The language of the text is recorded by the use of a 3-character lower case alphabetic code. Valid codes are given in the drop-down menu when editing the 008 field. Help in determining the correct code can be found in MARC Code List for Languages (available in Cataloger's Desktop). If the work is multilingual, use the code for the first language given in the variable field 041.
Normally use the 041 field when the text of the serial is multilingual or when the serial is a translation. When the text of the work can be described by a single language code, this code is recorded in 008/35-37 and there is no 041.
For multilingual works, use first indicator 0. Language codes are recorded in the order of the predominance of the languages in the text. If no language is predominant, they are recorded in alphabetical order. Input each code in a separate subfield $a. The first code should be the same as the code in 008/35-37.
When a work has been translated, use first indicator 1. Input language codes in the following order:
Codes for field 041 can be found in MARC Code List for Languages (available in Cataloger's Desktop).
Use field 546 to give language notes in natural language whenever the language of the title differs from that of the text or if for any other reason the language of the text is not obvious from the rest of the record.
Examples:
Text in French and English. Text in Swedish, summaries in English. Text in English and French; French text on inverted pages.
DOCUMENT HISTORY:
Issued Apr. 18, 1979
HTML version (with revisions) created Dec. 29, 2004 (KMR)