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Unit 3: Notational System
Self Assessment Notes
State whether the following statements are true or false:
17. The full set of disadvantages attached to the use of decimal numbers appears to have come
to Dewey over time.
18. In the 1st edition of the scheme, one- and two-digit numbers were used for classes that are
now numbered 001–099.
19. By the 2nd edition, Dewey’s language indicated that his thoughts on the nature of his
notation had coalesced.
20. All class numbers were given with at least five digits.
3.6 Variety of Devices
The four major devices used in CC are:
1. Chronological device
2. Geographical device
3. Subject device
4. Alphabetical device
We will discuss each of these in brief.
3.6.1 Chronological Device
The purpose of this device is to sharpen a facet number. It can sharpen an isolate or form a new
isolate. This is done by employing a chronological number from the schedule of time isolates.
All numbers for authors in the class Literature are derived through this device. It is impracticable
to enumerate all authors. The chronological device has, however, taken care of such a contingency.
To give an example, the number for Rabindranath Tagore is 0, 157,1M61. Here, M61’stands for
1861, the year of birth of Rabindranath Tagore. This device has been used in several main classes
like library science, mathematics, medicine, fine arts, psychology, education, economics, etc.
This device can be used wherever warranted. The basic class of systems is derived through the
chronological device.
3.6.2 Geographical Device
The purpose of all these devices, as stated earlier, is to form or to sharpen an isolate number in
a schedule. Employing a geographical number from the schedule of space isolates is another
mechanism of doing this. It has been used in library science, fine arts, religion, linguistics,
history and in several other classes. The formation of an isolate using this device is as follows:
152 = d4437 means Rajasthani Hindi
where
152 is Hindi
= is the connecting symbol
d is the symbol for dialect
4437 is Rajasthan from the schedule of space isolates.
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