Principles of Terminology Development Dr Mariëtta Alberts Pan South African Language Board.
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Transcript of Principles of Terminology Development Dr Mariëtta Alberts Pan South African Language Board.
Principles of Terminology Development
Dr Mariëtta Alberts
Pan South African Language Board
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Introduction National Language Bodies (NLBs)
Technical Committees (TCs)
Standardization
Spelling and Orthography
Lexicography vs. Terminography
Terminology as a tool in language development
Information technology - the future of language development
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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)
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Advisory capacity of NLBs:
Technical Committees (TCs) advise the NLBs and PanSALB on: Standardisation
Terminology development
Dictionary needs
Literature and Media
Research
Education
Other language related matters
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Standardization
Crystal (1985) defines standardisation as a natural development of a standard language in 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).
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Standardised terms
The increasing use of non-standard language in the classroom often has dire consequences for learners and for language development
alimentary canal digestive tract gastrointestinal tract
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Standardization Unified 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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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 co-operativeco-operative venture 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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Lexicography vs. Terminography
Lexi = word -graphy = to write Lexicography is the practice of compiling
dictionaries. Dictionaries can be compiled on any aspect of
language, i.e. general words, explanatory dictionaries, translation dictionaries, slang dictionaries, etymological dictionaries, dialectal dictionaries, technical dictionaries
Terminography is the practice of compiling technical dictionaries that are subject related.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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/French109 milliard billion1012 billion trillion
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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)
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Terminology: Basic principlesCognitive dimension
Linguistic dimension
Communicative dimension
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Terminological triangle:
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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 points
Information 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
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Basic Principles: Linguistic dimension
Primary term creation Source language (SL) / documentation language (DL) Linguistic or non-linguistic representation of concept Concept formulation = monolingual New discoveries/development, restructuring of
knowledge Secondary term creation
Target language(s) Transfer of knowledge = bilingual / multilingual Subject to stricter guidelines (word-forming principles) Dominated by natural language
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Supplying of term equivalents
Transliteration 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: sakrekenaar komper/rekenaar; beeldradio/televisie
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Basic principles: Communicative dimension Transfer of knowledge and information through
terminology Communication usually linguistic (written, spoken),
but also non-linguistic (symbols, gestures, icons, mnemonic signs, videos, colours, …)
Terminology involved in information transfer/retrieval Information transfer and retrieval/assimilation best
through first language Terminology should be known/understood by
author/sender and reader/recipient of information
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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.
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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 SciencesIsiXhosa Tshivenda Sesotho Afrikaans
isiZulu Xitsonga Sesotho sa Leboa
IsiNdebele Setswana
Siswati
Consultation - Source Language Consultation - Target language(s)
Subject specialists Linguists Language Users
Multilingual terminology list (SL + TLs)
Subject specialists Linguists Language Users
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Compilation of terminology list is a time-consuming
task A task that needs commitment and devotion from
subject specialists trained terminologists language practitioners, linguists (e.g. NLBs)
End-result: enhancement of subject area better / exact communication development of languages into functional languages
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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
HLTinterface
EXTERNALINPUT
LEXICOGRAPHERS 11 NLUs
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Dissemination of terminological information
Direct queries to national termbank (e.g. Intranet,TCS homepage (flat files))
Online dictionaries on Internet or CD ROM Indirect queries to national termbank via e-mail,
telephone or fax Publications (term lists, technical dictionaries) Documents containing terms: text books,
dissertations, manuals, journals, brochures, etc. Mass communication media (radio, press, TV…)
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
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
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
HLT virtual network
SA Government has approved the development of a human language technology (HLT) virtual network
All lexicography and terminology endeavours will be part of HLT virtual network
Multilingual terms available on HLT virtual network to end-users (subject specialists, students, language practitioners, general public)
Spellcheckers are made available in official languages
Microsoft Interface Packs (LIP) for XP and Vista platforms
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
The following diagram demonstrates the various relationships:
Centre forHuman Language Technologies
Central planning, coordination &consultation
Digital Text and Speech CorporaAcquisition, enhancement, management
NLP Software development
HLT TrainingNLUP
CompanyA
UniversityD
NLUZ
UniversityC
GovtDept B
UniversityA
CompanyB
Resources and Expertise to feed into
NationalLexicographic
Units(NLUs)
GovernmentDepartments
HLT products fore-governance
e-learninge-commerce
Academicresearch anddevelopment
Private sectordevelopmentICT (HLT) job
creationsoftware dev.e-commerce
MEDIASABC
GovtDept A
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Dr Mariëtta Alberts, SATI seminar, Pretoria 11 June 2008
Thank you!
Dr Mariëtta Alberts
PanSALB
Private Bag X08
ARCADIA 0007
Tel: 012 341 9638
Fax: 012 341 5938