30. Generic Concept Authority 🔺

DEFINITION

A term distinguishing records used for generic concepts from those used for organizational levels in the authority (e.g., guide terms and facets).

EXAMPLES

• generic concept
• guide term
• facet

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: It is optional, but highly recommended, to record a term indicating if the record represents a generic concept or serves as an organizational level in the structure of the thesaurus. Use lower case.

Use generic concept if the record represents an object, material, agent, style, or characteristic. Use guide term, facet, or another appropriate term if the record represents a level used to organize the thesaurus.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Control this subcategory with a list, including the terms generic concept, facet, and guide term. Other terms may also be used if necessary.

DEFINITION

Terms used to refer to the generic concept. Excluded from this subcategory are proper names of persons, organizations, geographic places, named subjects, or named events.

EXAMPLES

• pier glass
• Julio-Claudian
• panel painting
• rhyton
• decorative arts
• basilica
• brick
• Baroque
• executive architect
• empire

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Required: It is required to record at least one term, the preferred term, which is the term used most often in general and scholarly literature to refer to the concept. Record any other terms or variant terms used in published sources to refer to the concept.

Preferred term

For the preferred term, chose the one most often used in scholarly literature and authoritative reference books in the language of the catalog record (American English in the United States). Consult the sources listed in the Terminology/Format section above to determine which term is used most often. If the sources disagree, choose the source listed first in the order of preference above. The preferred term, and all other descriptors, must be found in three sources to establish warrant for usage and spelling. The purpose of the preferred term is to identify the concept in displays.

Variant terms

Include alternate and variant terms that appear in published sources and represent significant differences in form or spelling, fullness, diacritics, punctuation, word inversions, various languages, appellations, alternate terms, abbreviations, translations, variant transliterations, historical terms, and other cases.

All terms referring to the same concept should be recorded in subsequent occurrences of this subcategory. For example, pier glasses and trumeaux refer to the same concept.

Form and syntax

For most terms, use lower case. Exceptions include the names of styles and periods, and terms that include a brand name or a proper name of a person or geographic place (e.g., Siena marble). Avoid abbreviations.

Record the term in the language of the catalog record and other languages, if known. For records in American English, include variant terms (synonyms) in British English when the spelling differs. For terms where no exact English-language equivalent exists or where the foreign-language term is more commonly used than the English term, use the term commonly used in English publications. Use diacritics as required.

Generally, record terms in natural order. Include variants in inverted order to provide access or to use in alphabetical lists (e.g., natural order: onion domes; inverted order: domes, onion), if possible.

Singular or plural

In standard thesaurus protocol the preferred term and all descriptors are the plural noun form of the term for objects (e.g., statues, hôtels (town houses), triptychs, headdresses). Include singular or plural as outlined below.

For Objects

For objects, include both singular and plural forms of a term for all descriptors. In standard thesaurus construction, the plural is the preferred term. The singular should be a variant term, with term type alternate descriptor, so that it may be used for Object/Work Type (1.2) or other subcategories or displays as required. Include both singular and plural for used for terms, when possible.

If the term is a loan word or otherwise derived from a foreign language, the preferred plural term should be the plural form most often found in standard sources in the language of the cataloging institution (e.g., gymnasiums not gymnasia, in English, but rhyta is preferred, not rhytons). However, if the Anglicized plural is used as a preferred term, the plural form in the vernacular language should be recorded as a variant term (i.e., gymnasia should be a variant term for the concept gymnasiums).

For Materials

Use the singular noun form for the preferred term for materials (e.g., bronze, wicker, leather).

For Processes

Use the noun or gerund form for the preferred term for processes, techniques, and functions (e.g., sketching, urbanization, decoration).

Variant terms

Include any additional terms by which the concept is known. Include all important terms that may provide access: alternate terms; variant spellings; synonyms; historical terms; terms in inverted and natural order; singular and plural forms; and terms in various parts of speech (e.g., noun, adjective, and gerund).

Synonyms

For variant terms, add only terms that have true synonymity or an identical meaning with all other terms in the record. For instance, kettle stitch, catch stitch, and ketch stitch are synonyms because they all refer to the same stitch used in bookbinding. Do not include terms that have near-synonymity (similar meanings) or that are merely related and not necessarily synonyms (e.g., Viking and Norse are related, but not synonyms). Exceptions may be made for various parts of speech (e.g., the noun and adjectival form of the same term may be included in the same concept record).

Homographs

Homographs are terms that have the same spelling but different meanings in the context of the authority. Distinguish between homographs in the authority by adding a qualifier. Qualifiers are recorded in a separate Term Qualifier (30.2.3) subcategory and displayed in parentheses with the term. For example, drums could mean any of the following things in a thesaurus for art and material culture: (1) cylinders of stone that form the shaft of a column; (2) musical instruments with a resonating cavity covered at one or both ends by a membrane which is sounded by striking, rubbing, or plucking; or (3) the vertical walls, circular or polygonal in plan, that carry a dome. The homographs could be distinguished by the following qualifiers, in parentheses: drums (column components), drums (membranophones), and drums (walls).

