Library of Congress Classification (LCC) Language & Literature

1. Overview of the LCC Language & Literature Class

The Library of Congress Classification system groups all works dealing with language, linguistics, and literature under the broad range **PZ**. This umbrella class follows the humanities section (AM) and precedes the history & geography sections (AC, DF). The classification is hierarchical: a main class (letter), a subclass (letter+number), and then more specific Cutter numbers that pinpoint the author, language, or subject.

In the LCC scheme, language and literature are not treated as a single monolith. The system distinguishes between:

• General linguistics and language families.
• Individual language studies (grammar, dictionaries, teaching).
• Literary criticism, theory, and history.
• Specific national, regional, or period literature.

This granularity assists libraries in shelving related materials together while still providing a logical flow from theory to practice.

2. Primary Numerical Ranges (PZ)

The LCC outline for language and literature can be summarized as follows:

• P General Linguistics, Phonetics, Syntax, Language Classification.
• PA Classical & Modern Greek, Latin, and related languages.
• PBPD Modern European languages (e.g., English, French, German, Spanish).
• PEPJ Languages of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
• PKPM Asian, African, and Indigenous languages not covered elsewhere.
• PN Literature (General)Literary criticism, theory, collections, and comparative literature.
• PQPS Literature of specific language groups (e.g., French, German, English, American).
• PTPZ Literatures of other languages and countries (including Slavic, Scandinavian, Iberian, and minor languages).

3. Important SubClasses and Their Topics

P General Linguistics

• 001649: Language theory, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax.
• 650659: Comparative linguistics, language families, historical linguistics.
• 660679: Applied linguisticslanguage teaching, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics.

PA Classical Languages & Literature

• PA40PA703: Greek language, grammar, dictionaries, and literature.
• PA700PA994: Latin language, grammar, dictionaries, and literature.

PBPD Individual Modern European Languages

Each letter range addresses a specific language group. Example:

• PB Modern English (including Old English and Middle English).
• PC Romance languages (Italian, Portuguese, Romanian).
• PD Germanic languages other than English (German, Dutch, Scandinavian).

PEPJ Languages of the World Outside Europe

• PE Languages of the Americas.
• PF Languages of the Caribbean & Central America.
• PG Languages of the African continent.

PN General Literature

• PN1PN1999: Literary theory, criticism, collections, dramatic works, poetry.
• PN1995PN1999: Periodical literature, bibliographies.

PQ English & American Literature

• PQ1PQ9999: General works on English literature.
• PQ2000PQ8685: Literature of the United States, including poetry, drama, fiction.

PRPS Literature of Other European Languages

• PR English literature (historical works, author-specific).
• PS American literature (including AfricanAmerican & Latino authors).
• PT German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Slavic literature.
• PU Literature in other languages not elsewhere classified.

PTPZ Literature of NonEuropean Languages

• PT Germanic languages; includes German, Dutch, Scandinavian.
• PQ English & Australian literature.
• PR English literature (different from PQ, used for older classifications).
• PZ Childrens literature, folklore, and works in translation.

4. Practical Tips for Applying the Schedule

1. Identify the primary subject. Is the work about language structure (P) or a piece of literature (PNPZ)?
2. Determine the language or national focus. Use the appropriate letter range (e.g., PB for English language studies, PQ for English literature).
3. Apply the correct numerical range. Consult the official LCC schedule to find the exact number that matches the topic, era, or author.
4. Use Cutter numbers. After the class number, add a Cutter number for the authors surname and a second Cutter for the title when necessary.
5. Check for special collections. Some libraries create local extensions (e.g., for indigenous languages) that fit within the broader range but have additional letters or numbers.

Example: A monograph on 19thcentury French poetry might be classified as PA1000.F7 (PA for French language, 1000 for 19thcentury literature, .F7 for the authors Cutter).

5. Additional References and Tools

• The full Library of Congress Classification Outline PDF.
• Online Classify tool for generating LCC numbers.
• National Library of Congress MARC standards for cataloging.
• Cataloguing and Classification: An Introduction by Lois Mai Chan a practical guide for library staff.