ISO 639-1:2002

Codes for the representation of names of languages — Part 1: Alpha-2 code

Publication date:   Jul 18, 2002

95.99 Withdrawal of Standard   Nov 8, 2023

General information

95.99 Withdrawal of Standard   Nov 8, 2023

ISO

ISO/TC 37/SC 2 Terminology workflow and language coding

International Standard

01.140.20   Information sciences

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Scope

This part of ISO 639 provides a code consisting of language code elements comprising two-letter language identifiers for the representation of names of languages. The language identifiers according to this part of ISO 639 were devised originally for use in terminology, lexicography and linguistics, but may be adopted for any application requiring the expression of language in two-letter coded form, especially in computerized systems. The alpha-2 code was devised for practical use for most of the major languages of the world that are not only most frequently represented in the total body of the world's literature, but which also comprise a considerable volume of specialized languages and terminologies. Additional language identifiers are created when it becomes apparent that a significant body of documentation written in specialized languages and terminologies exists. Languages designed exclusively for machine use, such as computer-programming languages, are not included in this code.

Life cycle

PREVIOUSLY

WITHDRAWN
ISO 639:1988

NOW

WITHDRAWN
ISO 639-1:2002
95.99 Withdrawal of Standard
Nov 8, 2023

REVISED BY

PUBLISHED
ISO 639:2023