Discrete concepts

A term is a word or phrase denoting a discrete concept in the context of a particular subject. A term may be composed of a single word or multiple words (e.g., Medieval, architecture, stained glass, rose windows, flying buttresses, naves). Terms must represent discrete concepts; do not record compound terms or headings. In contrast to a discrete concept term, a subject heading typically concatenates multiple terms or concepts together in a string. For example, Pre-Columbian sculptures is a heading composed of terms representing two discrete concepts: Pre-Columbian (a style and period) and sculpture (a type of work). Pre-Columbian as a style and period term may be combined with many other terms and retain its meaning; sculpture may also be combined with many other style or period terms and still retain its meaning. Maintaining discrete concepts, as opposed to headings or compound terms, in the structure of the authority file will make it more versatile in cataloging and more powerful in retrieval.

Guide term and facet names

If you use guide terms, create a descriptive phrase. Use lower case, unless the phrase contains a proper name. For facet names, capitalize the name for the sake of clarity in the hierarchical display.

Additional rules

More extensive rules for choosing and formatting terms are found in “Chapter 3.3: Terms” of the Art & Architecture Thesaurus: Editorial Guidelines.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free text: This subcategory is free text. The terms may be populated by using published sources, including Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) and LCSH.

RELATED CATEGORIES and ACCESS

Separating unique concepts in the structure of the authority will make it more powerful and more versatile. However, consequently it may then be necessary to combine terms to create “headings” for objects or otherwise express complex concepts related to specific materials. For example, bronze is a material and sculpture is a type of object; therefore, these two terms should exist in separate parts of the hierarchy. The phrase bronze sculpture could be constructed by combining these discrete terms in the work record.

DEFINITION

An indication of whether the term is the preferred term for the concept record; there may be more than one Term Type(30.2.2) descriptor, but only one preferred term.

EXAMPLES

• preferred
• variant

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record an indication of which term is preferred for this concept. The preferred term should always have Term Type (30.2.2) descriptor. There can be only one preferred term per record, but there may be multiple descriptors. Use lower case.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Use the terminology preferred, variant, and others as necessary.

DEFINITION

An indication of the type of term to be used if the authority is intended to be compliant with standards for thesaurus construction.

EXAMPLES

• descriptor
• alternate descriptor
• used for term

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a word or phrase indicating the type of term. Use lower case.

This subcategory is intended for use by those who wish the authority to be compliant with national and international standards for thesaurus construction by designating the term descriptor, alternate descriptor, etc.

Descriptor

The term most commonly used to refer to the concept in the language of the catalog record (American English in the United States). The term with Preference (30.2.1) preferred is always a descriptor. However, there may be multiple descriptors in a multilingual thesaurus. If there are terms in British English or other languages, flag the preferred term in that language as a descriptor. There may be only one descriptor per language in the record.

Alternate descriptor

If the term has a different grammatical form than the descriptor, such as a singular noun (when the descriptor is plural) or possessive, flag it as an alternate descriptor.

Used for term

For all terms that are not descriptors or alternate descriptors, flag them as used for terms.

TERMINOLOGY/ACCESS

Controlled list: Use the terminology listed in the “Examples” section above.

DEFINITION

Word or phrase used primarily to distinguish betweenn homographs.

EXAMPLES

• object
• process
• painting
• pier glasses
• doorway components

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a word that distinguishes the term from its homograph. Record a qualifier for both homographic terms. Use lower case, unless the word contains a proper name or style name.

A homograph is a term that is spelled like another term, but the meanings of the terms are different. In a dictionary, homographs are listed under a single heading, with several definitions listed. For example, drum would be listed as a noun in a dictionary, with several definitions. In a thesaurus, each homographic term is in a separate record. The use of homographic terms in a thesaurus requires clarification of their meaning through use of a qualifier (a gloss in linguistic jargon). A qualifier is a word or words used with the term to make the specific meaning unambiguous.

Use qualifiers for all terms, not just the descriptors. Homographs and their qualifiers may occur with descriptors, alternate descriptors, or used for terms.

Record the qualifier in this Term Qualifier (30.2.3) subcategory, but display it in parentheses with the term (e.g., trumeaux (doorway components)).

Choosing qualifiers

Qualifiers may refer to the broader context of the term (e.g., Term: trumeaux; Qualifier: pier glasses and Term: trumeaux; Qualifier: doorway components), or another significant distinguishing characteristic.

If the terms differ in capitalization or punctuation but are otherwise spelled the same, add qualifiers (e.g., Term: Mbulu; Qualifier: Central Tanzanian styles and Term: mbulu; Qualifier: reliquary figures).

Add qualifiers if the term has a homograph that is a common term in general usage, even if the homograph does not appear in the Generic Concept Authority (30) (e.g., Term: developing; Qualifier: photography).

Do not use a qualifier to represent a compound concept. For example, NOT records (phonograph). Instead, make the term phonograph records. NOT pipes (plastic), instead pipes (conduits) and plastic are two separate terms that may be combined in cataloging or retrieval as a precoordinated or postcoordinated term.

In creating a qualifier, remember that the purpose of the qualifier is to clarify an ambiguous term for the user; it is not intended to define or give more specificity to the term. Make the qualifier as brief as possible, ideally consisting of one word. Two or more words may be used if necessary. If possible, create a qualifier with the same grammatical form as the term (e.g., Term: workshops; Qualifier: seminars and Terms: pickling; Qualifier: woodworking).

For descriptors, use the broader term as the qualifier, if possible. If the immediate broader term is too long (e.g., a guide term), not clear, or otherwise inappropriate, choose a term or a word in a term higher up in the hierarchy (e.g., Term: barrels; Qualifier: containers). If the homograph has multiple parents, include a reference to both in the qualifier, if necessary (e.g., Term: chapels; Qualifier: rooms or structures).

