diff --git a/crates/api/src/local_user/save_settings.rs b/crates/api/src/local_user/save_settings.rs
index b2bcb82c4..8abe01328 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/local_user/save_settings.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/local_user/save_settings.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   utils::{blocking, get_local_user_view_from_jwt, send_verification_email},
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
-  newtypes::LanguageIdentifier,
+  newtypes::LanguageId,
   source::{
+    language::Language,
     local_user::{LocalUser, LocalUserForm},
     person::{Person, PersonForm},
     site::Site,
@@ -118,16 +119,25 @@ impl Perform for SaveUserSettings {
     })
     .await?
     .map_err(|e| LemmyError::from_error_message(e, "user_already_exists"))?;
-    let mut discussion_languages: Vec<LanguageIdentifier> = data
-      .discussion_languages
-      .clone()
-      .into_iter()
-      .flatten()
-      .map(|l| LanguageIdentifier::new(&l))
-      .collect();
-    if discussion_languages.is_empty() {
-      discussion_languages = LanguageIdentifier::all_languages()
-    }
+    let discussion_languages: Option<Vec<LanguageId>> =
+      if let Some(discussion_languages) = data.discussion_languages.clone() {
+        if discussion_languages.len() > 5 {
+          return Err(LemmyError::from_message("max_languages_is_five"));
+        }
+
+        let mut language_ids = vec![];
+        for l in discussion_languages {
+          language_ids.push(
+            blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+              Language::read_id_from_code(conn, l)
+            })
+            .await??,
+          );
+        }
+        Some(language_ids)
+      } else {
+        None
+      };
 
     let local_user_form = LocalUserForm {
       person_id: Some(person_id),
@@ -146,7 +156,7 @@ impl Perform for SaveUserSettings {
       send_notifications_to_email: data.send_notifications_to_email,
       email_verified: None,
       accepted_application: None,
-      discussion_languages: Some(discussion_languages),
+      discussion_languages,
     };
 
     let local_user_res = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
diff --git a/crates/api/src/site/leave_admin.rs b/crates/api/src/site/leave_admin.rs
index 55b49fc7d..1756359a0 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/site/leave_admin.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/site/leave_admin.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   source::{
+    language::Language,
     moderator::{ModAdd, ModAddForm},
     person::Person,
   },
@@ -60,6 +61,8 @@ impl Perform for LeaveAdmin {
     let federated_instances =
       build_federated_instances(context.pool(), &context.settings()).await?;
 
+    let all_languages = blocking(context.pool(), Language::read_all).await??;
+
     Ok(GetSiteResponse {
       site_view: Some(site_view),
       admins,
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ impl Perform for LeaveAdmin {
       version: version::VERSION.to_string(),
       my_user: None,
       federated_instances,
+      all_languages,
     })
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/site.rs b/crates/api_common/src/site.rs
index f61d34055..924d836a7 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/site.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/site.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use crate::sensitive::Sensitive;
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   newtypes::{CommentId, CommunityId, PersonId, PostId},
+  source::language::Language,
   ListingType,
   SearchType,
   SortType,
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ pub struct GetSiteResponse {
   pub version: String,
   pub my_user: Option<MyUserInfo>,
   pub federated_instances: Option<FederatedInstances>, // Federation may be disabled
+  pub all_languages: Vec<Language>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
index c067f649c..7a0599e1b 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ use lemmy_apub::{
   EndpointType,
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
-  newtypes::LanguageIdentifier,
   source::{
     community::Community,
+    language::Language,
     post::{Post, PostForm, PostLike, PostLikeForm},
   },
   traits::{Crud, Likeable},
@@ -92,6 +92,25 @@ impl PerformCrud for CreatePost {
     let (embed_title, embed_description, embed_video_url) = metadata_res
       .map(|u| (u.title, u.description, u.embed_video_url))
       .unwrap_or_default();
+    let language = data.language.clone();
+    let mut language = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+      Language::read_id_from_code_opt(conn, language)
+    })
+    .await??;
+    // if user only speaks one language, use that as post language. otherwise, set it as "undetermined"
+    if language.is_none() {
+      let user_langs = local_user_view.local_user.discussion_languages;
+      language = if user_langs.len() == 1 {
+        Some(user_langs[0])
+      } else {
+        Some(
+          blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+            Language::read_undetermined(conn)
+          })
+          .await??,
+        )
+      };
+    };
 
