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

 

 

#

MARC language code

A

 

 

7

Source specified in subfield $2

A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subfield code:

 

 

 

 

$a

Language code

 

 

R

$l

Language term

 

 

R

$0

Authority record control number or standard number

 

 

R

$1

Real World Object URI

 

 

R

$2

Source

 

 

NR

$3

Materials specified

 

 

NR

$6

Linkage

 

 

NR

$8

Field link and sequence number

 

 

R

Content designator history:

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

MARC Code List for Languages

Source Codes for Vocabularies, Rules, and Schemes:

Language Code and Term Source Codes

See also:

3XX  Physical Description, Etc. Fields

Variable Data Fields