preferredLanguage

A short description

Preferred written or spoken language for a person.

Usage

Utility class
[ Core | Standard | Extended ]
Of use to some set of more specialized applications.

Is attribute required?
Optional. Application selects whether it will support attribute or not.

Confidentiality
Medium. Personal information.

Integrity
Medium. Values should be up to date.

Availability
Medium. If the LDAP uses this attribute, it should normally be provided for relevant objects. Authorization may fail if no value is available.

Details

Multiple values?
Single value

Value format
ISO 639 - Language Code

Attribute origin
Common Attributes

LDAP

OID

2.16.840.1.113730.3.1.39

Datatype

ISO 639 - Language Code

eduGAIN

This attribute is planned to be used with eduGAIN. In eduGAIN this attribute will be identified as:
urn:mace:dir:attribute-def:preferredLanguage

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In a privacy perspective, language preference may in certain contexts be sensitive information: Any value other than the national language or English may possibly indicate the registered individuals ethnic origin. A given language preference may lead to an assumption of the individual's specific ethnic origin, or may indicate a non-specific, but non-native origin. It should therefore be held as confidential as possible without removing its practical use.

Feide usage notes

The attribute originates in student registry system.
Attribute values are restricted to two letter codes according to ISO 639-1: nn
(Norwegian, nynorsk), nb (Norwegian, bokmål), no (Norwegian), en (English) and se (North Sami), used in accordance with recommendation in [RFC 3066] based on [ISO 639] and [ISO 3166] country codes. If further languages are added, and these indicate ethnicities, requirements for confidentiality rise to High.

Example applications for which this attribute would be useful:

Presentation of web pages in correct language, directory of directories, white pages.