Option to return ISO 639-1 codes

[lukaswhite]

Great library!

It would be useful in certain cases to have the option to return ISO 639-1 (i.e., the two letter language code) rather than the three-letter version. Might that be an option?

[wooorm]

It’s a problem because 639-1 doesn’t cover all languages available in this library—neither does 639-2T or 639-2B.

What should happen with the non-supported languages?

[lukaswhite]

How strange - I hadn't realised there was that limitation.

I suppose it could fall-back to the three-letter version, but I don't know if that makes much sense - though I still feel it would be useful, provided all but the most unusual languages have a two-letter representation.

[wooorm]

I understand that the two letter characters might be more recognisable.

However, these codes are meant for computers right, so I’d rather stick with three-character codes and opt for one less look-up, versus returning both 639-1 and 639-3 (where one should first check 639-1 and then 639-3). Therefore, 👎 .

Also, about “all but the most unusual”: there are many of the languages which have more than one million speakers, but no 639-1. I don’t have a list, but I was surprised by their amount!

Thanks for the question, but I’d rather not!