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'{{redirect|Australian language|the Polynesian language spoken on the [[Austral Islands]]|Austral language}} {{refimprove|date=March 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox country languages |country = Australia |main = [[Australian English]] |indigenous = [[Australian Aboriginal languages]], [[Tasmanian languages]], [[Torres Strait Island languages]] |sign = [[Auslan]], [[Australian Irish Sign Language]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wallis |first1=Bernadette T |title=The Silent Book: A Deaf Family and the Disappearing Australian-Irish Sign Language |date=August 16, 2016 |publisher=Missionary Sisters of Service |isbn=978-0646954943 |pages=322}}</ref> various [[Australian Aboriginal sign languages|manual Indigenous languages]], such as [[Akitiri Sign Language|Eltye eltyarrenke]], [[Warlpiri Sign Language|Rdaka-rdaka]] and [[Yolŋu Sign Language]] amongst others |immigrant = [[Australian|English]] (100%), [[Arabic language|Arabic]] (0%), [[Cantonese]] (0%), [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (0%), [[Italian language|Italian]] (0%) }} {{Culture of Australia}} Australia has no official language. However, English has been entrenched as the ''[[de facto]]'' national language since European settlement.<ref name=language>{{cite web|url=https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/a-multicultural-australia/programs-and-publications/1995-global-cultural-diversity-conference-proceedings-sydney/culture-education-and-language/pluralist-nations-pluralist-language |title=Pluralist Nations: Pluralist Language Policies? |work=1995 Global Cultural Diversity Conference Proceedings, Sydney |publisher=[[Department of Social Services (Australia)|Department of Social Services]] |access-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220020910/http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/multicultural/confer/04/speech18b.htm |archive-date=20 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} "English has no de jure status but it is so entrenched as the common language that it is de facto the official language as well as the national language."</ref> [[Australian English]] is a major variety of the language with a distinctive pronunciation and lexicon,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/libraries/attachments/exhibitions/vocabulary_of_australian_english/files/5471/Vocabulary%20of%20Australian%20English.pdf |title=The Vocabulary Of Australian English |last=Moore |first=Bruce |publisher=National Museum of Australia |access-date=5 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320004658/http://www.nma.gov.au/libraries/attachments/exhibitions/vocabulary_of_australian_english/files/5471/Vocabulary%20of%20Australian%20English.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2011 }}</ref> and differs slightly from other varieties of English in grammar and spelling.<ref name="Fourth Edition 2005">"The Macquarie Dictionary", Fourth Edition. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, 2005.</ref> [[General Australian]] serves as the standard dialect. According to the 2016 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for close to 73% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Cultural%20Diversity%20Article~20 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-07-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709233002/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Cultural%20Diversity%20Article~20 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] (2.5%), [[Arabic language|Arabic]] (1.4%), [[Cantonese]] (1.2%), [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (1.2%), [[Italian language|Italian]] (1.2%), [[Greek language|Greek]] (1.0%), [[Hindi language|Hindi]] (0.7%), [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (0.6%) and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi ]] (0.6%).<ref name=sbsdata2>[https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/hindi-is-the-top-indian-language-spoken-in-australia Hindi is the top Indian language spoken in Australia], SBS, 26 October 2018.</ref> A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual. Over 250 [[Indigenous Australian languages]] are thought to have existed at the time of first European contact, of which less than 20 are still in daily use by all age groups.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2011/08/a-mission-to-save-indigenous-languages/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131224075354/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2011/08/a-mission-to-save-indigenous-languages/|archive-date= 24 December 2013| title=A mission to save indigenous languages| publisher=Australian Geographic|access-date=18 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=nilsr/> About 110 others are spoken exclusively by older people.<ref name=nilsr>{{cite web|url=http://arts.gov.au/sites/default/files/pdfs/nils-report-2005.pdf |title=National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005 |publisher=Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709141342/http://www.arts.gov.au/indigenous/national_indigenous_languages_survey_report_2005 |archive-date=9 July 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> At the time of the 2006 census, 52,000 Indigenous Australians, representing 12% of the Indigenous population, reported that they spoke an Indigenous language at home.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4713.0 |title=4713.0 – Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006 |last=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=4 May 2010 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |location=Canberra |access-date=7 December 2010}}</ref> Australia is home to many [[sign language]]s, its most widespread is known as [[Auslan]], which is the main language of about 5,500 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=0&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=0&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=POTLD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Language%20Spoken%20at%20Home%20(full%20classification%20list)%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=Language& |title=20680-Language Spoken at Home (full classification list) by Sex – Australia |last=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=27 June 2007 |work=2006 Census Tables : Australia |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=7 December 2010}}</ref> Other sign languages include the various [[Australian Aboriginal sign languages|manual Indigenous languages]] like [[Akitiri Sign Language|Eltye eltyarrenke]], [[Warlpiri Sign Language|Rdaka-rdaka]] and [[Yolŋu Sign Language]]. There is also a language descended from [[Irish Sign Language]] that has influenced Auslan called [[Australian Irish Sign Language]], which has ceased to be taught in 1953, spoken by small communities around the country.