     let post_form = PostForm {
       name: data.name.trim().to_owned(),
@@ -104,7 +123,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for CreatePost {
       embed_description,
       embed_video_url,
       thumbnail_url,
-      language: data.language.as_ref().map(|l| LanguageIdentifier::new(l)),
+      language,
       ..PostForm::default()
     };
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs
index 551b0144f..f69210c10 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/post/update.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ use lemmy_apub::protocol::activities::{
   CreateOrUpdateType,
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
-  newtypes::LanguageIdentifier,
-  source::post::{Post, PostForm},
+  source::{
+    language::Language,
+    post::{Post, PostForm},
+  },
   traits::Crud,
   utils::naive_now,
 };
@@ -75,6 +77,11 @@ impl PerformCrud for EditPost {
     let (embed_title, embed_description, embed_video_url) = metadata_res
       .map(|u| (u.title, u.description, u.embed_video_url))
       .unwrap_or_default();
+    let language = data.language.clone();
+    let language = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+      Language::read_id_from_code_opt(conn, language)
+    })
+    .await??;
 
     let post_form = PostForm {
       creator_id: orig_post.creator_id.to_owned(),
@@ -88,7 +95,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for EditPost {
       embed_description,
       embed_video_url,
       thumbnail_url,
-      language: data.language.as_ref().map(|l| LanguageIdentifier::new(l)),
+      language,
       ..PostForm::default()
     };
 
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/site/read.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/site/read.rs
index 1ef84a91f..607d64458 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/site/read.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/site/read.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   site::{CreateSite, GetSite, GetSiteResponse, MyUserInfo},
   utils::{blocking, build_federated_instances, get_local_user_settings_view_from_jwt_opt},
 };
+use lemmy_db_schema::source::language::Language;
 use lemmy_db_views::structs::SiteView;
 use lemmy_db_views_actor::structs::{
   CommunityBlockView,
@@ -123,6 +124,8 @@ impl PerformCrud for GetSite {
     let federated_instances =
       build_federated_instances(context.pool(), &context.settings()).await?;
 
+    let all_languages = blocking(context.pool(), Language::read_all).await??;
+
     Ok(GetSiteResponse {
       site_view,
       admins,
@@ -130,6 +133,7 @@ impl PerformCrud for GetSite {
       version: version::VERSION.to_string(),
       my_user,
       federated_instances,
+      all_languages,
     })
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/user/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/user/create.rs
index cd0905992..44e5b8820 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/user/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/user/create.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use lemmy_apub::{
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   aggregates::structs::PersonAggregates,
-  newtypes::{CommunityId, LanguageIdentifier},
+  newtypes::CommunityId,
   source::{
     community::{
       Community,
@@ -149,7 +149,6 @@ impl PerformCrud for Register {
       password_encrypted: Some(data.password.to_string()),
       show_nsfw: Some(data.show_nsfw),
       email_verified: Some(false),
-      discussion_languages: Some(LanguageIdentifier::all_languages()),
       ..LocalUserForm::default()
     };
 
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs
index df0dce586..8f8a1d043 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/post.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use crate::{
   local_instance,
   objects::{read_from_string_or_source_opt, verify_is_remote_object},
   protocol::{
-    objects::page::{Attachment, AttributedTo, Language, Page, PageType},
+    objects::page::{Attachment, AttributedTo, LanguageTag, Page, PageType},
     ImageObject,
     Source,
   },
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ use chrono::NaiveDateTime;
 use lemmy_api_common::{request::fetch_site_data, utils::blocking};
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   self,
-  newtypes::LanguageIdentifier,
   source::{
     community::Community,
+    language::Language,
     moderator::{ModLockPost, ModLockPostForm, ModStickyPost, ModStickyPostForm},
     person::Person,
     post::{Post, PostForm},
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ impl ApubObject for ApubPost {
       Community::read(conn, community_id)
     })
     .await??;
+    let language = self.language;
+    let language = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+      Language::read_from_id(conn, language)
+    })
+    .await??;
 
     let page = Page {
       kind: PageType::Page,
@@ -116,7 +121,7 @@ impl ApubObject for ApubPost {
       comments_enabled: Some(!self.locked),
       sensitive: Some(self.nsfw),
       stickied: Some(self.stickied),
-      language: Language::new(self.language.clone()),
+      language: LanguageTag::new(language),
       published: Some(convert_datetime(self.published)),
       updated: self.updated.map(convert_datetime),
     };
@@ -180,9 +185,11 @@ impl ApubObject for ApubPost {
       let body_slurs_removed =
         read_from_string_or_source_opt(&page.content, &page.media_type, &page.source)
           .map(|s| remove_slurs(&s, &context.settings().slur_regex()));
-      let language = page
-        .language
-        .map(|l| LanguageIdentifier::new(&l.identifier));
+      let language = page.language.map(|l| l.identifier);
+      let language = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+        Language::read_id_from_code_opt(conn, language)
+      })
+      .await??;
 
