I think this would be okay to add to ISO639-2. I have no problem with it being characterized as a literary dialect. In some senses standard Italian or standard German could also be characterized that way. Many Italian or German speakers in fact speak a dialect and use the standard language for written purposes.

However, I don't think we should change the meaning of the identifier nko. Another letter combination can be used for N'Ko.

Milicent Wewerka, Library of Congress

>>> [log in to unmask] 03/23/06 5:20 PM >>>
Dear JAC members,

Below please find a proposal to encode N'Ko.

As far as I can see, the item is not encoded in ISO 639-3 or the Linguasphere Registry. The N'Ko script has been encoded in ISO 15924. There is clearly an urgent need for encoding in ISO 639.

The concept of a "compromise dialect between a number of other languages" (as stated in the proposal) is quite interesting from a linguistic point of view. Does it mean that N'Ko is some sort of macrolanguage? The use of "literary dialect" may possibly misleadingly suggest that N'Ko isn't an individual language in its own right. I am sure that JAC members would welcome some enlightenment on this point.

As to identifier, "nko" is taken in ISO 639-3 (as the proposer states), while "nqo" is available. Does the JAC wish to change the assignment of nko to Nkonya?

And "the proposer" is of course Michael Everson, who is well versed in our workings.

Discussion please (until 14 April).

Håvard

******** ORIGINAL PROPOSAL ********

This data was submitted on: Monday, March 6, 2006 at 13:24:37

lang_in_eng = N'Ko

lang_in_fre = n'ko

ref_where_found_1 = http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n2765.pdf <http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n2765.pdf>

lang_in_vern = n'ko

ref_where_found_2 = http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n2765.pdf <http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n2765.pdf>

trans_lit = conventional romanization

evidence = There are many more than 50 documents published in N'Ko. There are monthly newspapers, dictionaries, grammars, history books, science books, and so on. The following agencies certainly have more than 50 documents:
Journal culturel de l'Association ICRA-N'KO B.P. 1119 Conakry, Guinea
TEL: 224-46-45-95
ICRA-N'KO - Association pour l'Impulsion et la Coordination des Recherches sur l'Alphabet N'Ko Executive Director: Kobinko Bintou Burama Kaba B.P. 1119 Conakry, Guinea
Tel: (224) 46-30-44, (224) 46-45-95 Fax: (224) 46-27-44
Sanoussy fiman Diané
Director, Central N'ko Bookseller Lérada B.P. 1119 Quartier Coleah Conakry, Guinea
Tel: (224) 46-45-95, (224) 41-36-33
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ATP - Association des Tradithérapeutes et Pharmacologues Conakry, Guinea
Tel: (224) 44-38-33

addinfo = N'Ko is a literary dialect written with the N'Ko script. It is a "compromise" dialect between a number of other languages, all of which may have their own codes. The N'Ko script is used to write the N'Ko literary language, which is written by speakers of Bambara, Mandinka, Djula, etc. The N'Ko language is different from each of those.
A code for the N'Ko language is urgently required for CLDR implementation and support. I request the code "nko" though this is assigned to Nkonya in the draft for 639-3. If this cannot be changed, "nqo" is available.

request_addition = ISO 639-2 only

2_code_suggestion =

3_code_suggestion = nko

submit_name = Michael Everson

submit_email = [log in to unmask]

submit_status = I am a software developer working on font and CLDR implementation for N'Ko. I proposed the encoding of the N'Ko script in ISO/IEC 10646. I am working with members of the N'Ko community to help support their efforts to get their language online.