Languages other than English (LOTE)

About LOTE languages

Most language services engagements by government agencies are for languages other than English (LOTE). LOTE refers to all languages spoken in the world with the exclusion of English, Auslan and Australian Aboriginal peoples’ and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ languages. These are the languages spoken by individuals who belong to culturally and linguistically diverse communities within Australia. These communities may include migrants, refugees, and other people residing in Australia who speak languages other than English as their primary language.

Common languages

The number of LOTE languages is growing, as is the proportion of people who speak a language other than English. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people in Australia who used a language other than English at home increased by 804,915 people or 16.6%¹.

In 2021, there were 645,269 Queensland residents who spoke an overseas language other than English at home. Since 2016, the largest increases have come from Spanish and Tagalog speakers increasing by 28% and 20% respectively. The most frequently spoken languages are Chinese languages, Indian languages and Tagalog².

ABS 2021 Census Data – Top 10 LOTE languages spoken in Queensland
Ranking	Language	Number of speakers
1	Chinese languages	110,058
2	Indian languages	51,643
3	Tagalog (including Filipino)	35,301
4	Vietnamese	31,110
5	Spanish	29,345
6	Korean	21,729
7	Italian	17,810
8	Japanese	17,776
9	Samoan	16,427
10	Arabic	16,004

Reach versus need

Depending on English proficiency of the population, the most widely spoken languages may not be the most needed languages in terms of interpreting and translation. Smaller populations of newer arrivals with more limited English proficiency may require more assistance with interpreting and translation.

Approximately 335,000 humanitarian entrants have settled in Australia since 2000³, with Queensland being the initial settlement location for approximately one fifth of this population. As they are frequently fleeing conflict or persecution, many humanitarian arrivals commence their settlement in Australia with few personal belongings and resources. The majority of arrivals have limited English proficiency and are clients of a range of government services. The diverse range of languages spoken by Australia’s recent humanitarian entrants are among languages referred to as ‘new and emerging languages’.

New and emerging languages

A new and emerging language is one that:

has recently started being spoken in Australia due to the arrival of migrants, usually refugees or humanitarian entrants
is not widely spoken or commonly known in Australia
has not yet reached a stage where NAATI certification in translating and interpreting is readily or widely available in Australia.

Because of the evolving nature of Australia’s humanitarian and migration programs, there is an ongoing need for the recruitment of interpreters in new and emerging languages. There are often shortages in the availability of interpreters in these languages, especially outside of metropolitan areas. Telephone interpreting or videoconferencing can help facilitate access to interpreters in new and emerging languages, especially in regional or rural regions.

Dialects

NAATI certifies interpreters by language; however, some languages have several different dialects. For example, there are 24 sovereign states where Modern Standard Arabic is an official language. Across these sovereign states are several different dialects. It is important that agencies seek to match a language’s dialect as well the language when providing an interpreter.

Cultural and linguistic capability

LSPs must implement strategies for building capability of the governing body, management and staff to ensure they have the skills, knowledge, behaviours and systems that are required to plan, support, improve and deliver services in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner.