The ISO language codes are standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to represent the names of languages using standardized codes. These codes are used in various applications, such as software localization, metadata, and linguistic research.
Key ISO Standards for Language Codes
- ISO 639-1
- Two-letter codes (e.g.,
enfor English,frfor French). - Covers major languages widely used internationally.
- Example:
- English:
en - French:
fr - Spanish:
es
- English:
- Two-letter codes (e.g.,
- ISO 639-2
- Three-letter codes (e.g.,
engfor English,frafor French). - Provides more extensive coverage, including less common languages.
- Example:
- English:
eng - French:
fra - Spanish:
spa
- English:
- Two versions:
- 639-2/B (“bibliographic”): Traditional codes used in library systems.
- 639-2/T (“terminological”): Codes aligned with linguistic terminology.
- Three-letter codes (e.g.,
- ISO 639-3
- Three-letter codes for all known human languages, including extinct, ancient, and constructed languages.
- Aims for comprehensive coverage.
- Example:
- Klingon:
tlh - Sanskrit:
san
- Klingon:
- ISO 639-4
- Provides guidelines for the application of ISO 639 codes and defines the general principles of the standard.
- ISO 639-5
- Three-letter codes for language families and groups.
- Example:
- Germanic languages:
gem - Slavic languages:
sla
- Germanic languages:
- ISO 639-6
- Includes more granular information, such as dialects and language variants.
- Example:
- A specific dialect of a language might have a unique code.
Uses of ISO Language Codes
- Software and Applications: To localize content for different languages.
- Linguistic Research: For consistent language representation.
- Library Systems: To categorize books, manuscripts, and publications by language.
- Metadata Standards: Used in web standards (e.g., HTML
langattribute) and digital repositories.
Example Applications
- Web Development:
<html lang="en"> - Programming: Specifying language settings in APIs or localization frameworks.
- Databases: Storing language-related metadata in a standardized form.
These codes provide a structured way to identify and work with languages across various domains.
