[Sigcr-l] Exhaustivity and specifity of indexing

[Birger Hjørland]

Leonard wrote: "I agree with what Birger says, but I think that Koraljka's question was
not so much about the specificity provided in the scheme itself, but the
specificity with which it is applied when classifying documents, i.e.,
for example, is it worth while to use the full specificity possible in
DDC by adding all the possible common subdivisions, "divide-like"
instructions and so on, or is it better to simplify by limiting class
numbers to 3 (or 6 or whatever) digits?"

 

answer: According to Cutter's rule, indexing should be as specific as possible. He wrote: "Enter a work under its subject-heading, not under the heading of a class which includes that subject. EX. Put Lady Cust's book on "the Cat" under CAT, not under ZOOLOGY or MAMMALS or DOMESTIC ANIMALS".


So, we are back to the specificity of the indexing language/classification. 

kind regards, 
 
Birger