COLON CLASSIFICATION IN RETROSPECT

Reviews the major contributions made by the Colon Clas-sification in forging new techniques for the development oflibrary c1a.ssification. Traces the various stages of evolu-tion of the scheme and the concepts it has developed.

o INTRODUCTION

It is almost twenty-five years since theColon Classification was first published in 1933.It is an important landmark in the developmentof classificatory thought. It introduced manynew features. Within this short period, thescheme has developed considerably and hasattracted a substantial amount of literature.More than this, the techniques forged by thisscheme have received international attention.Some of its features are slowly permeating thefabric of other schemes. The fifth edi ti on+of this unique scheme has come out recently.It is proposed to give a short account of thevarious stages of development of the Colon Clas-sification and the new features added to it fromtime to time.

1 EDITION 1

The first edition of the Colon -';lassificationby Ranganathan was brought out in 1933. The

S. PAR T HAS A RAT H Y

Ins doc., Ne w Delhi

scheme was worked out earlier and tried in theMadras University Library. In its very approa-ch it differs fundamentally from the existingschemes of classification. It introduces an ele-ment of notational fl exib ili ty that is lacking in theenumerative schemes such as the DecimalClassification and the Library of CongressClassification. Generally the enumerativeschemes give only ready-made class numbers.This adds to the bulkiness of their schedulesand at the same time makes it difficult to accom-modate new topics not enumerated in them.Again, for some of the topics they fail to pro-vide co-extensive class numbers. On the otherhand CC gives only the schedules for differentfacets in' each Basic Class. It provides a setof rules for constructing class numbers bycombining the numbers given under the facets ofa Basic Class and using" : " (colon) as aseparating facet-symbol. This reduces theenumeration of schedules to a minimum. Touse as analogy, CC enumerates only individualwords and provides a set of rules for combin-ing them into sentences, whereas DC and LCenumerate whole sentences. Therefore classnumbers for topics are not ready-made in CCand have to be constructed from the enumeratedschedule s , CC also provides for a variety ofcomb in ati on . Due to this flexibility it is ableto give co-extensive class numbers and to accom-modate new topic s ,

Mar 1957 V 4 N 1

* Ranganathan (S.R.): Colon classification. Edn.5. 1957. Madras Library Assaciation, Madras.

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PARTHASARATHY

11 Additional Feature s

Some of the new features introduced in thefir st edition of CC are:

1 Use of mixed notation for providing awide r matrix. Different species of sym-bols are used for different purposes -use of capital letters for Basic Classesand Chronological Device; lower caseletters for Common Subdivisions; arabicnumerals for the schedules proper andgeneralia class; and n : n (colon) forseparating facets.

2 Enumeration of Facets for each BasicClass with a definite order for the Facets.

3 Bnumeration of Foci under each Facet.

4 Set of rules for constructing Class Num-bers.

5 Special schedules for Common Subdivisions,Geographical Divisions, ChronologicalDivisions and Language Divisions. The Com-mon Subdivision numbers have an anteriori-sing property. Any class number with acommon subdivision number will haveprece'dence over the bare class number -e. g. B6:! History of Geometry will h.i.veprecedence over B6 Geometry. This se-cure s helpful sequence.

6 Use of Octave Notation for securing Hos-pitality in Array. 'I'his is an importantcontribution of CC which adds another di-mension of hospitality to the decimal-fraction-notation. Octave Notation hasbeen officially adopted by the FID at itsHague Conference in 1948.

