ISO 639-3 code for International Sign Language--a good idea? How to proceed?

[Albert Bickford]

One of the most important functions of the ISO 639-3 standard is to provide a consistent system for tagging publications with metadata, to identify what language the publication is in or about.  This could be used, for example, for indexing entries in a bibliography or an archive.  As we've discussed the issue, it seems that there may well be need for an ISO 639-3 code for International Sign (e.g. to indicate what "language" Rosenstock's dissertation is about); I've written to the ISO 639-3 registrar for advice on this.  Whether a separate code is needed for Gestuno is less clear.  If there is only one publication about it (the original 1500-word dictionary), and it is no longer used as such, then possibly the code for International Sign could be extended to include Gestuno.

Albert
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: GerardM 
  To: Albert Bickford ; A list for linguists interested in signed languages 
  Sent: November 3, 2007 2:07 PM
  Subject: Re: [SLLING-L] ISO 639-3 code for International Sign Language--a good idea? How to proceed?


  Hoi,
  Reading the PDF I get the impression that International Sign evolved out of Gestuno. I have the impression that Gestuno is not used any more. When this is correct, there may be no need to ask for a code for Gestuno. Do I have this right or is there more to it ?? 
  Thanks,
      Gerard


  On 11/3/07, Albert Bickford <albert_bickford at sil.org> wrote:
    Someone privately pointed out to me that a summary of Rachel Rosenstock's
    thesis is available at
    http://gri.gallaudet.edu/Publications/ragu_fall2005.pdf . I found this very
    helpful in answering some of my questions, particularly the relationship
    between Gestuno and International Sign. (Although the WFD's dictionary of
    Gestuno served as the historical impetus for developing International Sign, 
    there is very little Gestuno vocabulary still used in International Sign.
    Instead, International Sign tends to use highly-iconic vocabulary,
    especially when the same sign is used in several different sign languages 
    for a given concept.)

    Albert
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