List - Subfield Codes

The Descriptors (DE) field of the MLA International Bibliography database has several subfields, each with its own field abbreviation or subfield code, that can help to focus your search. The subfield codes are hidden in the Descriptors field and do not display in retrieved records.

Subfield Codes

In most cases, it is not necessary to specify a descriptor subfield when searching the MLA International Bibliography. Subfield codes are useful only when a single index term can be used in more than one way. For example, to find records where "novel" is the genre (GEN) of the subject work, as opposed to records where the word "novel" might appear elsewhere, type novel gen.

If you wish to include subfield codes in your search statement, they can be used instead of the Descriptors field abbreviation. Hyphenate the terms you want to search. For example, to find records about Spanish literature, use the subfield code for the subfield Specific Literature (SLT) in your search statement. Type spanish-literature slt.

The three-character subfield codes and their corresponding names are as follows:

SLN Specific Language

SLT Specific Literature

FLK Folklore

LIN Linguistic Topic

GLT General Literature Topic

MED Performance Medium

LWK Alternate Language of Literary Work

LOC Place

TIM Time Period

SAU Subject Author

SWK Work

WTR English Language Title of a Foreign Language Work

GRP Group

GEN Genre

LFE Literary Feature

LTC Literary Technique

LTH Literary Theme/Motif

LPR Process

SCP Scholarly Theory/Discipline/Type

SAP Scholarly Approach

SDV Scholarly Tool/Device

SCH Scholar