multiple indexes (an existential query)
Randy Allen Harris
over the net to solicit a public reply, in case others are similarly
wracked with angst over the issue, and because it fits tangentially with a
recent thread.
A good many academic books have separate indexes,--e.g., one for "subjects"
and one for "names". The more indexes there are, the more aggravating I
find it (one linguistics book I know has four separate indexes, for
subjects, names, rules & principles, and languages). But even two adds
significantly to my search time, especially since they usually come with
virtually no navigational help (tabs, headers, whatever).
Why? Are there readers who prefer this? Are multiple indexes cheaper to
produce? Are some indexers sadists? Why?
-------======= * =======-------
Randy Allen Harris
ra...@watarts.uwaterloo.ca
Rhetoric and Professional Writing, Department of English, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1, CANADA; 519 885-1211, x5362; FAX: 519 884-8995
Lori Lathrop
> This is mostly for Lori, the cybertechcomm indexmeister, but I'm asking
> over the net to solicit a public reply, in case others are similarly
> wracked with angst over the issue, and because it fits tangentially with a
> recent thread.
> A good many academic books have separate indexes,--e.g., one for
> "subjects" and one for "names". The more indexes there are, the more
> aggravating I find it (one linguistics book I know has four separate
> indexes, for subjects, names, rules & principles, and languages).
> But even two adds significantly to my search time, especially since
> they usually come with virtually no navigational help (tabs, headers,
> whatever).
> Why? Are there readers who prefer this? Are multiple indexes cheaper
> to produce? Are some indexers sadists? Why?
I try not to post messages that may result in controversy, and ... it's
difficult to answer your question without saying some things that could
create some controversy in professional indexing circles. But ... here
goes ....
The truth of the matter is that some professional indexers and members
of the American Society of Indexers (ASI) were/are librarians who are
infatuated with classification schemes, and they think they're being
creative when they design multiple indexes. Of course, end users don't
appreciate their creativity as much as other like-minded librarian types.
The INDEX-L mailing list recently had some discussion on this issue
after an indexer mentioned that she preferred to create multiple indexes
and thought they were more useful to end users. Several other indexers
disagreed; I was one of them. I wish I'd had your post at that time!
Would it be okay with you if I forward your post to INDEX-L?
Lori Lathrop ----------> INTERNET:7662...@compuserve.com
Lathrop Media Services
P.O. Box 808
Georgetown, CO 80444
Joan Stout
> A good many academic books have separate indexes,--e.g., one for
> "subjects" and one for "names". The more indexes there are, the more
> aggravating I find it (one linguistics book I know has four separate
> indexes, for subjects, names, rules & principles, and languages).
> But even two adds significantly to my search time, especially since
> they usually come with virtually no navigational help (tabs, headers,
> whatever).
>
> Why? Are there readers who prefer this? Are multiple indexes cheaper
> to produce? Are some indexers sadists? Why?
I'm sure that some indexers are sadists, but I hope they are a small
minority. ;-) I'm a technical writer, but I also do freelance indexing,
and I contract for about 12 academic books per year. If I prepare
separate indexes for one of these books, it's because the publisher
asks me to. That's what they want to contract for, and I can take it
or leave it. I always take it. 8-) When the publisher wants separate
name and subject indexes, it's because the book has an abundance of
citations, and they think the names will clutter the index. They also
have the impression that most people who look up names are interested
*only* in names, i.e. academics looking for themselves and their
colleagues in the index. ;-) (No flames, please, this is what an editor
at a major publisher told me.)
Multiple indexes are not cheaper, at least when I do them. I get a
significantly higher rate for preparing multiple indexes.
Joan
<-------------------------------------------------------------------->
| Joan Stout | "I worked as a technical writer...editing |
| Freelance Indexer | manuals...on how to dispose of sewage in |
| Technical Writer | permafrost; we all had to wear white shirts |
| sas...@unx.sas.com | - that was mandatory - and I was fired at |
| SAS Institute, Inc. | the end of two weeks for spending too much |
| Cary, NC | time staring out the window." (Edward Abbey) |
<-------------------------------------------------------------------->
Karen Kay
> The truth of the matter is that some professional indexers and members
> of the American Society of Indexers (ASI) were/are librarians who are
> infatuated with classification schemes, and they think they're being
> creative when they design multiple indexes. Of course, end users don't
> appreciate their creativity as much as other like-minded librarian types.
I think it all depends on the book. I know that I have frequently
been grateful for multiple indices, but there other times when I
have found them aggravating. I think that overall I have been
extremely grateful more often than I have been annoyed, though.
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Don M Chaffee
Yes, some indexers are sadists, but they're also probably inexperienced
or under explicit order from either the author or the publisher.
Certain kinds of texts lend themselves to multiple indexes (Genealogies,
for instance, benefit from the separation of names and places, I think).
Most of the time, when you see multiple indexes, it's the fault of the
author and the publisher. Authors don't like to index, so they either get
a grad student to do it (one who's never done it before, or only done it
for a spouse's thesis) or pay to have the publisher hire a professional.
The editor at the publishing house may not know diddley about indexes.
Either way, it seems easier to do multiples (that way, you can have two
people indexing at once, saving time rather than paper).
In short, there are lots of reasons. Ease of use seldom determines the
type or quality of an index. Cost always does, but shouldn't. Time always
does, but shouldn't.
If a book is worth publishing, it's worth indexing. If it's worth
indexing, it's worth indexing well. If you "haven't got the time" or
"can't afford" the best index, you (the author/editor/publisher) have no
business being involved in the production of books.
Don Chaffee
Riparian Writes
Wellesley Hills, MA 02181
Don M Chaffee
...
>Multiple indexes are not cheaper, at least when I do them. I get a
>significantly higher rate for preparing multiple indexes.
I LIKE your attitude! If more indexers had it, unstead of rolling over
and playing dead when publishers complain about the cost of your indexes,
we'd all be in better shape! (make that "instead.")
I still think we should charge only by the hour, including naps, coffee
breaks, quick trips to the market, and drive time to the publisher's
office. Oh, and walking the puppy. $40-50/hour sounds about right, don't
you think?
Don