For used for terms, qualify the term with its descriptor, if appropriate (e.g., Term: charts; Qualifier: maps).

Always be clear and unambiguous. If using a word or words from a parent or the descriptor will not result in the homographs being unambiguously distinct when displayed together, create another qualifier that will disambiguate them. Use the scope note to find a distinguishing characteristic of the two terms.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free text: This subcategory is free text. The qualifier terminology may be populated by using published sources, including AAT and LCSH.

RELATED CATEGORIES and ACCESS

If possible, do not include the qualifier in parentheses in the Generic Concept Term (30.2) subcategory. Put qualifiers in the this Term Qualifier (30.2.3) subcategory, but display them in parentheses following the term.

DEFINITION

An indication of the language of the term, particularly when the term is in a language other than the language of the catalog record.

EXAMPLES

• English
• American English
• French
• Chinese (transliterated Pinyin)

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the language of the term, if known from authoritative sources. Capitalize the names of languages.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Control this subcategory with a controlled list. Values may be derived from a source such as Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 14th edition. Barbara F. Grimes, ed. Dallas, Texas: SIL International, 2000. The ISO-639 standard may be used for language codes; however, if ISO codes are used, values must be translated into legible form for end-users.

DEFINITION

Flag indicating the historical status of the term.

EXAMPLES

• current
• historical

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record an indication if the name is current or historical. Use lower case.

If the term is currently in use, use current. Sources will generally indicate when a term is obsolete or historical.

Note that this flag records the historical status of a particular term only, not of the concept represented in the record.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Use a controlled list with terms current, historical, and others if necessary.

DEFINITION

Flag designating whether or not the term is to be used in natural order displays or in permuted indexes.

EXAMPLES

• index
• display
• not applicable

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: For the inverted form of the preferred term (e.g., the English or American English descriptor), flag it as index to indicate that this term may be used in permuted indexes. Whereas display names are common for place names and people’s names, the use of a display flag is rarely used in the Generic Concept Authority (30). Use this flag in the extremely rare event when the generic concept term is constructed in order to be used in horizontal displays, because when the descriptor (plus qualifier, if any) is used as a parent in horizontal displays, it would be confusing or ambiguous. There may be only one display name and one index name per record.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Use a controlled list with terms index, display, not applicable, and others if necessary.

DEFINITION

Flags designating neologisms, jargon, and other special name statuses for the term.

EXAMPLES

• full term
• abbreviation
• jargon/slang
• scientific term
• common term
• not applicable

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record an indication of the special status of the term, as necessary. Use lower case.

Use abbreviation for any abbreviation, initialism, or acronym (e.g., DVD, CD-ROM). Use full term for the full form of the term, but only when the descriptor is a shorter form of the term and/or when the record also contains an abbreviation (e.g., digital versatile discs, compact disks read-only memory).

Use jargon/slang for a term that is slang or jargon for the descriptor (e.g., whirlybirds is slang for helicopters).

Use neologism to flag a term that is new to the language, generally having been coined due to new technology (e.g., televillages, recharging stations, cell towers). Neologisms may be found in journal and newspaper articles, as well as in more authoritative sources.

Use scientific term to flag the preferred scientific term in the record, as appropriate (e.g., Felis domesticus). For scientific terms, use the name in the approved scientific source for the topic at hand. Use common term for records that contain a scientific term, to flag the preferred common language term for the record (e.g., domestic cat).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Use a controlled list with full term, abbreviation, neologism, jargon/slang, scientific term, common term, not applicable, and others if necessary.

DEFINITION

A reference to a bibliographic source or unpublished document that provides the warrant for a particular term.

EXAMPLES

• Janson, History of Art (1997)
• Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (2002)
• Mayer, Dictionary of Art Terms (1981)

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Required: Record the source(s) used for the term. All terms must have one authoritative source. It is highly recommended to find tall descriptors in three authoritative sources, in order establish speling and usage. In order to be a source, the term should have been translated precisely, retaining the diacritics, capitalization, punctuation, part of speech, and meaning used in the source.

For a full set of rules, see Citations for Sources (27.1).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Authority: Ideally, this information is controlled by citations in the citations authority; see Related Textual References (27).

RELATED CATEGORIES and ACCESS

Sources may also be recorded for Place/Location Descriptive Note (29.8) and for the authority record in general in Citations (29.10).

DEFINITION

Page number, volume, date accessed for Web sites, and any other information indicating where in the source the term was found.

EXAMPLES

• 54
• 23 ff._
• 7:128

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: For a full set of rules for pages, see Page (27.1.1).

FORMAT/TERMINOLOGY

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Use consistent syntax and format.

DEFINITION

A description of the date or range of dates when a particular term was in use.

EXAMPLES

• documented in 1038
• term used prior to ca. 1790
• plural form of the 15th-century term
• early form of the term, now obsolete
• term used primarily in late 19th-early 20th century; also occasionally used currently in British English

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the dates or date range when a term was used. Include references to uncertainty or ambiguity as necessary.

Note that this date records the date of a particular term only, not of the concept represented in the record.

Ideally, the Term Date (30.2.9) should refer, explicitly or implicitly, to a time period or date. However, it may be used to record unusual or important information about the term, often referring to the derivation or history of usage of the term (e.g., French for “silent life”; this French term was later replaced by “nature morte”).

