CHOICE OF SCHEME FOR CLASSIFICATION - Indian Statistical ...

3.6 New Trend In Classification
Apart from leading to a Freely Faceted Classification, the Indian Theory of
Classification marks another new trend. The work to be done in the design of a Scheme
for Classification is explored independently in the Idea Plane, the Verbal Plane, and the
Notational Plane respectively.
3.6.1 Verbal Plane
In the Verbal Plane, it emphasises the need for establishing a homonym-free,
synonym-free, agreed Standard Terminology for denoting Basic Subjects and Isolate
Ideas in each discipline. In this work, the library profession can play only the subordinate
role of insisting upon its importance. It can only be a prompter. But, it must keep
prompting incessantly. The main work in the Verbal Plane has to be done by the
respective subject specialists and linguists. To regulate their work along consistent and
productive lines they must establish some Canons of Terminology for guidance. A simple
set of such Canons was drawn up by me in 1950 (68, 69). These Canons should be
enlarged considerably. Since 1952, the Terminology Section of the International
Standards Organisation (ISO/TC37) has been promoting the establishment of Standard
Glossaries. The Standards Bodies of many of the countries have set up Sections of their
own to look after this problem. They are publishing Standard Glossary in one discipline
after another. In India, the Indian Standards Institution has already brought out Standard
Glossaries for 45 subjects. UK has already published Glossaries of Standard Terms for
use in 108 subjects; USA has done so in 90 subjects. A Scheme for Classification should
use these Standard Terms in their schedules. To be of use in the schedules of a Freely
Faceted Classification, it is necessary that the Standard Glossary in each discipline
provides not only derived composite terms for large units of ideas such as Compound
Subjects wherever possible, but also the fundamental constituent terms for small units of
ultimate ideas occurring as facets of Compound Subjects. Sufficient thought has not yet
begun to be given to such standard isolate terms in the Standard Glossaries being
developed today. To facilitate this work, members of the library profession should be
associated with the subject specialists and linguists engaged in establishing Standard
Glossaries.
3.6.2 Influence of Subject Heading
The importance of having Crisp Standard Words to denote the diverse isolates in
the different schedules of isolates is highlighted by the Chain Procedure developed in
India to derive a Subject Heading for the catalogue from each Class Number. In this
method, the Class Number is thrown in the form of a Chain. This Chain acts as a tow-line
to take us to the right Subject Headings arising out of the Class Number. This method of
choosing and rendering a Subject Heading will give the best result if each isolate idea is
expressed by a unique - unique within the context of the schedule of isolates concerned -
standard word, though this is not essential for classification itself. But the advantage of
the symbiosis of Class Numbers and Subject Headings should not be turned down
lightheartedly. UDC appears to be unmindful of this helpful linking up of classification
and cataloguing. DC too fails to do the best. This is perhaps due to the idea of Chain