377 Associated Language (R) (Variable Data Field)
Field definition and scope:
Field 377 contains codes for languages associated with the entity described in the record. This includes the language a person uses when writing for publication, broadcasting, etc., a language a corporate body uses in its communications, a language of a family, or a language in which a work is expressed.
The following are guidelines for using field 377 in relation to field 008/35-37, 041 and 546 in those cases where the Bibliographic format is used to represent a work or expression with no manifestation information:
At 008: The 008 supports primarily machine indexing of the language of the resource for user tasks to find and select. Always supply 008 for a resource/manifestation or an expression, but do not supply if the record is for a work.
At 041: Supply 041 as needed and as applicable in bibliographic records for the manifestation only; do not use if the record is for a work or expression.
At 546: Use 546 to record textual information about language in bibliographic records for the manifestation or expression; do not use if the record is for a work.
At 377: When the resource description is for an expression, the 377 can be supplied even when one 377 duplicates the language information in the heading $l. In an expression description, fields 008 and 546 may also contain language information.
Field 377 is repeatable.
Guidelines for applying content designators:
For indicator and subfield code definitions and examples, National-level (NLR) and Minimal-level (MLR) record requirements, and designator repeatability, see table below:
Position |
Description |
NLR |
MLR |
Repeatability |
Field 377 |
Associated Language |
|
|
R |
Indicator: |
|
|
|
|
First |
Undefined; contains a blank |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second |
Source of code |
M |
|
|
A |
|
|
||
7 |
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subfield code: |
|
|
|
|
$a |
|
|
R |
|
$l |
|
|
R |
|
$0 |
|
|
R |
|
$1 |
|
|
R |
|
$2 |
|
|
NR |
|
$3 |
|
|
NR |
|
$6 |
|
|
NR |
|
$8 |
|
|
R |
Field 377 - Associated Language [new, 2011]
Subfield $0 - Authority record control number or standard number [new, 2016]
Subfield $1 - Real World Object URI [new, 2017]
Subfield $3 - Materials specified [new, 2018]
Related MARC fields or documents:
RDA in MARC Bibliographic Data
Source Codes for Vocabularies, Rules, and Schemes:
Language Code and Term Source Codes
See also: