Is ISO 639-2 a "code" or a "list of codes"?
You only need to go as far as to the title: "Codes for the representation of
names of languages - Part 1: Alpha-3 code". The last word says it all in my
book: 639-2 is ONE CODE. (The first plural is there because 639 as a set
consists of two such codes.)
Cf also 3166 (from ISO/TC46):
ISO 3166-1:1997 Codes for the representation of names of countries and their
subdivisions -- Part 1: Country codes
ISO 3166-2:1998 Codes for the representation of names of countries and their
subdivisions -- Part 2: Country subdivision code
ISO 3166-3:1999 Codes for the representation of names of countries and their
subdivisions -- Part 3: Code for formerly used names of countries
The whole series is plural: codes. Part 1 includes both a numerical code and
an alphabetical code (or actually two alphabetical codes). Parts 2 and 3 is
one code each.
ISO/TC37/SC2 has (throughout the process) received comments to the effect
that the terminology should be changed, and that it should be retained.
ISO/TC37/SC2 (who is responsible for ISO 639-1 (all text except the code
tables)) has considered all input and arguments. TC37/SC2 did find it
problematic that the terminology is different. TC37 has also seeked advice
from ISO CS in this matter, but has not received very clear answers.
I don't think that our end users will find this "problem" very big. They
will be mostly interesed in the code tables.
Best regards,
Håvard
-------------------------
Håvard Hjulstad mailto:[log in to unmask]
Rådet for teknisk terminologi (RTT)
(Norwegian Council for Technical Terminology)
Postboks 660 Skøyen
NO-0214 Oslo, Norway
tel: +47-22049225, dir: +47-22049259
faks: +47-22434224
http://www.rtt.org/
-------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: ISO 639 Joint Advisory Committee [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Rebecca S. Guenther
Sent: 13. februar 2001 21:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Document TC37/SC2/WG1 N69 - Language coding
I have a few comments on your document.
Ireland's comment about harmonizing the definitions of "code" between the
two parts. Convenor's response is:
"Terms and definitions in 639-2 should be harmonized with 639-1, which
build on ISO 639:1988. ISO 639-1 will keep its current terminology."
In the various revisions of 639-2 during its development as a CD (twice),
then a DIS, etc. this issue came up. In fact there was much discussion
about it and some disagreement. This was mainly concerning whether to call
these elements we were standardizing as "codes", "code elements",
"identifiers", "symbols" or something else. A decision was made at the
meeting of the TC46/SC4-TC37/SC2 Joint Working Group on Language Codes in
Berlin in May 1993 (I took the notes there). A compromise was reached that
the document itself would be called a "code list" and the individual
language codes "code elements". It was acknowledged that this decision may
have an impact on ISO 639-1 (this was explicitly stated). It was also
acknowledged that "code element" was difficult to translate and give
meaning to. It was later determined in the ISO meeting week that the term
"code" has been widely used and could be adopted for the individual
elements.
Further discussion and consensus was reached at the 1995 meeting of the
JWG in Ottawa where the definitions of "code" and "language code" were
finalized. As a result of this we used the term "language code" in 3.2. of
the standard and the definition was finalized. This is what was balloted and
approved. TC 37 representatives were at both JWG meetings where this was
worked out.
Rebecca
On Thu, 8 Feb 2001, [iso-8859-1] Håvard Hjulstad wrote:
> Dear colleagues,
>
> Please find enclosed document ISO/TC37/SC2/WG1 N69 as a Word document and
as
> an HTML document.
>
> The document is the first response to the request at the previous meeting
of
> TC37/SC2 to look into further projects relating to language coding.
COMMENTS
> ARE MOST WELCOME, as I will submit more concrete proposals later.
>
> Best regards,
> Håvard Hjulstad
>
> -------------------------
> Håvard Hjulstad mailto:[log in to unmask]
> Rådet for teknisk terminologi (RTT)
> (Norwegian Council for Technical Terminology)
> Postboks 660 Skøyen
> NO-0214 Oslo, Norway
> tel: +47-22049225, dir: +47-22049259
> faks: +47-22434224
> http://www.rtt.org/
> -------------------------
>
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