Facet analysis is an established methodology for building classifications
and subject indexing systems, but has been less rigorously applied to thesauri. The
process of creating a compatible thesaurus from the schedules of the Bliss Bibliographic
Classification 2nd edition highlights the ways in which the conceptual
relationships in a subject field are handled in the two types of retrieval languages.
An underlying uniformity of theory is established, and the way in which software
can manage the relationships is discussed. The manner of displaying verbal
expressions of concepts (vocabulary control) is also considered, but is found to be
less well controlled in the classification than in the thesaurus. Nevertheless, there is
good reason to think that facet analysis provides a sound basis for structuring a
variety of knowledge organization tools.