{{Short description|Reputably reported languages later shown to not exist}} {{Distinguish|Fictional language}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use Oxford spelling|date=February 2021}}
'''Spurious languages''' are [[language]]s that have been reported as existing in reputable works, while other research has reported that the language in question did not exist. Some spurious languages have been proven to not exist. Others have very little evidence supporting their existence, and have been dismissed in later scholarship. Others still are of uncertain existence due to limited research. In some cases a purported language is tracked down and turns out to be another, known language. This is common when language varieties are named after places or ethnicities.
== Historical spurious languages == Some alleged languages turn out to be hoaxes, such as the [[Kukurá language]] of Brazil or the [[Taensa language]] of Louisiana. Others are honest errors that persist in the literature despite being corrected by the original authors; an example of this is ''{{vanchor|Hongote}}'', the name given in 1892 to two colonial-era word lists, one of [[Tlingit language|Tlingit]] and one of a [[Salishan languages|Salishan language]], that were mistakenly listed as Patagonian. The error was corrected three times that year, but nonetheless "Hongote" was still listed as a Patagonian language a century later in Greenberg (1987).<ref name="Campbell-SAmerica">{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Lyle |author-link=Lyle Campbell |editor1-last=Grondona |editor1-first=Verónica |editor2-last=Campbell |editor2-first=Lyle |date=2012 |title=The Indigenous Languages of South America |chapter=Classification of the indigenous languages of South America |series=The World of Linguistics |volume=2 |location=Berlin |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |pages=59–166 |isbn=9783110255133}}</ref>{{rp|133}}
In the case of [[New Guinea]], one of the most linguistically diverse areas on Earth, some spurious languages are simply the names of language surveys that the data was published under. Examples are ''{{vanchor|Mapi}}, Kia, {{vanchor|Upper Digul}}, {{vanchor|Upper Kaeme}}'', listed as Indo-Pacific languages in [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Languages/Language names in Ruhlen (1987)#INDO-PACIFIC .5B731+17.5D|Ruhlen 1987]]; these are actually rivers that gave their names to language surveys in the [[Greater Awyu languages]] and [[Ok languages]] of New Guinea.<ref>Upper Kaeme may correspond to [[Korowai language|Korowai]].</ref>
==Dubious languages== Dubious languages are those whose existence is uncertain. They include: * [[Oropom language|Oropom]] ([[Uganda]]) * [[Nemadi dialect|Nemadi]] ([[Mauritania]]) * [[Rer Bare]] ([[Ethiopia]]) – extinct, if it ever existed * Ladakhi Sign Language – no community to use it<ref>{{cite web|url=http://glottolog.org/resource/reference/id/321418 |title=Glottolog 2.4 – Adabe |publisher=Glottolog.org |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref>
=={{anchor|Ethnologue|ISO_639-3}}Spurious according to ''Ethnologue'' and ISO 639-3== Following is a list of [[ISO 639-3]] language codes which have been retired since the standard was established in 2006, arranged by the year in which the actual retirement took effect; in most cases the change request for retirement was submitted in the preceding year. Also included is a partial list of languages (with their SIL codes) that appeared at one time in ''[[Ethnologue]]'' but were removed prior to 2006, arranged by the first edition in which they did not appear.
The list includes codes that have been retired from ISO 639-3 or languages removed from ''Ethnologue'' because the language apparently does not exist and cannot be identified with an existing language. The list does not include instances where the "language" turns out to be a spelling variant of another language or the name of a village where an already known language is spoken; these are cases of duplicates, which are resolved in ISO 639-3 by a code merger. It does include "languages" for which there is no evidence or which cannot be found. (In some cases, however, the evidence for nonexistence is a survey among the current population of the area, which would not identify extinct languages such as [[Ware language|Ware]] below.)
SIL codes are upper case; ISO codes are lower case. Once retired, ISO 639-3 codes are not reused.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-01.sil.org/iso639-3/changes.asp |title=ISO 639-3 Change History |publisher=01.sil.org |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> SIL codes that were retired prior to 2006 may have been re-used or may have reappeared as ISO codes for other languages.
