[DCRM-L] Glossary Terms--Title

[Deborah J. Leslie]

I would actually like to go the other route, that of defining chief
title as something that stands on its own. I think the definition in the
glossary is adequate: 

The distinguishing word or sequence of words that names a publication,
[as given on the title page (or substitute)].  This definition excludes
alternative titles, parallel titles, other title information, and
subsidiary title information preceding the chief title on the title
page, such exclusion resulting usually in a short title

and if we left off the clause "as found on the title page," then that
would eliminate the circularity by having title proper and title page
refer back to chief title.

I also find the concept of chief title extremely useful. To draw on an
example I use in teaching: "Here foloweth a notable treatyse and full
necessary to an crysten men for to nowe and it is named the Ordynarye of
crystyanyte or of crysten men," the chief title is clearly "The
ordynarye of crystyanyte or of crysten men."  I think it is an essential
skill to be able to recognize the chief title as the foundation from
which title propers, alternative titles, uniform titles flow. 

________________________
Deborah J. Leslie
Folger Library
djleslie at folger.edu



-----Original Message-----
From: Laurence Creider [mailto:lcreider at lib.NMSU.Edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, 11 January, 2005 15:12
To: Deborah J. Leslie
Cc: dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu
Subject: RE: [DCRM-L] Glossary Terms--Title


I don't have a solution to the circularity of the terms for various
types
of titles in the glossary, but I would like to suggest eliminating the
term "chief title" from the glossary and the text.  I realize this may
be
kicking over a hornet nest.  However, the term does not appear in AACR2,
and I have never understood exactly what the term contributes to our
discussion other than an expansion of "title proper." Perhaps someone
else
can explain, and in the process, we might arrive either at a more useful
definition of the term or a decision to eliminate it.


Laurence S. Creider
Head, General Cataloging Unit
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM  88003
Work: 505-646-4707
Fax: 505-646-7477
lcreider at lib.nmsu.edu