Re: Language tags (Re: Statistics on reusing request)

I apologize for continuing this discussion on the HTTP list. It really needs to
move to the MAILEXT list ASAP.

>     I don't say that these argue against SIL codes, just that we have
>     to know what we are doing, and make sure we change the standard
>     in the right place.

> Well, I don't know how pertinent it is to know about agendas here. We
> could certainly question ISO in this regard also.  It seems to me that
> SIL's agenda here is quite irrelevant and that it is the end product of
> their agenda that is useful.  Namely, the language list and identifiers
> list itself.  If we should make any judgements, it should be along the
> lines of comprehensiveness, which nobody can fault SIL for.

I think you're missing the point Harald is trying to make here. The question
isn't one of whether or not the codes are technically accurate, fairly
assigned, or anything like that. The question is one of how stable the list is
and what methods are used to update it. And this agenda *is* pertinent. In fact
its absolutely crucial.

You've provided the list in the form of a URL that appears to be attached to
your site. Suppose we issue a document tomorrow containing the URL and you go
out of business the day after that? The URL is no longer valid and the list can
no longer be obtained. I suppose someone could call SIL and find a new
location, assuming one exists, but that's really not acceptable.

Suppose there's an academic revolt amongst the linguists at SIL and the list is
radically revised. (You know as well as I do that such things do happen in
academia from time to time.) The document is then updated with the new list and
many old codes either vanish or are assigned to different things. Chaos insues.

In order to use the list as a standard we need some assurance that these sorts
of things will not happen. We normally get that assurance by citing specific,
published entities. You may not like the ISO (I have a number of problems with
them myself), but their process insures that a citation to a given document
will always remain valid. Similarly, publication as an RFC provides a stable
reference and also insures that updates will be made according to IETF
guidelines. And these are not the only ways such assurances can be provided --
they simply examples of how it has been done in the past.

The simplest thing to do would be to publish the current list as an RFC.
Updates from the SIL would be possible and probably encouraged, but would be
subject to some review by the IETF to insure compatibility is maintained. (I
see absolutely no point in reviewing things as to technical linguistic accuracy
in the IETF. The IETF lacks the expertise to make such judgements. On the other
hand, the IETF does have the competence to assess compatibility issues
according to the installed base, which is something the SIL does not have.)

Just because its the simplest thing to do doesn't make it the best thing,
however. Other approaches are possible. This list may well have appeared in a
book or journal somewhere. If so, that could always be cited, and the citation
could be updated by updating RFC1766 as necessary.

> I'd like to improve 1766 to make it more comprehensive.  You couldn't
> help it that 639 is so limited.  So I'm really not faulting 1766.  It
> seems it is important to recognize its limitations based on 639's limits
> and move on from there.  Given that the SIL list is available and a new
> list from ISO is not forthcoming (its been stuck as a CD for over 5
> years now with little activity), I think that we should move ahead and
> use the SIL list.

> If would be pleased to assist in improving 1766 so it can be a single,
> comprehensive language tag standard.  Something I also want.

Good. Then let's get going on it in the MAILEXT WG.

				Ned

Received on Friday, 3 November 1995 09:58:06 UTC