[DDI-users] language tags

[Joachim Wackerow]

Alerk,

The intention of ALL language related elements/attributes in DDI3 is to 
use the values allowed as for xml:lang. Maybe this is not clear enough 
in the documentation and in the definition of these elements/attributes 
in the XML Schema. As Wendy said this should be reviewed.

A quite instructive page about language tags in HTML and XML is 
available at W3C. This would also apply to the language values at 
several places in DDI3. The page describes the detailed structure of the 
tags when the ISO code isn't sufficient for the description of a language.
http://www.w3.org/International/articles/language-tags/

The page mentioned above is basically a description of the content of 
the official RFC 4646.
http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4646

The ISO three-letter codes should be used, when languages should be 
defined which have no two-letter code.

When the ISO three-letter code is not sufficient, the Language Subtag 
Registry at IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) may help:
http://www.iana.org/assignments/language-subtag-registry

Search Tool by Richard Ishida:
http://people.w3.org/rishida/utils/subtags/

Hope this helps
Achim

Wendy Thomas wrote:
> Alerk,
> 
> I did a preliminary scan through the schemas and found multiple means of 
> capturing language at different points. There were related issues raised 
> in the Expert Workshop relating to grouping and language. I am going to 
> file this information under a bug and call for a systematic review of 
> language elements and attributes with the goal of a consistant approach 
> within DDI that will meet the needs you specified below as well as those 
> raised in Expert Workshop.
> 
> Wendy
> 
> 
> On Tue, 24 Nov 2009, Alerk Amin wrote:
> 
>> Hello,
>>
>>   In looking at the DDI 3.1 specification, I have a question regarding
>> language tags.  This issue doesn't cause us problems today, but might in
>> the future.
>>   As far as I know, the xml:lang attribute accepts IETF language tags
>> (BCP 47 standard track).  This consists of a language tag, with
>> additional optional tags, including region and script.  The script tag
>> is important for us, because for one project, we have 2 translations
>> into the same language/region, with 2 different scripts.  As most DDI
>> elements use the xml:lang attribute to specify the language, this is
>> fine with us.
>>   However, the Language element from the ddi:instance:3_1 namespace
>> does not specify what standard to use for the language.  If I look at
>> the Language element in the ddi:reusable:3_1 namespace, it specifies
>> only a pair of codes for language and locale (ISO 3166 for country
>> codes, and I assume ISO 639-1 for language).  The LanguageOfData element
>> only specifies "a 2-character ISO language code" (ISO 639-1?).  The
>> Language element in the ddi:archive:3_1 namespace does not specify which
>> standard to use, but its type is xs:language, so I assume I can use IETF
>> language tags, as with xml:lang.
>>   Is the above interpretation correct?  If not, please let me know
>> where I am mistaken.
>>   I think we would prefer to use IETF language tags everywhere.  We
>> will likely use the TranslationInformation element in the future, and
>> will will need the ability to specify the script at that time.
>>   Thank you for your help.
>>
>> Best,
>> Alerk
>>
>> -- 
>> Alerk Amin
>> Senior Software Developer
>> CentERdata
>> Room K737 (Tilburg University, Koopmans Building)
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>>
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> 
> Wendy L. Thomas                          Phone: +1 612.624.4389
> Data Access Core Director		 Fax:   +1 612.626.8375
> Minnesota Population Center              Email: wlt at pop.umn.edu
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