Music Library Association Best Practices for language of expression
Prerecording
Prerecording
Routinely record the element for the following linguistic content:
- Text underlying printed music (scores)
- Sung or spoken text (recordings)
- Text presented separately (e.g., librettos)
- Subtitles
- Accompanying text (e.g., critical commentary, program notes)
If readily ascertainable, also record Work: language of representative expression for the original language of printed, sung, spoken, or accompanying text.
Recording
Recording
In MARC: Record as an identifier using field 008 bytes 35-37 and, if needed, 041 (second indicator blank) subfields $a, $d, $e, $g, or $j. For text underlying printed music, sung or spoken text, and subtitles, routinely also record as an unstructured description using field 546 subfield $a. For other language content, optionally record as an unstructured description using field 546 or 500 if deemed useful for identification or selection.
Recording a structured description
Option
In MARC: Cataloger's judgment. If applying the option, record in field 377 subfield $l.
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option if specifically required by policy or the metadata system, as stated in the Metadata Guidance documentation. Base the name of the language on the form found in MARC Code List for Languages.
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when naming a language in a note. Base the name of the language on the form found in MARC Code List for Languages with appropriate modifications when recording a note on expression.
LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Expression: language of expression.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option if specifically required by policy or the metadata system, as stated in the Metadata Guidance documentation.
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option when recording a value from the MARC Code List for Languages. Apply the option when recording a value from any other vocabulary encoding scheme.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option.
Recording an identifier
Option
Apply the option using values from the MARC Code List for Languages .
In MARC: Apply the option. Use codes from the MARC Code List for Languages .
Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option when recording a value from the MARC Code List for Languages. Apply the option when recording a value from any other vocabulary encoding scheme.
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option when recording a value from the MARC Code List for Languages. Apply the option when recording a value from any other vocabulary encoding scheme.
Recording an IRI
View as Relationship Example
View in Context Example
Document Date: 2026/10/09
Document: https://stage.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-b8e2ef81-70e1-39c3-b898-e2aa4f024fd6