Principles of Terminology Development - …student.sun.ac.za/aegus/SU_CLAST/presentations/Principles...

Principles of Terminology Development

Dr Mariëtta Alberts

Pan South African Language Board

Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008

IntroductionNational Language Bodies (NLBs)Technical Committees (TCs)StandardizationSpelling and OrthographyLexicography vs. TerminographyTerminology as a tool in language developmentInformation technology - the future of language development


National Language Bodies (NLBs):

Are the custodians of the languages

Determine the standards of the languages

Empower, promote and develop languages

Verify and authenticate terms

Work through Technical Committees (TCs)


Advisory capacity of NLBs:

Technical Committees (TCs) advise the NLBs and PanSALB on:

StandardisationTerminology developmentDictionary needsLiterature and MediaResearchEducationOther language related matters


Standardization

Crystal (1985) defines standardisation as a natural development of a standard languagein a speech community or an attempt by a community to impose one dialect as a standard.According to Hudson (1980) standardisation is a direct and deliberate intervention by society to create a standard language where before there were just ‘dialects’ (non-standard varieties).


Standardization (cont.)

Standard languages are usually associated with prestige and cut across regional differences, providing a unified means of communication.The standard language is an institutionalised norm which can be used in mass media, economic sector, education, science and technology: Concept Symbol Linguistic representation• I i 1 one, een, eins, uno, tee, nngwe, inye, ukunye

• • II ii 2 two, twee, zwei, duo, pedi, bobedi, isibini, isibili


Standardization (cont.)

Standardization is necessary to facilitate communication, provide a uniform form for learning material and dictionaries, and the establishment of agreed orthography and spelling rules.Standardised terms ensure exact communication among subject specialists themselves, but also between subject specialists and laypeople.


Standardised termsThe increasing use of non-standard language in the classroom often has dire consequences for learners and for language developmentalimentary canaldigestive tractgastrointestinal tract


StandardizationUnified spelling and orthography systems should be created for the languages selected for standardization. Lexicographers and terminographers document the vocabulary and terminology of the standard variety of a language.Lexicographers and terminographers adhere to the spelling and orthography rules of the standard variety of a language when compiling dictionaries.Language practitioners and language users need standardised spelling and orthography rules.


Modernisation

No living language is static. A living language No living language is static. A living language changechange and therefore it needs to be and therefore it needs to be modernised.modernised.Modernisation entails that the spelling and Modernisation entails that the spelling and orthography rules of a language need to be orthography rules of a language need to be revisedrevised on a on a regular basisregular basis..An orthography is to literacy what numeration An orthography is to literacy what numeration is to numeracy (EN Emenanjo, 1998)is to numeracy (EN Emenanjo, 1998)Language modernisation is a Language modernisation is a coco--operativeoperativeventure between government agencies (i.e. venture between government agencies (i.e. language bureaux) and the speakers of the language bureaux) and the speakers of the language.language.


Revision of spelling and orthography rules

PanSALB requested the National Language Bodies in July 2004 to revise the current (DoE) spelling and orthography rules.The Technical Committees: Standardization of the nine African Language NLBs revised the current rules.Consultative meetings were held with stakeholders to discuss draft rules.The process was finalized in 2007 and PanSALB is in the process of publishing the revised spelling and orthography rules (2008).The revision of spelling and orthography rules is an ongoing process and the NLBs will immediately after publication start with the revision process. Publication would be at the end of the 5 year term of office of NLBs.


Lexicography vs. Terminography

Lexi = word -graphy = to writeLexicography is the practice of compiling dictionaries.Dictionaries can be compiled on any aspect of language, i.e. general words, explanatory dictionaries, translation dictionaries, slangdictionaries, etymological dictionaries, dialectaldictionaries, technical dictionariesTerminography is the practice of compiling technical dictionaries that are subject related.


Terminology development

Terminologists document terminology with the aim of providing subject specialists and laypeople with standardised terms that denote the corresponding concepts.