       PostForm {
         name: page.name.clone(),
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/page.rs b/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/page.rs
index bbc006947..cfa4a0817 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/page.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/page.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use activitypub_federation::{
 use activitystreams_kinds::link::LinkType;
 use chrono::{DateTime, FixedOffset};
 use itertools::Itertools;
-use lemmy_db_schema::newtypes::{DbUrl, LanguageIdentifier};
+use lemmy_db_schema::{newtypes::DbUrl, source::language::Language};
 use lemmy_utils::error::LemmyError;
 use lemmy_websocket::LemmyContext;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -62,25 +62,25 @@ pub struct Page {
   pub(crate) stickied: Option<bool>,
   pub(crate) published: Option<DateTime<FixedOffset>>,
   pub(crate) updated: Option<DateTime<FixedOffset>>,
-  pub(crate) language: Option<Language>,
+  pub(crate) language: Option<LanguageTag>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
-pub(crate) struct Language {
+pub(crate) struct LanguageTag {
   pub(crate) identifier: String,
   pub(crate) name: String,
 }
 
-impl Language {
-  pub(crate) fn new(lang: LanguageIdentifier) -> Option<Language> {
-    if lang.is_undetermined() {
+impl LanguageTag {
+  pub(crate) fn new(lang: Language) -> Option<LanguageTag> {
+    // undetermined
+    if lang.code == "und" {
       None
     } else {
-      // TODO: need to get the language name
-      Some(Language {
-        identifier: lang.into_inner(),
-        name: "todo".to_string(),
+      Some(LanguageTag {
+        identifier: lang.code,
+        name: lang.name,
       })
     }
   }
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/language.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/language.rs
index fef2fcf11..b13ed311f 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/language.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/language.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-use crate::source::language::Language;
-use diesel::{result::Error, PgConnection, RunQueryDsl};
+use crate::{newtypes::LanguageId, source::language::Language};
+use diesel::{result::Error, PgConnection, RunQueryDsl, *};
 
 impl Language {
   pub fn read_all(conn: &PgConnection) -> Result<Vec<Language>, Error> {
@@ -7,9 +7,30 @@ impl Language {
     language.load::<Self>(conn)
   }
 
-  pub fn read_from_code(code_: &str, conn: &PgConnection) -> Result<Language, Error> {
+  pub fn read_from_id(conn: &PgConnection, id_: LanguageId) -> Result<Language, Error> {
     use crate::schema::language::dsl::*;
-    language.find(code.eq(code_)).load::<Self>(conn)
+    language.filter(id.eq(id_)).first::<Self>(conn)
+  }
+
+  pub fn read_id_from_code(conn: &PgConnection, code_: String) -> Result<LanguageId, Error> {
+    use crate::schema::language::dsl::*;
+    Ok(language.filter(code.eq(code_)).first::<Self>(conn)?.id)
+  }
+
+  pub fn read_id_from_code_opt(
+    conn: &PgConnection,
+    code_: Option<String>,
+  ) -> Result<Option<LanguageId>, Error> {
+    if let Some(code_) = code_ {
+      Ok(Some(Language::read_id_from_code(conn, code_)?))
+    } else {
+      Ok(None)
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn read_undetermined(conn: &PgConnection) -> Result<LanguageId, Error> {
+    use crate::schema::language::dsl::*;
+    Ok(language.filter(code.eq("und")).first::<Self>(conn)?.id)
   }
 }
 
@@ -25,7 +46,9 @@ mod tests {
 
     let all = Language::read_all(&conn).unwrap();
 
-    assert_eq!(123, all.len());
-    assert_eq!("xy", all[5].code);
+    assert_eq!(184, all.len());
+    assert_eq!("ak", all[5].code);
+    assert_eq!("lv", all[99].code);
+    assert_eq!("yi", all[179].code);
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
index 57023a3c4..001c2db64 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ table! {
         show_new_post_notifs -> Bool,
         email_verified -> Bool,
         accepted_application -> Bool,
-        discussion_languages -> Array<Text>,
+        discussion_languages -> Array<Int4>,
     }
 }
 
