Xenoglossophobia

taming the fear of all the jargon

Authors

Keywords:

RDA, jargon, metadata standards, RDA Toolkit, RDA Registry

Abstract

Feeling overwhelmed by cataloguing jargon? This paper examines xenoglossophobia - the anxiety caused by unfamiliar jargon - within the evolving landscape of bibliographic standards. It traces the evolution of terminology from AACR2 through FRBR and the IFLA Library Reference Model, highlighting how changes have overwhelmed professionals. The author advocates confidence-building strategies, open-access resources like the RDA Registry, and cross-disciplinary learning, particularly from computer science. By encouraging collaboration, self-service strategies, and continuous learning the article advocates for sustained professional development to ensure adaptability and resilience in metadata workflows. Make jargon work for you, not against you!

References

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'court reporter corporate body' (2019) in RDA Toolkit. Available at: https://access.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-b3a42032-07ee-31b4-ba20-df8aec037841 [Accessed 16 December 2025]

Descriptive Cataloguing of Rare Materials: RDA Edition (2023). RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee. Available at: https://rbms.info/dcrm/dcrmr/ [Accessed 16 December 2025]

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Maciejewski Cortez, A. (2024) ‘What is Xenoglossophobia (and how to cure it)?’ Lingoda Blog, 10 January. Available at: https://www.lingoda.com/blog/en/what-is-xenoglossophobia [Accessed 16 December 2025]

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Published

2025-12-17 — Updated on 2025-12-18

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Articles