request for subtag for Elfdalian

[Mark Davis ☕️]

> simply because we've never done so before

I agree that that alone is not an issue. However, the reasons for rejection
need to be clearly understood. The registration of language subtags should
be a last recourse, reserved for cases where the proposed subtag is not a
"normal" language in the sense used in ISO, or where ISO is very clearly
wrong in not encoding it.

> or because current implementations might be unable to handle it

We don't live in an ivory tower. Whether implementations would break should
always be a factor to consider.

Mark

On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 6:41 PM, Doug Ewell <doug at ewellic.org> wrote:

> Mats Blakstad wrote:
>
> > I want to make some comments on the rejection of a language code for
> > Övdalian/Elfdalian:
>
> These comments may (or may not) be helpful to try to persuade the
> Language Subtag Reviewer and other participants on this list that
> Elfdalian should be registered as a primary language subtag instead of a
> variant subtag. They will not, of course, have any influence on the RA's
> decision; this is neither the venue nor the audience for that.
>
> I don't personally take any stand on which type of subtag should be
> registered for Elfdalian, though I do believe one or the other should be
> registered. However, I specifically reject any argument that we should
> avoid registering a primary language subtag (of 5 to 8 letters) simply
> because we've never done so before, or because current implementations
> might be unable to handle it.
>
> > I guess it will make most sense to register Övdalian/Elfdalian under
> > Section 3.6 as a primary language subtag, and then remove the subtag
> > again if RA accept a new ISO application in the future.
>
> Be careful: subtags are never "removed," only deprecated. Deprecated
> subtags continue to be valid for use forever, though users are cautioned
> that there is a better choice; and it is well known that neither data
> nor implementations change overnight.
>
> --
> Doug Ewell | http://ewellic.org | Thornton, CO 🇺🇸
>
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