===Removed from ''Ethnologue'', 12th ed., 1992=== * {{vanchor|Itaem}} (PNG) [{{vanchor|ITM}}] * {{vanchor|Marajona}} (Brazil) [{{vanchor|MPQ}}] * {{vanchor|Nemeyam}} (PNG) [{{vanchor|NMY}}] * {{vanchor|Nereyama}}, {{vanchor|Nereyó}} (Brazil) [{{vanchor|NRY}}] * {{vanchor|Numbiaí}} ({{vanchor|Orelha de Pau}}) [{{vanchor|NUH}}] * {{vanchor|Oganibi}} (PNG) [{{vanchor|OGA}}] * {{vanchor|Tijuana Sign Language|TSL}} (Mexico) [{{vanchor|TJS}}] – added to ''Ethnologue'' 1988 by mistake due to a misunderstanding, removed in 1992. No evidence that it ever existed. * {{vanchor|Tyeliri}} Senoufo [{{vanchor|TYE}}] – the Tyeliri are a caste of leather workers, and do not have their own language * {{vanchor|Wagumi}} [{{vanchor|WGM}}] * {{vanchor|Zanofil}} [{{vanchor|ZNF}}] – name of an ethnic group that speaks [[Yongkom language|Yongkom]] [yon]
===Removed from ''Ethnologue'', 13th ed., 1996=== * {{vanchor|Bibasa}} (PNG) [{{vanchor|BHE}}] – described as "isolate in need of survey" in the 12th ed.
===Removed from ''Ethnologue'', 14th ed., 2000=== * {{vanchor|Alak}} 2 [{{vanchor|ALQ}}] – a mislabeled fragment of a word list<ref>Sidwell, 2009, ''Classifying the Austroasiatic languages''</ref> * {{vanchor|Dzorgai}} [{{vanchor|DZI}}], {{vanchor|Kortse}} [{{vanchor|KBG}}], {{vanchor|Pingfang}} [{{vanchor|PFG}}], {{vanchor|Thochu}} [{{vanchor|TCJ}}], {{vanchor|Lofuchai}} ({{vanchor|Lophuchai}}) [{{vanchor|LFU}}], {{vanchor|Wagsod}} [{{vanchor|WGS}}] – old names for [[Qiangic languages]], some of uncertain correspondence to currently recognized names * {{vanchor|Hsifan}} [{{vanchor|HSI}}] – an ethnic name for people speaking a variety of Qiangic or [[Jiarongic languages]] * {{anchor|SPSL}}Scandinavian Pidgin Sign Language [{{vanchor|SPF}}] – normal inter-language contact, not an established pidgin * [[Wutana language|Wutana]] (Nigeria) [{{vanchor|WUW}}] – an ethnic name
===Removed from ''Ethnologue'', 15th ed., 2005=== * {{vanchor|Jiji}} [{{vanchor|JIJ}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=JIJ |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:JIJ |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Kalanke}} [{{vanchor|CKN}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=CKN |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:CKN |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Lewada}}-{{vanchor|Dewara}} [{{vanchor|LWD}}], incl. {{vanchor|Balamula}}/{{vanchor|Mataru}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=LWD |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:LWD |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Lowland Semang}} [{{vanchor|ORB}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=ORB |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:ORB |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> (though other languages without ISO codes, such as [[Wila' language|Wila']], are also called Lowland Semang) *[[Mutús language|Mutús]] [{{vanchor|MUF}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=MUF |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:MUF |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> – suspected to exist, e.g. by Adelaar 2005 *{{vanchor|Nchinchege}} [{{vanchor|NCQ}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=NCQ |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:NCQ |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Nkwak}} [{{vanchor|NKQ}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=NKQ |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:NKQ |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> – same as [[Tanjijili language|Tanjijili]]? Also a possible synonym for Kwak (retired in 2015) *{{vanchor|Oso}} ({{vanchor|Southern Fungom}}) [{{vanchor|OSO}}] – no evidence it is distinct from Fungom and Bum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=OSO |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:OSO |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Rungi}} [{{vanchor|RUR}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=RUR |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:RUR |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Wamsak}} [{{vanchor|WBD}}]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=WBD |title=Ethnologue 14 report for language code:WBD |publisher=Ethnologue.com |access-date=2012-09-24}}</ref>
