Thanks to Michael Everson for reminding us of the European Charter for
Minority Languages.
Looking at the "List of declarations"
(http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/EN/DECLAREList.asp?NT=148&CV=1&NA=&PO=999
&CN=999&CM=9) the following items er currently not covered by 639:
"Burgenlandcroatian" (Austria). There is a "Burgenlandcroatian language area
in the Land Burgenland". Note that it has been found useful or necessary to
specify "Burgenlandcroatian", as opposed to "Slovenian", "Hungarian",
"Czech", and "Slovakian", which are also mentioned in the declaration.
"Ruthenian" (Croatia and Slovakia). At the JAC meeting 2000-02 this item was
deferred. It needs to be finalized.
"Upper Sorbian" and "Lower Sorbian" (Germany). ISO 639-2 has "Sorbian
languages" (wen). However, the two specific languages were rejected at the
meeting 2000-02. This may have to be reconsidered.
"North Frisian" and "Sater Frisian" (Germany). ISO 639-1 and 639-2 have
"Frisian" (fy/fry). However, the two specific languages were rejected at the
meeting 2000-02. This may have to be reconsidered. Note that the Netherlands
in its declaration refers to "the Frisian language".
Spain is not explicit in its declaration, but: "Spain declares that, for the
purposes of the mentioned articles, are considered as regional or minority
languages, the languages recognised as official languagues in the Statutes
of Autonomy of the Autonomous Communities of the Basque Country, Catalonia,
Balearic Islands, Galicia, Valencia and Navarra."
"Meänkieli" (Sweden). Sweden recognizes, in addition to Sami and Finnish,
the language "Meänkieli", which is also known in Swedish as
"Tornedalsfinska" ("Finnish of Tornedalen (a region in Sweden)").
As you all know there is a large number of "language islands" in Europe (and
elsewhere!). From the point of view of 639 the issue will have to be: What
makes the islands separate linguistic communities with separate languages.
Bear in mind that the statement "Lx is a dialect of Ln" looses its validity
when "Lx" gets a written form which is clearly different from "Ln". How
great the difference needs to be, is an open issue; but "dialect" deals with
spoken language, not written.
Just some thoughts.
Best regards,
Håvard
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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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