<language>

Description of a language used in the document.
3.6.6 Language Usage
Module
MEI.header
Attributes
analog, auth, auth.uri, class, codedval, copyof, corresp, follows, label, n, next, precedes, prev, resp, sameas, synch, translit, type, xml:base, xml:id, xml:lang
analog(optional)Contains a reference to a field or element in another descriptive encoding system to which this MEI element is comparable. Value is plain text.
<language>att.bibl@analog
auth(optional)A name or label associated with a controlled vocabulary or other authoritative source for this element or its content. Value is plain text.
<language>att.authorized@auth
auth.uri(optional)A web-accessible location of the controlled vocabulary or other authoritative source of identification or definition for this element or its content. This attribute may contain a complete URI or a partial URI which is completed by the value of the codedval attribute. Value conforms to data.URI.
<language>att.authorized@auth.uri
class(optional)Contains one or more URIs which denote classification terms that apply to the entity bearing this attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.typedatt.classed@class
codedval(optional)A value that represents or identifies other data. Often, it is a primary key in the database or a unique value in the coded list identified by the auth or auth.uri attributes. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
<language>att.authorizedatt.canonical@codedval
copyof(optional)Points to an element of which the current element is a copy. Value conforms to data.URI.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@copyof
corresp(optional)Used to point to other elements that correspond to this one in a generic fashion. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@corresp
follows(optional)points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be predecessors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@follows
label(optional)Captures text to be used to generate a label for the element to which it’s attached, a "tool tip" or prefatory text, for example. Should not be used to record document content. Value is plain text.
<language>att.commonatt.labelled@label
n(optional)Provides a number-like designation that indicates an element’s position in a sequence of similar elements. May not contain space characters. Value conforms to data.WORD.
<language>att.commonatt.nNumberLike@n
next(optional)Used to point to the next event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@next
precedes(optional)Points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be successors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@precedes
prev(optional)Points to the previous event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@prev
resp(optional)Indicates the agent(s) responsible for some aspect of the text’s transcription, editing, or encoding. Its value must point to one or more identifiers declared in the document header. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.responsibility@resp
sameas(optional)Points to an element that is the same as the current element but is not a literal copy of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@sameas
synch(optional)Points to elements that are synchronous with the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.linking@synch
translit(optional)Specifies the transliteration technique used. Value is a NMTOKEN.
<language>att.lang@translit
type(optional)Designation which characterizes the element in some sense, using any convenient classification scheme or typology that employs single-token labels. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
<language>att.commonatt.typed@type
xml:base(optional)Provides a base URI reference with which applications can resolve relative URI references into absolute URI references. Value conforms to data.URI.
<language>att.commonatt.basic@xml:base
xml:id(optional)Regularizes the naming of an element and thus facilitates building links between it and other resources. Each id attribute within a document must have a unique value. Value is a valid xml:id.
<language>att.commonatt.basicatt.id@xml:id
xml:lang(optional)Identifies the language of the element’s content. The values for this attribute are language 'tags' as defined in BCP 47. All language tags that make use of private use sub-tags must be documented in a corresponding language element in the MEI header whose id attribute is the same as the language tag’s value. Value is a language.
<language>att.lang@xml:lang
(MEI.shared) Attributes common to many elements.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that form the basis of the att.common class.
xml:base(optional)Provides a base URI reference with which applications can resolve relative URI references into absolute URI references. Value conforms to data.URI.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that uniquely identify an element.
xml:id(optional)Regularizes the naming of an element and thus facilitates building links between it and other resources. Each id attribute within a document must have a unique value. Value is a valid xml:id.
(MEI.shared)
label(optional)Captures text to be used to generate a label for the element to which it’s attached, a "tool tip" or prefatory text, for example. Should not be used to record document content. Value is plain text.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that specify element-to-element relationships.
copyof(optional)Points to an element of which the current element is a copy. Value conforms to data.URI.
corresp(optional)Used to point to other elements that correspond to this one in a generic fashion. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
follows(optional)points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be predecessors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
next(optional)Used to point to the next event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
precedes(optional)Points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be successors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
prev(optional)Points to the previous event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
sameas(optional)Points to an element that is the same as the current element but is not a literal copy of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
synch(optional)Points to elements that are synchronous with the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes used to supply a number-like designation for an element.
n(optional)Provides a number-like designation that indicates an element’s position in a sequence of similar elements. May not contain space characters. Value conforms to data.WORD.
