ISO 639:2023
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).
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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
4.2.1 Criteria and dimensions of linguistic variation
4.2.2 Identification and types of individual languages and language groups
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
5.7.1 Types of code element scopes
5.7.2 Code element scope of individual-language code elements
5.7.3 Code element scope of macrolanguage code elements
5.7.4 Code element scope of language-group code elements
5.7.5 Code element scope of special-purpose code elements
5.7.6 Local-use language identifiers
5.8 Language code maintenance
5.8.1 Basic rules for language code maintenance
5.8.2 Language code maintenance activities
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
6.1.1 Pertinent reference sources
6.1.2 Information necessary to identify and name individual languages and language groups
6.2 Eligibility for language coding
6.2.1 Eligibility of an individual language for language coding
6.2.2 Eligibility of an extinct language or historical language for language coding
6.2.3 Eligibility of a constructed language for language coding
6.2.4 Eligibility of a macrolanguage for language coding
6.2.5 Eligibility of a language group for language coding
6.2.6 Criteria for the eligibility of individual languages for language coding in Set 2
6.3 Principles governing the assignment of language reference names
6.4 Formation, disambiguation and presentation of language reference names
6.4.1 Rules for the formation of language reference names
6.4.2 Rules for disambiguating or differentiating language reference names
6.4.3 Rules for the 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 (normative) Explanatory illustration of the ISO 639 language code
Annex B (informative) Maintenance Agency for the ISO 639 language code
Bibliography
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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
4.2.1 Criteria and dimensions of linguistic variation
4.2.2 Identification and types of individual languages and language groups
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
5.7.1 Types of code element scopes
5.7.2 Code element scope of individual-language code elements
5.7.3 Code element scope of macrolanguage code elements
5.7.4 Code element scope of language-group code elements
5.7.5 Code element scope of special-purpose code elements
5.7.6 Local-use language identifiers
5.8 Language code maintenance
5.8.1 Basic rules for language code maintenance
5.8.2 Language code maintenance activities
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
6.1.1 Pertinent reference sources
6.1.2 Information necessary to identify and name individual languages and language groups
6.2 Eligibility for language coding
6.2.1 Eligibility of an individual language for language coding
6.2.2 Eligibility of an extinct language or historical language for language coding
6.2.3 Eligibility of a constructed language for language coding
6.2.4 Eligibility of a macrolanguage for language coding
6.2.5 Eligibility of a language group for language coding
6.2.6 Criteria for the eligibility of individual languages for language coding in Set 2
6.3 Principles governing the assignment of language reference names
6.4 Formation, disambiguation and presentation of language reference names
6.4.1 Rules for the formation of language reference names
6.4.2 Rules for disambiguating or differentiating language reference names
6.4.3 Rules for the 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 (normative) Explanatory illustration of the ISO 639 language code
Annex B (informative) Maintenance Agency for the ISO 639 language code
Bibliography