LIS Notes for Competitive Examinations 20 : Mode of Formation of Subjects

 The Mode of Formation of Subjects studied how new subjects are formed in the universe of knowledge. The idea of Mode of Formation of Subjects was first put forward by Dr S R Ranganathan in 1950. It helps the classificationist to know how new subjects are formed from existing one and interrelationship between subjects and helps to device library classification schemes . The study serve as preliminary to the theory of freely- faceted classification.  It has been found useful in teaching and learning the subject of study.

Scope of the Study
------------------------------
1) The study  of Mode of Formation of Subjects serve as preliminary to the theory of freely- faceted classification.
2)The study helps to map subjects in the universe of knowledge.
3) The study enables the prediction and understanding of various kinds of interrelations between subject and their components.
5) The study helps to device new classification schemes and revision of existing schemes.
6) The study is useful in teaching and learning the subject of study.

Dr Ranganathan first put forward four types of Mode of Formation of Subjects;

1) Dissection
It is cutting a universe of entities into parts of coordinate status. For example Universe of Life Science will be divided into Botany and Zoology. The entity of India is divided into Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, etc.

2) Denudation
It is Progressive decrease of extension and Increase of intention or with of a basic subject or isolate Idea. For example The World ➡ Asia➡ India➡Tamilnadu➡Madurai

3) Lamination
In this mode a subject is formed overlaying facet on facet. For example Agriculture in India.

4) Loose Assemblage
A complex subject is formed by the combination of two or more subject (simple or compound subject) or two or more facet.

M P Gopinath and S Seetharama further broadened the four mode of formation of subject by Ranganathan. They are; Fission, Fusion, Distillation, Lamination, Agglomeration, Loose Assemblage and
Cluster.

1) Fission
 In this  mode of formation  a basic subject or an isolate is split into subdivision which is commonly known as fragmentation. Fission can be divided into two;
a) Fission of basic subject : In this primary basic subject is divided in to secondary basic subject having coordinate status. For example Biology is divided in to Botany and Zoology.
 b) Fission of isolate ideas: In this mode isolate ideas such as geographical division is considering. It can be following four ways;
▪ As an array of division like Asia is divided in to China, India, Iran, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc.
▪ As the combination of a principal isolate and a speciator. For example Car - Ford, here Car is a principle isolate and Ford is a speciator.
▪ Dissection is the array of division of an isolate or a basic subject resulting from fission.
▪ One and only one subdivision of an isolate or a basic subject resulting from fission.

2) Fusion
In this form of mode two or more primary basic subjects are fused together in such a way that each of them loses its individuality with respect to the schedule of isolates needed to form the compound subject going with it. This gives rise to a new primary basic subject eg. Biochemistry is a primary basic subject achieved by the fusion of Biology and Chemistry.

3) Distillation
In this form of mode a pure discipline is evolved as primary basic subject from its appearance-in-action in diverse compound subject going with either different basic subject or one and the same basic subject. Distillation gives rise to primary basic subject. For Example Microbiology and Forestry

4) Lamination
Lamination is of two types

a) Lamination 1: In this form of mode “one or more isolate facets are combined with a basic subject giving rise to a compound subject”. Eg. Botany Morphology

b) Lamination 2: In this form of mode

i) Two or more species of basic subject going with the same primary basic subject are compounded over one another, giving rise to a compound basic subject.

ii) Two or more isolates from the same schedule of isolates are compounded, giving rise to the compound isolate. Eg. Urban youths

5)Agglomeration
It  is the process of the collecting together of entities into large masses without cohesion among the components. An agglomeration can be a basic subject or it can also be an isolate idea. Agglomeration may be made up of consecutive constituent or even non-consecutive constituents.

Example: Agglomeration of kind 1: Natural sciences

Example: Agglomeration of kind 2: History and Economics


6) Loose Assemblage: There are three different modes of formation of subject by loose assemblage i.e

a) Loose Assemblage 1: In this mode of formation, two or more subjects – simple or compound are studied in their mutual relation. Such a relation is called inter subject phase relation and gives rise to a complex subject. The phase relations taken under this mode of formation are –

i) General Relation: Example: The relation of mathematics and biology

ii) Bias: Example: Physics bias to biology

iii) Comparison: Example: Physics compared with chemistry

iv) Difference: Example: The difference between physics and chemistry

v) Influence: Example: The influence of physics on biology

vi) Tool: Here one subject may be used as a tool for studying another subject. Example: The application of statistics to the study of library science.

b) Loose Assemblage 2: In this mode of formation two or more isolate from one and the same schedule are brought into mutual relation. Such a relation is called the inter – schedule phase relation and give rise to a complex isolate. The phase relations taken under this mode of formation are –

i) General Relation: Example: The relation between Jainism and Hinduism

ii) Bias: Example: Bias of Bernard show to Shakespeare.

iii) Comparison: Example: The comparison between Hinduism and Buddhism

iv) Difference: Example: The difference between Hinduism and Buddhism

v) Tool

c) Loose Assemblage 3: In this mode of formation “two or more isolate taken from the one and the same array of order higher than 1 in one and the same schedule are brought into mutual relation”. Such a relation is called the “inter-array-phase relation” and gives rise to a complex isolate. The phase relations taken under this mode of formation are –

i) General: Example: The relation between UDC and DDC

ii) Bias: Example: The bias of UDC towards DDC

iii) Comparison: Example: CC compared with DDC

iv)  Difference: Example: The difference between CC and DDC

v) Influence: Example: The influence of CC on DDC

vi) Tool



7) Cluster
In the cluster form of mode, “several specialized studies on a particular phenomenon or an entity are gathered together into a field of study”. It is also known as subject bundle. Examples Social Science, Natural Science.