Form and syntax

In the free-text Term Date (30.2.9) field, record a phrase referring to a year, a span of years, or period that describes the specific or approximate date in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. Index this free-text date in the Earliest Date (30.2.9.1) and Latest Date (30.2.9.2) subcategories, delimiting the appropriate span. If the term is still in use to refer to this concept, the end date should be “9999.” The Term Date (30.2.9) may contain a note that Earliest Dates (30.2.9.1) and Latest Dates (30.2.9.2).

Follow other rules for display dates in Creation Date (4.2).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Maintain consistent capitalization, punctuation, and syntax where possible. Index the dates in the controlled Earliest Date (30.2.9.1) and Latest Date (30.2.9.2) subcategories.

DEFINITION

The earliest date on which a particular term was used.

EXAMPLES

• 1877
• 1670
• 1950

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the earliest year indicated by or implied in the display Term Date (30.2.9) subcategory.

Always record years in the proleptic Gregorian calendar in the indexing dates fields.³ It is optional to record Earliest Date (30.2.9.1); however, if you record a value here, you must also record Latest Date (30.2.9.2). Follow rules for dates in Earliest Date (4.2.1).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: Date information must be formatted consistently to allow retrieval. Local rules should be in place. Suggested formats are available in the ISO Standard and W3 XML Schema Part 2.

• ISO 8601:2004 Representation of dates and times. International Organization for Standardization. Data Elements and Interchange Formats. Information Interchange. Representation of Dates and Times. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2004.

  XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes, 2001.

DEFINITION

The latest date on which a particular term was used.

EXAMPLES

• 1901
• 1675
• 9999

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the latest year indicated by or implied in the display Term Date (30.2.9) subcategory.

Always record years in the proleptic Gregorian calendar in the indexing dates fields. It is optional to record Latest Date (30.2.9.2); however, if you record a value here, you must also record Earliest Date (30.2.9.1). Follow rules for dates in Latest Date (4.2.2).

Note that this is they last year when the name was used, which is generally “9999.”

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: Date information must be formatted consistently to allow retrieval. Local rules should be in place. Suggested formats are available in the ISO Standard and W3 XML Schema Part 2.

• ISO 8601:2004 Representation of dates and times. International Organization for Standardization. Data Elements and Interchange Formats. Information Interchange. Representation of Dates and Times. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2004.

  XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes, 2001.

DEFINITION

The identification of any generic concepts that have important ties or connections to the generic concept being cataloged, excluding hierarchical whole/part relationships.

EXAMPLES

• artist dolls (dolls, figurines, … Visual and Verbal Communication)
• kimonos (main garments, <‘costume by form’>, … Furnishings and Equipment)
• scraping (<‘subtractive processes and techniques’>, <‘processes and techniques by specific type’>, … Processes and Techniques)

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Identify any generic concept related to the generic concept being cataloged where there is an important associative relationship. Associative relationships include various types of ties or connections between concepts, excluding genus/species (hierarchical) relationships.

Form and syntax

Use lower case, except for style terms. Use the label/identification of the related generic concept, described in the Generic Concept Label/Identification (30.5) subcategory.

Only clear and direct relationships should be recorded. These direct relationships are typically current, but occasionally may be historical.

Make links with this Related Generic Concepts (30.3) subcategory when it is useful to the end-user to have a cross-reference to the other concepts, and when the concepts are directly related to each other but they do not have a hierarchical relationship. Think in terms of retrieval: would such a link be useful in a search engine? If the concept records are clearly related but they are not linked via the hierarchy, create an associative relationship to prevent the conceptual link from being lost.

If there is a significant possibility that two concepts may be confused, link them with this Related Generic Concepts (30.3) subcategory. If the only cause of potential confusion is that the descriptors or other terms are the same or similar, do not link them here. Make a Term Qualifier (30.2.3) for both terms to distinguish them from each other.

In the rare event that the historical meanings of the terms have changed, explain it in the Descriptive Note (18) and link the terms with Related Generic Concepts (30.3).

Do not make associative relationships when hierarchical relationships are more appropriate. Generally, generic concept records that have the same parent or grandparent, or that have a parent/child relationship themselves, should not be linked with Related Generic Concepts (30.3). An exception is for theConcept Relationship Type (30.3.1) distinguished from.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

System generated: Ideally, this should be generated from various fields in the related Person/Corporate Body Authority (29) record.

Free-text: If this is a free-text field, index the information in the pertinent controlled subcategories elsewhere in the related record.

DEFINITION

An indication of the type of relationship between the concept and a Related Generic Concept(30.3).

EXAMPLES

• distinguished from
• usage overlaps with
• causitive action is
• equipment needed is
• related to

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: It is optional to record Related Generic Concepts (30.3), but if they are recorded, it is highly recommended to use this subcategory to identify the type of relationship between them.

Form and syntax

Use lower case. For a list of terms and their definitions, see “Chapter 3.5: Associative Relationships” of the Art & Architecture Thesaurus: Editorial Guidelines.

Concept Relationship Type (30.3.1) describes relationships that go from the record being cataloged to the related entity. Some reciprocal relationships between generic concepts are equal and the same on both sides of the relationship (e.g., distinguished from / distinguished from). However, be careful to link to the correct side of the relationship when the term is not the same on both sides of the relationship.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled list: Control these terms with a controlled list, including the terms above and others defined in “Chapter 3.5: Associative Relationships” of the Art & Architecture Thesaurus: Editorial Guidelines.

