Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Knowledge of non-official languages

Definition

Knowledge of non‑official languages refers to whether the person can conduct a conversation in a language other than English or French. For a child who has not yet learned to speak, this includes languages that the child is learning to speak at home. The number of languages that can be reported may vary between surveys, depending on the objectives of the survey.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• List of non-official languages 2021
• Number of Non-official Languages

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001, 1996 and 1991 (20% sample).

Reported for

Population in private households

Question number(s)

Direct variable: Question 22

Responses

Refer to figures 2.4, 2.4A, 2.4B, 2.4C, 2.4D, 2.4E, 2.4F, 2.4G, 2.4H, 2.4I, 2.4J and 2.4K for the detailed list of languages disseminated in the 2021 Census. A comparison of languages disseminated in the 2021, 2016 and 2011 censuses is available in Appendix 2.10.

Remarks

In the 2021 Census of Population, the question about knowledge of non‑official languages asked "What language(s), other than English or French, can this person speak well enough to conduct a conversation?"

The following additional instructions on how to complete the 2021 knowledge of non‑official languages question were provided to respondents via a help button accessible in the electronic questionnaire:

• Report only the language(s) in which the person can carry on a conversation of some length on various topics.
• For a child who has not yet learned to speak, report the language(s) used most often at home to communicate with the child. Two languages can be reported, as long as they are used equally often with the child.
• Respondents who are deaf or respondents who have a speech impairment can report knowledge of languages other than English and French, including sign languages, in the type‑in boxes.
• When reporting other language(s), be specific. For example, people who report Chinese should instead report the specific Chinese language: Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, Min Nan, Min Dong, Wu, Pu‑Xian, Xiang, Gan, Huizhou, Jinyu, Dungan, Min Bei or Min Zhong

For more information on language variables, including information on their classifications, the questions from which they are derived, data quality and their comparability with other sources of data, please refer to the Languages Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• First official language spoken by knowledge of languages, place of birth (including provinces) and immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0616-01)
• Knowledge of Indigenous languages by single and multiple knowledge of languages responses and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0271-01)
• Knowledge of Indigenous languages by single and multiple knowledge of languages responses, Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0270-01)
• Knowledge of languages by age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0216-01)
• Knowledge of languages by age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0217-01)