Subject: [Ietf-languages] Re: Records and registration forms for April 2026 ISO 639 changes
From: Doug Ewell <[email-masked]>
To: Peter Constable <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:22:47 +0000
List-Id: "Review of requests for language tag registration according to BCP 47 (RFC 4646)" <ietf-languages.ietf.org>

Peter,

I'm not sure there is an ideal solution, so this is probably as good as any.

I had thought of an analogy involving French French and Canadian French, and what if they were considered different enough that they had discrete 639 codes, and each had the name "French (xxx)" but one also had the name "French", implying that it was the "one true French." But that's a bad example, partly because the two Male languages have nothing in common except the name, and probably for other reasons as well.

So I have no issues with how Isu and Male were handled. Language categorization is hard, and naming things is hard.

-Doug

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
________________________________
From: Peter Constable <[email-masked]>
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2026 8:11:38 AM
To: Doug Ewell <[email-masked]>; [email-masked] <[email-masked]>
Subject: RE: Records and registration forms for April 2026 ISO 639 changes

Doug:

The ISO 639 MA deliberated what to do in cases in which a reference name included a parenthesized distinguishing label to avoid duplicate names, but (for whatever reason) the non-parenthesized part of the name was changed, with the result that there was no longer any name collision. There was concern to minimize confusion, though confusion could arise for different reasons. We landed on this:

- do not retain disambiguating qualifiers in language reference names if a change to another language reference name removes ambiguity
- however, add the old language reference names with disambiguating qualifiers as alternate names

The second point was added to accommodate people who might have seen qualified names like "Male (Papua New Guinea" vs. "Male (Ethiopia)" in the past, and then now seeing only "Male" and being confused about which of the two that refers to.

What do you see as confusion created by this approach?

If there are suggestions as to how such cases might be handled differently, those can be considered.

Peter Constable

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Ewell <[email-masked]>
Sent: April 19, 2026 11:02 PM
To: [email-masked]
Subject: [Ietf-languages] Records and registration forms for April 2026 ISO 639 changes

Below are proposed records and registration forms for changes made this past week by ISO 639/MA, presented in the order they are listed in the April 2026 Quarterly Newsletter (referenced in each registration form).

Possibly of note with these changes is that, in certain cases where two languages have names of the form "language (region)", where the regions are of course different, the MA has begun assigning one of them a reference name of the form "language", without a qualifying parenthesized region, while keeping the region-qualified name as an additional name. One example is that previously, [mdc] "Male (Papua New Guinea)" and [mdy] "Male (Ethiopia)" existed, but now [mdy] additionally has the reference name "Male". (The other instance here is "Isu".)

I feel this approach will create confusion, but it is the MA's decision to make, and since the names are ISO's and are not duplicates, we need to add them to the Registry.

Please review the 16 new and changed entries below and send any comments to the list. The review period ends Monday, May 4, 2026.

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: srs
Description: Tsuut'ina
Description: Sarsi
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: srs
Description: Tsuut'ina
Description: Sarsi

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Tsuut'ina" as the reference name for [srs] and retaining "Sarsi"
as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-001
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/srs

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: kut
Description: Ktunaxa
Description: Ksanka
Description: Kutenai
Added: 2005-10-16
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: kut
Description: Ktunaxa
Description: Ksanka
Description: Kutenai

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Ktunaxa" as the reference name and "Ksanka" as an additional name for [kut], and retaining "Kutenai" as another additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-002
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/kut

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: nok
Description: Nooksack
Description: Lhéchelesem
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: nok
Description: Nooksack
Description: Lhéchelesem

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding the additional name "Lhéchelesem" for the existing code element [nok].

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-006
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/nok

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: tvg
Description: Tugunese
Description: Batavian Portuguese Creole
Description: Mardijker Creole
Added: 2026-xx-xx
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: tvg
Description: Tugunese
Description: Batavian Portuguese Creole
Description: Mardijker Creole

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding the code element [tvg] for "Tugunese", with additional names "Batavian Portuguese Creole" and "Mardijker Creole".