DEFINITION

A description of the date or range of dates associated with the relationship between the Generic Concept Authority(30) and the Related Generic Concept(30.3).

EXAMPLES

• from 1310
• 17th century
• ancient

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a description of the dates or date range when the relationship was in place. Include references to uncertainty or ambiguity as necessary.

Form and syntax

Follow the applicable rules for display dates in Creation Date (4.2).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Maintain consistent capitalization, punctuation, and syntax where possible. Index the dates in the controlled Earliest Date (30.3.2.1) and Latest Date (30.3.2.2) subcategories.

DEFINITION

The earliest date when the relationship could have been in effect.

EXAMPLES

• 1420
• 900

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the earliest year indicated by the display Concept Relationship Date (30.3.2).

Form and syntax

Always record years in the proleptic Gregorian calendar in the indexing dates fields. It is optional to record Earliest Date (30.3.2.1); however, if you record a value here, you must also record Latest Date (30.3.2.2). Follow the applicable rules for dates in Earliest Date (4.2.1).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: Date information must be formatted consistently to allow retrieval. Local rules should be in place. Suggested formats are available in the ISO Standard and W3 XML Schema Part 2.

• ISO 8601:2004 Representation of dates and times. International Organization for Standardization. Data Elements and Interchange Formats. Information Interchange. Representation of Dates and Times. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2004.

  XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes, 2001.

DEFINITION

The latest date when the relationship could have been in effect.

EXAMPLES

• 1623
• 1521
• 9999

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the latest year indicated by the display Concept Relationship Date (30.3.2).

Form and syntax

Always record years in the proleptic Gregorian calendar in the indexing dates fields. It is optional to record Latest Date (30.3.2.2); however, if you record a value here, you must also record Earliest Date (30.3.2.1) . Follow the applicable rules for dates in Latest Date (4.2.2).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: Date information must be formatted consistently to allow retrieval. Local rules should be in place. Suggested formats are available in the ISO Standard and W3 XML Schema Part 2.

• ISO 8601:2004 Representation of dates and times. International Organization for Standardization. Data Elements and Interchange Formats. Information Interchange. Representation of Dates and Times. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2004.

  XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes, 2001.

DEFINITION

An identification of the broader contexts for the generic concept. Ideally this is a hierarchical link.

EXAMPLES

• costume (Furnishings and Equipment)
• bloom (Conditions and Effects)
• Red-figure (<‘Greek vase painting styles’>, <‘Aegean pottery styles’>, … Styles and Periods)
• buttresses (<‘supporting and resisting elements’>, <‘structural elements’>, … Components)

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Required: This subcategory is required, when applicable. There may be multiple hierarchical relationships (polyhierarchical). Identify the larger context (parent) required to construct the hierarchical (whole/part) relationships between a concept and another concept. Position the subject under the most specific parent concept possible

Form and syntax

Ideally this is a hierarchical link. For display, follow the example above, using the preferred Generic Concept Term (30.2); the qualifier if any; and levels of parents to the level of hierarchy or facet.

In addition to the label as displayed in the “Examples” section above, the broader contexts may be derived from the hierarchical links and displayed in indented format as in the Examples below.

• Visual Works
  …<‘visual works by medium or technique’>
  …photographs
  …<‘photographs by form’>
  …<‘photographs by form: format’>
  …card photographs
  …gem photographs
  …lantern slides
  …slides (photographs)

Hierarchical relationships in this authority are those links in a thesaurus that describe genus/species relationships. Each record in the authority is linked to its immediate parent (broader context); hierarchy is constructed through these links. The authority is polyhierarchical, meaning that generic concept records can belong to more than one parent. Hierarchical relationships are referred to by genealogical terms: child, children, siblings, parent, grandparent, ancestors, descendents, etc.

Choosing a parent

Position the generic concept under the most logical broader concept, keeping in mind the particular logic evident throughout. With the descriptor of the concept record in mind, determine if this concept is a type of, kind of, example of, or manifestation of the proposed parent concept. If it is, then a genus/species relationship exists. Place the concept record only as deep in the hierarchy as necessary; do not make frivolous or unnecessary levels. However, at the same time be consistent with the rest of the authority’s hierarchies.

Make sure that each subset of narrower terms clustered under a broader term is independent and mutually exclusive in meaning. Occasionally meanings may overlap among siblings, but avoid this when possible. Be sure that the genus/species logic holds true upwards through all levels of the hierarchy above the concept.

For more specific guidance regarding building hierarchies, how to determine parents, etc., see the Art & Architecture Thesaurus: Editorial Guidelines: 3.1 Hierarchical Relationships.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

System generated: Ideally, this broader context display should be generated from the hierarchical relationships of the authority record linked as Concept Broader Context (30.4).

Ideally, this relationship should be managed by the computer system. The method by which the broader context is noted or linked will be specific to the cataloging, collection management, or editorial system being used. Linking the authority record to its broader context allows hierarchies to be constructed. In the examples above, the hierarchical relationships are represented by indentation, illustrating a display that will be intelligible to most end users.

Free-text: If generating a display by algorithm is not possible, or if the cataloging institution wants to express nuance that is not possible from an automatically generated string, a free-text field may be used instead.

