ISO 639-JAC: There is a discussion list for Low Germanic languages. See
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1615/rhahn/lowlands/

To R. F. Hahn: I'm not sure what I think of the request to add an ISO 639
code for "Low German". The question is, what is the difference between Low
Saxon and Low German and how many codes do we need for Germanic languages?

Ar 15:16 -0400 2000-04-12, scríobh Rebecca S. Guenther:
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 14:36:19 -0500 (EST)
>From: Rebecca S. Guenther <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New ISO 639-2 code (fwd)
>
>Here is our first formal request using the Web form. We did discuss this
>at our meeting and some research needs to be done.
>
>This is how the form gets sent in an email. I think you can figure out
>what the labels are on the form (e.g. lang_in_eng=Language in English).
>
>As ISO 639-2/RA I've analyzed the request, which meets the criteria in
>terms of sufficient number of documents. To be consistent with the rule to
>use a code based on the vernacular, I propose the use of "pld" and the
>term German, Low (vernacular seems to be Plattdeutsch unless someone has
>other information about that).
>
>Now I will work on developing some standard forms to send to the
>requestor.
>
>Rebecca
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:16:15 -0500
>From: WWW server acct <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New ISO 639-2 code
>
>This data was submitted on: Friday, March 24, 19100 at 16:16:15
>
>lang_in_eng = Low German
>lang_in_fre =
>ref_where_found_1 =
>lang_in_vern =
>ref_where_found_2 =
>trans_lit =
>
>evidence = National Library of the Netherlands, Short Title Catalogue (50)
>British Library, 17th Century German Imprints collection (43)
>addinfo = Currently covered by ISO 639-2/B code "gem" (same 639-2/T code).
>The UKMARC Bibliographic Format has established code "gml" for "German, Low".
>That UKMARC code is represented in 50 STC-N and 43 BL-17th Cen. German MARC
>records. RLG received those records for load to the RLG Hand Press Books
>database in 1998. Because RLG did not wish to delay loading the records
>while a new language code for Low German is under consideration, the "gml"
>code was changed to "gem." However, RLG will change the "gem" code in those
>records to whatever code is assigned if this request for a new Low German
>code is approved.
>
>request_addition = ISO 639-2 only
>2_code_suggestion =
>3_code_suggestion = gml
>lang_in_eng_change =
>lang_in_fre_change =
>iso_639_2_b =
>iso_639_2_t =
>change_requested =
>submit_name = Joe Altimus
>submit_email = [log in to unmask]
>submit_status = Analyzed bibliographic records containing the UKMARC "gml"
>language code for Low
>German, prior to load of records to RLG's Hand Press Books database.
>If you have questions about the STC-N or BL documents, you may wish to
>contact:
>Jan Bos, National Library of the Netherlands, STC Office ([log in to unmask])
>Graham Nattrass, British Library ([log in to unmask])


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