Why alpha4 codes? [was: RE: Question on ISO-639:1988]

[Debbie Garside]

Thank you for clarifying the technical aspect John.



John Clews scripsit:

>> Why on earth are alpha4 codes suggested for these extended language
codes?
>> What sort of uses/grounds/syntax would the standard have to ensure that
>> they are not confused with ISO 15924 codes?

>In a pure ISO context, they wouldn't be, any more than 10-digit (U.S.)
>telephone numbers are confused with ISBNs.

>In a post-RFC-3066 context they wouldn't be either.  Language codes are
>used as the first subtag of an RFC-3066-style identifier, and script
>codes appear later if at all.

--
John Cowan                              jcowan at reutershealth.com
http://www.reutershealth.com            http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
Humpty Dump Dublin squeaks through his norse
                Humpty Dump Dublin hath a horrible vorse
But for all his kinks English / And his irismanx brogues
                Humpty Dump Dublin's grandada of all rogues.  --Cousin James
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