===Retired 2007=== *{{vanchor|Miarrã}} [{{vanchor|xmi}}] – unattested<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2006-016 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2006/2006-016.pdf|first1=Conrad|last1=Hurd|publisher=SIL International|date=2006-08-08|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref><ref>{{glottolog|miar1236|Miarra}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Atuence}} [{{vanchor|atf}}] – an old town name,<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2006-122 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2006/2006-122.pdf|first1=Conrad|last1=Hurd|publisher=SIL International|date=2007-03-26|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> likely referring to [[Dêqên County|Dêqên]] *{{vanchor|Amapá}} Creole [{{vanchor|amd}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2006-124 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2006/2006-124.pdf|first1=Conrad|last1=Hurd|publisher=SIL International|date=2007-03-21|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>
===Retired 2008=== *{{vanchor|Amikoana}} ({{vanchor|Amikuân}}) [{{vanchor|akn}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2007-003 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2007/2007-003.pdf|first1=David J.|last1=Holbrook|publisher=SIL International|date=2007-04-05|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * [[Land Dayak languages|Land Dayak]] [{{vanchor|dyk}}] – language family name, not individual language<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2007-254 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2007/2007-254.pdf|first1=Matt|last1=Peebles|publisher=SIL International|date=2007-09-01|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> *[[Ware language|Ware]] [{{vanchor|wre}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2007-024 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2007/2007-024.pdf|first1=Mark|last1=Woodward|publisher=SIL International|date=2007-05-23|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> – Ware is listed as extinct in Maho (2009). When an SIL team in Tanzania were not able to find any evidence of it being spoken, the code was retired. *{{vanchor|Bahau}} River Kenyah [{{vanchor|bwv}}], {{vanchor|Kayan}} River Kenyah [{{vanchor|knh}}], {{vanchor|Mahakam}} Kenyah [{{vanchor|xkm}}], {{vanchor|Upper Baram}} Kenyah [{{vanchor|ubm}}] – Any current use is likely either [[Mainstream Kenyah language|Mainstream Kenyah]] [{{vanchor|xkl}}] or [[Uma' Lung language|Uma' Lung]] [{{vanchor|ulu}}] *{{vanchor|Amerax}} [{{vanchor|aex}}] – prison jargon *{{vanchor|Garreh}}-{{vanchor|Ajuran}} [{{vanchor|ggh}}] (Borana & Somali) *Sufrai [{{vanchor|suf}}] – two languages, [[Tarpia language|Tarpia]] and [[Kaptiau language|Kaptiau]], which are not close<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2007-231 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2007/2007-231.pdf|first1=Randy|last1=Lebold|publisher=SIL International|date=2007-08-29|access-date=2025-12-05}}</ref>
===Retired 2009=== *[[Aariya language|Aariya]] [{{vanchor|aay}}] *{{vanchor|Papavô}} [{{vanchor|ppv}}] – name given to several uncontacted groups *[[Europanto]] [{{vanchor|eur}}] – a jest
===Retired 2010=== *Chimakum [{{vanchor|cmk}}] – duplicate of [[Chemakum language|Chemakum]] [xch] *[[Beti languages|Beti]] (Cameroon) [{{vanchor|btb}}] – a group name
===Retired 2011=== *[[Ayi language (China)|Ayi]] (China) [{{vanchor|ayx}}] *{{vanchor|Dhanwar}} (India) [{{vanchor|dha}}] *{{vanchor|Mahei}} [{{vanchor|mja}}]
===Retired 2012=== *{{vanchor|Palu}} [{{vanchor|pbz}}] *[[Pongyong language|Pongyong]] [{{vanchor|pgy}}] *[[Elpaputih language|Elpaputih]] [{{vanchor|elp}}] – could be either of two existing languages *[[Wirangu language|Wirangu]]-[[Nauo language|Nauo]] [{{vanchor|wiw}}] – the two varieties which do not form a unit<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2011-133 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2011/2011-133.pdf|first1=Karsten|last1=Legère|publisher=SIL International|date=2011-08-18|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>
===Retired 2013=== *[[Malakhel language|Malakhel]] [{{vanchor|mld}}] – likely Ormuri *[[Forest Maninka language|Forest Maninka]] [{{vanchor|myq}}]<!--not Sangab Mandaya [myt]--> – generic
===Retired 2014=== *[[Gugu Mini]] [{{vanchor|ggm}}] – a generic name *{{vanchor|Maskoy}} Pidgin [{{vanchor|mhh}}] – never existed *{{vanchor|Emok}} [{{vanchor|emo}}] – never existed *[[Yugh language|Yugh]] [{{vanchor|yuu}}] – duplicate of [[Yugh language|Yug]] [{{vanchor|yug}}] *[[Lamam language|Lamam]] [{{vanchor|lmm}}] – duplicate of [[Romam language|Romam]] [{{vanchor|rmx}}]
