course 4 lexicography vs terminology

Lexicography versus Lexicography versus TerminographyTerminography

Dr MariDr Mariëtta Albertsëtta AlbertsManager: Standardisation and Terminology DevelopmentManager: Standardisation and Terminology Development

Pan South African Language BoardPan South African Language Board

Copyrighted: Dr Mariëtta AlbertsCopyrighted: Dr Mariëtta Alberts 22

IntroductionIntroduction Lexicography and Terminography are Lexicography and Terminography are

specialised professions concerned with the specialised professions concerned with the compilation and editing of dictionaries.compilation and editing of dictionaries.

Lexicographers document the words of the Lexicographers document the words of the vocabulary of the general language.vocabulary of the general language.

Terminographers document the terms of Terminographers document the terms of specific subject areas, domains or disciplines.specific subject areas, domains or disciplines.

This paper concerns itself with the similarities This paper concerns itself with the similarities and the differences between the two and the differences between the two professions.professions.


VocabularyVocabularyThe vocabulary of a language is the total

number of words in it.

... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ..... ... ... .….

.... ... ... .… ..... ... ... ...

... ... ... .. ... ...

A person's vocabulary is all the words of a

specific language known to him.


0


LexicographyLexicography

Lexicography is a formal word for the activity

or profession of writing and editing

dictionaries.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. . .. ... .... … …. ... ... ... ...… ..... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...… .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ........ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... .. ... ... ... ...

... ... .. ... ... ... ...


Lexicography (cont.)Lexicography (cont.) Lexicography comprises the recording of the Lexicography comprises the recording of the

words in the vocabulary of the language into a words in the vocabulary of the language into a specific systematised format (e.g. specific systematised format (e.g. alphabetically).alphabetically).

Lexicography has two basic components:Lexicography has two basic components:The The theoretical componenttheoretical component which consists of the which consists of the

general principlesgeneral principles of the applied science of the applied science theoretical principlestheoretical principles that form the basis for the that form the basis for the

general usage and expert principles; andgeneral usage and expert principles; andThe The practical componentpractical component which deals with the which deals with the

applied scienceapplied science of of compilation compilation and and editing editing of of dictionaries.dictionaries.


Lexicography (cont.)Lexicography (cont.) Lexicography is the process in which linguistic Lexicography is the process in which linguistic

information is being recorded, processed and information is being recorded, processed and compiled in a specific lexicographical format.compiled in a specific lexicographical format.

The result of the lexicographical process is usually The result of the lexicographical process is usually a wordlist, glossary, dictionary, thesaurus or a wordlist, glossary, dictionary, thesaurus or electronic (computerised) databank.electronic (computerised) databank.

Information supplied: Information supplied: spelling, pronunciation, definition/explanation spelling, pronunciation, definition/explanation

(semantics), syllabification, translation equivalents, (semantics), syllabification, translation equivalents, derived forms and compounds, grammatical class, derived forms and compounds, grammatical class, usage (syntax), cross reference to other entries, usage (syntax), cross reference to other entries, illustrations, etymology, source references, etc.illustrations, etymology, source references, etc.


Lexicography (cont.)Lexicography (cont.) A comprehensive general dictionary comprises A comprehensive general dictionary comprises

all aspects of a given source language, i.e. all aspects of a given source language, i.e. common words, colloquial words, dialectal common words, colloquial words, dialectal varieties, archaic words, etymology of words, varieties, archaic words, etymology of words, words in literature, science, technology, slang, words in literature, science, technology, slang, vulgar words, deprecated words, sexist words, vulgar words, deprecated words, sexist words, taboo wordstaboo words, etc., etc.

A dictionary is an inventory of the vocabulary of A dictionary is an inventory of the vocabulary of a particular language, as well as a tool for a particular language, as well as a tool for communication in a particular language or in communication in a particular language or in different languages (cf. Zgusta 1984)different languages (cf. Zgusta 1984)


Lexicography (cont.)Lexicography (cont.)

A dictionary is a retrieval system in which A dictionary is a retrieval system in which are stored against the words of a language, are stored against the words of a language, explanations of the meanings of those explanations of the meanings of those words and the ways in which they are used words and the ways in which they are used (Keating 1979).(Keating 1979).

The dictionary should contain enough The dictionary should contain enough information to allow the dictionary user to information to allow the dictionary user to successfully determine relevant information successfully determine relevant information (Zgusta 1984).(Zgusta 1984).