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ table! {
         thumbnail_url -> Nullable<Text>,
         ap_id -> Varchar,
         local -> Bool,
-        language -> Varchar,
+        language -> Int4,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/source/language.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/source/language.rs
index 97377c9c2..042eba3bf 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/source/language.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/source/language.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 use crate::newtypes::LanguageId;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
+#[cfg(feature = "full")]
+use crate::schema::language;
+
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", derive(Queryable, Identifiable))]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", table_name = "language")]
diff --git a/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs b/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs
index d7940df68..b85c978f4 100644
--- a/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs
+++ b/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::structs::{LocalUserView, PostView};
 use diesel::{dsl::*, pg::Pg, result::Error, *};
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   aggregates::structs::PostAggregates,
-  newtypes::{CommunityId, DbUrl, LanguageIdentifier, PersonId, PostId},
+  newtypes::{CommunityId, DbUrl, LanguageId, PersonId, PostId},
   schema::{
     community,
     community_block,
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ pub struct PostQueryBuilder<'a> {
   show_bot_accounts: Option<bool>,
   show_read_posts: Option<bool>,
   saved_only: Option<bool>,
-  languages: Option<Vec<LanguageIdentifier>>,
+  languages: Option<Vec<LanguageId>>,
   page: Option<i64>,
   limit: Option<i64>,
 }
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ mod tests {
   use diesel::PgConnection;
   use lemmy_db_schema::{
     aggregates::structs::PostAggregates,
-    newtypes::LanguageIdentifier,
+    newtypes::LanguageId,
     source::{
       community::*,
       community_block::{CommunityBlock, CommunityBlockForm},
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ mod tests {
       name: "blocked_person_post".to_string(),
       creator_id: inserted_blocked_person.id,
       community_id: inserted_community.id,
-      language: Some(LanguageIdentifier::new("en")),
+      language: Some(LanguageId(1)),
       ..PostForm::default()
     };
 
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ mod tests {
       name: post_name,
       creator_id: inserted_person.id,
       community_id: inserted_community.id,
-      language: Some(LanguageIdentifier::new("fr")),
+      language: Some(LanguageId(2)),
       ..PostForm::default()
     };
 
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ mod tests {
         thumbnail_url: None,
         ap_id: inserted_post.ap_id.to_owned(),
         local: true,
-        language: LanguageIdentifier::new("fr"),
+        language: LanguageId(2),
       },
       my_vote: None,
       creator: PersonSafe {
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ mod tests {
       .listing_type(ListingType::Community)
       .sort(SortType::New)
       .community_id(data.inserted_community.id);
-    let fr = LanguageIdentifier::new("fr");
+    let fr = LanguageId(2);
     read_post_listing_french.languages = Some(vec![fr]);
     let read_post_listing_french = read_post_listing_french.list().unwrap();
 
diff --git a/src/code_migrations.rs b/src/code_migrations.rs
index 66a6314a8..de6816315 100644
--- a/src/code_migrations.rs
+++ b/src/code_migrations.rs
@@ -13,11 +13,9 @@ use lemmy_apub::{
   EndpointType,
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
-  newtypes::LanguageIdentifier,
   source::{
     comment::Comment,
     community::{Community, CommunityForm},
-    local_user::LocalUser,
     person::{Person, PersonForm},
     post::Post,
     private_message::PrivateMessage,
@@ -42,7 +40,6 @@ pub fn run_advanced_migrations(
   post_thumbnail_url_updates_2020_07_27(conn, protocol_and_hostname)?;
   apub_columns_2021_02_02(conn)?;
   instance_actor_2022_01_28(conn, protocol_and_hostname)?;
-  language_tags_2022_05_11(conn)?;
 
   Ok(())
 }
@@ -312,16 +309,3 @@ fn instance_actor_2022_01_28(
   }
   Ok(())
 }
-
-fn language_tags_2022_05_11(conn: &PgConnection) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-  use lemmy_db_schema::schema::local_user::dsl::*;
-  let users = local_user.load::<LocalUser>(conn)?;
-
-  for u in &users {
-    let all_languages = LanguageIdentifier::all_languages();
-    diesel::update(local_user.find(u.id))
-      .set((discussion_languages.eq(all_languages),))
-      .get_result::<LocalUser>(conn)?;
-  }
-  Ok(())
-}