He needs to demonstrate linguistic difference. I
would be very surprised if this were not a
dialect of standard Dhivehi.

At 10:22 +0200 2006-03-28, Håvard Hjulstad wrote:
>Forwarded message from the original submitter.
>
>Håvard
>
>
>From: Iyaaz J Naseem [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 7:30 AM
>To: Håvard Hjulstad
>Subject: Re: ISO 639 proposal - Mahl - discussion
>
>Greetings,
>
>Though Mahl was listed as a variant name for
>Maldivian before, Mahl is a separate language
>linguistically and politically. So we as native
>speakers request to both alpha-2 and alpha-3
>identifier for Mahl.
>
>And since our language Mahl has got no codes
>yet, we face a lot of difficulties especially in
>the field of IT.
>
>If the proposed alpha-3 identifier "mah" is not
>available, You can decide an identifier. I
>suggest "mhl" as alpha-3 identifier. And The
>alpha-2 identifier would be "ma" since it is
>available as you have mentioned below.
>
>===========
>Iyaaz J Naseem
>
>
>
>
>On 3/24/06, Håvard Hjulstad <<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>Dear JAC members,
>
>We have received the proposal to include both
>alpha-2 and alpha-3 identifier for Mahl. Please
>see the original proposal below.
>
>Ethnologue and ISO 639-3 lists Mahl as a variant
>name for Maldivian (identifier "div").
>
>The Linguasphere Registry lists "mahl" as a
>variant name for "dhivehi" (59-ABA-aa) (=
>"Maldivian").
>
>As to identifiers: The alpha-2 "ma" is
>available, in case we should decide to include
>Mahl in the alpha-2 table. The proposed alpha-3
>identifier "mah" is not available. There are in
>fact very few free identifiers starting with m,
>and no obvious one at all. If we want to assign
>an identifier starting with m, I suggest "muf"
>(simply because all better choices are already
>taken).
>
>Discussion please (until 14 April).
>
>Best regards,
>Håvard Hjulstad
>
>(PS: This message has been copied to the
>proposer for information. He will not be able to
>submit to the email list. Should he wish to add
>any information, he may do so directly to me,
>and I shall forward it to the list.)
>
>
>*************** ORIGINAL SUBMISSION **********
>
>Regarding documents in the Mahl language. And
>the name of the institution and the number of
>documents at each.
>
>1. in Central Institute of Indian Langguages (has atleast 3 documents).
>(please refer)
>-->
><http://www.ciil.org/publication/All%20Publications/Video.htm>http://www.ciil.org/publication/All%20Publications/Video.htm
>-->
><http://www.ciil.org/Prog05-06/Prog05-06.htm>http://www.ciil.org/Prog05-06/Prog05-06.htm
>
>2. Mahl Unit Press Minicoy (Text books in Mahl
>for I to IV standards) Number of Documents N/A
>(please refer)
>--->
><http://lakshadweep.nic.in/depts/press/unit_presses.htm>http://lakshadweep.nic.in/depts/press/unit_presses.htm
>
>3. Inaa-ee Library, Feridhoo, North Ari Atoll,
>MALDIVES (has 39 Text Books, 1 daily news paper,
>17 Essay books, 2 poetry books and 1 book on
>religion)
>----> email: Inaa-ee Library
><<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>[log in to unmask]> of the
>Director, Mr. Saud Abdel Kareem.
>
>4. Bada Village Library, Minicoy, Lakshadweep,
>INDIA (Text books and newspapers) Number of
>Documents N/A
>
>Correction:
>
>=============
>
>lang_in_eng = Mahl
>
>lang_in_fre =
>
>ref_where_found_1 =
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahl_language>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahl_language
>
>lang_in_vern = Maliku bas
>
>ref_where_found_2 = <http://www.mathaaran.net/>http://www.mathaaran.net
>
>trans_lit =
>
>evidence = Central Institute of Indian Langguages
>
>addinfo = 300,000 in Minicoy, India and Maldives incorrect.
>
>addinfo = 9495 in Minicoy island, Lakshadweep, INDIA. (Correct)
>
>request_addition = ISO 639-1 and ISO 639-2
>
>2_code_suggestion = ma
>
>3_code_suggestion = mah
>
>submit_name = Iyaaz J Naseem
>
>submit_email = <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]
>
>submit_status = Native speaker of the language


--
Michael Everson * http://www.evertype.com