MODS Element	Attributes	Subelements
<mods:language>	@type -- <mods:languageTerm> @authority -- <mods:languageTerm>	<mods:languageTerm> <mods:scriptTerm>

Usage Guidelines

1. At least one <mods:language><mods:languageTerm> element is required for all resources in which language is primary (e.g. textual resources and video/audio resources with spoken-word components).
2. At minimum, there should be one pair of <mods:languageTerm> elements: one element in text and one in code.
3. Coded values should be taken from ISO639-2b, which is identical to the MARC Code List for Languages.
4. When the text of a resource is in a non-Latin script, ALWAYS code for the script using ISO15924. This is especially important for South East Asian materials.

Elements

<mods:language>

Required: Y

Repeatable: Y

Definition: A designation of the language in which the content of a resource is expressed. <mods:language> is a wrapper for one or more <languageTerm> elements.

<mods:languageTerm>

Required: Y

Repeatable: Y

Definition: Contains the textual or coded form for the language of the content of the resource.

Attributes:

type (required): this attributes takes the following values:

text

code

authority (required if applicable): this attribute is required when type=”code,” taking the value “iso639-2b”

<mods:scriptTerm>

Required: Y

Repeatable: N

Definition: Contains the script(s) of the resource

Attributes:

type (required): this attributes takes the following values:

text

code

authority (required if applicable): this attribute is required when type=”code,” taking values from ISO15924.

Examples

<mods:language>
  <mods:languageTerm type="text">French</mods:languageTerm>
  <mods:languageTerm type="code" authority="iso639-2b">fre</mods:languageTerm>
</language>

<!-- This resource is a Persian/English dictionary -->
<mods:language> 
  <mods:languageTerm type="code" authority="iso639-2b">per</mods:languageTerm>
  <mods:scriptTerm type="code" authority="iso15924">Arab</mods:scriptTerm>
</mods:language>

<mods:language> 
  <mods:languageTerm type="code" authority="iso639-2b">eng</mods:languageTerm>
  <mods:scriptTerm type="code" authority="iso15924">Latn</mods:scriptTerm>
</mods:language>