Information Technology Reference
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quency of occurrence of words and phrases—can be understood from the
semantics and syntactics already developed. The semantics derived from
Saussure can contribute to a model for understanding transformations as
effects on the meaning or signified of document and query terms. The syn-
tactics developed from information theory can give an understanding of
the relative frequency of documents recalled by word and phrase search-
ing. The congruences emerging suggest a validation of each approach.
Contributions are obtained from both linguistics and information theory,
and each discipline makes a distinctive contribution.
1
Full-Text Description
We can derive a suggestive indication, if not confirmation, of the corre-
spondence between language of discourse and language of representation
for full-text indexing of syntagma and paradigm as well as the message
and messages for selection from a further congruence between pedagogic
techniques. We illustrated the relation of syntagma to paradigm by cut-
ting words from a sheet of written paper. We could also illustrate the dis-
tinction between messages for selection and the message by considering
the process of cutting reversed in temporal sequence. Similarly, the effects
of full-text indexing can be demonstrated by cutting words from a sheet
of paper and creating an ordered index from the cut words.
2
Both the cut-
ting and the creation of an alphabetically ordered index can be conducted
syntactically, working solely on patterns. The simplicity and materiality
of the common method of exposition compels recognition of the corre-
spondence and indicates its significance.
Computer operations represented by the pedagogic technique substi-
tute a machine process for direct human labor and speed the task, pos-
sibly also accomplishing it more exactly. Although humanly constructed
technology enables computer operations (Warner 2004, 5-35), the gestalt
of the computer (Rosenberg 1974)—in the sense of a mysterious object
held within relatively enclosed communities—may have disguised the
simplicity of primitive transformations. The diffusion of technologies has
rendered that aspect of the gestalt less potent, although it may remain
necessary to reconstruct particular operations from the behavior of the
system or from discursive account because we lack access to the source
code.
