to as non-permanent residents. The population universe does not include foreign residents.

Note: First official language spoken

The definitions of first official language spoken and official language minority are outlined in the Official Languages (Communications with and Services to the Public) Regulations issued pursuant to the Official Languages Act (1988).

Information on first official language spoken is not collected directly from respondents. Rather, it is derived from three language variables on the census questionnaire: knowledge of official languages, mother tongue, and home language (language spoken most often at home). The first step in the derivation of this variable is to examine the respondent's knowledge of English and French. A person who speaks only English has English assigned as the first official language, while a person who speaks only French has French assigned. If the person can speak both English and French, then the mother tongue variable is examined. If the mother tongue is English, then English is the first official language spoken. The same procedure is used for French. Thus, a person who speaks English and French, and has French as mother tongue, would have French assigned as the first official language spoken.

If the respondent speaks both English and French, and indicates English and French as mother tongue, then the 'home language' variable is examined to assign the first official language spoken. In this circumstance, a home language of English would result in English being assigned as first official language spoken, while a home language of French would result in French being assigned as first official language spoken. Consequently, a person who speaks both English and French, has both official languages as mother tongue and English as home language, would have English assigned as first official language spoken.

When respondents can speak English and French, and have both languages as mother tongue and home language, they are assigned English and French as first official language spoken.

The official language minority is English in Quebec and French in all other provinces and territories. The size of the official language minority is determined by adding the minority population and half of the 'English and French' population. For example, in Ontario, the official language minority is the sum of those who have French as their first official language spoken and half of those who have English and French as first official language spoken.

For additional information, please refer to the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.