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MARC PROPOSAL NO. 2018-02

DATE: May 25, 2018
REVISED:

NAME: Subfield Coding in Field 041 for Accessibility in the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format

SOURCE: Canadian Committee on Metadata Exchange (CCM)

SUMMARY: This paper proposes adding new subfields in field 041 (Language Code) for accessibility modes in the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format to enhance machine actionability.

KEYWORDS: Field 041 (BD); Language Code (BD); Accessibility (BD)

RELATED: 2018-DP02; 2018-03; 2017-112017-DP03

STATUS/COMMENTS:
05/25/18 – Made available to the MARC community for discussion.

06/23/18 – Results of MARC Advisory Committee discussion: Approved, with the following editorial amendment: Change wording of $p label and definition to:

$p – Language code of captions (R)
Language codes for language used in moving image resource captions (open (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH)) or closed (CC)).

08/17/18 - Results of MARC Steering Group review - Agreed with the MAC decision.


Proposal No. 2018-02: Subfield Coding in Field 041 for Accessibility

1. BACKGROUND

Field 041 is currently defined in the Bibliographic format as follows:

As was discussed in the MARC Discussion Paper 2017-DP03, on which Discussion Paper 2018-DP02 and this Proposal are based, field 041 Language Code is lacking precision in specifying types of accessibility language content. Though language of accessible content can be provided in the 546 Language Note field, this is a free text field, and not machine actionable.

Captioning
Subfield $j (Language code of subtitles or captions) mixes both subtitles and captioning (open and closed). Captioning is intended for the deaf and hard of hearing and it provides additional information, for example, describing incidental music, background noise, or providing lyrics for songs.  Conversely, subtitles are usually just a translation of dialogue or narration.

Technical aspects of captioning, such as whether they are open or closed is best described in a technical details field. This paper recommends that this data be recorded in either or both of the following proposed Accessibility Fields currently submitted for review by MAC in Proposal 2018-03: 341 (Accessibility Details); 532 (Accessibility Note).

Described video 
There are no specific provisions or instructions for described video in the 041 field, but it can be interpreted as falling under the instructions for moving image resources under subfield $a (Language code of text/sound track or separate title):  “subfield $a contains… any language code(s) of the languages of accompanying sound.

Signing
Instructions for $a (Language code of text/sound track or separate title) include the following for moving image resources: “subfield $a contains the code(s) of spoken or sung languages associated with the item, as well as sign language and any language code(s) of the languages of accompanying sound.” When the primary mode of access to the content of a resource is through a signed language, subfield $a is appropriate. However, there is no provision to distinguish resources where signing is not the primary mode of access, but is included to provide alternative access to the primary mode of access.

2. DISCUSSION

We propose adding three new repeatable language subfields to 041 that specify the alternative sensory mode used to provide access to a resource. Providing this additional context for language codes would allow for increased efficiency of machine processing of records for users seeking accessibility content in specific modes in specific languages.

We also propose slight textual changes to subfields $a and $j.

2.1. Proposed Additional Subfields

$p - Language code of accessible text (R)
Language codes for text used as an alternative mode of access to the content of a resource. For example, written languages providing alternative access to moving image audio content using captions (open (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH)) or closed (CC)).

041 0# $a eng $p eng
[An English language video containing English language closed captioning.]

$q - Language code of accessible audio (R)
Language codes for audio used as an alternative mode of access to the visual or textual content of a resource. For example, Described Video, a supplementary audio track providing additional access to moving image visual content using audio description.

041 1# $a eng $h fre $q eng
[A French language film dubbed in English with English-language described video.]

$r - Language code of accessible visual language (non-textual) (R)
Language codes for visual language (non-textual) used to provide alternative access to the audio content of a resource. For example, signed languages. For resources where signed language is the primary mode of access, $a should be used instead.

041 0# $a eng 
041 07 $r ase $2 iso639-3
[An English-language resource where audio is the primary mode of access, but alternate access is provided with picture-in-picture American Sign Language.]

2.2. Changes to Existing Subfields

$a - Language code of text/sound track or separate title (R) [proposed additional text in italics]
For moving image resources, subfield $a contains the code(s) of spoken or sung languages associated with the item, as well as sign language and any language code(s) of the languages of accompanying sound. Code languages used to provide access to a resource in an alternative (accessible) mode as appropriate in either $p Language code of accessible text ; $q- Language code of accessible audio or $r Language code of accessible visual language (non-textual)

$j - Language code of subtitles and captions (R)
Language codes for written languages providing access to moving image materials, such as intertitles (silent films), or subtitles, or captions (open or closed, intended for users with hearing disabilities). It does not include the languages of the credits, packaging, or accompanying material. If needed, the language of credits is recorded in field 546 (Language Note) and the language of packaging or accompanying material is recorded in 041 subfield $g (Language code of accompanying material other than librettos).

