facet analysis in udc - international udc...

FACET ANALYSIS IN UDCQuestions of

structure, functionality and formality

Aida Slavic

UDC Consortium

The Netherlands

Sylvie Davies

Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen, UK

Aida Slavic & Sylvie Davies

CONTENT

Statement of the problem(s)

Introduction to Otlet’s classification system

Fundamentals of synthesis in UDC

Commitment to facet analysis

Faceted classification rationale

Types of faceted structure introduced in UDC

Discussion of issues

Conclusion


STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM(S)

Lack of connection throughout UDC development

between:

• requirements of an overarching facet analytical

theory

and…

• requirements of computerised systems in terms of:

notational representation

data structure


CONCEPT BASED APPROACH AS DESIGNED BY

OTLET IN 1900s

Drawing cca 1910

(Courtesy of

Mundaneum)

http://www.mundaneum.org/


NOTATION

It should reflect class structure but it is also an

indexing language comprising:

• ‘vocabulary labels’ as index terms

• ‘syntax’ with rules for building complex expressions

It brings together semantic and syntax

It is the main source of structural data and most

relevant to classification data modelling, automation

and management

It is important to represent all components of

synthesised notation

It should not be treated as ‘text string’ in database

design


FACETED CLASSIFICATION

Based on facet analysis which can be either:

• intuitive

• guided by common sense

• principles of formal logic

• facet analytical theory (FAT)

Notation tends to be viewed separately from the

classification structure (BC2)

We do not have a data model for fully faceted

classification


ANALYTICO-SYNTHETIC CLASSIFICATION

It enables to compose and decompose notation in the

indexing/retrieval process

All discrete component concepts of synthesized

notation need to be coded to ensure full control of

data elements

It is often linked to the notion of facets because its

main purpose is to enable the combination of

mutually exclusive properties that may need to be

combined in describing a subject


FACET REPRESENTATION AND SYNTHESIS IN UDC

811.133.1’276.6:34 Language of French lawyers

Discipline 1

Discipline 2

Discipline 3

81 Linguistics and languages 811 Languages811.111 English language811.112 West Germanic languages

(other than English)

811.112.2 German language 811.112.5 Dutch 811.113 North Germanic languages 811.113.4 Danish language 811.113.5 Norwegian language 811.113.6 Swedish language 811.12 Italic languages

Persons

Language

Time

Special Auxiliary Subdivision

81-1 Schools and methods in linguistics81-11 Schools and trends in linguistics 81-112 Diachronic linguistics 81-114 Synchronic linguistics81-13 Methodology of linguistics81-132 Method of string analysis81-139 Other methods


81`1/`4 Subject fields and facets of linguistics

81`1 General linguistics 81`2 Theory of signs. Theory of

translation. Standardization81`3 Mathematical and applied

linguistics. Phonetics. Graphemics. Grammar. Semantics. Stylistics

81`4 Text linguistics. Discourse analysis. Typological linguistics


81`01/`08 Origins and periods of languages81`01 Old period. Archaic period81`02 Classical period81`04 Middle period81`06 Modern period81`08 Revived language

BROAD FACET CATEGORIES

MAIN FACET

MAIN TABLES COMMON AUXILIARIES

Form

(1/9) Place(4/9) Countries and places of the

modern world (4) Europe(410) United Kingdom(430) Germany(436) Austria(437.3) Czech Republic(437.5) Slovakia(438) Poland


COMMITMENT TO FACETING

Decentralized development of UDC (international special

subject committees) leads to multiplicity of approaches in

class presentation and synthesis

1960s FID Central Classification Committee (CCC) endorsed

facet analysis as a model for structuring of the scheme

(without specific theory or procedure in place)

CCC continues its search for appropriate theoretical

framework and more formal model that would enable

better management of UDC growth


RATIONALE

Shorter and more rigorously structured schedules with

logical and predictable principle of organization of facets

and their notational presentation in all areas of knowledge

Tables containing simple concepts that would support

their unique identification, less repetition and

compositionality

Expressive notational system that fully supports

automation (parsing) and seamless linking of notational

elements and natural language


TWO APPROACHES TO FACETIZATION

1980s facets as ‘relational tables’ (81 Linguistics and 82 Literature)

• Facet analysis logical but not based on any specific theoretical

principle

• Facets with simple concepts, no enumeration of combinations

(compound concepts appear in examples of combination only)

• All needed combinations appear in the process of indexing

1990s facets with enumerated compound and complex classes

(2 Religion)

• Structure based on facet analytical theory developed for Bliss (BC2)

• Table of simple concepts followed by selection of enumerated

compound subjects listed as a main hierarchy

• Schedules offer rich selection of useful combinations ready to be

used


EXAMPLE OF A ‘RELATIONAL TABLE’ APPROACH

MAIN CLASS

82 Literature

821 Literatures of individual languages

821.1/.9 ≅ =1/=9 [Divide as language table!]

821.111 English literature

Example of combination:

821.111(417)-1(082.2)

English literature (Ireland) – poetry –

anthology

SPECIAL AUXILIARY FACETS

82.02/.09 Theory, study and technique of literature

82.02 Literary schools, trends and movements

82.09 Literary criticism. Literary studies ...

82-1/-9 Literary forms, genres

82-1 Poetry. Poems. Verse

82-2 Drama. Plays

82-3 Fiction. Prose narrative

82-4 Essays

82-5 Oratory. Speeches ...