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/___.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-016
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/tvg

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: zhk
Description: Kurdish Sign Language
Added: 2026-xx-xx
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: zhk
Description: Kurdish Sign Language

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding the code element [zhk] for "Kurdish Sign Language". Both a primary language subtag and an extended language subtag were added for this code element.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-017
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/zhk

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: extlang
Subtag: zhk
Description: Kurdish Sign Language
Added: 2026-xx-xx
Preferred-Value: zhk
Prefix: sgn
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: extlang
Subtag: zhk
Description: Kurdish Sign Language
Preferred-Value: zhk
Prefix: sgn

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding the code element [zhk] for "Kurdish Sign Language". Both a primary language subtag and an extended language subtag were added for this code element.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-017
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/zhk

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: mdc
Description: Soq
Description: Male (Papua New Guinea)
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: mdc
Description: Soq
Description: Male (Papua New Guinea)

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Soq" as the reference name for [mdc] and retaining "Male (Papua New Guinea)" as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-019
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/mdc

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: mdy
Description: Male
Description: Male (Ethiopia)
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: mdy
Description: Male
Description: Male (Ethiopia)

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Male" as the reference name for [mdy] and retaining "Male (Ethiopia)" as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-019
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/mdy

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: yko
Description: Iyasa
Description: Yasa
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: yko
Description: Iyasa
Description: Yasa

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Iyasa" as the reference name for [yko] and retaining "Yasa" as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-020
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/yko

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: isu
Description: Isu
Description: Isu (Menchum Division)
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: isu
Description: Isu
Description: Isu (Menchum Division)

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Isu" as the reference name for [isu] and retaining "Isu (Menchum Division)" as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-021
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/isu

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: szv
Description: Isubu
Description: Isu (Fako Division)
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: szv
Description: Isubu
Description: Isu (Fako Division)

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Isubu" as the reference name for [szv] and retaining "Isu (Fako Division)" as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-021
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/szv

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: kjo
Description: Kinnauri Pahari
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: kjo
Description: Kinnauri Pahari

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, changing the reference name for [kjo] from "Harijan Kinnauri" to "Kinnauri Pahari".

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-022
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/kjo

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: wab
Description: Yote
Description: Wab
Added: 2009-07-29
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: wab
Description: Yote
Description: Wab

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Yote" as the reference name for [wab] and retaining "Wab" as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-025
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/wab

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: ia
Description: Interlingua (IALA)
Description: Interlingua (International Auxiliary Language
  Association)
Added: 2005-10-16
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: ia
Description: Interlingua (IALA)
Description: Interlingua (International Auxiliary Language
  Association)

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding "Interlingua (IALA)" as the reference name for [ina] (which is represented by ISO 639 Set 1 [ia] in the Language Subtag Registry) and retaining "Interlingua (International Auxiliary Language Association)"
as an additional name.

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-030
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/ina

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: moh
Description: Mohawk
Description: Kanien'kéha
Added: 2005-10-16
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: moh
Description: Mohawk
Description: Kanien'kéha

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, adding the additional name "Kanien'kéha" for the existing code element [moh].

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-007
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/moh

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG MODIFICATION
File-Date: 2026-xx-xx
%%
Type: language
Subtag: den
Description: Slavey
Added: 2005-10-16
Scope: macrolanguage
%%

---

LANGUAGE SUBTAG REGISTRATION FORM

1. Name of requester: Doug Ewell
2. E-mail address of requester: doug at ewellic.org

3. Record Requested:

Type: language
Subtag: den
Description: Slavey
Scope: macrolanguage

4. Intended meaning of the subtag:

5. Reference to published description of the language (book or article):

6. Any other relevant information:

This registration tracks a change made to ISO 639 effective 2026-04-15, changing the reference name for [den] from "Slave (Athapascan)" to "Slavey".

For more information on the ISO 639 change, refer to:
https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/reports/Issue%2008%20April%202026%20ISO%20639%20MA%20Newsletter.pdf
https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2025-009
https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/den

--
Doug Ewell, CC, ALB | Lakewood, CO, US | ewellic.org

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