It is of the utmost importance to use standardised terms in subject related work.

billion: 109 or 1012 ?Concept English/German American/French

109 milliard billion1012 billion trillion


What is terminology?The set of practices and methods used for the collection, description and presentation of terms;

A theory, i.e. the set of premises, arguments and conclusions required for explaining the relationship between concepts and terms which are fundamental for a coherent terminological activity;

A vocabulary of a special subject field. (Sager 1990;3; Cluver 1989:146)


Terminology: Basic principles

Cognitive dimension

Linguistic dimension

Communicative dimension


Basic principles: Cognitive dimension

Point of departure is concept.

Principally subject or domain oriented rather than language oriented.

There is a one to one relationship between concept and term to ensure exact communication.

Terminology is a standardising process.


Terminological triangle:


Definitions

If a concept is defined, the exact meaning can be determined: .__________.A definition is therefore supplied to designate the concept: a straight line is the shortest distance between two pointsInformation on the concept is then gained from the definition to name such concept or to coin a term: straight line: reguitlyn, umugqa oqondo thwi, umgca ongqalileyo, umugca locondzile, umudathwi, molatlhamalalo, mothalothwii, mola o otlolohileng, mutalo tswititi, layini-thwi, layini yo ololoka


arsonist vs. pyromaniac

The terms arsonist and pyromaniac describe a person who sets fire to an object, but:

An arsonist is a criminal who deliberately sets fire to something, e.g. a building.

A pyromaniac is a person who cannot control the desire to set fire to things, often because of a mental illness.


Basic Principles: Linguistic dimension

Primary term creationSource language (SL) / documentation language (DL)Linguistic or non-linguistic representation of conceptConcept formulation = monolingualNew discoveries/development, restructuring of knowledge

Secondary term creationTarget language(s)Transfer of knowledge = bilingual / multilingualSubject to stricter guidelines (word-forming principles)Dominated by natural language


Supplying of term equivalentsTransliteration

Using the classic stem (usually Latin or Greek) seolfor → silabar → silbar → silfr → silubr: silver, silwer, silibera, silefera, selefera, isilivere, isiliva

Borrowing (loan words)From any living language: book / boek / puku

Total embedding (origin: e.g. Latin, Italian)Adoption of term: bone fide; sub iudice (Legal);

vena maxillaris (Medical); andante; allegro (Music)Extension of meaning: mouse (rodent; computer device)Neologisms: virtual network; intranet; internet; e-mail; unleaded petrol (lead-free* petrol) computer: rekenaar / calculator: sakrekenaarkomper/rekenaar; beeldradio/televisie


Basic principles: Communicative dimension

Transfer of knowledge and information through terminologyCommunication usually linguistic (written, spoken), but also non-linguistic (symbols, gestures, icons, mnemonic signs, videos, colours, …)Terminology involved in information transfer/retrievalInformation transfer and retrieval/assimilation best through first languageTerminology should be known/understood by author/sender and reader/recipient of information


The role of terminology:Language development - functional languages in all domains/subject areas

Information retrieval through mother tongue/ first language (acquire vs. convey)

Standardisation: misunderstanding vs. exact communication

Cultural differences:raisin = grape or dried fruit?

private school vs. public school

billion = 109 or = 1012

Consultation: subject specialists, language practitioners, lay people, stakeholders, members of National Language Bodies, etc.


Terminology as a discipline is

at the service of the language policy of the reigning government, e.g. monolingual, bilingual or multilingual;

governed by the language policy of the country

previous dispensation: bilingual technical dictionaries

present dispensation: multilingual term lists


Role of Terminology in language development

Availability of multilingual polythematic terminology: indicator of development

Specialised communication has a central axle or hub in terminology

Streamlined translation and interpreting services provide competitive advantages

Standardised terminology contributes to quality of translations, interpreting and subject related communication


Client

Head of Terminology Office

System Development & ResearchNeeds assessment, prioritization

Terminography SectionExcerpt SL terms

Define SL concepts

Data management & PublicationPrint dictionary SL & TLs

Terminology SectionSupply translation equivalents in TLs

Natural Sciences Life Sciences Human Sciences Commercial Sciences IsiXhosa Tshivenda Sesotho Afrikaans

isiZulu Xitsonga Sesotho sa Leboa

IsiNdebele Setswana

Siswati

Multilingual terminology list (SL + TLs)

