Canons For ClassifIcation

Canons for Classification
What is a canon?
• Canon means a general principle or standard
by which judgements may be formed.
• Ranganathan has used the term in the
context of divisions of first order of the major
discipline such as cataloguing, classification,
book selection etc.
Introduction
• Ranganathan has given a real direction to
canons for classification first formulated by
Sayers.
He formulated 43 canons and divided them
into three groups. viz., 1. Canons for Idea
Plane (15); 2. Canons for Verbal Plane (4), and
3. Canons for Notational Plane (24).
Canons for Idea Plane (15)
• The canons for Idea Plane are further divided into

Canons for characteristics (4);
• Canons for succession of characteristics (3); Canons
for array (4);
• Canons for chain (2)
• and Canons fur filiatory sequence (2).
The four canons for characteristics deal with the
process of division of knowledge. The characteristics
selected for division should be easily differentiated,
relevant, easily ascertainable and permanent.
• The three canons listed under succession of
characteristics deal with the application of more than
one characteristic in the process of division of
knowledge.
• The four canons for Array state that classes in an Array
should be complete, exclusive, and the sequence among
them should be helpful and consistent.
• The two canons for Chain (subordinate classes) deal
with the process of division of knowledge which should
proceed general to specific and it should be properly
regulated.
• The two canons under sequence state that a
scheme for classification should clearly
identify both coordinate and subordinate
classes and they should be arranged among
themselves according to their mutual
affiliation.
Canons for Verbal Plane (4)
• These four canons deal with the language and

terminology aspects in the classification
scheme.
• The terminology used in the scheme should
clearly indicate the context in which a
particular term has been used and what
aspect it understands
• The terms used to denote ranked isolates
should be current and should not be critical.
Canons for Notational Plane (24)
• These have been further divided into Basic

Canons for notational plane (12);
• Canons for Mnemonics (5);
• Canons for growing universe (4);
• and Canons for Book Classification (3).
• Notation means the system of ordinal numbers
representing the classes in a scheme for
classification.
• The basic Canons deal with the removal of
synonyms and homonyms in the class number
and the notation should reflect the hierarchy of
classes.
• The base of the scheme should be mixed or
pure, notation should be faceted or non-faceted.
• The Canons for Mnemonics (5) deal with the need for different types
of mnemonics, Viz.. alphabetical, scheduled, systematic and seminal
in the scheme for classification.
• The Canons for growing Universe (4) deal with the capacity of the
notational system for admission of newly emerging classes;
Ranganathan called this phenomenon ‘Hospitality in Array and Chain’.
• The notation should admit of new classes at the beginning or at the

mid or in The middle of the array or chain.
• .
•
• The Canons for Book Classification (3) deal
with the provision of the scheme to know the
construction of book numbers and collection
numbers in the scheme of classification; the
• sequence of three elements in the call number
viz., class number, book number and collection
number; and the method of writing these
three elements.
Principles of Facet Sequence
• Ranganathan has formulated four principles,

viz., (1) Whole-Organ Principle;
• (2) Cow- Calf Principle;
• (3) Wall-Picture Principle; and
• (4) Act-and-Action-Actor-Tool Principle.
• These principles help in deciding the sequence
among facets.
Wall-Picture Principle
• “If the facets A’ and ‘B’ of a subject are such
that the concept behind ‘B’ will not be
operative unless the concept behind ‘A’ is
agreed, even a wall painting picture is not
possible unless the wall exists to draw upon,
the facet ‘A’ should come first the facet ‘B’,
This principle has become one of the fundamental
principles of a facet sequence.
There are numerous examples in Colon
Classification where the sequence of facets in a
compound subject going with a basic subject have
been decided on the basis of this principle. Take for
example, a compound subject like “Prevention of
Accidents in Gold Mines”. In this compound subject
the Energy facet is manifesting more than once in
the form of ‘Prevention’ and ‘Accidents’.
• Here the concept behind the term,
(“Prevention”) is not operative unless the concept
behind the term ‘Accident’, is conceded.
Therefore, the sequence of facets should be
‘Accidents’, and ‘Prevention’. In this example,
‘wall-picture’ had determined the Round to which
the concept, ‘Accident’, should he assigned as the
one preceding the energy facet, ‘Prevention’. Thus
‘Accident’ comes under [El and Prevention under
[2E}
Whole-Organ Principle
• “If in a subject, facet ‘B’ is an organ of Facet
‘A’, then ‘A’ should precede ‘B
• The word ‘organ’, has been defined as a
“Functional part of the Universe of Entities”
• Take for example,
• “Electronics Commission, Government of India”. The facet,
‘Electronics Commission’, is a sub-organ of the Department of
Electronics which is an organ of the Ministry of Science and
Technology.
• The facet, Ministry of Science and Technology, is an organ of
Government of India. Therefore, the sequence of the four
facets in this compound subject should be
• Inida [P], Ministry of Science and Technology [P2], Department
of Electronics [P3], and Electronics Commission [P4].
• In this example, the fundamental category, ‘Personality’,
manifests in the form of levels in one and the same Round.
Cow-Calf Principle
• “If a facet ‘A’ and another facet ‘B’ belonging

to the same subject are not to be separated,
though they are distinct from each other and
thus separable, A and B should be kept
together in the same Round, even as a much
cow and its calf are not separately sold out
though they are distinct entities and thus
separable, but are kept together in the
possession of the same owner”
• Take for example “Formulation of Development Plans for
Urban Areas of Andhra Pradesh”.
• In this compound subject the three facets, ‘Andhra Pradesh’,
‘Urban Areas’ and ‘Development Plans’ are not to be
separated, though separable and put into different rounds.
• It would be more helpful if the three facets are put together
in Round one, i.e.. before the energy facet, ‘Formulation’ or
after it.
• It is not helpful to put any one of them in Round 1 and the
other two in Round 2. This principle directs that the three
facets should be in one and the same round
• According to this principle, the three facets
should be put in Round one.
• The sequence of facets should be Andhra
Pradesh. Urban Areas. Development Plans and
Formulation.
Actand-Action-Actor-Tool Principle
• “If in a subject, facet ‘B’ denotes action on

facet ‘A’ by facet ‘C’, with facet ‘D’ as the tool,
then the four facets shall be arranged in the
sequence of A,B,C,D”
• Take for example: action is polughing, actand
is land, the actor is farmer, and the tool is
tractor. As per the above mentioned principle
the sequence of facets should be
• land, ploughing, farmer and tractor.
• The three principles, viz. Whole-Organ, Cow-
Calf, Actand Actor-Action-Tool are result to
Wall-Picture Principle.
• In addition to these principles, Ranganathan
also formulated another principle,
“Commodity-Raw Material-
• Transformation-Transformer -Tool” as a result
to the Wall-Picture Principle.

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Canons for Classification

• The canons for Idea Plane are further divided into

• These four canons deal with the language and

• These have been further divided into Basic

• The notation should admit of new classes at the beginning or at the

• Ranganathan has formulated four principles,

• “If a facet ‘A’ and another facet ‘B’ belonging

• “If in a subject, facet ‘B’ denotes action on

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