Lexi Webster
Australia's multiculturalism is reflected in its linguistic diversity, with a significant number of people speaking languages other than English within their families and communities. In 2021, 5.8 million people or 22.3% of the population used a language other than English at home, indicating a culturally diverse population and a decline in the number of people speaking only English at home. This diversity is further exemplified by the over 250 Australian Aboriginal languages that existed at the time of first European contact and the more than 160 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, including creoles, spoken today. The most common languages spoken in Australia besides English include Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Hindi, with Mandarin being the fastest-growing language in recent years.
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What You'll Learn
Language diversity in Australia
Australia is a culturally diverse country with a rich history of language diversity. While English is the primary language used in legislature and by 72% of the population in their homes, there are over 300 ancestries among the 25 million Australians today. This diversity has been further enhanced by waves of immigration following the Second World War and in the 21st century, which have considerably increased the number of community languages spoken in the country.
At the time of European colonisation, there were an estimated 250 languages spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with around 500 dialects. Today, over 160 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, including creoles, are still spoken, with 78,656 people speaking an Indigenous language according to the 2021 Census. The classifiable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages with the most speakers are Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) (7,596 speakers), Kriol (7,403), Djambarrpuyngu (3,839), Pitjantjatjara (3,399), Warlpiri (2,592), Murrinh Patha (2,063), and Tiwi (2,053). There were also over 10,000 people who spoke an Indigenous language that could not be further defined or classified. The Northern Territory has the greatest proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language speakers, with nearly half (46%) of Australia's total speakers.
In addition to Indigenous languages, many other languages are spoken in Australia due to its multicultural population. In 2021, 5.8 million people used a language other than English at home, an increase of 804,915 people since 2016. The most common of these languages are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Hindi. Mandarin is the fastest-growing language, with 685,268 speakers, followed by Punjabi, which grew by over 100,000 speakers since 2016. This growth in language diversity has led to an increasing need for language support in the country.
Australia's politicians have embraced this diversity, with several using Indigenous languages in parliamentary speeches. In 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull became the first Prime Minister to use an Indigenous language in Parliament, speaking Ngunnawal. In 2014, Troy Grant became the first politician to use an Indigenous language in the Parliament of New South Wales, using Wiradjuri in the Acknowledgment of Country. These examples demonstrate Australia's recognition and celebration of its diverse linguistic heritage.
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Indigenous languages
Australia is home to a multitude of Indigenous languages, numbering in the hundreds, with estimates ranging from a minimum of 250 up to possibly 363. The precise number is uncertain, but it's clear that Indigenous languages are a significant part of Australia's cultural landscape. These languages comprise numerous language families and isolates, with proposals to link some into larger groupings. The term "Australian languages" or the "Australian family" is used to collectively refer to these Indigenous languages, which include both Tasmanian languages and the Western Torres Strait language.
The status and knowledge of Indigenous languages in Australia vary greatly. Historically, there were over 250 distinct First Nations Peoples social groupings, each with its own language or variety. However, many languages became extinct with the settlement and encroachment of colonial society, disrupting Indigenous cultures. As a result, today only a fraction of these languages remain in daily use, with many facing endangerment.
The National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS) for 2018-2019 revealed that more than 120 Indigenous language varieties were in use or being revived, though 70 of those in use are endangered. The 2021 census provided further insights, showing that 167 Indigenous languages were spoken at home by 76,978 Indigenous Australians. The classifiable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island languages with the most speakers included Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Kriol, Djambarrpuyngu, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Murrinh Patha, and Tiwi.
Efforts to preserve and promote Indigenous languages are ongoing. There are currently 22 Indigenous language centres across Australia dedicated to this cause. Bilingual education is also being implemented in some communities, and politicians have increasingly used Indigenous languages in parliamentary speeches, such as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who spoke Ngunnawal in 2016. These efforts are crucial to ensuring the survival of Indigenous languages, as many are at risk of falling out of use or becoming extinct.
Sign languages are also an important part of the Indigenous language landscape in Australia. Australian sign language, Auslan, was used by 16,242 people at home according to the 2021 census. Additionally, over 2,000 people used other sign languages, and there is a small community of Australian Irish Sign Language speakers. These sign languages complement verbal communication and are essential for the hearing-impaired community.
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Politicians using Indigenous languages
In 2021, 5.8 million people in Australia used a language other than English at home. This amounts to 22.3% of the population, with the dominant non-English language being Mandarin, spoken by 685,268 people. The use of languages other than English at home has been on the rise, with an increase of 804,915 people between 2016 and 2021. This increase is likely due to the country's multiculturalism, which has been influenced by waves of immigration following the Second World War and in the 21st century.
