Recording date, language, and other distinguishing characteristics of expression (RDA 6.10-6.11)

Music Cataloging at Yale ♪ Preferred titles

Note: this page was created with music cataloging in mind.

Date of expression (6.10) | Language of expression (6.11) | Other distinguishing characteristic of the expression (6.12)

(6.10) Date of expression
Date of work is the earliest date associated an expression.
If the date of expression is not known, treat the date of the earliest manifestation embodying the expression as the date of expression.
(6.10.1.2) Sources of information
Take information on date of work from any source.
(6.10.1.3) Recording date of expression
Record the date of the expression in terms of the calendar preferred by the agency creating the data.
     LC-PCC PS: LC practice: Record dates in terms of the Gregorian calendar.
Best practices for music cataloging: Follow LC-PCC PS.
Record the date of the expression by giving the year or years alone unless a more specific date is needed to distinguish one expression from another expression.
Record date of expression as a separate element, as part of an access point, or as both.
For instructions on recording date of work as part of authorized access points representing musical works, see 6.28.1.9-6.28.1.10.
Indicate the source of information by applying the instructions at 5.8.1.3.

Best practices for music cataloging: Generally do not record date of expression in a 046 field, in either bibliographic or authority records. In bibliographic records for scores, the date of expression can be inferred from the date of publication and/or copyright date. In bibliographic records for sound recordings, date of expression is equivalent to date of capture ( 7.11.3).
(6.11) Language of expression
Language of expression is a language in which a work is expressed.
(6.11.1.2) Sources of information
Take information on language of expression from any source.
(6.11.1.3) Recording language of expression
Record the language or languages of the expression using an appropriate term or terms in a language preferred by the agency creating the data. Select terms from a standard list of names of languages, if available.
LC-PCC PS:
Form of Language Names
When recording the language of expression, base the name of the language on the form found in the current edition of MARC Code List for Languages (and the updates).
Note the following when using the code list:
1. Use the name found in boldface type.
2. Use the name for a specific language rather than the name of a language group.
3. Do not include parenthetical dates that appear with the name.
4. Retain other parenthetical qualifiers that appear with the name.
5. For the early form of a modern language that is found in an inverted form, use the early form in direct order within parentheses following the modern language.
Best practices for music cataloging: Follow LC-PCC PS.

Record language of expression as a separate element, as part of an access point, or as both.
For instructions on recording language of expression as part of the authorized access point, see 6.27.3
For instructions on recording language of expression as part of authorized access points representing expressions of musical works, see 6.28.3.6.
Indicate the source of information by applying the instructions at 5.8.1.3.

Best practices for music cataloging:
Routinely record language for the following linguistic content::
     ° Text underlying printed music (scores) (008/35-35, 041 ‡a)
     ° Sung or spoken text (sound recordings) (008/35-35, 041 ‡d)
     ° Text presented separately (e.g., librettos) (041 ‡e)
     ° Subtitles (041 ‡j)
     ° Language of accompanying text (e.g., critical commentary, program notes) (041 ‡g)

If readily ascertainable, also record:
     ° Original language of printed, sung or spoken text (041 ‡h)
     ° Original language of text presented separately (e.g., librettos) (041 ‡n)
     ° Original language of accompanying text (‡m)

Optionally, explain the language content in a 546 field (for primary language content) and/or a 500 field (for accompanying text), if deemed useful for identification and access.
(6.11.1.4) Expressions involving more than one language
If a single expression of a work involves more than one language, record each of the languages.
(6.12) Other distinguishing characteristic of the expression
Other distinguishing characteristic of the expression is a characteristic other than content type, language of expression, or date of expression. It serves to differentiate an expression from another expression of the same work.

For additional instructions on other distinguishing characteristics of expressions of musical works, see 6.18.
(6.12.1.2) Sources of information
Take information on other distinguishing characteristics of the expression from any source.
(6.12.1.3) Recording language of expression
Record other distinguishing characteristics of the expression as separate elements, as parts of access points, or as both. For instructions on recording other distinguishing characteristics of the expression as part of the authorized access point, see 6.27.3.

Indicate the source of information by applying the instructions at 5.8.1.3.
(6.12.1.4) Selected parts or excerpts
Record Selections to identify an expression consisting of selected parts or excerpts from a larger work.