FAIRsharing record for: ISO 639:2023 - Code for individual languages and language groups

This FAIRsharing record describes: 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. This standard is updated by a Maintenance Agency or Registration Authority. It currently consists of four sets (1–3, 5) of code, named after each part which formerly described respective set (part 4 was guidelines without its own coding system); a part 6 was published but withdrawn. All existing parts of the series were consolidated into a single standard in 2023.