RELATED CATEGORIES and ACCESS

Generally, the hierarchical relationship will be a special relationship that is managed separately from associative relationships. However, for some institutions, the whole/part relationships will be recorded only by using part of and broader context for in the Concept Relationship Type (30.3.1).

It is critical to be able to retrieve by using hierarchical relationships. It is important that all researchers who wish to find the broader concept will also retrieve the narrower concepts. For exxample, if a researcher searches for vessels, they will retrieve all works linked to basins, bottles, bowls, dinoi, or ewers.

DEFINITION

A description of the date or range of dates associated with the hierarchical relationship between the generic concept being cataloged and the Related Generic Concept(30.3).

EXAMPLES

• from 1791
• 18th century
• 11th century through 15th century

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a description of the dates or date range when a hierarchical relationship was relevant. Include references to uncertainty or ambiguity as necessary.

Form and syntax

Follow the applicable rules for display dates in Creation Date (4.2).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Maintain consistent capitalization, punctuation, and syntax where possible. Index the dates in the controlled Earliest Date (30.4.1.1) and Latest Date (30.4.1.2) subcategories.

DEFINITION

The earliest date when the hierarchical relationship could have been in place.

EXAMPLES

• 1420
• 900

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the earliest year indicated by the display Broader Context Date (30.4.1).

Form and syntax

Always record years in the proleptic Gregorian calendar in the indexing dates fields. It is optional to record Earliest Date (30.4.1.1); however, if you record a value here, you must also record Latest Date (30.4.1.2). Follow the applicable rules for dates in Earliest Date (34.2.1).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: Date information must be formatted consistently to allow retrieval. Local rules should be in place. Suggested formats are available in the ISO Standard and W3 XML Schema Part 2.

• ISO 8601:2004 Representation of dates and times. International Organization for Standardization. Data Elements and Interchange Formats. Information Interchange. Representation of Dates and Times. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2004.

  XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes, 2001.

DEFINITION

The latest date when the hierarchical relationship could have been in place.

EXAMPLES

• 1623
• 1521
• 9999

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the latest year indicated by the display Broader Context Date (30.4.1).

Form and syntax

Always record years in the proleptic Gregorian calendar in the indexing dates fields. It is optional to record Latest Date (30.4.1.2); however, if you record a value here, you must also record Earliest Date (30.4.1.1). Follow the applicable rules for dates in Latest Date (4.2.2).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: Date information must be formatted consistently to allow retrieval. Local rules should be in place. Suggested formats are available in the ISO Standard and W3 XML Schema Part 2.

• ISO 8601:2004 Representation of dates and times. International Organization for Standardization. Data Elements and Interchange Formats. Information Interchange. Representation of Dates and Times. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2004.

  XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes, 2001.

DEFINITION

A label or heading to identify the generic concept in displays.

EXAMPLES

• cathedrals ('<‘churches by location or context’>, churches, … Built Environment)
• rhyta (<‘vessels for serving and consuming food’>, <‘containers for serving and consuming food’>, … Furnishings and Equipment)
• sintering (<‘temperature-related techniques’>, <‘processes and techniques by specific type’>, … Processes and Techniques)
• stained glass (visual works) (<‘visual works by medium or technique’>, <‘visual works’>, … Visual and Verbal Communication)
• Edo (Japanese period) (<‘early modern Japanese periods’>, <‘Japanese periods’>, … Styles and Periods)
• Canis lupus (Canidae (family), Carnivora (order), Mammalia (class), Vertebrates (subphylum), Animal Kingdom)

Alternatively, with the qualifier, if any, and omitting the string of parents:

• sintering
• stained glass (visual works)
• Edo (Japanese period)
• Canis lupus

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a label or heading identifying the name, broader contexts, and place type of the related place, to provide context for the place name.

Form and syntax

Use consistent syntax and punctuation for the label identifying the generic concept. Follow the “Examples” section above, concatenating the preferred Generic Concept Term (30.2), Term Qualifier (30.2.3) (if any), and parents. The string of parents may be too long and unweildy to be helpful. Algorighms may be developed to cut off intermediate sections of the string (as in the “Examples” above).

Alternatively, use the term along with a Term Qualifier (30.2.3), if any.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

System generated: Ideally, this should be generated from various fields in the Generic Concept Authority (30) record and its parents’ records.

Free-text: If this is a free-text field, index the information in the pertinent controlled subcategories elsewhere in the related record.

DEFINITION

A note that describes how the term should be used and provides descripptive information about the concept or expands upon information recorded in other fields, presented in a form to be displayed to end users.

EXAMPLES

For cinquedeas:

• Heavy civilian daggers or short swords of 15th- and 16th-century Italy, characterized by a broad, flat double-edged triangular blade measuring five fingers in width at the hilt, a pair of short, arched quillons, a grip formed of two flat pieces riveted one on each side of the tang, and a pommel that is simply an arched cap fitted over the base of the grip. The blades are fluted and often elaborately decorated on the wider parts.

For daguerreotype:

• Process that produces a direct positive image on a silver-coated copper plate, invented by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre of France and Joseph-Nicéphore Niepce in the 1830s. In the process, a copper plate is coated with silver iodide and exposed to light in a camera, then fumed with mercury vapor and fixed with common salt in solution.