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wallis |first1=Bernadette T |title=The Silent Book: A Deaf Family and the Disappearing Australian-Irish Sign Language |date=August 16, 2016 |publisher=Missionary Sisters of Service |isbn=978-0646954943 |pages=322}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Adam |first1=Robert |title=Australian Irish Sign Language: a minority sign language within a larger sign language community. |url=https://elar.soas.ac.uk/Collection/MPI1032002 |website=Endangered Language Archive (ELAR) |publisher=SOAS University of London |access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref> Yes ==All Australian Aboriginal languages== {{Main|Indigenous Australian languages}} It is believed that there were almost 400 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait languages at the time of first European contact. Most of these are now either [[language death|extinct or moribund]], with only about fifteen languages still being spoken among all age groups of the relevant tribes.<ref>McConvell, P. & N.Thieberger. 2001. State of Indigenous Language Report. http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2001/publications/technical/indigenous-languages.html</ref> The ''National Indigenous Languages Report'' is a regular Australia-wide survey of the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/research-themes/languages-and-cultural-expression/national-indigenous-languages-report-nilr|title=National Indigenous Languages Report (NILR)|date=2018-11-06|website=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}}</ref> conducted in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/publications/products/national-indigenous-languages-survey-report-2005|title=National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005|date=2016-02-19|website=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}}</ref> 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/publications/products/community-identity-wellbeing-report-second-national-indigenous-languages-survey|title=Community, identity, wellbeing: The report of the Second National Indigenous Languages Survey|date=2015-02-16|website=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}}</ref> and 2019.<ref name=":0" /> An indigenous language remains the main language for about 50,000 (0.25%) people. [[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Australia by SLA - BCP field 2571 Speaks other language Australian Indigenous Languages Persons.svg|thumb|right|300px|People who speak descent Australian indigenous languages as a percentage of the population in Australia divided geographically by statistical such as local area, as of the 2011 census]] The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island languages with the most speakers today are [[Upper Arrernte language|Upper Arrernte]], [[Kalaw Lagaw Ya]], [[Tiwi language|Tiwi]], [[Walmajarri language|Walmajarri]], [[Warlpiri language|Warlpiri]], and the [[Western Desert language]]. ===Sign languages=== {{Main|Australian Aboriginal sign languages}} {{empty section|date=June 2020}} ===Tasmanian languages=== {{Main|Tasmanian languages}} {{empty section|date=January 2021}} ===Torres Strait languages=== {{Main|Torres Strait Island languages}} Two languages are spoken on the islands of the [[Torres Strait]], within Australian territory, by the Melanesian inhabitants of the area: [[Kalaw Lagaw Ya]] and [[Meriam language|Meriam]]. Meriam Mir is a [[Papuan languages|Papuan language]], while Kalaw Lagaw Ya is an Australian language. ===Pidgins and creoles=== Two English-based [[creole language|creole]]s have arisen in Australia after European contact: [[Australian Kriol language|Kriol]] and [[Torres Strait Creole]]. Kriol is spoken in the [[Northern Territory]] and [[Western Australia]], and [[Torres Strait Creole]] in Queensland and south-west Papua. [[Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin]] was a [[pidgin]] used as a [[lingua franca]] between [[Malay race|Malays]], Japanese, [[Viet Nam|Vietnamese]], [[Torres Strait Islanders]] and [[Australian Aborigines|Aborigines]] on [[pearl hunting|pearling]] boats. ==Immigrant languages== {{indigenous|date=September 2020}} There has been a steady decline in the percentage of Australians who speak only English at home since at least 2001. According to the 2001 census, English was the only language spoken in the home for around 80% of the population. By the 2006 census it had fallen to close to 79%, while in the 2011 census, that number had fallen to 76.8%. According to the 2016 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for close to 72.7% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Cultural%20Diversity%20Article~20 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-07-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709233002/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Cultural%20Diversity%20Article~20 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=sbsdata2/> *[[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] (2.5%) *[[Arabic language|Arabic]] (1.4%) *[[Cantonese]] (1.2%) *[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (1.2%) *[[Italian language|Italian]] (1.2%) *[[Greek language|Greek]] (1.0%) * [[Hindi language|Hindi]] (0.7%) * [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (0.6%) * [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (0.6%). A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual. == See also == * [[Diminutives in Australian English]] * [[Instituto Cervantes Sydney]], Spanish language authority {{clear}} == References == === Citations === {{Reflist}} === Sources === {{refbegin}} * McConvell, P. & Thieberger, N. (2001). [State of Indigenous Language Report http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/485]. {{refend}} ==External links== {{commons category|Languages of Australia}} * [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=AU Ethnologue report for Australia] * [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au Census Data (Australian government)] {{Australia topics}} {{Languages of Australia}} {{Oceania topic|Languages of}} {{Australian Aboriginal languages}} [[Category:Languages of Australia| ]] [[Category:Australian culture]]'