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

[Marc H. <mar...@en...>]

On Tue, 9 Dec 2003, Markus wrote:

> However, the discussion about middlename forgets one fact that we
> can't simply ignore. While it might be desirable to drop middlename in
> order to make the markup more culture-agnostic, the main purpose of
> RefDB is to format bibliographies according to publisher's
> specifications. If you don't like middle names or middle initials,
> you'll have to file a motion with the publishers of scientific
> journals to remove these. In the life sciences approx. 99% of all
> journals use middle names or middle initials regardless of the
> cultural background of the authors. I've mentioned it previously that
> my friend Raman (who insists that this is his full name) appears as
> C.S. Raman on his papers for the sole purpose of having two initials.

Thanks for supporting my argument with this excellent exemple ! :-)


> RefDB must support middle names if it wants to be useful in the life
> sciences.

Sure.


On Tue, 9 Dec 2003, Bruce wrote:

> 4)
>
> <given>James C.</given>
> <family>Scott</family>
>


> I find all of them problematic, frankly, because we don't have a way to
> know whether a name is initialized or not.  But I wonder if 5 wouldn't
> be a solution.  I personally would code it as 4 and expect the software
> and to figure out how to format it on output.

That's exactly what I am suggesting.

I am NOT=A0asking to remove the concept of <middlename> down to every
refdb line code: I am just suggesting to postpone this concept to the
rendering stage, so it does not spoil the data model.

Cheers,

Marc.


PS: Markus, please do not let ugly bibliographers "standardize" our
names! :-( At least not up to databases.