How to use a thesaurus, Humanities

Assignment Help:

How to Use a Thesaurus 

The final process of indexing involves translating the relevant subject concepts of the document into the indexing language or the descriptor language of the system. The translation stage involves  the comparison of each term in the subject statement with the descriptors of the thesaurus to determine: 

  1. whether an exact equivalent is available in the thesaurus, 
  2. whether a broader term in the thesaurus is adequate for retrieval, 
  3. whether the pre-coordinated term exists in the thesaurus (e.g. corrosion prevention, production capacity) which can be substituted for one or more terms (adjacent to each other) in a subject statement, 
  4. whether it is necessary to introduce a new term  as a last resort. New terms should be introduced only after a careful consideration of terms already available in the thesaurus, the relative frequency  of occurrence of the concept in the literature, the relative frequency of its probable use in the system, its relationship to descriptors already existing in the thesauri and  its technical  precision and acceptability as determined by references to other thesauri, dictionaries, handbooks, glossaries and the like. 

After each term in a subject statement is  translated into the descriptors from the thesaurus used in a system, a set of references is established between the terms in a subject statement and the corresponding terms revealed by the thesaurus. This step is essential when the thesaurus is used as a vocabulary control tool in a system which adopts as pre-coordinated indexing system such as, PRECIS, POPSI or BTI. The two kinds of references are: 

  1. See  reference (corresponding to USE reference) which directs the user to an appropriate term from, which is not used as a descriptor. A see reference is made for the non-preferred synonyms or quasi-synonymous term to the preferred lead term. 
  2. See also reference (corresponding to BT to NT) to the lead term is made from its immediate broader term. A see also reference is made from the other terms which are associatively related  (M) terms, having strong mental association between that term and the lead term.  

Related Discussions:- How to use a thesaurus

Role of a thesaurus in indexing and searching, Role of a Thesaurus in Index...

Role of a Thesaurus in Indexing and Searching   The thesaurus contributes to consistency in  indexing between indexers and reduces incorrect term assignments to a great extent

Problem of national character, Differences between countries in history and...

Differences between countries in history and pattern of social development leave their mark on the character and habits of their people. Nowadays, people tend to become a little ne

: Religious changes in Sub-Continent from 2500BC -1600 AD., : Draw a flow...

: Draw a flow chart about: Religious changes in Sub-Continent from 2500BC -1600 AD.

Feminist thought up to 1980, Feminist Thought up to 1980- Feminism may most...

Feminist Thought up to 1980- Feminism may mostly be explains as a movement seeking the world's reorganization on the origin of sex equality, refusing all types of differentiation a

Ukmarc format, UKMARC Format   British National Bibliography had shown ...

UKMARC Format   British National Bibliography had shown active interest in the possibilities of MARC from 1966. Cooperative efforts with Aslib and OSTI within the country and w

Requirements - vocabulary control, Requirements   The important require...

Requirements   The important requirements of a controlled vocabulary are as follows:  It should have 'warrant' derived from the terminology of literature and the informat

Merits and deficiencies of sears list, Merits and Deficiencies   SLSH i...

Merits and Deficiencies   SLSH is comparatively simpler to use than the LCSH. -The rules and principles are fairly explicit in their directions, containing scope notes and spec

The World of George Washington Plunkitt, What role does Plunkitt see for po...

What role does Plunkitt see for political party bosses to play within the Democratic Party? Why does he feel that way?

Uses of subject dictionaries , Subject Dictionaries They include words...

Subject Dictionaries They include words, expressions, phrases, and technical terms of a particular subject:  Some of these are technical and so they do not find place in g

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd