Re: Upcoming changes to BCP47 (language tag) syntax

Richard Ishida scripsit:

> Also, I'm wondering what are the implications wrt use of zh and the
> cmn, yue, etc subtags.  Are we expecting zh to be used only for things
> like zh-Hans and zh-Hant?

Not necessarily.

> Can we still use it in a vague way to mean
> 'some kind of chinese'?

Absolutely.

> Will the zh-cmn etc tags be deprecated? etc.

Probably.  However, 'cmn' should be used with caution (and likewise
'arb' for Standard Arabic), because most language tag processors will not
understand their intimate relationship with 'zh' and 'ar' respectively,
which probably always will be used mostly to designate the respective
standard languages).  RFC 4646bis currently has text warning about
Chinese, which will probably be extended to cover half a dozen other
such cases.

-- 
And through this revolting graveyard of the universe the muffled, maddening
beating of drums, and thin, monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from
inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond Time; the detestable pounding
and piping whereunto dance slowly, awkwardly, and absurdly the gigantic
tenebrous ultimate gods -- the blind, voiceless, mindless gargoyles whose soul
is Nyarlathotep. (Lovecraft) John Cowan|cowan@ccil.org|ccil.org/~cowan

Received on Monday, 21 January 2008 19:48:49 UTC