Lexicography (cont.)Lexicography (cont.) Lexicography works with Lexicography works with wordswords

Verbal vocabularyVerbal vocabulary

Written vocabularyWritten vocabulary

The vocabulary of a particular language is The vocabulary of a particular language is documented in a monolingual dictionarydocumented in a monolingual dictionary

Different languages are compared in Different languages are compared in bilingual and multilingual dictionariesbilingual and multilingual dictionaries

General dictionaries are General dictionaries are word-orientedword-oriented rather than topic-oriented (Cluver 1989)rather than topic-oriented (Cluver 1989)


Lexicography (cont.)Lexicography (cont.)

Dictionaries serve as aids to the Dictionaries serve as aids to the comprehension (decoding) or to the comprehension (decoding) or to the generation (encoding) of texts in a language generation (encoding) of texts in a language or languages.or languages.

Lexicography combines the double aim of Lexicography combines the double aim of general collecting of data on the lexicon of a general collecting of data on the lexicon of a language with providing an information and language with providing an information and advisory service to language usersadvisory service to language users


TerminographyTerminography

Terminography is a subdivision of

lexicography that deals with technical and

scientific terms. The vocabulary (called

terminology) of a subject is the group of

words (called terms) that are typically used

when discussing it.


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.) Terminology refers to a Terminology refers to a technical technical

vocabularyvocabulary, i.e. a collection of terms which , i.e. a collection of terms which has a certain has a certain coherencecoherence because the terms because the terms belong to a belong to a single subject areasingle subject area..

The conceptual system underlying terms The conceptual system underlying terms belonging to a subject field or domain show belonging to a subject field or domain show such a closesuch a close genericgeneric, , hierarchicalhierarchical or or associative relationshipassociative relationship that it is that it is impossible to regard them as impossible to regard them as common common wordswords belonging to the general vocabulary belonging to the general vocabulary of the layperson.of the layperson.


Terminological relationshipsTerminological relationships

B as ic te rm in o log ica l re la tion s

a lim en ta ry can a l

P re fe rred te rm

d ig es tive trac t

S yn on ym

g as tro in tes tin a l trac t

Q u as i-syn on ym

E q u iva len t re la tion


Terminological relations:Terminological relations:

B as ic te rm in o log ica l re la tion s

B oxer A lsa tian

d og

S iam ese P ers ian B u rm ese

ca t d on key e lep h an t

an im a l

G en eric re la tion S u b se t re la tion

H ie ra rch ica l re la tion


Terminological relations:Terminological relations:B as ic Term in o log ica l re la tion s

G en eric re la tion

M am elod i

P re to ria

G au ten g

S ou th A frica

S u b se t re la tion

H ie ra rch ica l re la tion


Terminological relations:Terminological relations:

B as ic Term in o log ica l re la tion s

in sec t in sec tic id e in sec t rep e llan t h erb h erb a l h erb a lis t

A ssoc ia tive re la tion


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.) Terminology is concerned Terminology is concerned with the study and with the study and

use of the systems of symbols and linguistic use of the systems of symbols and linguistic signs employed for human communication in signs employed for human communication in specialised areas of knowledge and specialised areas of knowledge and activitiesactivities (Sager 1990) (Sager 1990)

Terminology is the study of the field of Terminology is the study of the field of activity concerned with the collection, activity concerned with the collection, description, processing and presentation of description, processing and presentation of terms, which have a certain coherence terms, which have a certain coherence because the terms belong to specialised because the terms belong to specialised areas of usage in one or more languages (cf. areas of usage in one or more languages (cf. Sager 1990)Sager 1990)


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.) A A termterm is a is a visualvisual, , linguistic linguistic or or

non-linguisticnon-linguistic representationrepresentation of a of a mental mental conceptconcept and can be any of the following: and can be any of the following:

single term, compound word, phrase, single term, compound word, phrase,

collocation, numeral, acronym, letter word, collocation, numeral, acronym, letter word,

abbreviation, chemical symbol, formula, abbreviation, chemical symbol, formula,

barcode, icon, mnemonic sign, etc.barcode, icon, mnemonic sign, etc.


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.) Terminology is discussed in the context of linguistics, Terminology is discussed in the context of linguistics,

information science, computational linguistics, etc.information science, computational linguistics, etc.

Terminology/terminography can be regarded as a Terminology/terminography can be regarded as a number of practices that have evolved around the number of practices that have evolved around the creation of terms, their collection, explication, creation of terms, their collection, explication, presentation and dissemination.presentation and dissemination.

