On Wed, 03 Nov 2004 11:52:18 +0100, Gerard Meijssen gerardm@myrealbox.com wrote:
There are many languages that are not in the ISO 639 codes. There were suggestions of using the ethnologue codes for these. As there is also a ISO 639-4 code, I think it would suggest that we use this one in stead for use within wiktionary.
For the language codes for Wikipedia and Wiktionary languages, upto now it has always been decided at the spur of the moment. What has been done is:
* 'fanrasy' three letter-code: als * complete name: tokipona, minnan * ISO 639-2 code for a group plus ethnologue code: roa-rup (formerly done for min-nan as well)
However, I assume you are asking this for codes for translations in those languages, rather than for setting up a wiktionary in this language. I think that in that case, it's more something to decide internally on Wiktionary.
Still, I would advise against using ethnologue codes. Not only are they often rather random, with no connection to the name of the language, they are also a set of three-letter codes and as such might conflict with ISO 639-2.
Andre Engels