Constructed languages and ISO 639-3 Cover Image

Umětne jezyky i ISO 639-3
Constructed languages and ISO 639-3

Author(s): Jan van Steenbergen
Subject(s): Library and Information Science
Published by: Slovanská unie z. s.
Keywords: ISO 639-3; SIL; constructed languages; Interslavic

Summary/Abstract: Although SIL explicitly states the intention to assign ISO 639-3 codes to constructed languages as well, the criteria it applies for inclusion are very unclear, and mostly pertaining to natural languages. The 21 constructed languages that currently have a code appear to have been selected rather haphazardly, and half of them do not even fulfil the criteria. Besides, there is little consistency in the arguments used for turning down change requests. Constructed languages have characteristics that require a specific approach, which until now SIL has been unable to provide. To cope with this problem, the author proposes four measurable criteria: completeness, literature, community and notability. Two additional factors, uniqueness and permanence, cannot really be used as criteria, but are still worth being taken into account. The second part of the article deals with Interslavic. Although Interslavic appears to fulfil both the criteria applied by SIL and the criteria proposed by the author, a request for a code has been turned down twice. The arguments used by the Registration Authority (that Interslavic is not one single language, that it does not have a well-developed or long history, that it is not sufficiently standardised, and that there is no substantial literature or user community) are refuted one by one. SIL International upravjaje medžunarodnym standardom ISO 639-3, v ktorom vsaky ljudsky jezyk imaje tribukvovy kod. Na spisu takože jest město dlja umětnyh jezykov, ale do časa postupanje s njimi bylo nedoslědno i te jezyky, ktore dnes sut na spisu, byli izbrane dost slučajno. Največši problem jest odsučstvo jasnyh, praktičnyh kriterijev, ktore sut prigodne dlja svojstv toj kategorije jezykov. Zato avtor prědlagaje četyri konkretne, měrime kriterije vključenja. V vtoroj česti članka avtor takože obgovarjaje možnosti priznanja koda medžuslovjanskomu jezyku.

  • Issue Year: 3/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 52-68
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Slavic (Other)