COMMON AUXILIARY FACETS

PLACE

(4) Places of the modern world

(41) Countries of the British Isles

(417) Republic of Ireland

...

FORM

(08) Collected and polygraphic works

(082) Collections of works by several authors

(082.2) Anthologies. Selections. Excerpts

...


UDC MASTER REFERENCE FILE DATABASE

(CREATED IN 1992)

UDC MRF assumed a ‘relational table’ presentation of facets

The main field in UDC MRF database record is ‘UDC number’

• this field should contain only simple UDC notation

• each UDC notation comes from a certain table (hence ‘table code

field’)

• the UDC notation in combination with table code would be

sufficient to produce automatic filing and ordering of UDC classes

• the UDC notation is a unique identifier of a class

Pre-combined (compound and complex) UDC numbers would

appear only in the field ‘example(s) of combination’ where

elements of the combination can be managed to a certain

extent


EXAMPLE OF FACETING ALLOWING ENUMERATION

(1990s)

SPECIAL AUXILIARY FACETS

2-1 Theory and philosophy of religion. Nature of

religion

2-2 Evidences of religion e.g.

2-23 Sacred books. Scriptures. Religious texts

2-25 Secondary literature. Pseudo-canonical works

2-27 Critical works

2-28 Other religious texts

2-3 Persons in religion

2-4 Religious activities. Religious practice

2-5 Worship broadly. Cult. Rites and ceremonies

2-6 Processes in religion

2-7 Religious organization and administration

2-8 Religions characterised by various properties

2-9 History of the faith, religion, denomination

MAIN TABLE

2 Religion. Theology

27 Christianity

271 Eastern Christianity

271.2 Orthodox Church

271.2-1 The Orthodox ‘Tradition’

271.2-284.7-247 The Gospel Book

Example(s) of combinations:

271.2-282.7-247-536.36 Prostration

before the Gospel Book

271.2-284 Doctrinal statements. Symbolical Books

271.2-472-022.43 The Longer Catechism

271.2-523.46 Side rooms, chambers

...

COMMON AUXILIARIES

-02 Common auxiliaries of properties

-021 Properties of existence

-022 Properties of magnitude, degree, quantity, number, temporal values......

UDC MRF was designed for this kind of presentation:

27 Christianity

271 Eastern Christianity

271.2 Orthodox Church

Example(s) of combinations:

271.2-1 The Orthodox ‘Tradition’

271.2-284.7-247 The Gospel Book

271.2-284.7-247-536.36 Prostration before the Gospel Book

271.2-284 Doctrinal statements. Symbolical Books

271.2-472-022.43 The Longer Catechism

271.2-523.46 Side rooms, chambers


FURTHER ISSUES (1)

Contracted captions2-23 Sacred books. Scriptures [special auxiliary]

27 Christianity

27-23 Bible

rather than:

27-23 Christianity -- Sacred books -- Bible

Compound class used as basis for hierarchical subdivision

233 Hinduism

233-13 The Holy. Brahma Absolute being

233-14 God(s) and goddess(es)

233-158D Devi

233-158G Ganesh

233-158K Kali


FURTHER ISSUES (2)

Differential facets (i.e. introducing further class specifications

under particular subjects) not distinguished from the rest of

hierarchy

From: 2-265.3 Epics and sagas [special auxiliary]

To: 233 Hinduism

233-265 [omitted combination]

233-265.3 Itihasa. Epics and sagas

233-265.32 Ramayana

233-265.33 Mahabharata

233-265.34 Bhagavadgita

233-265.35 Puranas


OVERALL...

The ‘relational’ model of facet analysis provides schedules

easier to manage online - however, introduced without:

• an established theoretical framework and guidelines for facet

analysis that should be applied for the UDC as a whole

• proper consideration of lack of searching access points in the

scheme which provides only a few examples of pre-combined

concepts

The Bliss-based approach offers a much needed theoretical

framework but it was introduced:

• ignoring the existing UDC MRF data model

• without guidelines about the principles and extent of

enumerated combinations to be presented in faceted

schedules of this type


FURTHER ISSUES

lack of guidelines on

• facet analysis procedure and management and modelling of

differential facets in the UDC MRF

• standardization of notational representation

• semantic analysis/factoring of compound subjects (e.g. when a

compound should be represented as a simple class e.g. “Eastern

religions” or “Ancient religions” and when as a combination)

Also…

how the revised classes relate/combine with the rest of the UDC

vocabulary: when to introduce a concept and when to use an

existing concept from the UDC schedules?

indicate how, when and why to use examples of combination

indicate rules for verbal representation of pre-combined classes


CONCLUSION

Facet analysis ought to be based on a theoretical framework valid for the system as a whole• to impose predictability in the schedule composition and

organization

• to impose rigorous principles for hierarchical subdivisions

Notational system should be formalized in relation to faceted structure• to formalize syntax rules to support synthesis

• to improve semantic linking to support syndetic structure

We should provide:• adequate data management system

• documentation on revision policy, guidelines and procedures


Thank you

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