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DATE: January 15, 2026
REVISED:
NAME: Sign Language and English Alphabetical Order Instructions in Fields 008/35-37 and 041 in the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format
SOURCE: OCLC
SUMMARY: This paper proposes updating the instruction in field 008/35-37 (Language) about recording a specific sign language and modifying instructions in fields 008/35-37 and 041 (Language Code) about recording language codes in English alphabetical order in the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format.
KEYWORDS: Field 041 (BD); Language Code (BD); Field 008/35-37 (BD); Language (BD); Sign Language (BD); English Alphabetical Order (BD)
STATUS/COMMENTS:
01/15/26 – Made available to the MARC community for discussion.
In reviewing field 041 (Language Code) for OCLC's paper 2025-DP14, we noticed three issues that were not central to the discussion paper, which was focused on the relationship between fields 041 and 008/35-37. We described these three issues in the discussion section of the paper. MAC asked that the second and third issues be addressed in a single discussion paper for the Midwinter 2026 meeting. This paper addresses ISSUE 2 and ISSUE 3 from 2025-DP14:
ISSUE 2: Instruction about using field 546 for an individual sign language in description of "sgn" (008/35-37).
ISSUE 3: Instructions about "English alphabetical order" when there is no predominant language.
(Note: our discussion of each issue is provided under the listing for each issue)
Language information is recorded in field 008/35-37 and may also be recorded in other fields, usually field 041 (Language Code) and field 546 (Language Note). An institution may use both field 041 and 546 or choose to use one of those fields. The Field Definition and Scope areas for fields 041 and 546 refer to each other, but do not specify requirements about using one or the other. However, within the description of the code sgn – Sign languages in field 008/35-37, there is a very specific instruction about using fields 546 and 041. This is the current text and example:
sgn - Sign languages
Primary medium of communication is a sign language, e.g., a book containing pictures of the handshape of each letter of a particular sign system, or a videorecording that is signed. The particular sign language system is stated in field 546 (Language Note), e.g., American Sign Language. The codes for secondary and related languages may be indicated in field 041 (Language Code).008/35-37 sgn
041 0# $a sgn $a eng
546 ## $a American Sign Language, with some text in English.
We believe the instruction about using field 546 was added before there were codes available for particular sign language systems and was never reviewed as more codes were added to the Language Code and Term Source Codes lists. Proposal 2001-06 added subfield $2 (Source of code) to field 041, but there was no mention of updating 008/35-37. ISO 639-3, which contains codes for individual sign languages like American Sign Language, was published in 2007. CCM's response to question 7 in their comments on 2025-DP14 indicates they agree with us: "Seems to have been an oversight when 041 was expanded to include non-MARC codes."
OCLC's proposed revision to sgn – Sign languages clarifies that both field 041 and 546 may be used to record information about an individual sign language. It also rephrases the instruction so that it does not sound like a requirement to use field 546. We also note that the description "a videorecording that is signed" may be misleading as the code "sgn" would be used when sign language is the primary language. We have suggested a slight rewording of that description more consistent with language used in field 041.
We also propose deleting the last sentence: "The codes for secondary and related languages may be indicated in field 041 (Language Code)." We think the reference to field 041 here is unnecessary as instructions about using field 041 for other languages are already provided in other areas of 008/35-37 and throughout the 041field page. For example, the fourth paragraph of 35-37 – Language says, "If more than one language code is applicable, the code for the predominant language is recorded in 008/35-37, and the codes for all of the languages, including the predominant language, are recorded in one or more occurrences of field 041 (Language Code)."
Our proposed revision does not change any current cataloging practices. It merely provides an accurate description of ways in which individual sign languages may be recorded in MARC fields.
The instructions about recording codes in an English language alphabetical order for fields 008/35-37 and 041 were carried over from USMARC format for bibliographic data : including guidelines for content designation. OCLC questioned whether this instruction belongs in a standard used internationally, and MAC members agreed it did not. As a reminder, OCLC did not suggest changing the instructions about using the code for the predominant language in 008/35-37 or the instruction about recording codes in order of predominance in field 041, subfield $a. We think there may still be value in those given that only one code may be recorded in 008/35-37 and there is correspondence in meaning between the code recorded in field 008/35-37 and the first code recorded in field 041. We are only proposing a change to the instruction about English alphabetical order which seems overdue given international MARC 21 usage and the possibility of codes from non-English vocabularies being used in field 041. We note that some sources listed in the Language Code and Term Source Codes are not English language like DIN 2335 and Kody naimenovanii íàzykov: GOST 7.75-97. We also know that some of those sources like AUSTLANG use codes that are alphanumeric (e.g., W15) so the concept of alphabetical order does not apply well.
We have proposed revising the instruction about "English alphabetical order" to be an "order preferred by the cataloging institution." This allows consistency within cataloging communities if desired and should be acceptable for cataloging agencies for whom "English alphabetical order" does not make sense.
