The Classification of Literature in the Dewey Decimal Classification

The classification of literature by language, while apparently eminently sensible, can fragment national literatures and create groupings in which parts of the literatures of other nations are subordinated to that of the country of the "mother tongue." Classifying literature in this way reflects, and implicitly endorses, literary colonialism. The exception which the Dewey Classification makes of American literature in English undermines the rule, and is not matched by similar treatment for African literature, for example. A more flexible approach to classifying literature is called for, which will recognize place as the ground of community and culture while not forgetting the importance of language as an element in national and cultural identity.