LANGUAGE Warning Flags, language & genre

Language should be set as ISO 639 code

The language field holds an ISO 639 code such as en, fr or ja, not a language name.

Severity
Warning
Field
language
Checks
One field
Rule ID
LANGUAGE
§ 01

How the checker tests it

Flags blank values and names written out, such as English.

Fix. ISO 639 code, e.g. en.

§ 02

Examples

(blank) Fails LANGUAGE ISO 639 code, e.g. en.
English Fails LANGUAGE ISO 639 code, e.g. en.
en Passes
pt-BR Passes

Results are computed by the rule on this page as it loads.

§ 03

Try it

Missing or non-ISO language codeFix: ISO 639 code, e.g. en.
§ 05

Cite this rule

Metadata Style Guidelines (2026). LANGUAGE: Language should be set as ISO 639 code. https://www.metadatastyleguidelines.com/rules/language

https://www.metadatastyleguidelines.com/rules/language