Exploring the relationships between time since immigration and language spoken

Oliver Duke-Williams, UCL

(Project no. 0410096, previously 401009)

This project will explore the way in which new questions in the 2011 Census allow us to explore the relationships between languages spoken in England and Wales, and immigration. Two new questions were asked about language: respondents were asked to describe their 'main language', and separately, were asked, 'how well can you speak English?'. A number of new questions were also asked about international migration, including the length of intended stay in the UK, and the year of month of (most recent) arrival in the UK for persons born outside the UK. The LS can substantially expand the analysis that would be possible using area statistics, by allowing us to look at previous observations for persons who either have limited or no ability to speak English, or who identify a main language other than English (or, if resident in Wales, Welsh).

Thus, the project will seek to compare the length of time in the UK as indicated by the LS (through previous Census or NHSCR capture) and as indicated by the 'year of arrival' question. The propensity of migrants to use a main language other than English (or to have limited spoken English) will be compared to these two measures of time of residence.

Finally, changes in family structure over time will be examined and compared to the propensity to speak a main language other than English.