In fields 008/35-37 (Langauge) and 041 (Language Code) of the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format, make the following changes:
(Note: changes indicated by strikethroughs and underlining)
Revise the definition of code "sgn" in field 008/35-37 and add a new example as follows:
Revision:
sgn - Sign languages
Predominant language of item
Primary medium of communicationis a sign language, e.g., a book containing pictures of the handshape of each letter of a particular sign system, or a moving image resource with a sign language as the predominant languagevideorecording that is signed. An individual sign language may be indicated in field 041 (Language Code), field 546 (Language Note), or both.The particular sign language system is stated in field 546 (Language Note), e.g., American Sign Language. The codes for secondary and related languages may be indicated in field 041 (Language Code).
008/35-37 sgn
041 0# $a sgn
041 0# $a csl $2 iso639-3
008/35-37 sgn
041 0# $a sgn $a eng
546 ## $a American Sign Language, with some text in English.
Clean version
sgn - Sign languages
Predominant language of item is a sign language, e.g., a book containing pictures of the handshape of each letter of a particular sign system, or a moving image resource with a sign language as the predominant language. An individual sign language may be indicated in field 041 (Language Code), field 546 (Language Note), or both.
008/35-37 sgn
041 0# $a sgn
041 0# $a csl $2 iso639-3
008/35-37 sgn
041 0# $a sgn $a eng
546 ## $a American Sign Language, with some text in English.
In the definition of 008/35-37, fifth paragraph, replace instruction about English alphabetical order as follows and add a second example:
Revision:
If there is no predominant language, the language code
s are recorded in English alphabetical order in field 041 and the first one isrecorded in 008/35-37 is chosen by the cataloging institution. Other language codes may be recorded in field 041.
008/35-37 eng
041 0# $a eng $a spa
546 ## $a Text in English and Spanish.
008/35-37 iku
041 0# $a iku $a eng $a fre
546 ## $a Parallel text in Inuktitut, English, and French.
Clean version:
If there is no predominant language, the language code recorded in 008/35-37 is chosen by the cataloging institution. Other language codes may be recorded in field 041.
008/35-37 eng
041 0# $a eng $a spa
546 ## $a Text in English and Spanish.
008/35-37 iku
041 0# $a iku $a eng $a fre
546 ## $a Parallel text in Inuktitut, English, and French.
In the definition of field 041 subfield $a (Language code of text/sound track or separate title), second paragraph, replace instruction about English alphabetical order and revise second example as follows:
Revision:
For works in multiple languages, the codes for the languages of the text are recorded in the order of their predominance in the text. If no language is predominant, the codes are recorded in an order preferred by the cataloging institution
English alphabetical order. If the cataloging institution has chosen to code mul (Multiple languages) in 008/35-37, the code for the title (or the first title, if there are more than one) and the code mul are recorded. Alternatively, any number of specific language codes may be recorded in repeating occurrences of subfield $a.
008/35-37 rus
041 0# $a rus $a eng
[Item is in Russian (the predominant language) and English.]
008/35-37
engfre041 0# $a
engfre $afreeng $agerpor $a hun $aporger $a rus[Item is in French, English, Portuguese, Hungarian, German, and Russian with no predominant language.]
Clean version:
For works in multiple languages, the codes for the languages of the text are recorded in the order of their predominance in the text. If no language is predominant, the codes are recorded in an order preferred by the cataloging institution. If the cataloging institution has chosen to code mul (Multiple languages) in 008/35-37, the code for the title (or the first title, if there are more than one) and the code mul are recorded. Alternatively, any number of specific language codes may be recorded in repeating occurrences of subfield $a.
008/35-37 rus
041 0# $a rus $a eng
[Item is in Russian (the predominant language) and English.]
008/35-37 fre
041 0# $a fre $a eng $a por $a hun $a ger $a rus
[Item is in French, English, Portuguese, Hungarian, German, and Russian with no predominant language.]
In the definition of field 041 subfield $b (Language code of summary or abstract), replace instruction about English alphabetical order as follows:
Revision:
Language(s) are recorded in an order preferred by the cataloging institution
English alphabetical order.Clean version:
Language(s) are recorded in an order preferred by the cataloging institution.
In the definition of field 041 subfield $f (Language code of table of contents), replace instruction about English alphabetical order as follows:
Revision:
Code(s) are recorded in an order preferred by the cataloging institution
English alphabetical order.Clean version:
Code(s) are recorded in an order preferred by the cataloging institution.
There are no BIBFRAME implications in these proposed changes.
5.1. Do you agree that the instructions for code "sgn" in field 008/35-37 does not provide sufficient information about the ways to record information about an individual sign language?
5.2. Do you agree that there is utility in continuing to provide an instruction about an order of languages when none is predominant?
5.3. Is "an order preferred by the cataloging institution" the best way to provide an instruction about order given the variety of languages, codes, and institutions using MARC?
5.4. Are there any potential consequences to this proposed change that have not been considered?
5.5. Would MAC be open to fast-tracking this to a proposal?
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