*INDEXING LANGUAGES https://librarianshipstudies.blogspot.com/2017/03/indexing-languages.html* A system for naming subjects in the way that we have described https://librarianshipstudies.blogspot.com/2017/02/assigned-indexing.html is called an *indexing language*, and, like any other language, it will consist of two parts: *vocabulary and syntax.* *Indexing language* https://librarianshipstudies.blogspot.com/2017/03/indexing-languages.html is a set of items (vocabulary) and devices for handling the relationships between them in a system for providing index descriptions. Indexing language is also referred to as *retrieval language*. If we use terms as they appear in documents without modification, we are using *natural language*. However, we will see that this can lead to problems. Where vocabulary is concerned, different authors may use different terms to express the same idea-synonyms-leading to a decrease in recall. Where syntax is concerned, the same idea may be expressed in more than one way: child psychology or psychology of children; adult education or education of adults. For these reasons, assigned indexing systems introduce a measure of control over the terms used: we use a controlled vocabulary. We also formalize a flexible syntax of natural language by permitting only certain constructions: instead of heat treatment of aluminum, we use aluminum-heat treatment; instead of using libraries for children, or children’s libraries, we use libraries, children’s. We are then using a *structured language*. A controlled vocabulary and formalized structure are features of an *artificial indexing language*. The extreme example of an artificial indexing is the notation of a classification scheme; instead of natural language terms, heat treatment of aluminum, or the more formalized aluminum-heat treatment, we use 669.71.04. *Source: * https://librarianshipstudies.blogspot.com/2017/03/indexing-languages.html -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.