Introduction

Tables 4 and 6 are treated together since they both deal with languages. Table 4 is used with a limited span of numbers, namely 420–490 Specific languages. It provides notation for specific aspects of individual languages, such as etymology, script, orthography, phonetics, morphology usage and grammar. Table 6 provides notation for groups of languages of the world (such as Indo- European, Hellenic, African languages and Bantu languages, etc.) and for almost exhaustively all individual languages (such as Spanish, Sanskrit, Māori and Zulu). Like most of the other external tables, both can only be used on instruction.

Introduction to Table 4

Table 4 Subdivisions of Individual Languages and Language Families is the simplest and smallest auxiliary table in the DDC. Straightforward in structure and application, it is used exclusively with the main numbers for individual languages 420–490 in the Main Class 400 Language. Notation in this table, paralleling that for subdivisions under the general topic 410 Linguistics, has considerably eased number building in Main Class 400 since its introduction in the 18th Edition (1971). In Table 4, linguistic elements, problems and other aspects of linguistics are provided for separately.

Summary of Table 4

• –01–09 Standard subdivisions, etc.

• –1 Writing systems, phonology, phonetics of the standard form of the Language

• –2 Etymology of the standard form of the language

• –3 Dictionaries of the standard form of the language

• –5 Grammar of the standard form of the language

• –7 Historical and geographic variations, modern non-geographic variations

• –8 Applied linguistics

Notation from this table for such recurring aspects as etymology, grammar, or dialects can be combined, following instructions, with designated base numbers for different languages in the schedules.

In this context, the base number is a compound number comprised of the main class digit 4 followed by the Table 6 number for that particular language. For example, in base number 43 (German), 4 is the main class digit and 3 is the notation for German. The base numbers for most major languages of the world are enumerated and marked with an asterisk. With a few exceptions, there is a parallel between the base numbers for languages in Main Classes 400 Language and 800 Literature.