Can ISO 639 language codes be changed after they had initially been created?
ISO 639 language codes are usually not changed in order to ensure continuity and stability of online retrieval from large databases built over many years. However, when language names associated with codes have been changed, variant forms of a language name may be included in the entry, separated by a semicolon in the code lists. Obsolete codes are generally not reassigned when they have been changed or discontinued. A list of codes that have been changed or added to the lists are located at: www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/codechanges.html. To request a change to the name of an already defined language name, please see: www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/iso639-2chform.html.
