Terminology. International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Issues in Specialized Communication - Volume 1, Issue 2, 1994

Beginning in 1940, the Periodic Table of the Elements has been expanded by nearly 20% through the synthesis and identification of the seventeen elements beyond uranium (atomic number 92). Since the discoverers have the duty and right to propose names, this has been done for each of these elements. These proposed names have been endorsed by IUPAC for the first eleven of these elements (atomic numbers 93-103, inclusive), and thus these can be considered to be the official names for these eleven elements. Official names for the next six elements (104—109) await sanction by IUPAC. Of these six elements, the name for element 104 remains under dispute, the name for element 105 seems to be generally acceptable, and the privilege of naming elements 106-109 has been assigned to designated teams of investigators on the basis of an investigation by an adjudicatory body, the Transfermium Working Group appointed by IUPAP and IUPAC.

The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that classical concept theories and hybrids thereof are empirically inadequate for the terminological analysis and description of concepts in a number of sciences. Examples of the classification and definition of minerals in the field of mineralogy are used to illustrate that the defining features of mineral species are typically the attributes of prototype categories; i.e., they are, amongst others, culturally, perceptually, and bodily based, idealized and essentially interactional and functional in nature. Furthermore, it is argued that classification in mineralogy is founded on an experientialist rather than an objectivist epistemology. These factors strengthen the argument for a prototype approach to concept analysis not only in the humanities and the social sciences but also in the so-called natural and pure sciences.

LANGUAL, a computer-based food-description language, uses standardized vocabulary to describe specific characteristics of foods and food products. Each food product in a database is described by a set of descriptors from the following factors: product type; food source; part of plant or animal; physical state, shape, or form; extent of heat treatment; cooking method; treatment applied; preservation method; packing medium; container or wrapping; food contact surface; consumer group/dietary use/label claim; geographic places and regions; and adjunct characteristics. The purpose of LANGUAL is to allow rapid, accurate retrieval of food names from food-related databases relative to descriptive terms for these factors. The major advantages of LANGUAL are the speed and specificity of the retrievals and the flexibility of the system relative to change and updating.

This paper considers the problems of development and use of new Malay terminology in Brunei Darussalam in the context of policies which have established Malay as the official language but given English a central role in the education system. While the National Bureau for Language and Literature is responsible for the creation and cultivation of new terminology and discourse, it has little influence on language use in the education system or in society generally. It seems likely that Brunei will follow Singapore in accepting English as the language of economic and commercial development, leaving Malay to fulfill a ritual and subsidiary role in which new Malay terms serve only as a passive record of equivalents.

To distinguish clearly between words and terms, the first step is to situate general language and language for special purposes. The latter is defined with regard to its users (specialists), its functions (communicating knowledge), and the vocabulary it uses to do so (terms). This enables a clear line to be drawn between lexicology and terminology, positing the existence of lexical units, terminological units, lexical and terminological units, and conceptual units. The relations among these units are examined, and a series of criteria are proposed to distinguish adequately, in regard to their functions of reference and denomination, their relations with meaning and the significance of their form. To do this, terminological units should be considered within a system of concepts and lexical units in a system of language.

The written forms of definitions ought to meet certain requirements in order to be generally acceptable among lexicographers and terminographers. This article reviews the theoretical and specific guidelines for definitions laid down by some philosophers and terminology organizations. It assesses the extent to which guidelines have been adhered to in a corpus of terminological definitions, such as BS/ISO 2382: Data Processing and Information Technology Vocabulary. It points out the deviations from existing rules and exemplifies the discrepancies in the formulation of the definitional phrase patterns and proposes methods for expanding and reducing patterns for standardization purposes.

The pattern of existing terminological definitions is analysed, and a model for the terminological definition of concepts is proposed that is considered more appropriate to data-processing applications than present patterns of definition. The model consists of a regularised form of the traditional analytical definition by categorising and restricting the modes of description and thereby reducing the free-text element in the defining phrase. The new model should permit automatic prompting and control of the defining activity, highly efficient data storage and greater information extraction in retrieval. The model is currently being tested in a real application.

The polysemy of "terminology " is a well-established fact which has obsessed many writers on the subject and confused many interpretations of otherwise clearly argued texts. But desperate situations should not lead to desperate measures, such as importing unsuitable designations into English when the language has all the linguistic means required for establishing genuine English technical terms.