For Oseberg Style:

• Refers to the style of art that is named after the eighth-century ship burial at Oseberg in southern Norway, but is found over a wide geographic area in Scandinavia. While there is considerable variety within the style, it is generally characterized by the use of semi-naturalistic, gripping animals and a formal composition that disposes motifs of equal size over an area, to form a carpet-like design. The style seems to exhibit some connection with the Anglo-Saxon Trewhiddle style.

For travertine:

• A dense, crystalline or microcrystalline limestone that was formed by the evaporation of river or spring waters. It is named after Tivoli, Italy, where large deposits occur, and it is characterized by a light color and the ability to take a good polish. It is typically banded, due to the presence of iron compounds or other organic impurities. It is often used for walls and interior decorations in public buildings. It is distinguished from “tufa” by being harder and stronger.

GENERAL DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a single coherent statement explaining the meaning of the concept within the context of this authority file and how it should be used. Notes should be objective, specific, and prescriptive based on authorized sources.

Form and syntax

Use natural word order. You may use phrases or complete sentences, but always begin the note with capital letter and end it with a period. Use sentence case (not all capitals or title case). Capitalize proper names. Avoid abbreviations. Write the note in the language of the catalog record (English in the United States). Names and other words in foreign languages may be used within the note when there is no commonly used English equivalent. Use diacritics as appropriate.

A scope note differs from a definition in a dictionary or glossary in that, rather than providing all the possible meanings for a word, it identifies a single concept and explains its particular meaning. For example, a dictionary entry for barrel could include a dozen different definitions including those for a type of container, a firearm component, and a part of a musical instrument, all of which are barrels. In the Generic Concept Authority (30), barrels would appear three times, as barrels (aerophone components), barrels (containers), and barrels (firearm components); each is found in its appropriate part of the hierarchical structure. In the authority, words that are spelled the same but represent different concepts are homographs, and are recorded in separate records, unlike in a dictionary. The Term Qualifier (30.2.3) are used with Generic Concept Terms (30.2) to distinguish among the homographs at a glance, but their scope notes further define them.

Write a note that outlines usage and meaning of the descriptor. Keep in mind that the note should also be applicable to all other terms (alternate descriptors, used for terms, etc.) in the record. Topics may include the following:

• the usage of the descriptor, alternate descriptors, and used for terms in the record
• the meaning and context of the descriptor and other terms in the record
• distinguishing between terms that are in different records and have overlapping meanings or that may otherwise be confused by users

Clarify meaning by precisely identifying a specific type of work and how it was used, as necessary. Describe the context of the concept, people or places relevant to the concept, and the time period during which it was evident or applicable, as appropriate. Include advice to guide users in selecting the most appropriate term among several possibilities, particularly when there are subtle differences in meaning among similar and closely related concepts. If you refer to another concept in the scope note, include a reciprocal reference in the scope note for the corresponding concept. In addition, you must also link to it as a Related Generic Concept (30.3). Do not define the concept by using a closely related term. Instead, explain the meaning of the second term within the context of the first scope note. Be sure that the scope note does not exclude any of the narrower concepts. Also be sure that it fits as a type of its broader concept and by extension all the way up the hierarchy.

For further rules and examples, see “Chapter 3.4: Scope Note” of the Art & Architure Thesaurus: Editorial Guidelines.

Various issues

The recommendations below may be altered to accommodate local needs or preferences.

All information in the descriptive note must be derived from an authoritative source. It is highly recommended to cite your source and page number. Do not plagiarize; you may paraphrase the information, but do not copy it verbatim. If information in the note ultimately comes from a literary or unreliable source (as opposed to a modern reliable source), be careful not to state it as if it were proven fact. Do not use this note to record extremely volatile situations that may change in a few months or years. Instead, situations recorded here should be relatively long-standing.

Explain any controversies or issues regarding the meaning or usage of the term, or other facts that are in dispute among scholars or experts. If an issue is in dispute, be careful not to express it as a certain fact. When two sources disagree, prefer the information obtained from the most scholarly, authoritative, recent source.

Be objective. Avoid bias or critical judgment, either positive or negative. Express all information in a neutral tone, including politics, religion, artistic styles or works, rulers, people, art, architecture, and events. Do not write from a subjective or biased point of view, even if your source expresses a fact in a subjective way.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free text: This is not a controlled field. Use consistent format and syntax when possible. Any significant information in the Descriptive Note (18) should be recorded in the appropriate controlled fields, including names, place types, dates, and significant related places.

DEFINITION

A reference to a bibliographic source or unpublished document that supplied information in the Concept Scope Note(30.6).

EXAMPLES

• Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (1961)
• Oxford Companion to Art (1996)
• Grove Art Online (2003-)

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: It is optional but strongly recommended to record the source used for the Concept Scope Note (30.6). For a full set of rules for citations, see Citations for Sources (27.1).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Authority: Ideally, this information is controlled by citations in the citations authority; see Related Textual References (27).

DEFINITION

Page number, volume, date accessed for Web sites, and any other information indicating where in the source the information was found.

EXAMPLES

• 54
• 23 ff.
• 7:128

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: For a full set of rules for pages, see Page (27.1.1).

FORMAT/TERMINOLOGY

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Use consistent syntax and format.

DEFINITION

Notes or comments about information in the generic concept record.

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record a note containing additional information or comments in this authority. Use consistent syntax and format. For rules regarding writing notes, see Descriptive Note (18).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Use consistent syntax and format.

DEFINITION

A reference to a bibliographic source, unpublished document, or individual opinion that provides the basics for the information recorded in this authority.