Terminography is an interdisciplinary practice linking Terminography is an interdisciplinary practice linking linguistics, logic, ontology and information sciences linguistics, logic, ontology and information sciences with a variety of different subject areas and domains.with a variety of different subject areas and domains.

The common element being the concern with the The common element being the concern with the formal organisation of the complex relationships formal organisation of the complex relationships between concepts and terms.between concepts and terms.


Terminological triangleTerminological triangle


rectanglereghoekunxandeuxandecalandze, irekthengeliuncamane, uhlangothinekhutlonnetseparekthenkelerekithiengeleyinhla-dzi-mune, rhekithengele

A rectangle is a shape which has foursides and four angles, each of which is aright angle. Each side has the samelength as the side opposite to it.


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.) Terminology has a restricted registerTerminology has a restricted register

The conceptual system of sciences is more The conceptual system of sciences is more systematic and exact than that of the systematic and exact than that of the general environmentgeneral environment

Definitions remain extremely important since Definitions remain extremely important since they describe the meaning of conceptsthey describe the meaning of concepts

Definitions serve to standardise terms Definitions serve to standardise terms especially in scientific and technical especially in scientific and technical language.language.


Definition:Definition: The terms The terms arsonist arsonist and and

pyromaniacpyromaniac describe a person describe a person who sets fire to an objectwho sets fire to an object, , but:but:

ArsonistArsonistAn An arsonistarsonist is a is a criminalcriminal who who deliberately sets deliberately sets firefire to something, to something, especially a especially a buildingbuilding

PyromaniacPyromaniacA A pyromaniacpyromaniac is a is a person who person who cannot cannot control the desire to control the desire to set fire set fire to things, to things, often because of a often because of a mental illnessmental illness


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.) The terminology (vocabulary) of a subject is The terminology (vocabulary) of a subject is

the group of terms (words) that are typically the group of terms (words) that are typically used in the specific subject.used in the specific subject.

A dictionary containing terms is known as: A dictionary containing terms is known as: a technical dictionary, a technical dictionary, a subject dictionary, a subject dictionary, a term list, a term list, a terminological dictionary or a terminological dictionary or a dictionary for specialised purposesa dictionary for specialised purposes


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.)

Terms are the linguistic representation of Terms are the linguistic representation of concepts (Sager 1990)concepts (Sager 1990)

A technical dictionary contains the A technical dictionary contains the standardised termsstandardised terms of a particular subject or of a particular subject or domaindomain

Technical dictionaries are therefore Technical dictionaries are therefore subject-subject-orientedoriented

Terminology is divided by subject field Terminology is divided by subject field beforebefore it is ordered in it is ordered in any other wayany other way


Terminography (cont.)Terminography (cont.)

Terminology work isTerminology work is concept oriented concept oriented Point of departure: Point of departure: conceptconcept Principally Principally subject orientedsubject oriented rather than rather than

language orientedlanguage oriented One to one relationOne to one relation between between conceptconcept and and

termterm for for exact communicationexact communication Terminology is a Terminology is a standardising processstandardising process


Similarities Similarities There is no crucial difference between There is no crucial difference between

common language and specialised common language and specialised (technical) language – it is merely a (technical) language – it is merely a continuum of registers, where words continuum of registers, where words gradually change into terms and where gradually change into terms and where meanings gradually become more specific.meanings gradually become more specific.

In a holistic sense workers in both In a holistic sense workers in both professions use the same basic principles professions use the same basic principles and procedures to record and disseminate.and procedures to record and disseminate.


Similarities (cont.)Similarities (cont.) Lexicography and terminography are Lexicography and terminography are

methodological facets of the profession with methodological facets of the profession with its first objective the systematic description its first objective the systematic description and documentation of the usage of words or and documentation of the usage of words or terms of a specific language community with terms of a specific language community with its discernible culture and subcultures.its discernible culture and subcultures.

The typology of the products shows that The typology of the products shows that both professions compile monolingual, both professions compile monolingual, bilingual and multilingual dictionaries.bilingual and multilingual dictionaries.

These products can be explanatory or These products can be explanatory or merely translating dictionaries.merely translating dictionaries.


Similarities (cont.)Similarities (cont.) Documents the words/terms of a language Documents the words/terms of a language

according to the spelling and orthography rules according to the spelling and orthography rules of the given language.of the given language.

