The Impact of naming practices among North American Indians on name authority control

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to discover the impact of naming practices among North American Indians on name authority control. In order to address all the aspects, the main problem was divided into the following subproblems: 1. What are the naming practices among North American Indians? 2. Are North American Indian names found in the publication environment? 3. Is it necessary to standardize North American Indian names? 4. What are the authority control rules for North American Indian names and are they adequate? 5. How are North American Indian names presented in national authority files? North American Indian names showed three different forms: European, traditional, and mixed. Name sequences and name sets were also identified. If these name sequences and sets are found in the publication environment, provision should be made for the name forms in authority control systems. All of the sample North American Indian name forms (as well as names sets) were found in the identified academic texts, popular books, children’s books, and textbooks. So these forms and sequences had to either fit the current authority control system or the system would have to be modified to meet the new names. The thesis documented how Native American Indian name forms present specific problems of standardization. The necessity of addressing these problems was confirmed. The rules in two of the central authority control reference sources, AACR2R and Names of persons: national usages for entry in catalogues, were examined. Deficiencies were identified with regard to North American Indian names and changes suggested. Presentation of North American Indian names in national bibliographies was a final test to determine the impact of North American Indian names on name authority control. The forms of North American Indian names in the national bibliographies studied varied substantially, which is an indication of the lack of standardization of the names.