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Governance: Language coverage & data

To what extent do relevant laws, regulations, policies, and guidance require that data collection and publication processes be available in the country’s official or national languages? If the country has no official or national languages, are these processes available in the languages used in the country?

Definitions and Identification

A country may formally designate official and national languages. An official language typically refers to languages used by the country's government. A country's constitution or legislation may also identify a national language or languages, recognizing the language's importance in the country. Some countries only designate official languages, some only national languages, some both, some neither.

Start by identifying whether your country designates any languages as official or national. This may not always match your perception, so it's important to check. If not, use Wikipedia or a reputable local encyclopedia to identify the languages used in the country.

Next, look for a framework that specifies the languages that the government must make its communications available in. Compare these to the country's official, national, or in-use languages as appropriate.

If a country has designated official languages, only assess these. If a country has designated national and only national languages, assess these. If the country hasn't designated either official or national languages, then assess against the in-use languages. Finally, examine the framework to determine how it applies to the government's datasets, data tools, and other data communications.

Alternatively, you can look first for a dedicated framework that addresses language matters specifically with regard to government data collection and publication (these are not currently common) and then apply the steps outlined above to that framework.

Provide details of your country's languages and how you consequently researched this indicator in the indicator's justification box.

Starting points

  • Search:
    • Government websites for "language rights," "language policy," and similar terms.
  • Consult:
    • Government officials who serve in communications roles.

What to look for?

Look for evidence that can answer the following questions:

  • Is there a framework that addresses which languages government datasets and data tools must be made available in?
  • If so, do the languages the framework covers correspond to the country's official or national languages? Or, if the country has neither, to languages commonly used in the country?

National and sub-national considerations

In some countries, frameworks that govern language coverage may be established primarily by individual states, regions, or cities. To assess such countries, researchers should select the strongest example of sub-national practice, and then indicate whether this is an outlier or an example of widespread practice.

Show/hide supporting questions

Existence

  • What is the nature of the framework?

    • No framework exists.
      Supporting questions: In the absence of a strong legal framework, are there alternative norms or customs that play this role in the country? If so, please explain how. If there are draft laws or regulations not yet in force, but that would provide a more robust framework in future, please provide brief details here.
    • A framework exists but lacks full force of law.
      Supporting questions: In the absence of a strong legal framework, are there alternative norms or customs that play this role in the country? If so, please explain how. If there are draft laws or regulations not yet in force, but that would provide a more robust framework in future, please provide brief details here.
    • A framework exists and has the force of law.
      Supporting questions: Please identify the framework(s) you have assessed (e.g. name of law(s) or regulations)

  • Where does this requirement exist?

    • It does not exist.
      Supporting questions: What are the official, national, or in-use languages of the country?
    • There is a broader framework which can be presumed to apply to data.
      Supporting questions: What are the official, national, or in-use languages of the country?
    • There is either a dedicated framework for language coverage related to data or a framework that includes specific provisions related to language coverage and data.
      Supporting questions: What are the official, national, or in-use languages of the country?

Elements

  • Provisions for data quality:

  • The rules/guidance empower an agency or official to ensure the accurate and timely collection and publication of required data. (No, Partially, Yes)

    Supporting questions (conditional)

    If Partially: Please indicate which section of the framework refers to this issue and explain your 'Partially' response.

    If Yes: Please indicate which section of the framework refers to this issue.

  • The framework requires a verification process. (No, Partially, Yes) There are many different kinds of verification processes. In some cases, data is required from multiple parties engaged in an activity and that data is then cross-verified. In others, a dedicated agency or official has the authority to conduct audits, engaging with other agencies or external parties to verify information received.

    Supporting questions (conditional)

    If Partially: Please briefly explain the verification process used, and which parts of collected data the framework requires to be verified and which parts it does not.

    If Yes: Please briefly explain the verification process used.

Extent

  • How comprehensive, in terms of jurisdiction, is the coverage of the laws, regulations, policies, or guidance assessed for this question?
    • They cover one or more localities, but there are many other localities without such rules/guidance, or with rules or guidance of a lesser quality.
      Supporting questions: Which locality does this framework cover?
    • They cover one or more localities and are a representative example of the kind of rules/guidance that can be found for all, or most, localities.
      Supporting questions: Please explain your answer and provide supporting urls if necessary.
    • They provide national coverage.
      Supporting questions: Please explain your answer and provide supporting urls if necessary.

Language coverage is a key component of making data both open and high quality. What language is used during data collection will affect how well the person providing the data understands the interaction—with consequences for both meaningful consent and data quality. Similarly, the languages in which data and its accompanying tools and materials are published will affect who can use that data and how.