4.2 - Terminology

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Terminology

Terminology is concerned with the naming of concepts in specialized domains of knowledge. This field has developed rapidly since the middle of the twentieth century. There has been a debate as to whether TERMINOLOGY can truly be considered a linguistic discipline. Some say that it cannot as it is a mere collection of practices based on methodologies, that deal with the creation, collection, explication and presentation of terms. Whatever might be the case, terminology clearly has very close ties to other areas of applied linguistics, including specialized translation.

There are three key notions associated with terminology, namely concept, definition and term. Let's have a look at each of them:

CONCEPTS are units of thought that are used to organize our knowledge and perceptions of the world around us. We tend to understand concepts not in isolation but rather in relation to other concepts, in a structured system. (Wright 1997, 89)

DEFINITION (of a concept) is what provides a bridge between the concept and the term that is used to designate it. A terminological definition must be as detailed as is necessary for the particular term.

TERMS are the linguistic designations (labels) assigned to concepts. Because terminology deals with specialized domains of knowledge, terms refer to the discrete conceptual entities, properties, activities or relations that constitute knowledge in a particular domain.
(Baker and Saldanha 2011, 286)

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Reflection #1: What is the scope of terminology? What is the difference between a concept and term?

 

Suppose we have a 50,000 word medical project with a deadline of one week. In this project, three translators and three editors (i.e., six people total) will work as a team on the project. With this in mind, customers should provide glossaries, if they have one available. Currently, many CAT tools are integrated with the so called TERMINOLOGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TMS). This means that translators may have access to the so called TERMBASE (database of terms) while they work on translation assignments.
A termbase will allow the team to unify terms among so many people, so “staff” will not be translated as “personál”, but “zaměstnanci”, because this is the client's wish. As such it has to be respected, so it will be entered in the termbase. And this is how it should be with all terms in the project that have two or more possible translations.

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Reflection #2: Why do you think it is important to respect terminology that a client is used to?


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