Heidrun, as to the "why", I have no idea. Perhaps, it had to do with way computers read letters only, and by putting a space between them, it could read better. For instance, at least under AACR2/LCRI, Ph.D is treated as though it were two words; therefore, we transcribe it as Ph. D.
On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 9:30 AM, Heidrun Wiesenmüller < wiesenmuel...@hdm-stuttgart.de> wrote: > Thanks, Gene. I hadn't realized spaces between initials have already > been common practice in authority records for such a long time (oh dear, > still so many things I don't know about Anglo-American cataloguing...). > > But why are the two cases treated differently, in the first place? > > I know that ISBD calls for no spaces (A.6.5: "Initials and acronyms are > recorded without internal spaces, regardless of how they are presented on > the resource."), a rule which we've been happily ignoring in Germany. So > maybe that's the reason for RDA 1.7.6. But then, why do it differently in > authority records? I suppose there must be an advantage in having internal > spaces in authority data (easier for indexing?), and then I don't see why > the same advantage shouldn't apply to similar data in the bibliographic > description. > > So, it's still a bit of a mystery to me, and I'd be glad if somebody could > enlighten me. > > Heidrun > > > > Gene Fieg wrote: > > As I understand it, and I could be wrong here. In the description of the > item in hand, there are no spaces between initials, but in the authority > record there are. This has been the common practice at least since AACR2 > and I think it is in the NACO manual. > > > On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 8:01 AM, Heidrun Wiesenmüller < > wiesenmuel...@hdm-stuttgart.de> wrote: > >> I am puzzled by the treatment of initials in names of persons under RDA. >> >> According to AACR2, I believe there was never a space between two or more >> initials, regardless whether the initials appeared in the bibliographic >> description (e.g. in the statement of responsibility) or in a heading or >> reference. An example in 1.1.F4. reads "edited by P.C. Wason and P.N. >> Johnson-Laird", and one in 22.5A1. reads "Byatt, A.S.". So, the treatment >> was consistent. >> >> Now in RDA, initials in the bibliographic description are still >> transcribed without internal spaces, e.g. "edited by P.C. Wason and P.N. >> Johnson-Laird" (example in 1.7.6). Yet they are transcribed with spaces in >> preferred or variant names of persons, e.g. >> "Rowling, J. K." (example in 8.5.6.1). >> >> I find it difficult to understand why the rule was changed with respect >> to preferred/variant names only. Wouldn't it be much easier to apply the >> same custom in both cases? >> >> In Germany, we've always put spaces between initials in names of persons, >> regardless whether these appear in the bibliographic description or in >> headings/references. I think this is mainly due to matters of indexing. >> Many systems here simply ignore full stops in indexing. So without internal >> spaces we would end up with "PC" in the index instead of "P" and "C". >> >> Heidrun >> >> >> -- >> --------------------- >> Prof. Heidrun Wiesenmueller M.A. >> Stuttgart Media University >> Faculty of Information and Communication >> Wolframstr. 32, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany >> www.hdm-stuttgart.de/bi >> > > > > -- > Gene Fieg > Cataloger/Serials Librarian > Claremont School of Theology > gf...@cst.edu > > Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Lincoln University do not > represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information > or content contained in this forwarded email. The forwarded email is that > of the original sender and does not represent the views of Claremont School > of Theology or Claremont Lincoln University. It has been forwarded as a > courtesy for information only. > > > > -- > --------------------- > Prof. Heidrun Wiesenmueller M.A. > Stuttgart Media University > Faculty of Information and Communication > Wolframstr. 32, 70191 Stuttgart, Germanywww.hdm-stuttgart.de/bi > > -- Gene Fieg Cataloger/Serials Librarian Claremont School of Theology gf...@cst.edu Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Lincoln University do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information or content contained in this forwarded email. The forwarded email is that of the original sender and does not represent the views of Claremont School of Theology or Claremont Lincoln University. It has been forwarded as a courtesy for information only.
