From: SMTP%"@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@BINGVMB.BITNET" 1-AUG-1994 18:32:11.90 To: SOLIBJA CC: Subj: File: "INDEX-L LOG9407E" Date: Mon, 1 Aug 1994 18:33:36 +0000 From: BITNET list server at BINGVMB (1.7f) Subject: File: "INDEX-L LOG9407E" To: Julius Ariail ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 14:46:43 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Paula Presley Subject: Re[2]: Separate name & subj. indexes In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of THU 28 JUL 1994 17:43:38 CDT ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I've enjoyed the lively discussion on this subject...especially since I'll be doing the index(es)? involved in the original question. Ben-Ami Lipetz's response addresses just where the sticking point lies. WHO will use this 15 vol. set. [FOOTNOTE: I _will_ have separate indexes for the cumulative index of the set...whenever we have it finished] As to WHO will use it...here's the rub. The editors and translators are such specialists that their footnotes were unintelligible to me (whose M.A. is in the subject area). The grudgingly identified for me some references that "everybody" knows so that I could provide full bibliographic citation on the first use and/or in the bibliography. As publishers, I suppose we envision a wider audience than the editors. We at least hope that grad students in Reformation studies will want the book...or will want their libraries to have it available. I try to aim my indexes at grad students who are somewhat knowledgable, but not yet "experts." (We are an academic press). Another editor is working on a translation of a biography of Dvorak--and the text seems to be the kind that would appeal to that so-called general reader. I'll index that one a bit differently. After reading the responses to my original question, I might consider separate indexes (BUT I already plan a separate Scripture Index). My rationale here is that since I'm going to have separate subject and name indexes in the (eventual) cumulative index, I might as well be consistent. Thanks to all of you for your responses...I've enjoyed them. Paula Presley Assoc. Editor, The Thomas Jefferson University Press Copy Editor, The Sixteenth Century Journal Northeast Missouri State University McClain Hall 111L Kirksville, MO 63501 (816) 785-4525 FAX (816) 785-4181 Bitnet: AD15@NEMOMUS Internet: AD15%NEMOMUS@Academic.NEMOState.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 14:47:06 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Ppzohav@aol.com Subject: Re: separate name & ... ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Hi, I am currently building a cumulative index from 712 pages of indexes (!) with separate names and subjects. Names in this instance are about 40% of the lines involved. Some are not much more than passing references to somebody which only a scholar or a family tree investigator would be interested in. It makes sense to separate them out in this instance and I believe in most instances where there is a mass of data to be indexed. I am concerned that mixing names and subjects would have the effect of burying the most useful part of the index, the core information which the majority of consumers (neophytes as well as experinced index users) are interested in. I know form personal experience that if an index is too hard, or give the appearance of being too hard, to use that I may just move on to another volume. I try to be an advocate for the least experienced consumer that may use the index. I hope this is helpful. Paul Zohav ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 14:47:27 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Daveream@aol.com Subject: Re: Re[1]: Indexing the ... ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Zyindex is an example of a program which creates an electric "concordance" with pointers into the document files. Other programs, such as Folio VIEWS, pull in the text and allow you to organize, display, and otherwise manipulate it as well as build a the word index. I can supply you with much more info if you want. Folio is in use by many commercial publishers to publish electronically and by organizations for in-house applications. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 14:50:26 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: BAER@macalstr.edu Subject: concordances This was sent to me by someone who is not on the list. I will compile your answers and send them to him. Charlotte ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Dear Charlotte, In April I wrote to inquire about indexing software and your response was very useful. I would now like to know what are the favorite concordance making programs of the professionals, if they differ from indexing programs. I am after something that will expedite the work on a concordance of Anne Sexton's 600 page COLLECTED POEMS. Thanks for your help. Joel Baer [baer@macalstr.edu] English Department Macalester College 612-696-6513; FAX 612-696-6430 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 16:35:20 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: maryann@mnrosdp.revisor.leg.state.mn.us Subject: Re: separate name & ... In-Reply-To: Your message of "Fri, 29 Jul 94 14:47:06 +0700." ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- It's interesting that Ben-Ami Lipetz favors separate indexes because they help the expert, and Paul Zohav favors them because they help the "least experienced consumer" of the index. I get the feeling that we don't really know very much about how people use these indexes and are all relying on our personal preferences. (Liz Liddy, have you got an eager grad student who is looking for a dissertation topic?) I, too, favor separate indexes IN SOME TYPES of books. (I've already talked about hymnals on this list.) When the different indexes are used to solve entirely different sorts of problems, they are appropriate. But in general, separate indexes for names (or for specific words, which I encounter more often) frustrate me. When is a name just a name, and when is it a person who is a subject in his/her own right? The case is the same with words/ lexical items. If I'm looking up AND in a work on legislative drafting, I'm also interested in the subjects CONJUNCTIONS and SERIES at least. If I have to make two passes (find the start of the index, then find the topic within it) because there are two indexes, it feels like more work to me. Imagine the Chicago manual with separate indexes for words and subjects! Let's keep finding out how more of us react to these things, so that we can figure out how to design and do the research about it. Maryann Corbett maryann.corbett@revisor.leg.state.mn.us