Page 35 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Knowledge Organization: Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes Affinitive Segment

An affinitive segment has a tendency to attach itself to another segment without becoming a
part of the attaching segment. Take for example, librarianship. It can attach itself to segments
like medicine and agriculture giving rise to medical librarianship and agricultural librarianship.
But, librarianship does not become a part of medicine or agriculture. Management, journalism,
automation, etc. also belong to this category.

Comprehensive Segment

This segment harbours a subject with all its aspects. Take for example, a dictionary of petroleum.
Within this dictionary one will find words pertaining to economics of petroleum, chemistry of
petroleum, geology of petroleum, mining of petroleum, refining of petroleum, storage of
petroleum, transportation of petroleum, and so on. A comprehensive segment on petroleum
will include all its aspects.

Form-based Segment

The matter pertaining to a subject can be presented in various forms such as a dictionary, a
textbook, and a monograph. Many a time, a subject develops basing a form, e.g. lexicography.
Form-based segment harbours such a subject.

Invention-based Segment

The moment an invention takes place generally a patent is produced. That gives rise to a segment
in the UoK. Example: Spectroscope. The use of the invention at times gives rise to another
segment, e.g. spectroscopy. Spectroscope and spectroscopy are two different subjects.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
4. Space segment includes geographical as well as ………………………….. space.
5. A segment harbours a ……………………. and has its own identity.

6. A segment can appear at any part of the ………………………
7. An ………………………………. segment has a tendency to attach itself to another segment
without becoming a part of the attaching segment.

2.3 Identification of a Basic Subject

A subject is an organised or systematized body of ideas, whose extension and intension are
likely to fall coherently within the field of interest and comfortably within the intellectual
competence of and the field of inevitable specialisation of a normal person. The term Basic
Subject basically applied in order to depict either primary or non-primary basic subject.
In order to give unique co-extensive representation to each subject in the UoS (Universe of
Subjects), the classificationist has to ascertain the various attributes - infinite, turbulently dynamic,
continuum, manifold multidimensional quality, different modes of formation of subjects, etc.,
in the UoS that affect library classification. While many of the above mentioned attributes are

self-explanatory, the attribute “modes of formation of subjects is complex.

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