===Retired 2015=== *[[Mator-Taygi-Karagas language|Mator-Taygi-Karagas]] [{{vanchor|ymt}}] – duplicate of Mator *{{anchor|YSL}}Yiddish Sign Language [{{vanchor|yds}}] – no evidence that it existed<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2014-010 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2014/2014-010.pdf|first1=J. Albert|last1=Bickford|publisher=SIL International|date=2014-01-31|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> *[[The language|The]] [{{vanchor|thx}}] – duplicate of Oy * [[Imraguen language|Imraguen]] ([[Mauritania]]) [{{vanchor|ime}}] * {{vanchor|Borna}} (''{{vanchor|Eborna}}'') [{{vanchor|bxx}}] – perhaps a typo for [[Boma language|Boma (''Eboma'')]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2014-032 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2014/2014-032.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2014-07-25|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> *[[Bemba language (Congo)|Bemba]] [{{vanchor|bmy}}] – a tribal name *[[Songa language (Democratic Republic of Congo)|Songa]] [{{vanchor|sgo}}] – a tribal name *[[Dazawa language|Daza]] [{{vanchor|dzd}}] – retired in 2015 (with the reason "Nonexistent") but that decision was reversed in 2023, bringing [dzd] back<ref>{{cite web|title=639 Identifier Documentation: dzd|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/dzd|publisher=SIL International|access-date=2023-02-13}}</ref> *[[Buya language (Democratic Republic of Congo)|Buya]] [{{vanchor|byy}}] *[[Kakauhua language|Kakauhua]] [{{vanchor|kbf}}] – Kakauhua/[[Caucahue]] is an ethnonym, language unattested – see [[Alacalufan languages]] *[[Subi language|Subi]] [{{vanchor|xsj}}] – duplicate of Shubi [suj] but that decision was reversed in 2019, bringing [xsj] back<ref>{{cite web|title=639 Identifier Documentation: xsj|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/xsj|publisher=SIL International|access-date=2019-01-26}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Yangho}} [{{vanchor|ynh}}] – does not exist *[[ǂKxʼaoǁʼae]] ("=/Kx'au//'ein") [{{vanchor|aue}}] – dialect of [[Juǀʼhoan language|Juǀʼhoan]] [ktz]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2014-059 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2014/2014-059.pdf|first1=Josh|last1=Dyer|publisher=SIL International|date=2014-08-28|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>
===Retired 2016=== *{{vanchor|Bhatola}} [btl] *{{vanchor|Cagua}} [cbh] *{{vanchor|Chipiajes}} [cbe] – a Saliba and Guahibo surname *{{vanchor|Coxima}} [kox] * {{vanchor|Iapama}} [{{vanchor|iap}}] – uncontacted, and likely either [[Wayampi language|Wayampi]] or [[Apalaí language|Apalaí]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hammarström |first=Harald |date=September 2015 |title=Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions: A comprehensive review: Online appendices |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/593411 |journal=Language |language=en |volume=91 |issue=3 |pages=s1–s188 |doi=10.1353/lan.2015.0049 |issn=1535-0665|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0029-1D58-0 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> *{{vanchor|Kabixí}} [xbx] – generic name for [[Pareci language|Parecis]], Nambiquaras, or any hostile group (see [[Cabixi language]] for one specific use) *{{vanchor|Runa}} [rna] * {{vanchor|Savara}} (Dravidian) [{{vanchor|svr}}] * {{anchor|Xipináwa}}[[Shipibo language|Xipináwa]] [{{vanchor|xip}}] – unattested and may not be distinct<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2015-011 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2015/2015-011.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2015-03-09|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> *{{vanchor|Yarí}} [yri] – dialect of [[Carijona language|Carijona]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015-022 {{!}} ISO 639-3 |url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2015-022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129065601/https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2015-022 |archive-date=29 January 2022 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=iso639-3.sil.org |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
And several supposed extinct [[Arawakan languages]] of Venezuela and Colombia: * {{vanchor|Cumeral}} [{{vanchor|cum}}] * {{vanchor|Omejes}} [{{vanchor|ome}}] * {{vanchor|Ponares}} [{{vanchor|pod}}] – a Sáliba surname, perhaps just [[Piapoco language|Piapoco]] or [[Achagua language|Achagua]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2015-032 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2015/2015-032.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2015-05-28|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Tomedes}} {{a.k.a.}} {{vanchor|Tamudes}} [{{vanchor|toe}}]
Additional languages and codes were retired in 2016, due to a lack of evidence that they existed, but were not necessarily spurious as languages.