7 Use of Special Devices.

8 A new method of constructing Book Numberto individualise books having the same classnumber.

12 Appreciation

The importance of CC as a new approachin the development of classificatory thoughtwas r eal.ised from the beginning by the leadingthinkers in the field. Sayers describes CC inhis Introduction to library classification (1935)as " universally interesting as a study of anoriginal kind in classification method", and

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remarks in his Manual of library c1as sification:"Both (Bliss and Ranganathan) have done workwhich makes the' workers previously in the fieldseem as amateur". Bliss also praises thescheme in his Organization of knowledge inlibraries (1939): "The main principle is that ofcomplex or composite classification. Thisprinciple is more than fundamental in thissystem, it is pervasive. ' Ranganathan hasdeveloped it with admirable ingenuity and con-sistency". But it did not have the same kind ofreception in some of the review s. Though thenovelty of CC's approach was generally recog-nised, it was covered with a halo of 'orientalmysticism' and so to say clouded a properunderstanding of the scheme. However, thecloud is gradually thinning out. In 1936 Colonclassification was translated into Chineseby Hu Yen-Chin.

2 PROLEGOMENA

The next stage in the development of ColonClassification was to evolve a theory of classi-fication. With the experience gained in theworking of CC, Ranganathan derived a set ofbasic principle s of clas sification. They aredescribed in his Prolegomena to library classi-fication (1937). It is an important contributionto the theory of classification. It is written in acrisp style. The Canons of Classification givenhere are more exhaustive and comprehensivethan that of the Canons formulated by Sayersand carry the subject forward. Further, thevarious Devices, the difference between know-ledge clas sification and book clas sification, theconcepts of Mnemonics, Unschedules Mnemo-nics, autonomy to classifiers, qualities ofnotation etc. are described in the ~rolegomena.On the basis of the principles derived a com-parative study of CC, DC, and LC is made.

3 EDITION 2

The second edition of CC was published in1939. It incorporates many of the improvementsmade during the actual working as well asteaching of the scheme. It rectifies the orderof facets for Z Law. It introduces a new speciesof symbol (Greek letter) for interpolating a newBasic Class b Mysticism and Spiritual Expe-

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COLON CLASSIFICATION IN RETROSPECT

The publication of Library classification,fundamentals and procedure (1944) marksanother stage in the development of CC. Forthe fir st time the concept of FundamentalCategories (Personality, Matter, Energy,Space and Time) as a basis for classificationis stated here. It also introduces the conceptsof Facet and Focus. "The book is chieflyvaluable for making valid the concepts of Phase,Facet and Focus, for at last one realises withthe author that these summarise his mainachievements in classification. Such simpleideas! Yet they remained hidden to all - even In the next stage of development, CC entersto Ranganathan who had instinctively recognised the domain of documentation. In his Classifica-and used them unconsciously these last i5 tion and international documentation publishedyears. The y' are the root from which all future in Review of documentation 1947, 14, 154-77,research in librarianship will st en " (Palmer: Ranganathan examines the various modes ofMemoirs of ·the Madras Library As sociation development in the formation of knowledge for1944, 137).- A detailed and systematic proce - developing a suitable notation to meet their

dure for constructing step by step class numbers onslaught. They fall into four categories:according to CC and DC is set out here. It is Denudation, Dissection, Lamination, and Loose-also a practice-book for teaching classification. Assemblage. The Philosophy of library classi-It gives worked out examples and exercises in a fication (1951) takes the subject further bygraded sequence. It enumerates a list of un+ analysing the capacity of notation for documen-solved pr obIe rns in classification. After the tat ion , The concept of Optional Facets is deve-publication of this book, CC becam~ a part of , loped here. It suggests the use of an additionalthe teaching programmes of m.a~y l~brary schools - connecting symbol" • " (dot) for denotingFundamentals of library classlftcahon (1251) by optional facets. This prescription breaks thePalmer and Wells applies the methodology rigidity of facet formula.developed here and gives a greater impetus tothe study of the Colon approach.

rience between M Useful Arts and N Fine Arts.A special part gives worked out class numbersfor books added to the Madras University.The se example s contributed to a large measurea La si s for a proper understanding of the work-ing of the scheme.

4 FUNDAMENTALS

5 ELEMENTS

Elements of library classification (1945)gives a simple exposition of the principles ofclassification from the point of view of begin-ners. Some criteria for determining helpfulsequence are stated here - principle ofdecreasing extension, principle of increasingconcreteness, principle of canonical or tradi-tional sequence, principle of evolutionary

Mar 1957 V 4 N 1

sequence, principle of chronological sequence,and principle of geographical contiguity.

