I am quite sure that there are "Englishs" (i.e. English variants) which would qualify as a language of its own, if compared to other linguistically "near" languages contained already in ISO 639-1 and 639-2. To draw "relevant borders" troubles me as much as the question on how to keep stability (of the "extension") over time for language groups, macrolanguages, rest languages etc. On the one hand this stability is important, on the other hand languages (and linguistics) change and this change must be possible to be reflected in modifications within the ISO 639 series. -------------------------------------------------- Dr. Christian Galinski, Director Infoterm - International Information Centre for Terminology Mariahilfer Strasse 123/3, A-1060 Vienna, Austria T:+43-664-344 6181 - F:+43-1-524 0606-99 [log in to unmask] - http://www.infoterm.info -------------------------------------------------- Founded in 1971 by UNESCO to promote and organize co-operation in the field of terminology worldwide __________________________________________________ THIS E-MAIL HAS BEEN SCANNED FOR ALL KNOWN VIRUSES -------------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: ISO 639 Joint Advisory Committee [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Håvard Hjulstad Sent: Montag, 14. Jänner 2008 15:19 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: FW: ISO 639-2 Language Code Change Request - Alemannic, Swiss German, Alsatian To ISO 639 JAC members, As many of you will realize, this item has been discussed extensively on the IETF-Languages list. Personally I tend to agree with Rebecca when it comes to how we should respond to this request, but people who have followed the IETF discussion more closely than I have, may wish to present some of the arguments. The JAC may also wish to discuss how to draw relevant borders: We certainly don't want to register "Texan" as an additial name for English! The present case may be similar to Catalan/Valencian/Balear? Best regards, Håvard -------------------- Håvard Hjulstad Standard Norge / Standards Norway [log in to unmask] -------------------- -----Original Message----- From: Rebecca S. Guenther [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:08 PM To: [log in to unmask]; Håvard Hjulstad Subject: ISO 639-2 Language Code Change Request (fwd) Here is a request for an additional language name. According to the Ethnologue entry for France, Alsatian is a dialect of Alemannic (Swiss German). So an entry for Alsatian would properly belong in the part of ISO-639 for dialects. Do you want to respond to the person? Or do you think we need to discuss this in the JAC? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 17:04:03 -0500 From: NDMSO <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] Subject: ISO 639-2 Language Code Change Request ISO 639-2 Language Code Change Request. English name of Language: Swiss German French name of Language: alémanique iso_639_2_b: gsw iso_639_2_t: gsw change_requested: This request is to add \"Alsatian\" as a language name to this entity. This request is in synch with the Ethnologue page for gsw referenced by ISO 639-3. I am a member of the IETF language tags working group and the inclusion of this name will help users looking for a code for Alsatian in the IANA registry. Submitter's name: Karen Broome Submitter's email : [log in to unmask] Submitter's status : I am in charge of metadata standards at Sony Pictures and work with the LTRU group for the IETF. I also work with many audiovisual technical standards that require codes for dubbed and subtitled languages. I am the original registrant of the gsw tag.