Use getLanguage() to obtain a string containing the two
character language code from the string locale identifier. Use
getRegion() to obtain a string containing the two character
region code from the string locale identifier.
Example 536. getLanguage and getRegion
<?php
$locale = new Zend_Locale();
// if locale is 'de_AT' then 'de' will be returned as language
print $locale->getLanguage();
// if locale is 'de_AT' then 'AT' will be returned as region
print $locale->getRegion();