RE: Comments on site accessibility - language

As a follow up to the language question (you got me looking <grin>) The ISO
639-2 listing also shows:

	Bantu (Other) = "bnt"
http://lcweb.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/englangn.html

As well:

"Dialects.
A dialect of a language is usually represented by the same language code as
that used for the language. If the language is assigned to a collective
language code, the dialect is assigned to the same collective language code.
The difference between dialects and languages will be decided on a
case-by-case basis."

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Some light bed time reading on the use of language codes may be found here:

	http://xml.coverpages.org/languageIdentifiers.html#useOfCodeLists

where I found the following nugget:
"However, no change was made in the second edition of XML 1.0 to explicitly
allow for three-letter codes as values for xml:lang, even though RFC 3066
allows the composition of a language tag using the 3-letter codes from ISO
639 part 2, 'Codes for the representation of names of languages -- Part 2:
Alpha-3 code.' It appears that the intent was to allow the 3-letter codes."

Hmmm...

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As a follow up to the "i" identifier, from
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1766.txt comes:

    -    The value "i" is reserved for IANA-defined registrations

    -    The value "x" is reserved for private use. Subtags of "x"
         will not be registered by the IANA.

The document goes on to explain how and where to register/define a "lang"
with IANA. (Note, the date of the document is 1995, so the registration
process appears inaccurate). Let's keep looking...

From: http://xml.coverpages.org/languageIdentifiers.html#useOfCodeLists
again: (Last modified: February 04, 2002)

The US Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/) "has
been designated the ISO 639-2 Registration Authority for the purpose of
processing requests for alpha-3 language codes comprising the International
Standard, Codes for the representation of names of languages -- Part 2:
alpha-3 code. The ISO 639-2/RA receives and reviews applications for
requesting new language codes and for the change of existing ones according
to criteria indicated in the standard. It maintains an accurate list of
information associated with registered language codes, processes updates of
registered language codes, and distributes them on a regular basis to
subscribers and other parties."

However, I see no indication of the "i" identifier anywhere...

***************

So, best bet now? As a user: <span lang="x-mokele-mbembe">Test</span> or
<span lang="bnt">Another Test</span> (and probably the later...).

If the dialects in question are common enough
(http://lcweb.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/criteria2.html), it might warrant a
request (probably from either a governmental or educational institution) to
the Library of Congress.


Too much information!!!!! <grin>

Good Luck

JF

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