Re: [Refdb-users] The case against <middlename>

[Bruce D'A. <bd...@fa...>]

On Dec 9, 2003, at 12:23 PM, Marc Herbert wrote:

> Whereas the distinction between <firstname> and <lastname>, is quite
> shared across different cultures, since it can easily and formally
> defined as "given" name and "family" name, the notion of <middlename>
> seems very culture-specific, and its inclusion in RISX brings more
> issues than benefits. I suggest its suppression from the RISX DTD and
> the refdb databases (just like in other similar formats)

I tend to agree.  Quite an argument you've put together!

> * If I understand well (please confirm, Bruce?), MODS also only knows
> "family" and "given" as nameparts.
>   <http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/mods-outline.html#name>
> I did not understand the meaning of the "date" attribute (thanks in
> advance for explaining), but I guess it is not equivalent to a
> middlename :-) BTW, I like the choice of "family" and "given" as
> attributes, they look very universal, and emphase the meaning as
> opposed to a somewhat controversial "position".

You've got it.  Putting it on an attribute also allows:

<namePart>United States</namePart>
<namePart>Senate</namePart>

 From my understanding, it makes sense to remove middlename from risx, 
and change first and last to family and given, to allow for later 
internationalization (think xml:lang) and MODS.  This took my awhile to 
get comfortable with being my main language is english, but it is the 
case that in many languages the first name is in fact the family name, 
and vice versa.

Bruce

PS - What "date" attribute?