The sequence in which the isolate facets of a homogeneous set of compound subjects arrange themselves in the mind of the majority of readers may be called the absolute syntax of ideas. This may not coincide with the linguistic syntax—that is, the syntax of words—in all languages. It is conjectured that the syntax of facets is the same as the absolute syntax of ideas.

1. ABSOLUTE SYNTAX
Presented by
Pallab Das

2. Absolute Syntax
• The sequence in which the isolate facets of a
homogeneous set of compound subjects arrange
themselves in the mind of the majority of readers
may be called the absolute syntax of ideas.
• This may not coincide with the linguistic syntax—
that is, the syntax of words—in all languages.
• It is conjectured that the syntax of facets is the
same as the absolute syntax of ideas.

3. Syntax
Syntax is the
set of rules,
principles,
and processes
that govern
the structure.

4. Syntax in Linguistics
• In linguistics, syntax is the set of rules, principles, and
processes that govern the structure
of sentences (sentence structure) in a given language,
usually including word order.
• The term syntax is also used to refer to the study of
such principles and processes. One basic description of
a language's syntax is the sequence in which
the subject (S), verb (V), and object (O) usually appear
in sentences. Over 85% of languages usually place the
subject first, either in the sequence SVO

5. What is classification
• According to Merriam Webster systematic
arrangement in groups or categories according
to established criteria is called classification.
• The word classification is derived from a Latin
word Classis.

6. What’s Library classification
• According to the New Encyclopaedia
Britannica Classification is system of
arrangement adopted by a library to enable
patron to find its material quickly and easily.

7. SUBJECT REPRESENTATION
• Subject representation is the principal basis
on which information systems retrieve
information .
• The subject or thought content of the
document can be represented as subject
heading index term, class numbers, data
structures and other kinds of surrogates.

8. Contd..
• Representation of subjects is done by the
process of analysis of the subject of document
into its constituent elements and assembling
them in a preferred sequence or order.
• This is the process of transformingthe n –
dimensional configuration of the subject into
a linear confuguration.

9. Absolute Syntax — that is, Syntax of
Facets
• The kernel terms in the name of a subject
stand rearranged according to the Syntactic
Principles governing the sequence of the
facets denoted by the respective kernel terms.

10. Concidering The example below --
• This is Step 0.
• “The Lungs of a Fish”.
• Step 1
• the full title in will be
• “The Lungs of the Fish (as studied in)
Zoology”.
•

11. • Step 1
• the full title in will be
• “The Lungs of the Fish (as studied in)
Zoology”.

12. • In Step 2,
• where only the kernel terms are retained, we
shall have
• “Lungs. Fish. Zoology”.

13. Contd..
• This sequence is according to the Linguistic
Syntax of the English language.
• the kernel terms will stand arranged as:
• “Zoology. Fish. Lungs”.
• This represents the Syntax of Facets.

14. Absolute Syntax and Facet Syntax
• Syntax of Facets is the same as the Absolute Syntax.
• There may be various kernel terms but would be one
syntax for formation.
• This implies that the Absolute Syntax is the one
conforming to the Postulates and Principles guiding
the design of an Analytico-Synthetic Classification.

15. STRUCTURING
OF SUBJECTS
POSTULATINAL
APPROACH
SYSTEMATIC
APPROACH
Dr.
S.R .
Ranganathan
Foskett ;
Heinalata Iyer

16. • Linear arrangement of books in Shelf enforces
also requires a linear arrangement of subject .
• Subject is ever growing.
• The postulation approach in library
classification brings objectivity to the study
and practice of this discipline.
• It puts the study and practice of library
classification on a scientific basis.

17. RAW TITLE The more or less expressive title of a-document
EXPRESSIVE TITLE An expressive title which is also called "full title"
KERNEL TITLE The title resulting from the expressive title by removing all the
apparatus words
ANALYSED TITLE The title in kernel terms with the respective symbols denoting
TRANSFORMED TITLE The title resulting from the analyzed title by
rearranging the kernel terms on the basis of the
postulates and principles governing their sequence.
TITLE STANDARD TERMS The title derived from the transformed title by replacing each
standard kernel term
TITLE IN FOCAL NUMBERS The title derived from the title in standard terms by replacing
each standard (kernel) term
CLASS NUMBER The ordinal number derived from the title in focal number

18. SYSTEMS APPROACH
• Foskett and Heinalata Iyer
• The systems approach is hierarchic in nature
and moves from the particular to the general
and also vice versa.
• Foskett's ideas derived form Bertalanffy's
General System Theory.

19. Contd..
• The idea of a “System" is, any entity whose
characteristics are identified as the nature of its
parts and the relations between them can be
seen.

20. Example..
committee
Individual
Person
Individual
Person
Individual
Person
Individual
Person
Individual
Person
Individual
Person

21. What are the practical implications of the
systems approach to documentary
classification?
• To organize documents in a way that makes sense
to specialists in each field.
• The specialist must be able to recognize the
basis of the order.

22. Conclusion
• Ranganathan's approach to the structuring of
subjects is based 'on thepostulational approach,
• Foskett (1980) and Heinalata Iyer (1992)
individually have examined systems approach to
subject structuring.
• The General Theory of Library Classifiacation in
India, incorporating the idea of Absolute Syntax,
prescribe the use of the same set of postulates
and principles for the design and development of
a scheme for classification as well as for
classifying a subject.