6 EDITION 3

The third edition of CC was published in1950. It incorporates the features deveIopedin the Fundamentals and the Elements. Thefacet formula for each Basic Class is given interms of the Fundamental Categories -P M EST. The rules are simplified by theuse of the concepts of facet, focus and phase.The examples given in Part 4 of the earlieredition is omitted. It brings together theworked out class numbers for classics inIndology.

7 OPTIONAL FACETS

In a series of articles published in theAnnals part of Abgila the concept of OptionalFacets is devel~ped·~xhaustively. The purposeof this concept is to make a scheme of classi-fication equally applicable to macro-thought aswell as micro-thought i i e , to books as well asarticles in periodicals. In order to eliminatethe cluttering of consecutive connecting symbols,distinct connecting symbols are provided forfacets belonging to different fundamentalcategories. During the course of probing theconcept of Optional Facets, the foundations oflibrary classification are thoroughly examinedat the Idea Plane, Notational Plane, and

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PARTHASARATHY

Verbal Plane. This has resulted in developinga set of precise technical terms for libraryclassification in order to eliminate no i s e incommunication. The concept of Versatility isdeveloped in relation to notation.

8 EDITION 4

The fourth edition of CC was published in1952. It incorporates many of the results ofoptional facets. The rules are condensed byusing a precise terminology and are illustratedwith worked out examples. The schedules forSpace and Time are expanded.

The fourth edition introduces some radicalchanges. Different connecting symbols forfacets belonging to different FundamentalCategories are used:

(comma) for(semi-colon) for(colon) for(dot) for(dot) for

PersonalityMatterEnergySpaceTime

The use of the same connecting symbol forrepre senting both Space and Time facets doesnot cause any ambiguity because Space facetbegins with arabic numerals and Time facetwith alphabets.

Another important change is the rationali-sation of the Common Subdivisions. They aregrouped into three categories:

1 Anteriorising Common Subdivisions2 Posteriori sing Common Subdivisions3 Book Number Common Subdivisions

The re sulting schedule of Anterior CommonSubdivisions is thus considerably trimmed.

In the earlier editions, CC has been usingarabic numerals for Generalia Classes. Butin this edition it uses for them the same lowercase letters which it uses for the correspondinganteriorising common subdivisions, i,e. aGeneralia Class Number will begin with a lowercase letter.

The arabic numerals vacated by theGeneralia Classes are used for accommodat-ing a set of newly emerging Main Classescalled Preliminary Main Classes (Preis) suchas

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1 Universe of Knowledge2 Library Science (This was recognised

earlier)3 Book Science4 Periodical Publicationism5 Encyclopediologyb Bibliographiology7 Biographology8 Institutionoiogy

93 Co m murric at ion ism98 Standardisation

Many of the terms are improvised but theirmeaning is obvious.

In the case of Main Classes a Ls o someadditions are made. They are for accommo-dating partially comprehensive Main Classes.These are represented by Greek letters:

~ Mathematical Sciencest' Physical Science s

).A. Humanities and Social Sciences-V Humanities~ Social Sciences

Further some of the classes which were sub-ordinated in the earlier editions are raised tothe status of Main Classes:

"1.. Mining/I. Vete rin·ary Scienc e

From the notational point of view, the fourthedition makes full use of all the species of sym-bols in the first order array - lower caseletters for Generalia Classes; arabic numeralsfor PreIs; and Roman capital letters and Greekletters for Main Classes.

•91 Depth Classification

The overwhelming proliferations in theuniverse of knowledge is a challenge to classifica-tion. The effect of their rate of growth on com-munication is analysed in Classification andcommunication (1951), and the concept of'Apupa Pattern' is recommended for securing ahelpful arrangement. Depth Classification isdeveloped as a tool for obtaining EverywhereApupa Pattern even with micro-units of thought.It is essential for increasing the efficiency ofdocumentation. The various aspects of thissubject are dealt with in a symposium presen-ted at the Tenth All India Library Conference

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COLON CLASSIFICATION IN RETROSPECT

and published under the title Depth classifica-tion and reference service and referencematerial (1953). The subject is further pur-sued in the Annals of library science.

