[Sigia-l] Faceted Classification

[Andrew McNaughton]

I knew that much of what was being said here was wildly inconsistent with
my understanding of faceted analysis meant, albeit consistent with the
general body of practices which often accompany it.  However I was
sufficiently aware of the holes in my knowledge to want to read a bit
before posting.  Much of what follows is newly aquired knowledge, so I
would welcome corrections from the educated.

Faceted Classification Theory
  RT: Library Science:Classification:India'1925

http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/toolkit/enduser/archive/1998/euc-9803.html
http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/v7p037y1984.pdf
http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/v7p045y1984.pdf

Faceted Classification Theory refers in the first sense to a specific
system for organizing subject headings developed in India by Shiyali
Ranganathan, making the scope slightly broader than 'Dewey Decimal
System', or 'Library of Congress Subject Headings'.

I'm less than clear to what extent 'Faceted Analysis' in this sense
describes the principles behind Ranganathan's 'Colon Classification
System' and to what extent it describes the system itself.  It seems to
get used both ways by the Indians.

In the second sense (probably the most interesting), the term is used to
refer to the principles of Faceted Classification (meaning 1) as applied
to other library (and web) classfication systems.  Specifically it then
refers to the practice of forming classification terms by synthesis:
combining several facets to form a large set of highly specific subject
headings from a smaller set of terms.  eg 'Library
Science:Classification:India'1925'

In the third sense, this is extended to consideration of resources as
having facets.  I think this concept is fairly well understood here,
though not perhaps the terminology.

Beyond this point things get very wooly.  I propose that we lump
everything up to this point into 'Little Faceted Classification' and
consider everything else 'Big Faceted classification'.

While I question whether some of what is being lumped under Faceted
Classification belongs, I'm happy to see a bit of discussion os what I
think might better be called Little IA.  I won't add anything to that
tonight though - it's late.

Andrew