INLS 150 - Getting Ready for #19

INLS 150

Getting Ready for Session #19 (November 6, 1996)

Classification: Vocabulary (Terminological) Control

During this session we will consider the problems that "natural" language present to us in classifying and consider the strengths and weaknesses of vocabulary control as a possible solution.

Soergel, D. (1985). Organizing Information. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. (Ch. 12: Terminological Control) [Z699.S539 1985] & [PAM]

The reading selection introduces the problem of terminological control, provides an example of how terminological control might be achieved, and defines some key terms.

What aspects of "natural" language might help us in developing a classification scheme based upon a controlled vocabulary?

Why does Soergel distinguish among terms, preferred terms, and descriptors?

What problems might these distinctions cause for users of an index language?

How does a thesaurus (conceptually at least) help us overcome these problems?