CHOICE OF SCHEME FOR CLASSIFICATION - Indian Statistical ...

frequent promotion of Micro Subjects to the status of a Macro Subject. Therefore, it has
not provided any inner mechanism either in the Idea Plane or in the Notational Plane for
absorbing such newly emerging Macro Subjects. It does not have a multidimensional
approach. For, it has no provision for full Hospitality in Array or in Chain or for
Hospitality in Facets. In fact, all the facets of a subject except the last one are frozen and
are closely packed. Further, it has often to rearrange the Compound Subjects, involving
kaleidoscopic change. For, nearly a hundred Compound Subjects had to be pulled out from
the Basic Subjects with which they had been put in the earlier years, and to be
transplanted among the Compound Subjects going with some other Basic Subjects.
During the last 15 years, about 150 such transplantations have been made. Migrations of
subjects within the Compound Subjects going with one and the same Basic Subject have
been much more numerous; it is about 2,300. Some of these are not migrations within a
short range. Its restricted Notational System also disables it to give appropriate Class
Numbers to the new subjects, even assuming that they can be found their places by the
Idea Plane.
6.3 Universal Decimal Classification
The sponsors of UDC have planned for "dynamic equilibrium" in its development.
However, the following statement of the Odense Meeting is significant: "As far as UDC
is concerned, we are facing the radical revision program without any firm conviction that
a dynamic equilibrium can be upheld under such conditions" (Para 11). They further add
that there is "uncertainty as regards the reliability of the system as an international
standard. Furthermore, it must be useful ... if ways and means could be found for
maintaining the necessary state of dynamic equilibrium without changing the very main
structure of the system" (Para 11). Perhaps, by "main structure of the system" is meant
either its DC core or the sequence of its Basic Subjects. If so, it is doubtful whether it
would be possible. To secure the "ways and means", its main Notational System should be
taken away from the grip of the pure Notational System of DC. The base of its Notational
System should be lengthened considerably. It has already adopted my suggestion for the
use of the Octave Device, now called the Sector Device, to provide for extrapolation (63).
But this is not sufficient. The admission of other species of digits into the base and the
application of the Sector Device to each of them are necessary to increase the Hospitality
in Array to the necessary extent. It should also provide interpolating device in the
Notational Plane. Further, it should put up objective principles for work in the Idea Plane.
Unless an inner mechanism is provided for "increasing the dimensions", as mentioned by
Donker Duyvis, UDC will not be able to meet, for long, the onslaught of the newly
emerging Macro Subjects — and still less of Micro Subjects. It should provide for
Hospitality in Facets.
6.4 Library of Congress Classification
In maintaining "dynamic equilibrium" LC has all the handicap due to the absence
of the inner mechanism in the Idea Plane and in the Notational Plane to accommodate in
an objective way newly emerging subjects at helpful places in the sequence of the already
existing subjects. Its integral Notational System is the greatest handicap.