(MEI.shared) Attributes capturing information regarding responsibility for some aspect of the text's creation, transcription, editing, or encoding.
resp(optional)Indicates the agent(s) responsible for some aspect of the text’s transcription, editing, or encoding. Its value must point to one or more identifiers declared in the document header. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes which can be used to classify features.
type(optional)Designation which characterizes the element in some sense, using any convenient classification scheme or typology that employs single-token labels. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes which can be used to classify features.
class(optional)Contains one or more URIs which denote classification terms that apply to the entity bearing this attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that describe the source of a controlled value.
auth(optional)A name or label associated with a controlled vocabulary or other authoritative source for this element or its content. Value is plain text.
auth.uri(optional)A web-accessible location of the controlled vocabulary or other authoritative source of identification or definition for this element or its content. This attribute may contain a complete URI or a partial URI which is completed by the value of the codedval attribute. Value conforms to data.URI.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that can be used to associate a representation such as a name or title with canonical information about the object being named or referenced.
codedval(optional)A value that represents or identifies other data. Often, it is a primary key in the database or a unique value in the coded list identified by the auth or auth.uri attributes. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Bibliographic attributes.
analog(optional)Contains a reference to a field or element in another descriptive encoding system to which this MEI element is comparable. Value is plain text.
(MEI.shared) Language attributes common to text elements.
xml:lang(optional)Identifies the language of the element’s content. The values for this attribute are language 'tags' as defined in BCP 47. All language tags that make use of private use sub-tags must be documented in a corresponding language element in the MEI header whose id attribute is the same as the language tag’s value. Value is a language.
translit(optional)Specifies the transliteration technique used. Value is a NMTOKEN.
Component declarations that are shared between two or more modules.
analog(optional)Contains a reference to a field or element in another descriptive encoding system to which this MEI element is comparable. Value is plain text.
auth(optional)A name or label associated with a controlled vocabulary or other authoritative source for this element or its content. Value is plain text.
auth.uri(optional)A web-accessible location of the controlled vocabulary or other authoritative source of identification or definition for this element or its content. This attribute may contain a complete URI or a partial URI which is completed by the value of the codedval attribute. Value conforms to data.URI.
class(optional)Contains one or more URIs which denote classification terms that apply to the entity bearing this attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
codedval(optional)A value that represents or identifies other data. Often, it is a primary key in the database or a unique value in the coded list identified by the auth or auth.uri attributes. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
copyof(optional)Points to an element of which the current element is a copy. Value conforms to data.URI.
corresp(optional)Used to point to other elements that correspond to this one in a generic fashion. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
follows(optional)points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be predecessors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
label(optional)Captures text to be used to generate a label for the element to which it’s attached, a "tool tip" or prefatory text, for example. Should not be used to record document content. Value is plain text.
n(optional)Provides a number-like designation that indicates an element’s position in a sequence of similar elements. May not contain space characters. Value conforms to data.WORD.
next(optional)Used to point to the next event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
precedes(optional)Points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be successors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
prev(optional)Points to the previous event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
resp(optional)Indicates the agent(s) responsible for some aspect of the text’s transcription, editing, or encoding. Its value must point to one or more identifiers declared in the document header. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
sameas(optional)Points to an element that is the same as the current element but is not a literal copy of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
synch(optional)Points to elements that are synchronous with the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
translit(optional)Specifies the transliteration technique used. Value is a NMTOKEN.
type(optional)Designation which characterizes the element in some sense, using any convenient classification scheme or typology that employs single-token labels. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
xml:base(optional)Provides a base URI reference with which applications can resolve relative URI references into absolute URI references. Value conforms to data.URI.
xml:id(optional)Regularizes the naming of an element and thus facilitates building links between it and other resources. Each id attribute within a document must have a unique value. Value is a valid xml:id.
xml:lang(optional)Identifies the language of the element’s content. The values for this attribute are language 'tags' as defined in BCP 47. All language tags that make use of private use sub-tags must be documented in a corresponding language element in the MEI header whose id attribute is the same as the language tag’s value. Value is a language.
