SIST ISO 639:2024

Code for individual languages and language groups

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.
NOTE English, French and Russian are the official ISO languages.
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).

Code pour les langues individuelles et les groupes de langues

Koda za posamezne jezike in jezikovne skupine

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 15-Dec-2022
• Publication Date: 03-Oct-2024
• ICS: 01.140.20 - Information sciences
• Technical Committee: IDT - Information, documentation, language and terminology
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 18-Sep-2024
• Due Date: 23-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 04-Oct-2024
• Ref Project: ISO 639:2023 - Code for individual languages and language groups

Relations

• Replaces: SIST ISO 639-4:2010 - Codes for the representation of names of languages - Part 4: General principles of coding of the representation of names of languages and related entities, and application guidelines
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2024
• Replaces: SIST ISO 639-2:2003 - Codes for the representation of names of languages -- Part 2: Alpha-3 code
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2024
• Replaces: SIST ISO 639-3:2008 - Codes for the representation of names of languages - Part 3: Alpha-3 code for comprehensive coverage of languages
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2024
• Replaces: SIST ISO 639-5:2008 - Codes for the representation of names of languages - Part 5: Alpha-3 code for language families and groups
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2024
• Replaces: SIST ISO 639-1:2003 - Codes for the representation of names of languages -- Part 1: Alpha-2 code
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2024