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: Record the source used for information in this category. For a full set of rules for citations, see Citations for Sources (27.1).

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Authority: Ideally, this information is controlled by citations in the citations authority; see Related Textual References (27).

DEFINITION

Page number, volume, date accessed for Web sites, and any other information indicating where in the source the information was found.

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: For a full set of rules for pages, see Page (27.1.1).

FORMAT/TERMINOLOGY

Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Use consistent syntax and format.

DEFINITION

A number used to uniquely identify the Generic Concept Authority(30) record to the computer system.

DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES

Optional: It is optional but highly recommended to use persistent unique numeric identifiers for the Generic Concept Authority (30) record in the computer system. Typically, such numeric schemes are composed of a consistent, defined range of integers (e.g., 12 number sequences, such as 100000000123). Alternatively, numbers may be applied sequentially beginning with number one.

TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT

Controlled format: This subcategory is automatically generated and controlled.

• Record Type: concept
  Term:🔺 dinoi Preference: preferred Term Type: descriptor
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 dinos Preference: variant Term Type: alternate descriptor
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Broader Context:🔺 vessels (containers)
  Objects Facet
  … Furnishings and Equipment
  … containers
  … '<‘containers by form’>
  … vessels (containers)
  … dinoi
  Relationship Type: distinguished from
  Related Generic Concept: lebetes
  Scope Note:🔺 Used by modern scholars to refer to ancient Greek large, round-bottomed bowls that curve into a wide, open mouth, and that often stood on a stand. Metal vessels of this shape were probably used for cooking and those made of terracotta were used for mixing wine and date from the mid-seventh through the late fifth centuries BCE. They are distinguished from “lebetes” by their larger size. Ancient literary evidence suggests that the term was originally applied to drinking cups rather than bowls, and that such bowls were at that time called “lebetes.”
  Note Source:🔺 Clark, Elston and Hart, Understanding Greek Vases (2002) Page: 87
  Citations: Grove Dictionary of Art (1996) Page: 8:906
  Citations: Boardman, Athenian Black Figure Vases (1988) Page: 30

• Record Type: concept
  Term:🔺 travertine Preference: preferred 
  Term Type: descriptor Language: American English
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 travertino Preference: variant 
  Term Type: descriptor Language: Italian
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 lapis tiburtinus Preference: variant
  Term Type: used for term Language: Latin
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 travertine marble Preference: variant 
  Term Type: used for term
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 roachstone Preference: variant 
  Term Type: used for term
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Broader Context:🔺 sinter, limestone
  Materials
  … rock
  .…… sedimentary rock
  ……… limestone
  ……… sinter
  ……… travertine
  Scope Note:🔺 A dense, crystalline or microcrystalline limestone that was formed by the evaporation of river or spring waters. It is named after Tivoli, Italy (“Tibur” in Latin), where large deposits occur, and it is characterized by a light color and the ability to take a good polish. It is typically banded, due to the presence of iron compounds or other organic impurities. It is often used for walls and interior decorations in public buildings. It is distinguished from “tufa” by being harder and stronger.
  Note Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Relationship Type: distinguished from
  Related Generic Concept: tufa (sinter, limestone)

• Record Type: concept
  Term:🔺 Mannerist Preference: preferred
  Term Type: descriptor
  Language: English
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 Mannerism Preference: variant
  Term Type: used for term
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 Maniera Preference: variant 
  Term Type: descriptor Language: Italian
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Broader Context:🔺 Renaissance-Baroque style
  Styles and Periods
  … <‘styles and periods by region’>
  … European
  … <‘Renaissance-Baroque styles and periods’>
  … Mannerist
  Relationship Type: usage overlaps with
  Related Generic Concept: Late Renaissance
  Scope Note:🔺 Refers to a style and a period in evidence approximately from the 1520s to 1590, developing chiefly in Rome and spreading elsewhere in Europe. The style is characterized by a distancing from the Classical ideal of the Renaissance to create a sense of fantasy, experimentation with color and materials, and a new human form of elongated, pallid, exaggerated elegance.
  Note Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)

• Record Type: concept
  Term:🔺 Canis lupus Qualifier: species name  
  Preference: preferred Term Type: descriptor
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 gray wolf
  Preference: preferred Term Type: alternate descriptor
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 timber wolf Preference: variant
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Term:🔺 grey wolf Preference: variant
  Term Source:🔺 Art & Architecture Thesaurus (1988-)
  Broader Context:🔺
  Animal Kingdom
  …Vertebrates (subphylum)
  …Mammalia (class)
  ………… Carnivora (order)
  ……… Canidae (family)
  …Canis lupus
  Scope Note:🔺 The best-known of the three species of wild doglike carnivores known as wolves. It is the largest nondomestic member of the dog family (Canidae) and inhabits vast areas of the Northern Hemisphere. It once ranged over all of North America from Alaska and Arctic Canada southward to central Mexico and throughout Europe and Asia above 20 degrees N latitude. There are at least five subspecies of gray wolf. Most domestic dogs are probably descended from gray wolves. Pervasive in human mythology, folklore, and language, the gray wolf has had an impact on the human imagination in mythology, legends, literature, and art.
  Note Source:🔺 “Wolf.” Encyclopedia Britannica online Page: accessed 25 May 2005
  Note Source:🔺 Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, 1995-2002. https://animaldiversity.org/
  Page: accessed 25 May 2005