===Retired 2017=== * {{anchor|Lua'}}[[Lua people|Lua']] [{{vanchor|prb}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2016-010 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2016/2016-010.pdf|first1=Nate|last1=Cheeseman|publisher=SIL International|date=2016-02-16|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * {{anchor|Rennellese Sign Language}}[[Rennellese Sign Language]] [{{vanchor|rsi}}] – a home sign system, not a full language<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2016-002 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2016/2016-002.pdf|first1=Albert|last1=Bickford|publisher=SIL International|date=2015-09-23|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Rien}} [{{vanchor|rie}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2016-005 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2016/2016-005.pdf|first1=Nate|last1=Cheeseman|publisher=SIL International|date=2015-10-27|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Shinabo}} [{{vanchor|snh}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2016-004 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2016/2016-004.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2015-10-26|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * {{vanchor|[[Southwestern Tai languages|Pu Ko]]}} [{{vanchor|puk}}] – no substantive evidence that the language ever existed.
===Retired 2018=== * {{vanchor|Lyons Sign Language}} [{{vanchor|lsg}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2017-013 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2017/2017-013.pdf|first1=J. Albert|last1=Bickford|publisher=SIL International|date=2017-03-09|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> – no substantive evidence that the language ever existed. * {{vanchor|Mediak}} [{{vanchor|mwx}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2017-017 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2017/2017-017.pdf|first1=Karsten|last1=Legère|publisher=SIL International|date=2017-05-18|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Mosiro}} [{{vanchor|mwy}}] – a clan name<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2016-029 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2016/2016-029.pdf|first1=Karsten|last1=Legère|publisher=SIL International|date=2016-08-31|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>
===Retired 2019=== * {{vanchor|Lui}} [{{vanchor|lba}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2018-016 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2018/2018-016.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2018-08-20|access-date=2019-01-15}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Khlor}} [{{vanchor|llo}}] – duplicate of [[Ta’Oi language|Kriang]] [{{vanchor|ngt}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2018-008 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2018/2018-008.pdf|first1=Ryan|last1=Gehrmann|publisher=SIL International|date=2018-01-22|access-date=2019-01-25}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Mina (India)}} [{{vanchor|myi}}] – [[Meena]], a tribe and caste name in India<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2018-011 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2018/2018-011.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2018-08-09|access-date=2019-01-25}}</ref>
===Retired 2020=== * [[Arma language|Arma]] [{{vanchor|aoh}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-017 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-017.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-01|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Tayabas Ayta}} [{{vanchor|ayy}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-018 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-018.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-04|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Babalia Creole Arabic}} [{{vanchor|bbz}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-013 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-013.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-01-05|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * [[Pasto language|Barbacoas]] [{{vanchor|bpb}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-019 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-019.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-04|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Cauca}} [{{vanchor|cca}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-020 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-020.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-05|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Chamari}} [{{vanchor|cdg}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-028 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-028.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-14|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Degaru}} [{{vanchor|dgu}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-029 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-029.