While English is the primary language used in the Australian legislature, several politicians have used Indigenous languages in their speeches. In 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull became the first prime minister to use an Indigenous language in Parliament when he gave an acknowledgment of country in Ngunawal. This was written by Ngunawal men Tyronne Bell and Glen Freeman, with assistance from AIATSIS linguist Doug Marmion. The first politician to use an Indigenous language in any Australian parliament was Neil Bell, who spoke in Pitjantjatjara during his maiden speech to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1981. In 1988, Trish Crossin became the first senator to give a maiden speech in an Indigenous language, speaking in Gumatj, a Yolŋu dialect. In 1999, Aden Ridgeway introduced himself to the Senate in Gumbaynggirr, stating his Indigenous identity in his native tongue. In 2008, Rob Oakeshott became the first politician to use an Indigenous language in the House of Representatives, using three Dhanggati words in his speech. In 2013, he gave the first full speech in an Indigenous language in an Australian parliament, with his speech in Dhanggati.
Other notable instances of politicians using Indigenous languages include Bess Price, who spoke Warlpiri in her maiden speech in 2012, and Yingiya Mark Guyula, who spoke Yolŋu Matha in his maiden speech during the same sitting of parliament. In 2018, Cynthia Lui became the first politician to address a parliament in a Torres Strait Islander language, Kala Lagaw Ya, in the Queensland Parliament. In 2014, Troy Grant became the first politician to use an Indigenous language in the Parliament of New South Wales, using Wiradjuri in the Acknowledgement of Country. In 2019, Sarah Mitchell gave an Acknowledgment of Country in English, which was translated into Dhanggati by Ray Kelly.
These instances of politicians using Indigenous languages in their speeches are significant in recognising and valuing the cultural diversity of Australia. They also contribute to the revitalisation and strengthening of Indigenous languages, which have historically been disrupted by colonial settlement and policies that punished Aboriginal children for speaking their native tongues.
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Language spoken at home
Australia is a culturally diverse country, with a fast-changing linguistic landscape. While English is the dominant language, with 72% of Australians speaking only English at home, there are many other languages spoken across the country. In 2021, 5.8 million people or 22.3% of the population used a language other than English at home, an increase of 804,915 people or 16.6% since 2016.
Mandarin is the most common language spoken at home other than English, with 685,268 speakers or 2.7% of the population. This is a notable increase from 2006, when Mandarin was the fourth most-spoken language in Australia after Italian, Greek, and Cantonese. Other languages that have seen significant growth include Punjabi, which grew by over 100,000 speakers or 80.4% since 2016, making it the fastest-growing language in Australia. Arabic, Vietnamese, and Cantonese are also widely spoken, with Vietnamese and Arabic speakers both exceeding 300,000.
There are also a significant number of people who speak Indigenous languages at home. The 2021 census found that 78,656 people speak an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language, with the Northern Territory having the greatest proportion of speakers at 46% of the territory's Indigenous population. The most spoken Indigenous languages include Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) with 7,776 speakers, Kriol (Australian Creole) with 7,478 speakers, and Djambarrpuyngu with 3,839 speakers.
Sign languages are also used in Australia, with 16,242 people using Auslan, the Australian sign language, at home in 2021. Additionally, over 2,000 people used other sign languages, and there is a small community of people who use Australian Irish Sign Language.
The diversity of languages spoken at home in Australia reflects the country's multiculturalism and the changing demographics over time.
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English as a first language
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia. It was introduced to the country in 1788 with the arrival of British settlers and gradually replaced Indigenous languages to become the majority language. Today, it is the primary language used in addressing any legislature in Australia and is the language of school education.
While English is the dominant language in Australia, the country's multiculturalism has led to a significant number of people speaking languages other than English within their families and communities. In 2021, about 5.8 million people (22.3% to 22.8% of the population) reported using a language other than English at home. This number has increased over time due to waves of immigration, particularly after the Second World War and in the 21st century. The most common languages spoken at home, other than English, include Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Hindi.
Despite the increasing diversity of languages in Australia, English remains prevalent as a first language. In the 2021 Census, about 72% to 76% of Australians reported speaking only English at home. This percentage is even higher when considering the entire population, as English is the only language used in the home by 72% of Australians, while 22.3% use a non-English language. The number of people who use English only at home has also increased between 2016 and 2021, with a growth of 7.5%.
Australian English itself has a distinctive accent, lexicon, grammar, and spelling that set it apart from other varieties of English. This unique variety serves as the standard dialect and contributes to the cultural identity of the country.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2021, 5.8 million people used a language other than English at home, which is about 22.3% of the population.
The most common second languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian and Hindi.
According to the 2021 census, 78,656 people speak an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
While English is the dominant language in Australia, it is not known how many people speak it as a second language. About 72% of Australians reported speaking only English at home in the 2021 Census.
