sql_yacc.yy, item_strfunc.cc:

  Two separate functions charset() and collatio()
item_strfunc.h:
  Two separate functions charset() and collation()

sql/item_strfunc.cc

@@ -2228,6 +2228,17 @@ String *Item_func_charset::val_str(String *str)
 {
   String *res = args[0]->val_str(str);
 
+  if ((null_value=(args[0]->null_value || !res->charset())))
+    return 0;
+  str->copy(res->charset()->csname,strlen(res->charset()->csname),
+	    &my_charset_latin1, thd_charset());
+  return str;
+}
+
+String *Item_func_collation::val_str(String *str)
+{
+  String *res = args[0]->val_str(str);
+
   if ((null_value=(args[0]->null_value || !res->charset())))
     return 0;
   str->copy(res->charset()->name,strlen(res->charset()->name),

sql/item_strfunc.h

@@ -616,6 +616,19 @@ class Item_func_charset :public Item_str_func
   };
 };
 
+class Item_func_collation :public Item_str_func
+{
+public:
+  Item_func_collation(Item *a) :Item_str_func(a) {}
+  String *val_str(String *);
+  const char *func_name() const { return "collation"; }
+  void fix_length_and_dec() 
+  {
+     max_length=40; // should be enough
+     set_charset(thd_charset());
+  };
+};
+
 
 /*******************************************************
 Spatial functions

sql/sql_yacc.yy

@@ -2156,6 +2156,8 @@ simple_expr:
 	  { $$= new Item_func_charset($3); }
 	| COALESCE '(' expr_list ')'
 	  { $$= new Item_func_coalesce(* $3); }
+	| COLLATION_SYM '(' expr ')'
+	  { $$= new Item_func_collation($3); }
 	| CONCAT '(' expr_list ')'
 	  { $$= new Item_func_concat(* $3); }
 	| CONCAT_WS '(' expr ',' expr_list ')'