[Sigia-l] Findability

[frank.shepard at att.net]

Daniel R. Drop Wrote:

"How are we creating
'architecture' when we are outside the document space?"

I think that Derek is suggesting that IA's are ALWAYS in the document space, and
that the failure to recognize this compromises the goal of creating greater
clarity. I think that we might interpret his remarks in the following manner
(and I ask him to correct me if I?m wrong):  We must avoid the temptation to
think of ourselves as speaking a private language (the conventions/tools of IA)
that is somehow free of the problems and complexities inherent in its
subject-matter (i.e., should not hope for a "meta" language that is somehow
clearer or purer than that which is described). A descriptive language is not,
by its nature, a better conveyor of meaning than the language of the text it
describes. Also, these descriptions are not somehow transparent with respect to
the described, but may serve to push that which is sought-after aside -- they
"crowd it out." The focus, then, should be on efficiently expressing oneself in
the first place; the production of a description all-too-often simply yields a
"second place" that only serves to obscure the first. Proper categorization will
approach its subject with respect rather than attempting to force it into a
scheme created to serve alien interests (IOW, categorizing something so as to
improve its 'visibility'/'perceived value' without considering its character).

Frank