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2024
Nadomešča:
SIST ISO 639-1:2003
SIST ISO 639-2:2003
SIST ISO 639-3:2008
SIST ISO 639-4:2010
SIST ISO 639-5:2008
Koda za posamezne jezike in jezikovne skupine
Code for individual languages and language groups
Code pour les langues individuelles et les groupes de langues
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO 639:2023
ICS:
01.140.20 Informacijske vede Information sciences
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 639
Second edition
2023-11
Code for individual languages and
language groups
Code pour les langues individuelles et les groupes de langues
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms related to language and individual languages . 1
3.2 Terms related to linguistic variation and language varieties . 3
3.3 Terms related to types of individual languages subject to language coding . 4
3.4 Terms related to language groups subject to language coding . 6
3.5 Terms related to modalities of language use . 6
3.6 Terms related to written representation of individual languages . 7
3.7 Terms related to language coding and naming languages . 8
4 Linguistic variation and fundamental concepts of identifying and categorizing
individual languages .10
4.1 General . 10
4.2 Linguistic variation . 10
4.2.1 Criteria and dimensions of linguistic variation . 10
4.2.2 Identification and types of individual languages and language groups .12
4.3 Individual languages and writing conventions . 13
5 The ISO 639 language code .14
5.1 Introduction to the ISO 639 language code . 14
5.2 Sets of language identifiers . 14
5.3 Language code elements and their structural components . 14
5.4 Language identifiers . 15
5.5 Language reference names .15
5.6 Language names in English and French . 16
5.7 Code element scopes and local-use language identifiers . 16
5.7.1 Types of code element scopes . 16
5.7.2 Code element scope of individual-language code elements . 16
5.7.3 Code element scope of macrolanguage code elements . 16
5.7.4 Code element scope of language-group code elements . 17
5.7.5 Code element scope of special-purpose code elements . 17
5.7.6 Local-use language identifiers . 18
5.8 Language code maintenance . 18
5.8.1 Basic rules for language code maintenance . 18
5.8.2 Language code maintenance activities . 18
5.9 Adoption of language code elements into other standards . 19
6 Criteria for language coding and naming languages .20
6.1 Information to be considered in language coding and naming languages .20
6.1.1 Pertinent reference sources . 20
6.1.2 Information necessary to identify and name individual languages and
language groups .20
6.2 Eligibility for language coding. 21
6.2.1 Eligibility of an individual language for language coding . 21
6.2.2 Eligibility of an extinct language or historical language for language coding .22
6.2.3 Eligibility of a constructed language for language coding.22
6.2.4 Eligibility of a macrolanguage for language coding .22
6.2.5 Eligibility of a language group for language coding .23
6.2.6 Criteria for the eligibility of individual languages for language coding in
Set 2 . 23
6.3 Principles governing the assignment of language reference names .23
6.4 Formation, disambiguation and presentation of language reference names . 24
iii
6.4.1 Rules for the formation of language reference names . 24
6.4.2 Rules for disambiguating or differentiating language reference names.25
6.4.3 Rules for the presentation of language reference names . 27
6.5 Rules for the selection, formation, and presentation of language names in English
and French . 27
6.6 Recommendations for the selection, formation, and presentation of language
names in languages other than English and French . 27
7 Fields of application.28
8 Combining language identifiers with other identifiers .29
8.1 Combining language identifiers with other standardized codes .29
8.2 Combining language identifiers with the ISO 3166 series.30
8.3 Combining language identifiers with ISO 15924 .30
8.4 Combining language identifiers with indicators of a language modality .30
8.5 Format of code combinations . 31
Annex A (normative) Explanatory illustration of the ISO 639 language code .32
Annex B (informative) Maintenance Agency for the ISO 639 language code .36
Bibliography .37
iv
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use
of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received
notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are
cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all
such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared jointly by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and terminology,
Subcommittee SC 2, Terminology workflow and language coding, and ISO/TC 46, Information and
documentation, Subcommittee SC 4, Technical interoperability.
This second edition cancels and replaces ISO 639-1:2002, ISO 639-2:1998, ISO 639-3:2007,
ISO 639-4:2010 and ISO 639-5:2008, wh
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 639
Second edition
2023-11
Code for individual languages and
language groups
Code pour les langues individuelles et les groupes de langues
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms related to language and individual languages . 1
3.2 Terms related to linguistic variation and language varieties . 3
3.3 Terms related to types of individual languages subject to language coding . 4
3.4 Terms related to language groups subject to language coding . 6
3.5 Terms related to modalities of language use . 6
3.6 Terms related to written representation of individual languages . 7
3.7 Terms related to language coding and naming languages . 8
4 Linguistic variation and fundamental concepts of identifying and categorizing
individual languages .10
4.1 General . 10
4.2 Linguistic variation . 10
4.2.1 Criteria and dimensions of linguistic variation . 10
4.2.2 Identification and types of individual languages and language groups .12
4.3 Individual languages and writing conventions . 13
5 The ISO 639 language code .14
5.1 Introduction to the ISO 639 language code . 14
5.2 Sets of language identifiers . 14
5.3 Language code elements and their structural components . 14
5.4 Language identifiers . 15
5.5 Language reference names .15
5.6 Language names in English and French . 16
5.7 Code element scopes and local-use language identifiers . 16
5.7.1 Types of code element scopes . 16
5.7.2 Code element scope of individual-language code elements . 16
5.7.3 Code element scope of macrolanguage code elements . 16
5.7.4 Code element scope of language-group code elements . 17
5.7.5 Code element scope of special-purpose code elements . 17
5.7.6 Local-use language identifiers . 18
5.8 Language code maintenance . 18
5.8.1 Basic rules for language code maintenance . 18
5.8.2 Language code maintenance activities . 18
5.9 Adoption of language code elements into other standards . 19
6 Criteria for language coding and naming languages .20
6.1 Information to be considered in language coding and naming languages .20
6.1.1 Pertinent reference sources . 20
6.1.2 Information necessary to identify and name individual languages and
language groups .20
6.2 Eligibility for language coding. 21
6.2.1 Eligibility of an individual language for language coding . 21
6.2.2 Eligibility of an extinct language or historical language for language coding .22
6.2.3 Eligibility of a constructed language for language coding.22
6.2.4 Eligibility of a macrolanguage for language coding .22
6.2.5 Eligibility of a language group for language coding .23
6.2.6 Criteria for the eligibility of individual languages for language coding in
Set 2 . 23
6.3 Principles governing the assignment of language reference names .23
6.4 Formation, disambiguation and presentation of language reference names . 24
iii
6.4.1 Rules for the formation of language reference names . 24
6.4.2 Rules for disambiguating or differentiating language reference names.25
6.4.3 Rules for the presentation of language reference names . 27
6.5 Rules for the selection, formation, and presentation of language names in English
and French . 27
6.6 Recommendations for the selection, formation, and presentation of language
names in languages other than English and French . 27
7 Fields of application.28
8 Combining language identifiers with other identifiers .29
8.1 Combining language identifiers with other standardized codes .29
8.2 Combining language identifiers with the ISO 3166 series.30
8.3 Combining language identifiers with ISO 15924 .30
8.4 Combining language identifiers with indicators of a language modality .30
8.5 Format of code combinations . 31
Annex A (normative) Explanatory illustration of the ISO 639 language code .32
Annex B (informative) Maintenance Agency for the ISO 639 language code .36
Bibliography .37
iv
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use
of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received
notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are
cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all
such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared jointly by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and terminology,
Subcommittee SC 2, Terminology workflow and language coding, and ISO/TC 46, Information and
documentation, Subcommittee SC 4, Technical interoperability.
This second edition cancels and replaces ISO 639-1:2002, ISO 639-2:1998, ISO 639-3:2007,
ISO 639-4:2010 and ISO 639-5:2008, which have been merged and technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the wording of the text (with provisions, such as principles, rules and guidelines) has been
harmonized to apply to all sets of language identifiers of the ISO 639 language code;
— the ISO 639 language code subsets contained in the former ISO 639-1, ISO 639-2, ISO 639-3 and
ISO 639-5 are now represented by sets of language identifiers: Set 1, Set 2, Set 3 and Set 5, respectively,
and are not presented in this document;
— new developments in the field of coding systems have been taken into account;
— the title has been modified;
— the wordings in Clause 1 and Clauses 4 to 7 have been coordinated and harmonized;
— the Normative references have been updated;
— Clause 3 has been revised to har
...