ISO 639:2023

Scope

This document specifies the ISO 639 language code and establishes the harmonized terminology and general principles of language coding. It provides rules for the selection, formation, presentation and use of language identifiers as well as language reference names. It also gives provisions (i.e. principles, rules and guidelines) for the selection, formation and presentation of language names in English and French. Furthermore, it introduces provisions for the adoption of standardized language code elements using language names other than English or French. In addition, this document gives guidance on the use of language identifiers and describes their possible combination with identifiers of other codes. Specifically excluded from the ISO 639 language code are reconstructed languages or formal languages, such as computer programming languages and markup languages. The ISO 639 language code is maintained by the ISO 639 Maintenance Agency (ISO 639/MA) (see Annex B).

Table of contents

Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Terms related to language and individual languages
3.2 Terms related to linguistic variation and language varieties
3.3 Terms related to types of individual languages subject to language coding
3.4 Terms related to language groups subject to language coding
3.5 Terms related to modalities of language use
3.6 Terms related to written representation of individual languages
3.7 Terms related to language coding and naming languages

4 Linguistic variation and fundamental concepts of identifying and categorizing individual languages

4.1 General
4.2 Linguistic variation
4.3 Individual languages and writing conventions

5 The ISO 639 language code

5.1 Introduction to the ISO 639 language code
5.2 Sets of language identifiers
5.3 Language code elements and their structural components
5.4 Language identifiers
5.5 Language reference names
5.6 Language names in English and French
5.7 Code element scopes and local-use language identifiers
5.8 Language code maintenance
5.9 Adoption of language code elements into other standards

6 Criteria for language coding and naming languages

6.1 Information to be considered in language coding and naming languages
6.2 Eligibility for language coding
6.3 Principles governing the assignment of language reference names
6.4 Formation, disambiguation and presentation of language reference names
6.5 Rules for the selection, formation, and presentation of language names in English and French
6.6 Recommendations for the selection, formation, and presentation of language names in languages other than English and French

7 Fields of application
8 Combining language identifiers with other identifiers

8.1 Combining language identifiers with other standardized codes
8.2 Combining language identifiers with the ISO 3166 series
8.3 Combining language identifiers with ISO 15924
8.4 Combining language identifiers with indicators of a language modality
8.5 Format of code combinations

Annex A Explanatory illustration of the ISO 639 language code (normative)
Annex B Maintenance Agency for the ISO 639 language code (informative)

Bibliography

Show all

Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Terms related to language and individual languages
3.2 Terms related to linguistic variation and language varieties
3.3 Terms related to types of individual languages subject to language coding
3.4 Terms related to language groups subject to language coding
3.5 Terms related to modalities of language use
3.6 Terms related to written representation of individual languages
3.7 Terms related to language coding and naming languages

4 Linguistic variation and fundamental concepts of identifying and categorizing individual languages

4.1 General
4.2 Linguistic variation
4.3 Individual languages and writing conventions

5 The ISO 639 language code

5.1 Introduction to the ISO 639 language code
5.2 Sets of language identifiers
5.3 Language code elements and their structural components
5.4 Language identifiers
5.5 Language reference names
5.6 Language names in English and French
5.7 Code element scopes and local-use language identifiers
5.8 Language code maintenance
5.9 Adoption of language code elements into other standards

6 Criteria for language coding and naming languages

6.1 Information to be considered in language coding and naming languages
6.2 Eligibility for language coding
6.3 Principles governing the assignment of language reference names
6.4 Formation, disambiguation and presentation of language reference names
6.5 Rules for the selection, formation, and presentation of language names in English and French
6.6 Recommendations for the selection, formation, and presentation of language names in languages other than English and French

7 Fields of application
8 Combining language identifiers with other identifiers

8.1 Combining language identifiers with other standardized codes
8.2 Combining language identifiers with the ISO 3166 series
8.3 Combining language identifiers with ISO 15924
8.4 Combining language identifiers with indicators of a language modality
8.5 Format of code combinations

Annex A Explanatory illustration of the ISO 639 language code (normative)
Annex B Maintenance Agency for the ISO 639 language code (informative)

Bibliography

Product group(s)

01.140.20 Information sciences »

Relationships

Normative references

ISO 15924 Information and documentation — Codes for the representation of names of scripts
ISO 3166-1 Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 1: Country code

Technical committee

ISO/TC 37/SC 2 Terminology workflow and language coding »

Date of implementation

08.11.2023

Published

08.11.2023

Edition

2023

Pages

37

Language(s)

English