If it is indeed an “official” language, then perhaps government documents are prepared in that language, in which case the existence of an institution with 50 documents is guaranteed. Ideally, the request would include references that provide confirmation of that; in this case, no such evidence is provided.
In the absence of document evidence, this request presents us with a general issue regarding decision criteria for 639-2: is it sufficient that a language have “official” status within some country?
Peter Constable
________________________________
From: ISO 639 Joint Advisory Committee [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Havard Hjulstad
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 6:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New ISO 639 proposal - Seselwa Creole French - Discussion
Dear JAC members,
A request for alpha-2 and alpha-3 identifiers for Seselwa Creole French has been submitted (for original submission see below).
The item is included in ISO 639-3 (and Ethnologue) with identifier crs.
In Linguasphere the item is encoded 51-AAC-cea ("seychellois") under 51-AAC-ce = "mauricien+seychellois", under 51-AAC = Creole Romance.
Current encoding in 639-2 is cpf (Creoles and pidgins, French-based (Other)).
The basis for requesting an alpha-2 identifier is that the language has official status in the Seychelles, which it seems to have had since 1977. It is the majority language of the Seychelles (according to Ethnologue 72700 out of total population 80832). The requested alpha-2 identifier (sy) is available.
Discussion please (until 2005-12-02).
Best regards,
Håvard Hjulstad
(secretary ISO 639 RA-JAC)
*********** Submission: **********
This data was submitted on: Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 11:30:29
lang_in_eng = Seselwa creole french
lang_in_fre = creole seychellois
ref_where_found_1 = Ethnologue 2005
lang_in_vern = kreol
ref_where_found_2 = Ethnologue
trans_lit =
evidence = See Ethnologue.
Introduction of this language in ISO 639-1 and ISO 639-2 is necessary because of the official status of this language in Seychelles.
addinfo = See Ethnologue
request_addition = ISO 639-1 and ISO 639-2
2_code_suggestion = sy
3_code_suggestion = crs
submit_name = Lang Gérard
submit_email = [log in to unmask]
submit_status = Convenor of ISO/TC 46/WG 2
