Codes for the representation of names of languages -- Alpha-4 code for comprehensive coverage of language variants
This part of ISOÂ 639 specifies a method for establishing four-letter language identifiers (alpha-4) and language reference names for language variants and a hierarchical framework for relating them to languages, language families and language groups. The alpha-4 language identifiers have been developed for use in a wide range of applications, especially in computer systems, where there is a potential need to cover the entire range of languages, language families and language groups as well as language variants within each identified language. Alpha-4 language identifiers can support the quantity of known language variants and accommodate any future expansion.
This part of ISOÂ 639 provides a hierarchical framework, which facilitates backward compatibility with other ISOÂ 639 codes, based on linguistic and/or geolinguistic relationships, within which a comprehensive enumeration of language variants is possible, including living, extinct, ancient and constructed languages, whether major or minor. As a result, this part of ISOÂ 639 caters for a very large number of languages and their variants. This part of ISOÂ 639 is not applicable to the registrations for languages designed exclusively for machine use, such as computer-programming languages and reconstructed languages.
| SDO | BSI: British Standards Institution |
| Document Number | ISO 639-6 |
| Publication Date | Jan. 31, 2010 |
| Language | en - English |
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| Supercedes | |
| Committee | TS/1 |
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