Member of
(language isn't member of any model class)
Contained By
langUsageGroups elements describing the languages, sub-languages, dialects, etc., represented within the encoded resource.
Metadata header component declarations.
langUsageGroups elements describing the languages, sub-languages, dialects, etc., represented within the encoded resource.
May Contain
textual content
(MEI.shared) Groups textual elements that occur at the level of individual words or phrases. This class is equivalent to the model.textPhraseLike class without the pb element.
dedicateeEntity to whom a creative work is formally offered.
dimensionsInformation about the physical size of an entity; usually includes numerical data.
extentUsed to express size in terms other than physical dimensions, such as number of pages, records, bytes, physical components, etc.
segrepresents any segmentation of text below the "text component" level.
symbolA reference to a previously defined symbol.
termKeyword or phrase which describes a resource.
(MEI.figtable) Groups elements representing or containing graphic information such as an illustration or figure.
figGroups elements representing or containing graphic information such as an illustration or figure.
(MEI.msDesc) Groups elements that may appear inline when the msdesc module is active.
catchwordsDescribes the system used to ensure correct ordering of the quires making up an item, typically by means of annotations at the foot of the page.
heraldryContains a heraldic formula or phrase, typically found as part of a blazon, coat of arms, etc.
locusDefines a location within a manuscript or manuscript component, usually as a (possibly discontinuous) sequence of folio references.
locusGrpGroups locations which together form a distinct but discontinuous item within a manuscript or manuscript part, according to a specific foliation.
secFolioMarks the word or words taken from a fixed point in a codex (typically the beginning of the second leaf) in order to provide a unique identifier for the item.
signaturesProvides a description of the leaf or quire signatures found within a codex.
stampContains a word or phrase describing an official mark indicating ownership, genuineness, validity, etc.
watermarkContains a description of a watermark or similar device.
(MEI.namesdates) Groups elements used as part of a physical address.
postBoxContains a number or other identifier for some postal delivery point other than a street address.
postCodeContains a numerical or alphanumeric code used as part of a postal address to simplify sorting or delivery of mail.
streetfull street address including any name or number identifying a building as well as the name of the street or route on which it is located.
(MEI.namesdates) Groups elements which form part of a geographic name.
blocContains the name of a geopolitical unit consisting of two or more nation states or countries.
countryContains the name of a geopolitical unit, such as a nation, country, colony, or commonwealth, larger than or administratively superior to a region and smaller than a bloc.
districtContains the name of any kind of subdivision of a settlement, such as a parish, ward, or other administrative or geographic unit.
geogFeatContains a common noun identifying a geographical feature.
regionContains the name of an administrative unit such as a state, province, or county, larger than a settlement, but smaller than a country.
settlementContains the name of a settlement such as a city, town, or village identified as a single geopolitical or administrative unit.
(MEI.namesdates) Groups elements that serve as stylistic labels.
periodNameA label that describes a period of time, such as 'Baroque' or '3rd Style period'.
styleNameA label for a characteristic style of writing or performance, such as 'bebop' or 'rock-n-roll'.
(MEI.ptrref) Groups elements used for purposes of location and reference.
ptrDefines a traversible pointer to another location, using only attributes to describe the destination.
refDefines a traversible reference to another location. May contain text and sub-elements that describe the destination.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements used to represent a postal address.
addressContains a postal address, for example of a publisher, an organization, or an individual.
