Transinformação ISSN: 2318-0889 Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas FERREIRA, Ana Carolina; MACULAN, Benildes Coura Moreira dos Santos; NAVES, Madalena Martins Lopes Ranganathan and the faceted classification theory1 Transinformação, vol. 29, no. 3, 2017, September-December, pp. 279-295 Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas DOI: 10.1590/2318-08892017000300006 Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=384357586006 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System Redalyc More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Journal's webpage in redalyc.org Portugal Project academic non-profit, developed under the open access initiative ORIGINAL 279 Ranganathan and the faceted classification theory1 THEORY CLASSIFICATION THE FACETED AND RANGANATHAN ORIGINAL Ranganathan e a teoria da classificação facetada Ana Carolina FERREIRA2 Benildes Coura Moreira dos Santos MACULAN2 Madalena Martins Lopes NAVES3 Abstract The present study contextualizes Ranganathan’s main theoretical contributions to the classification theory and addresses the Five Laws of Library Science. The major milestones in philosophical and bibliographic classifications are presented to show that the classification system has evolved from purely philosophical schemes, which were focused on the systematization of knowledge, into modern bibliographic classification systems. Facet analysis is considered a contribution to the classification process since it allows the use of an approach that encompasses different points of view of the same subject, as opposed to the enumerative systems. This article also discusses Ranganathan’s five fundamental categories, known as Personality, Matter, Energy, Space and Time, and points out to criticism of this form of categorization in the literature. The Spiral of Scientific Method and the Spiral Model of Development of subjects are presented; the latter is the meta-model of the former. The Colon Classification, which was first published in 1933, was also discussed. Finally, the applicability of the faceted classification in today’s world was addressed. Keywords: Classification. Faceted classification theory. Ranganathan. Resumo Este artigo contextualiza as principais contribuições de Ranganathan para a teoria da classificação e aborda as Cinco Leis da Biblioteconomia. São apresentados os principais marcos históricos das classificações filosóficas e bibliográficas, de modo a evidenciar que estas evoluíram de esquemas puramente filosóficos, voltados à sistematização do conhecimento, para os modernos sistemas de classificação bibliográficos. A análise facetada é identificada como uma contribuição ao processo classificatório, por permitir uma abordagem que abarca diversos pontos de vista de um mesmo assunto, em contraposição aos sistemas enumerativos. O artigo também situa as cinco categorias fundamentais de Ranganathan, conhecidas como Personalidade, Matéria, Energia, Espaço e Tempo, e aponta as críticas a essa forma de categorização presentes na literatura. São apresentadas a Espiral do Universo do Conhecimento e a Espiral do Desenvolvimento de Assuntos, esta última entendida como metaespiral da primeira, bem como se destaca a Classificação de Dois Pontos (Colon Classification), publicada pela primeira vez em 1933. Ao final, são tecidas considerações acerca da aplicabilidade da classificação facetada na contemporaneidade. Palavras-chave: Classificação. Teoria da classificação facetada. Ranganathan. 1 Article based on the master’s thesis of A.C. FERREIRA, entitled “Principais contribuições teóricas de Ranganathan para a Teoria da Classificação”. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2011. 2 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Ciência da Informação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gestão e Organização do Conhecimento. Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Correspondência para/Correspondence to: A.C. FERREIRA. E-mail: <[email protected]>. 3 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Ciência da Informação, Departamento de Organização e Tratamento da Informação. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Received on 19/4/2016 and accepted for publication on 20/1/2017. https://doi.org/10.1590/2318-08892017000300006 TransInformação, Campinas, 29(3):279-295, set./dez., 2017 Introduction which things, beings, or thoughts are grouped together according to their similarities or differences (BARBOSA, For a better understanding of the world, 1969). Similarly, according to Piedade (1977), classifying individuals organize the information they receive means to divide into groups or classes according throughout their lives creating representations to differences and similarities; to arrange concepts and making associations between the information according to their similarities and differences in a gained. The term information representation can certain number of methodically distributed groups. be understood as a ‘sign relation’ since the purpose This is also the meaning attributed to the term by of the sign is to represent something. In Peircean’s Vickery (1980). Accordingly, the classification process conception, to represent also means to substitute, “to is the action by which the subjects of documents are stand for, that is, to be in such a relation to another classified aiming at arranging them in logical order, that for certain purposes it is treated by some mind grouping together the items of information concerning as if it were that other” (KOBASHI; FERNANDES, 2009, similar subjects. p.2). Thus, depending on the context and the desired It is important to distinguish the concept purpose, a building can be represented by an image, an of classification as a process, which was discussed architectural drawing, or a model, for example. above, from the classification as product, which refers In the context of Library and Information to the instruments of classification, i.e., the systems Science, information representation presupposes a used in the classification process. Langridge cited by cognitive process that encompasses the stages of Piedade (1977), one of the members of the Classification perception, identification, interpretation, reflection, Research Group - group was formed in England in 1948 and codification of information (ALVARENGA, 2003). and in 1955 it had 14 members: D. J. Campell, E. J. Coates, These technical processes of representation are J. E. L. Farradane, D. J. Foskett, G. Jones, J. Mills, T. S. generally used to facilitate finding the accurate Morgan, B. I. Palmer, O. W. Pendleton, L. G. M. Roberts, B. location of information in a given collection using C. Vickery, A.J. Walford, K. E. Watkins e A. J. Wells. Much of different types of instruments of representation. Such their research was based on the Ranganathan’s faceted instruments can be: verbal - such as thesauri, lists classification theory, which was debated and modified of subject headings, ontologies, and taxonomies - by them (LIMA, 2004b), argued that a classification and symbolic - such as bibliographic classification system and/or a classification table is a map of a systems. The present study is focused on symbolic certain area of ​​knowledge. Accordingly, the creation systems of knowledge representation, in other words, of bibliographic classification systems is based on the bibliographic classification systems, especially in terms classification theory, whose principles are related to the of the contributions of the Faceted Classification organization of objects (subjects) in groups according Theory. to their similarities and differences, based on a set of 280 People classify phenomena, situations, and criteria. objects all the time in order to better understand The theorist Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan them. Classification is, therefore, an inherent [1892-1972] greatly contributed to classification element of human nature. The term classification systems. His studies are another milestone in his was coined by Zedler in 1733 in his Universal Lexicon contributions, and he is considered the father of Encyclopedia; it is the combination of the Latin words library science of the twentieth century. Ranganathan classis (class) and facere (make). This term is based on highlighted the importance of libraries for education in A.C. FERREIRA the word class, which was used to designate an army India. In 1928, he formulated the Five Laws of Library or group of persons called to the arms, or, according Science and developed his own decimal classification to Piedade (1977), the term designates the groups into system. The system proposed by him was based on the which the Roman people were divided. et al. division of knowledge into multidimensional and/or The act of classifying is a mental process by faceted aspects. TransInformação, Campinas, 29(3):279-295, set./dez., 2017 https://doi.org/10.1590/2318-08892017000300006 Life and work of Ranganathan of talents and who reaches high standard in several 281 different directions transcending limitations of space THEORY CLASSIFICATION THE FACETED AND RANGANATHAN Ranganathan, Indian librarian, philosopher, and time limitations of space and time. Therefore, and mathematician, was born on August 9, 1892, in Ranganathan is among the most influential theorists Shiyali, Tanjavoor District, Madras State, when India such as Dewey, Panini, Aristotle, Newton, Hegel, and was still under British rule. He earned B.A. and M.A. Darwin, among others. degrees in mathematics from Madras Christian