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Background Information
Review of Existing Indexing Languages
Analysis of Structure of Indexing Language in Thesaurus
Thesaurus
User Guide
Alphabetical Display
Hierarchical Display
Top Term Display
Rotated Display
Graphical Display
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ANALYSIS
OF STRUCTURE OF INDEXING LANGUAGE IN THESAURUS
Forms
of Terms
a) Plural
and Singular Forms
The terms in our thesaurus comprise both count nouns and noncount nouns.
Count nouns are expressed in plural form (3.5.1.). For example, "jackets"
and "zippers" appear as plurals although a suit has only one
jacket, and a pair of trousers has only one zipper. Noncount terms (for
example, "back fabric" and "cloth") and abstract concepts
(for example, "cut") are expressed in singular form (3.5.2.,
3.5.2.1.). However, "fabrics" and "colours" are expressed
as plurals because they are treated as classes with more than one member.
We were guided by 3.4.1.2.1. in the expression of adjectival noun phrases
(for example, "athletic cut" and "front openings").
b) Spelling
We used the spelling that is found in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary edited
by Katherine Barber (1998). Where variant spellings exist for a term (for
example, "colour" versus "color"), they are included
in the thesaurus with a cross-reference from the non-preferred to the
preferred forms (3.6.2.1).
c) Capitalization, Punctuation, and Non-alphabetic Characters
Lowercase characters are used for the descriptors (3.7.1.), and parentheses
are used to enclose qualifiers (3.7.2.1.) (for example, pockets (trousers)).
In general, we avoided using hyphens in the terms (3.7.2.2.) (for example,
single breasted jackets, double breasted jackets). However, we retained
the hyphen in certain topical terms due to either one of the two reasons:
dropping the hyphen would lead to ambiguity (for example, L-shaped lapels,
three-button holes); or the hyphen occurs as part of a proper noun (for
example, two-piece suits, three-piece suits). We also avoided the use
of non-alphabetical characters (3.7.2.). For example, the term "three-button
holes" is used instead of "3-button holes".
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d) Compound Terms
Compound terms are established in accordance to the guidelines in 4.2
(for example, back fabric, hip length, jean bottoms).
e) Relationship Structures
Our thesaurus includes all three types of relationships: equivalence, hierarchical,
and associative (5.1.2.). In an equivalent relationship, users are directed
from a non-preferred (entry) term to the descriptor by the USE convention
and the reciprocal by the abbreviated convention UF (USED FOR).
For example,
| fabrics |
materials |
textiles |
| UF:
materials |
USE:
fabrics |
USE:
fabrics |
| UF:
textiles |
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The equivalence relationships cover synonyms, lexical variants and quasi-synonyms.
Where two or more terms are synonyms, that is, different terms for the
same concept, one is selected as the preferred term while the other(s)
is designated as the non-preferred term(s) (5.2.2.).
For example,
| alterations |
repairs |
| UF:
repairs |
USE:
alterations |
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Lexical variants are different word forms for the same expression (5.2.3.)
and may derive from spelling or grammatical variation or from abbreviated
formats.
For example,
cutting
USE: cut
The hierarchical relationships in the alphabetical display are presented
in a conventional flat structure (6.2.1). They cover the whole-part relationship
(5.3.2.) and the generic relationship (5.3.1.).
For example,
| trousers |
pleats |
| NT:
<trousers styles> |
NT:
double pleats |
| NT:
<waistband styles> |
NT:
single pleats |
In
the hierarchical display, the descriptors are arranged in alphabetical
order with multilevel broader and narrower terms (6.2.2.1.). Special notation
such as BT1, BT2 (one level broader, two levels broader) and NT1, NT2
(one level narrower, two levels narrower) are employed.
For example,
vents
BT1: <jacket styles>
BT2: jackets
NT1: double vents
NT1: single vents
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Node labels are enclosed in angle brackets for e.g., <jacket styles>.
They are not used as descriptors. Instead, their purpose is to group categories
of related terms in hierarchical relationships.
The associative
relationship covers associations between descriptors that are neither
equivalent nor hierarchical but are semantically or conceptually associated
(5.4.) The abbreviated convention RT (related term) is used in the thesaurus.
For example,
<jacket styles>
RT: <vest styles>
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