92 Edition 5

The fifth edition of CC published recentlyintroduces some substantial changes:

1 The rule s are re-written.2 Changes are made in the Labour schedule

in conformity with the Managementschedule published in the Annals oflibrary science 1956, 3. 33-85.

3 In the pre sent edition, some of the sche-dules given in greater detail earlier - asin J Agriculture - are curtailed so as to besufficient for the classification of macrothought embodied in books. This editionis called Vol. 1. Basic C'la s sif icat ion ,It is proposed to issue Vol. 2. DepthClassification in separate fascicules ofdetailed depth schedules for each area ofknowledge as and when they get developedand even to leave particular fascicules tothe care of specialist librarians.

4 The canonical divisions of N Fine Artsare revised by using capital letters todenote them as explained in the Annals oflibrary science 1955, 2, 102-103.

5 A brief alternative schedule for geogra-phical divisions of India are given on thebasis of the recent reorganisation of theconstituent States. '

6 Separate schedules are given for Phaseand Intra-Facet Relations.

7 Substantial additions have been made inschedules for Z Law.

92 PATTERN OF PROGRESS

It is interesting to observe a pattern in themethodology followed in the progress of ColonClassification, It is almost a cyclic develop-ment. Problems on hand are analysed. Tenta-tive solutions are attempted. The results aretried by actual application. Possible sourcesof errors are examined. The results obtainedare. consolidated at every stage. The entiresubject is- re-examined on the basis of the new

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results. New problems are isolated for furtherstudy. Again the problems on hand are analysed.Thus the cycle goes on. Research in classifica-tion is a continuing process. There can be nofinality about the results obtained. Fresh evi-dences will come to make the earlier resultsobseIe te , This is the way work on Colon Classi-fication has been progressing.

93 SUMMING UP

During the cour se of the last twenty-fiveyears Colon Classification has grown from-strength to strength. It has developed in variousdirections. It has progressed from book levelto documentation level. During this pr oc e s sit has sharpened many of its techniques. Newfeatures have been added from time to time -Facets. Focus, Phases; Fundamental Catego-ries; use of different connecting symbols; versa-tility of notation; analysis of Zones, Levels,Rounds, etc.

The scheme has also been translated intoother languages. It was translated into Chinesein 1936. Recently R. S. Parkhi has publisheda Marathi edition of the Colon Classificationunder the title Dvibindu vargikarana paddatiusing Nagari notation. Classification of someregional literature have also been published -Classification of Marathi literature (1946) andClassification of Telugu literature (1947) byRan gana.than ,

At another level, the technique s of ColonClassification have been used in de signingschemes for special areas - e. g. packageindustry, titanium industry, agriculture, andmanagement.

The impact of its influence can be seen inother schemes also. The British national bib-liography uses its technique as a guide in sharpen-ing the DC numbers. The International Federa-tion for Documentation has officially adopted theOctave Notation.

Again, Colon Clas sifi cat ion is used as abasi s for studying the foundattons of a generaltheory Qf classification. The FID/CA Committeeon General Theory of Classification is a forumfor this. This subject is also actively pursuedby the Classification Research Group, London.Aslib is convening an International Study Confe-rence on Classification for Information Retrievalin May 1957, where the Colon approach will come

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PA R THASAR A THY

for evaluation. Interest in the Colon techniqueis spreading to European countries, Australia,Canada, etc. There are occasional echoes fromAmerica.

Thus the contributions made by the Colon

Classification to the development of a theoryof cla s slfi cat ion have been generally accepted.Shera's statement that "Ranganathan is blazinga trail along which future theorists of libraryelas sifieation must follow" is being realisedalready.

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