Consultation - Source Language Consultation - Target language(s)

Subject specialists Linguists Language UsersSubject specialists Linguists Language Users


Compilation of terminology list is a time-consuming taskA task that needs commitment and devotion from

subject specialiststrained terminologistslanguage practitioners, linguists (e.g. NLBs)

End-result:enhancement of subject areabetter / exact communicationdevelopment of languages into functional languages


The Envisaged Web-enabled Lexicography and Terminology Management Model

INTERNET (via HLT interface)

TERMLISTS COLLABORATORSDICTIONARIES USERSCD-ROMS LINGUISTSON-LINE DICTIONARIES SUBJECT SPECIALISTS

GENERAL PUBLIC

NATIONAL WORD AND TERMBANK(via HLT interface)

WORD AND TERMBANKADMINISTRATOR

EXTERNALINPUT

TERMINOLOGISTS

TRANSLATORS

HLTinterfaceEXTERNAL

INPUT

LEXICOGRAPHERS 11 NLUs


Dissemination of terminological information

Direct queries to national termbank (e.g. Intranet,TCS homepage (flat files))Online dictionaries on Internet or CD ROMIndirect queries to national termbank via e-mail, telephone or faxPublications (term lists, technical dictionaries)Documents containing terms: text books, dissertations, manuals, journals, brochures, etc.Mass communication media (radio, press, TV…)


PanSALB skills development terminology training programme

TCS, NLS, DACMultilingual polythematicnational term bank

PanSALB

National Lexicography UnitsMonolingual general dictionaries

National Language BodiesVerify and authenticate terms(need terminographic guidelines)

Re-skilling ofunemployedand otherlanguageworkers

Provincial Language Committees

Subject specialistsIndividuals, private and public organizations


HLT virtual networkSA Government has approved the development of a human language technology (HLT) virtual networkAll lexicography and terminology endeavours will be part of HLT virtual networkMultilingual terms available on HLT virtual network to end-users (subject specialists, students, language practitioners, general public)Spellcheckers are made available in official languagesMicrosoft Interface Packs (LIP) for XP and Vista platforms


T h e fo l lo w in g d ia g r a m d e m o n s t ra te s th e v a r io u s re la t io n s h ip s :

C e n t r e f o rH u m a n L a n g u a g e T e c h n o lo g ie s

C e n t r a l p la n n in g , c o o r d in a t io n &c o n s u l ta t io n

D ig i ta l T e x t a n d S p e e c h C o r p o r aA c q u is i t io n , e n h a n c e m e n t , m a n a g e m e n t

N L P S o f tw a re d e v e lo p m e n t

H L T T r a in in gN L UP

C o m p a n yA

U n iv e r s i t yD

N L UZ

U n iv e r s i t yC

G o v tD e p t B

U n iv e r s i t yA

C o m p a n yB

R e s o u rc e s a n d E x p e r t is e to fe e d in to

N a t io n a lL e x ic o g ra p h ic

U n it s( N L U s )

G o v e r n m e n tD e p a r tm e n ts

H L T p r o d u c ts fo re - g o v e r n a n c e

e - le a rn in ge - c o m m e r c e

A c a d e m icr e s e a rc h a n dd e v e lo p m e n t

P r iv a te s e c to rd e v e lo p m e n tIC T ( H L T ) jo b

c r e a t io ns o f tw a re d e v .e - c o m m e r c e

M E D IA S A B C

G o v tD e p t A


Thank you!

Dr Mariëtta AlbertsPanSALBPrivate Bag X08ARCADIA 0007 [email protected]: 012 341 9638Fax: 012 341 5938

mailto:[email protected]

Principles of Terminology Development - …student.sun.ac.za/aegus/SU_CLAST/presentations/Principles...

Documents

Transcript of Principles of Terminology Development - …student.sun.ac.za/aegus/SU_CLAST/presentations/Principles...