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-18|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Eastern Karnic}} [{{vanchor|ekc}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-015 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-015.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-02-16|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Khalaj}} [{{vanchor|kjf}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-026 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-026.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-12|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * [[Lumbee language|Lumbee]] [{{vanchor|lmz}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-025 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-025.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-07|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * [[Palpa language (Indo-Aryan)|Palpa]] [{{vanchor|plp}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-034 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-034.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-13|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Tapeba|text=[[Tapeba]]}} [{{vanchor|tbb}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2019-032 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2019/2019-032.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2019-03-13|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{ethnologue17|tbb|Tapeba}}</ref><ref>{{glottolog|tape1236|Tapeba}}</ref> – a recently created indigenous ethnicity, not a language
===Retired 2021=== *[[Bikaru language|Bikaru]] [bic] – posited based on a poor elicitation of ordinary Bisorio<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/request/2020-026|title = 2020-026 | Iso 639-3}}</ref>
===Retired 2022=== * {{vanchor|Warduji}} [{{vanchor|wrd}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2021-015 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2021/2021-015.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2021-02-25|access-date=2022-02-04}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Pini}} [{{vanchor|pii}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2021-021 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2021/2021-021.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2021-04-26|access-date=2022-02-04}}</ref> * [[ISO 639:ajt|Judeo-Tunisian Arabic]] [{{vanchor|ajt}}] – duplicate of [[Tunisian Arabic]] [aeb]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2021-020 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2021/2021-020.pdf|first1=Houcemeddine|last1=Turki|publisher=SIL International|date=2021-04-21|access-date=2023-07-12}}</ref>
===Retired 2023=== * {{vanchor|Tupí}} [{{vanchor|tpw}}] – duplicate of [[Tupinamba language|Tupinamba]] [tpn]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2022-012 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2022/2022-012.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2022-06-30|access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Karipúna}} [{{vanchor|kgm}}] – duplicate of [[Palikur language|Palikur]] [plu]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2022-012 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2022/2022-011.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2022-06-30|access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Koibal}} [{{vanchor|zkb}}] – duplicate of [[Khakas language|Khakas]] [kjh]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2022-011 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2022/2022-011.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2022-06-30|access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref> * {{vanchor|Salchuq}} [{{vanchor|slq}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2022-015 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2022/2022-015.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2022-06-30|access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref> * [[Parsi language|Parsi]] [{{vanchor|prp}}]<ref>{{cite web|title=Request Number 2022-009 for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code|url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2022/2022-009.pdf|publisher=SIL International|date=2022-06-24|access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref>
===Retired 2024=== * {{vanchor|Dek}} (Cameroon) [{{vanchor|dek}}] – duplicate of [[Gbeya language|Suma]] [sqm]
==<span class="anchor" id="Glottolog"></span>Spurious according to ''Glottolog''== ''[[Glottolog]]'', maintained at the [[Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology]] in Leipzig, classifies several languages, some with [[ISO 639]] codes, as spurious/unattested in addition to those retired by the ISO. These include:
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Language Name !! ISO 639-3!! Details |- | ǃKhuai|| || Duplicate of [[ǀXam language|ǀXam]] |- | Adabe || adb|| Dialect of Wetarese, taken for a Papuan language |- | Adu || adu|| Duplicate of [[Aduge language|Okpamheri]] |- | Agaria || agi || all likely candidates in the area already have ISO codes |- | Ahirani || ahr || [[Khandeshi language|Khandeshi]] dialect |- | Anasi|| bpo || Misidentification of [[Nisa language|Nisa]] |- |Arakwal||rkw|| An ethnic group, not a language |- |[[Baga Kaloum language|Baga Kaloum]]||bqf|| Should be subsumed into Koga variant |- |[[Baga Sobané language|Baga Sobané]]||bsv|| Should be subsumed into Sitemu variant |- |Bainouk-Samik||bcb||Split from [[Bainouk-Gunyuño language|Bainouk-Gunyuño]] due solely to national border |- |[[Bhalay]]||bhx||A caste rather than a language |- |Bubia||bbx|| |- |Buso||bso||Duplicate of [[Kwang language|Kwang]] |- |Chetco||ctc||Indistinguishable from [[Tolowa language|Tolowa]] |- |[[Chuanqiandian Cluster Miao language|Chuanqiandian Cluster Miao]]||cqd|| |- |[[Con language|Con]]||cno|| |- |Gengle||geg||Mutually intelligible with [[Gengle language|Kugama]] |- |Gowlan||goj||A caste rather than a language |- |Gowli||gok||[[Gowari|A caste]], not a language |- |Guajajara||gub|| Mutually intelligble with [[Tenetehara language|Tenetehara]] |- |Ihievbe||ihi||[[Ihievbe language|Ibviosakan]] dialect |- |Inku |jat |{{Main|Jatki language}} SIL named jat entry Jakati, Ethnologue 16 through 28 versions suggest ''spoken by 29,300 people in Ukraine'', but a Ukrainian linguist Aleksej Barannikov contested it as maybe covered by [[Vlax Romani language|Vlax Romani]]. An alternative name "Jat" may refer to some (at least two) village-lived dialects in Afghanistan, supported by Aparna Rao and Charles Kieffer, Glottolog currently supports Charles' investigate to name Inku, consider it related with [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]. |- |[[Ir language|Ir]]||irr||duplicate of Ong-Ir |- |[[Judeo-Berber language|Judeo-Berber]]||jbe||According to Glottolog, Jewish Berbers speak no differently than Muslim Berbers. However, there are claims, listed in the linked article, that this is not true. |- |Kang||kyp|| |- |Kannada Kurumba||kfi|| |- |[[Katukína language|Katukína]]||kav||Historical form of modern-day language, not considered distinct |- |Kayort||kyv|| Duplicate of [[Rajbanshi language|Rajbanshi]] |- |[[Kisankasa language|Kisankasa]]||kqh|| |- |Kofa||kso||Duplicate of [[Bata language|Bata]] |- |Kpatili||kpm||Purportedly the original language of the Kpatili people, who now speak [[Gbayi]], but any such language is unattested |- |[[Kuanhua language|Kuanhua]]||xnh|| Insufficient attestion; possibly [[Khmu language|Khmu]] |- |[[Kuku-Mangk language|Kuku-Mangk]]||xmq|| |- |[[Lama language (Myanmar)|Lama (Myanmar)]]||lay||Duplicate of [[Nung language (Sino-Tibetan)|Nung]] |- |Lambichhong||lmh||[[Yakkha language]]; name exists due to form errors |- |[[Lang'e language|Lang'e]]||yne|| |- |Laopang||lbg||Undocumented [[List of lesser-known Loloish languages|Loloish language]] |- |Loarki||lrk||Also covered under [[Loarki language|Gade Lohar (gda)]] |- |Lopi||lov||Undocumented [[List of lesser-known Loloish languages|Loloish language]] |- |Lumba-Yakkha||luu||[[Yakkha language]]; name exists due to form errors |- |Mawa (Nigeria) |{{vanchor|wma}} |listed in ''Ethnologue'' but SIL has no evidence it ever existed. |- |Munda||unx||Duplicate of [[Mundari language|Mundari]] |- |Ndonde Hamba||njd||Dialect of [[Makonde language]] |- |Norra||nrr||Duplicate of [[Nung language (Sino-Tibetan)|Nung]] |- |Northwestern Fars||faz||all likely candidates in the area already have ISO codes |- |Odut||oda||Extinct and unattested Nigerian language |- |[[Old Turkic language|Old Turkish]]||otk|| |- |Ontenu||ont||A place rather than a language |- |Phangduwali||phw||[[Yakkha language]]; name exists due to form errors |- |Pisabo||pig||Asserted to be both unattested and non-distinct by Glottolog |- |Pokangá||pok||Spurious misidentification of [[Waimajã language|Waimajã]] |- |[[Potiguára language|Potiguára]]||pog||Unattested language, Glottolog argues is likely [[Tupinamba language|Old Tupi]] |- |[[Puimei Naga language|Puimei Naga]]||npu||Indistinct variety of one of the related languages |- |Putoh||put|| |- |[[Quetzaltepec Mixe language|Quetzaltepec Mixe]]||pxm|| |- |Rufiji||rui|| |- |Skagit||ska|| duplicate of [[Lushootseed]] |- |Snohomish||sno|| duplicate of [[Lushootseed]] |- |Southern Lolopo||ysp|| Confused entry duplicating either [[Lolopo language|Lolopo]] or [[Miqie]] |- |Southwestern Nisu||nsv||Likely confused additional [[Nisu language]] (spoken in same locations as Southern Nisu) |- |Syerna Senoufo||shz||Should be subsumed into [[Sìcìté Sénoufo]] |- |Tawang Monpa||twm||Chinese and Indian name for [[Dakpakha]] |- |Tetete||teb||Unattested, but intelligeble with [[Siona language]] |- |Thu Lao||tyl||Duplicate of [[Thu Lao language|Dai Zhuang]] |- |Tingui-Boto||tgv||Ethnic group speaking [[Tingui-Boto language|Dzubukuá]] |- |[[Welaung language|Welaung]]||weu||Place name, not a language |- |[[Yarsun language|Yarsun]]||yrs|| |- |Yauma||yax|| |}
==References and notes== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *{{cite web|url=http://www-01.sil.org/iso639-3/codes_retired.asp|title=Retired Code Elements Index|website=[[SIL International]]}}.
[[Category:Spurious languages| ]]