(MEI.shared) Groups annotation-like elements.
annotProvides a statement explaining the text or indicating the basis for an assertion.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements containing a bibliographic description.
biblProvides a loosely-structured bibliographic citation in which the sub-components may or may not be explicitly marked.
biblStructContains a bibliographic citation in which bibliographic sub-elements must appear in a specified order.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements containing date expressions.
dateA string identifying a point in time or the time period between two such points.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements which describe a measurement forming part of the physical dimensions of an object.
depthDescription of a measurement taken through a three-dimensional object.
dimAny single dimensional specification.
heightDescription of the vertical size of an object.
widthDescription of the horizontal size of an object.
(MEI.shared) Groups editorial intervention elements.
abbrA generic element for 1) a shortened form of a word, including an acronym or 2) a shorthand notation.
expanContains the expansion of an abbreviation.
(MEI.shared) Groups identifier-like elements.
identifierAn alpha-numeric string that establishes the identity of the described material.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that function like line beginnings.
lbAn empty formatting element that forces text to begin on a new line.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that represent a measurement.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that denote a number or a quantity.
numNumeric information in any form.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that contain names.
nameProper noun or noun phrase.
(MEI.namesdates) Groups elements which contain names of individuals or corporate bodies.
corpNameIdentifies an organization or group of people that acts as a single entity.
persNameDesignation for an individual, including any or all of that individual's forenames, surnames, honorific titles, and added names.
(MEI.namesdates) Groups place name elements.
(MEI.namesdates) Groups geographic name elements.
geogNameThe proper noun designation for a place, natural feature, or political jurisdiction.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that denote a corporate entity that holds a bibliographic item.
repositoryInstitution, agency, or individual which holds a bibliographic item.
(MEI.shared) Collects elements that express a relationship.
relationDescribes a relationship or linkage amongst entities.
relationListGathers relation elements.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that mark typographical features.
rendA formatting element indicating special visual rendering, e.g., bold or italicized, of a text word or phrase.
stackAn inline table with a single column.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that denote the name of a bibliographic item.
titleTitle of a bibliographic entity.
(MEI.text) Groups elements related to highlighting which can appear at the phrase-level.
qContains material which is distinguished from the surrounding phrase-level text using quotation marks or a similar method. Use quote for block-level quotations.
textual content
Editorial and transcriptional component declarations.
abbrA generic element for 1) a shortened form of a word, including an acronym or 2) a shorthand notation.
expanContains the expansion of an abbreviation.
Figures and tables component declarations.
figGroups elements representing or containing graphic information such as an illustration or figure.
Metadata header component declarations.
watermarkContains a description of a watermark or similar device.
Manuscript description component declarations.
catchwordsDescribes the system used to ensure correct ordering of the quires making up an item, typically by means of annotations at the foot of the page.
heraldryContains a heraldic formula or phrase, typically found as part of a blazon, coat of arms, etc.
locusDefines a location within a manuscript or manuscript component, usually as a (possibly discontinuous) sequence of folio references.
locusGrpGroups locations which together form a distinct but discontinuous item within a manuscript or manuscript part, according to a specific foliation.
secFolioMarks the word or words taken from a fixed point in a codex (typically the beginning of the second leaf) in order to provide a unique identifier for the item.
signaturesProvides a description of the leaf or quire signatures found within a codex.
stampContains a word or phrase describing an official mark indicating ownership, genuineness, validity, etc.
Names and dates component declarations.
blocContains the name of a geopolitical unit consisting of two or more nation states or countries.
corpNameIdentifies an organization or group of people that acts as a single entity.
countryContains the name of a geopolitical unit, such as a nation, country, colony, or commonwealth, larger than or administratively superior to a region and smaller than a bloc.
districtContains the name of any kind of subdivision of a settlement, such as a parish, ward, or other administrative or geographic unit.
geogFeatContains a common noun identifying a geographical feature.
geogNameThe proper noun designation for a place, natural feature, or political jurisdiction.
periodNameA label that describes a period of time, such as 'Baroque' or '3rd Style period'.
persNameDesignation for an individual, including any or all of that individual's forenames, surnames, honorific titles, and added names.
postBoxContains a number or other identifier for some postal delivery point other than a street address.
postCodeContains a numerical or alphanumeric code used as part of a postal address to simplify sorting or delivery of mail.
regionContains the name of an administrative unit such as a state, province, or county, larger than a settlement, but smaller than a country.
settlementContains the name of a settlement such as a city, town, or village identified as a single geopolitical or administrative unit.
streetfull street address including any name or number identifying a building as well as the name of the street or route on which it is located.
styleNameA label for a characteristic style of writing or performance, such as 'bebop' or 'rock-n-roll'.