3. EXAMPLES

Example 1: Described video and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH)

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007      vd#csaizq
041 1# $a eng $a spa $a fre $j spa $j eng $h eng $p eng $q eng 
245 10 $a La la land / $c Summit Entertainment presents a Marc Platt production an Imposter Pictures/Gilbert Films production ; produced by Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Gary Gilbert, Mark Platt ; written and directed by Damien Chazelle.
300 ## $a 2 videodiscs (approximately 128 min.) : $b sound, color ; $c 4 3/4 in.
546 ## $a English, Spanish or French dialogue; Spanish or English subtitles; subtitled for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH); described video.

Example 2: Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) provided in multiple languages

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007      vd#csaizq
041 1# $a eng $a fre $j eng $j fre $j spa $h fre $p eng $p fre 
245 00 $a Bon cop bad cop 2 / $c director, Alain Desrochers.
264 #1 $a [United States] : $b Seville, $c [2017]
300 ## $a 1 videodisc (126 min.) : $b sound, color ; $c 4 3/4 in.
546 ## $a English or French dialogue; Spanish, English or French subtitles; English and French subtitled for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH).

Example 3: Blu-ray with closed captions in French and subtitles in English

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007      vd#bsaizu
041 1# $a fre $j eng $h fre $p fre
245 00 $a Goupi Mains Rouges $h [videorecording] / $c un film de Jacques Becker.
260 ## $a [Paris] : $b Pathé distribution [éd.] : $b Fox Pathé Europa [distrib.], $c c2015.
300 ## $a 1 DVD (100 min.) : $b b&w, sd. ; $c 4 3/4 in.
341 0# $a $a auditory $b captions $2 w3c
532 1# $a Closed captions.
546 ## $a In French; optional subtitles in English; optional closed captions in French.

Example 4: DVD with subtitles, SDH, and described video in German

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007      vd#cvaizs
041 1# $a ger $a fre $j ger $h fre $p ger $q ger 
130 0# $a Ma vie de courgette $0 (DE-588)1138382191
245 10 $a Mein Leben als Zucchini / $c ein Film von Claude Barras ; written by Celine Sciamma
264 #1 $a [München] : $b Polyband, $c [2017]
300 ## $a 1 DVD (ca. 63 min) ; $c 12 cm
546 ## $a Sprachen: Deutsch, Französisch ; Untertitel: Deutsch, Deutsch für Hörgeschädigte ; Audiodeskription für Blinde und Sehgeschädigte

Example 5: DVD with signed language accessibility feature

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007    vd#cvaizu
041 0# $a spa $r sgn
041 07 $r ugy $2 iso639-3 
245 00 $a ¿Sabés una cosa pueblo? : $b José Mujica / $c TV LIBRE presenta.
260 ## $a Montevideo : $b La República, $c [2010?]
300 ## $a 1 videodisc (101 min., 40 sec.) : $b sound, color ; $c 4 3/4 in.
546 ## $a In Spanish and sign language.

Example 6: Signed language as primary mode of access

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007      vf#cb##o
008 090222s1999    ksu025 j          vlsgn d
041 0# $a sgn
041 07 $a ase $2 iso639-3
245 04 $a The little red ant and the great big crumb : $b [a Mexican fable] / $c produced by Kansas School for the Deaf ; visual storyreading in American Sign Language by Sally Luton.
260 ## $a Olathe, Kan. : $b Kansas School for the Deaf, $c [1999?]
300 ## $a 1 videocassette (approximately 25 min.) : $b si., color ; $c 1/2 in. + $e 1 pamphlet guide.
546 ## $a Signed in ASL, level C, with no captions or voice over.

Example 7: Signed language as alternate language not accessible mode

LEADER    02102cgm a22004695a 4500
007      vd#cvaizu
008      130716s2009    xxu039 j          mleng 
041 1# $a eng $a fre $a spa $a sgn $j eng $h eng $p eng 
041 07 $a ase $2 iso639-3 
245 00 $a Baby Wordsworth, first words, around the house / $c the Baby Einstein Company presents.
246 30 $a First words, around the house
300 ## $a 1 videodisc (ca. 39 min.) : $b sd., col. ; $c 4 3/4 in.
546 ## $a Soundtrack in English, French, or Spanish with signing in combination of American Sign Language and Conceptually Accurate Signed English; subtitled for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Example 8: Streaming Video with Makaton

041 ## $a wel $a sgn
041 ## $a bfi $2 iso639-3
245 00 $a Dwylo'r Enfys. $p Guto
532 1# $a Includes Makaton signs and symbols.

The use of field 532 in this example assumes the approval of Proposal 2018-03

4. BIBRAME DISCUSSION

These subfields provide increased granularity that can potentially be leveraged by BIBFRAME.

5. PROPOSED CHANGES

In field 041 (Langauge Code) of the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format:

5.1. Define the following new subfields, as described in Section 2.1.:

$p - Language code of accessible text (R)
$q - Language code of accessible audio (R)
$r - Language code of accessible visual language (non-textual) (R)

5.2. Amend texts in subfield $a and $j, as described in Section 2.2.


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