Macrostructure: Macrostructure: Alphabetical; retrogradeAlphabetical; retrograde Unidirectional; bidirectionalUnidirectional; bidirectional Front matter; central matter; back matterFront matter; central matter; back matter

Microstructure:Microstructure: Explicit informationExplicit information Implicit informationImplicit information Information classesInformation classes

Mediostructure:Mediostructure: Cross-referencing systemCross-referencing system


M E D IO S TR U C TU R A L E N TR IE S

F R O N T M A TTE R

S U B TE X TS

C E N TR A L TE X TA - Z

B A C K M A TTE R


Similarities (cont.)Similarities (cont.) The same basic methods are being used to The same basic methods are being used to

describe the concept designated by the describe the concept designated by the basic word or term.basic word or term.

Therefore the process of lexicography and Therefore the process of lexicography and terminography can be placed on a terminography can be placed on a continuous scale.continuous scale.

This continuum stretches from context-This continuum stretches from context-dependent meanings in lexicography to dependent meanings in lexicography to context-free meanings in terminography context-free meanings in terminography (see Cluver 1992).(see Cluver 1992).


Similarities (cont.)Similarities (cont.) Instead of dividing language in different Instead of dividing language in different

registers, it could reflect a scale on which registers, it could reflect a scale on which language functions – from informal (language functions – from informal (slang, slang, vulgarvulgar) to the highly formal registers () to the highly formal registers (science, science, technologytechnology) with various shades in between.) with various shades in between.

The different shades implicate different grades The different shades implicate different grades of standardisation (of standardisation (i.e. some registers in i.e. some registers in terminology where standardisation is difficultterminology where standardisation is difficult) ) and general language where it is difficult to and general language where it is difficult to regulate (regulate (e.g. emotive connotationse.g. emotive connotations))


DifferencesDifferences LexicographyLexicography

Documents the words Documents the words of language(s).of language(s).

Accepts the Accepts the arbitrariness of the arbitrariness of the sign.sign.

The aim is to The aim is to document, describe document, describe and preserve the and preserve the vocabulary and its vocabulary and its derivations within derivations within general language general language usage.usage.

TerminographyTerminography Documents the terminology of Documents the terminology of

subject fields, domains, subject fields, domains, disciplines.disciplines.

Strives to systematise principles Strives to systematise principles of designation and to name of designation and to name concepts according to pre-concepts according to pre-specified principles.specified principles.

The aim is to concentrate on a The aim is to concentrate on a representation of the terminology representation of the terminology of language for special purposes. of language for special purposes. Attention is given to user needs Attention is given to user needs for information on a specific, for information on a specific, marked area of human activity.marked area of human activity.


Differences (cont.)Differences (cont.) LexicographyLexicography

Point of departure: Point of departure: languagelanguage

Interested in Interested in spokenspoken and and writtenwritten form of language form of language

Descriptive approach, Descriptive approach, describe and preservedescribe and preserve

Records Records all the wordsall the words of of a given language a given language (common, colloquial, jargon, (common, colloquial, jargon, dialects, slang, vulgar, dialects, slang, vulgar, archaic, literature, archaic, literature, specialised)specialised)

TerminographyTerminography Point of departure: Point of departure:

subject field/domainsubject field/domain Interested mainly in Interested mainly in

writtenwritten form of language form of language Prescriptive approach, Prescriptive approach,

describe concepts by describe concepts by means of definitions and means of definitions and terms to standardiseterms to standardise

Records terms of Records terms of different subject fields, different subject fields, domains and disciplines domains and disciplines (polythematic)(polythematic)


Differences (cont.)Differences (cont.) LexicographyLexicography

Semasiological Semasiological (meaning) approach (meaning) approach which starts at the which starts at the word and looks for its word and looks for its meaningmeaning

Emotional connotationsEmotional connotations could be attached to could be attached to words, resulting in a words, resulting in a shift of meaningshift of meaning

TerminographyTerminography Onomasiological Onomasiological

(naming) approach (naming) approach which starts at the which starts at the concept and creates concept and creates a name (term) for the a name (term) for the conceptconcept

Terms are exactTerms are exact: One : One concept equals one concept equals one term. No emotional term. No emotional connotations to be connotations to be attached to terms.attached to terms.


ConclusionConclusion Several similarities between Lexicography Several similarities between Lexicography

and Terminographyand Terminography

Distinct professions with clearly demarcated Distinct professions with clearly demarcated working areas, several differencesworking areas, several differences

The points of departure and methods of The points of departure and methods of work differ work differ

The functions of the terminographer cannot The functions of the terminographer cannot be taken over by a lexicographer and be taken over by a lexicographer and vice vice versaversa

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