Hello -

When I was looking at MARC 21 Specifications for Record Structure,
Character Sets, and Exchange Media CHARACTER SETS: Part 3, I noticed that
ayn is listed as:
B0    02BB    AYN / MODIFIER LETTER TURNED COMMA
However, when looking at the Unicode standard for spacing modifier letters,
I thought the ayn should be represented as 02BF.

U+02BB MODIFIER LETTER TURNED COMMA is annotated:
  * typographical alternate for 02BD or 02BF

  U+02BF MODIFIER LETTER LEFT HALF RING is annotated:
  * transliteration of Arabic ain (voiced pharyngeal fricative)

I looked in the list archives to see if I could find an explanation.  In
March of 1999, the reverse question was brought up (at that time the ayn
was apparently listed as 02BF but someone thought it should be 02BB).  The
answer (complete text can be read at
http://listserv.loc.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9903&L=marc&P=R103) was that the
02BF mapping was correct, since 02BB was simply a typographical alternative.

This answer seems to have changed.  Could someone please explain why the
equivalency for  MARC B0 was changed from 02BF to 02BB.

Thank you.

Wendy Robertson
Serials Section, Central Technical Services
University of Iowa Libraries
100 Main Library
Iowa City, IA 52242-1420
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Phone: 319-335-5891
Fax: 319-335-5900