Pointer and reference component declarations.
ptrDefines a traversible pointer to another location, using only attributes to describe the destination.
refDefines a traversible reference to another location. May contain text and sub-elements that describe the destination.
Component declarations that are shared between two or more modules.
addressContains a postal address, for example of a publisher, an organization, or an individual.
annotProvides a statement explaining the text or indicating the basis for an assertion.
biblProvides a loosely-structured bibliographic citation in which the sub-components may or may not be explicitly marked.
biblStructContains a bibliographic citation in which bibliographic sub-elements must appear in a specified order.
dateA string identifying a point in time or the time period between two such points.
dedicateeEntity to whom a creative work is formally offered.
depthDescription of a measurement taken through a three-dimensional object.
dimAny single dimensional specification.
dimensionsInformation about the physical size of an entity; usually includes numerical data.
extentUsed to express size in terms other than physical dimensions, such as number of pages, records, bytes, physical components, etc.
heightDescription of the vertical size of an object.
identifierAn alpha-numeric string that establishes the identity of the described material.
lbAn empty formatting element that forces text to begin on a new line.
nameProper noun or noun phrase.
numNumeric information in any form.
relationDescribes a relationship or linkage amongst entities.
relationListGathers relation elements.
rendA formatting element indicating special visual rendering, e.g., bold or italicized, of a text word or phrase.
repositoryInstitution, agency, or individual which holds a bibliographic item.
stackAn inline table with a single column.
symbolA reference to a previously defined symbol.
termKeyword or phrase which describes a resource.
titleTitle of a bibliographic entity.
widthDescription of the horizontal size of an object.
Text component declarations.
qContains material which is distinguished from the surrounding phrase-level text using quotation marks or a similar method. Use quote for block-level quotations.
segrepresents any segmentation of text below the "text component" level.
Remarks

A textual element may be related to this element by setting its xml:lang attribute, which normally takes the form of a code drawn from a coded list, such as ISO639-2b, to the same value as this element’s codedval attribute. The name and web location of the authorizing list may be encoded in the auth attribute and the auth.uri attribute, respectively.

The model of this element is based on the language element of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and the language element of the Encoded Archival Description (EAD).

Declaration
<elementSpec ident="language" module="MEI.header">
<desc xml:lang="en">Description of a language used in the document.</desc>
<classes>
<memberOf key="att.common"/>
<memberOf key="att.authorized"/>
<memberOf key="att.bibl"/>
<memberOf key="att.lang"/>
</classes>
<content>
<rng:zeroOrMore>
<rng:choice>
<rng:text/>
<rng:ref name="model.textPhraseLike.limited"/>
</rng:choice>
</rng:zeroOrMore>
</content>
<remarks xml:lang="en">
<p>A textual element may be related to this element by setting its <att>xml:lang</att> attribute, which normally takes the form of a code drawn from a coded list, such as ISO639-2b, to the same value as this element’s codedval attribute. The name and web location of the authorizing list may be encoded in the <att>auth</att> attribute and the <att>auth.uri</att> attribute, respectively.</p>
</remarks>
<remarks xml:lang="en">
<p>The model of this element is based on the <ref target="https://tei-c.org/release/doc/tei-p5-doc/en/html/ref-language.html">language</ref> element of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and the <ref target="https://www.loc.gov/ead/EAD3taglib/EAD3-TL-eng.html#elem-language">language</ref> element of the Encoded Archival Description (EAD).</p>
</remarks>
</elementSpec>
MEI Version: 5.0(#eb14650)