Terminology

Resources & Principles

A seminar for
PhD candidates in Civil Engineering
prepared in the work context of Thematic
Network “European University Civil
Engineering Education and Training”
(EUCEET)

Final version: March 22, 2010

 Terminology: interface between
knowledge and language

endlessly via Terms endlessly via Terms

Knowledge Language
develops and enriches describes and conveys
Language Knowledge
2
 Terminology – Definitions
• Terminology
– set of designations belonging to one special
language ( = language of a specific subject field)
ISO 1087-1, 2000
• Terminology (terminology science)
– scientific discipline dealing with concepts and
their representations in special languages
Schmitz, 2006, Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics

3
 Seminar Objectives
• Scope: participants
– are able to make informed choices of technical terms
• get started with terminology principles
• learn to use sources for organized glossaries
• Outcomes: at the end of the seminar, participants
– know of national standards body & source of standards,
national committee for terminology
– can locate terminology standards and glossaries in their subject
area
– can use web-based multilingual term resources
– are familiar with good practices in definition-giving and term-
rendering
– are able to evaluate technical terms on the basis of terminology
principles

4
 Seminar Format & Content
• One 2-hour presentation (day 1)
– The three players of terminology: concept, definition, term
– Terminology needs in research (in own language)
• an unknown term
• how should we call it?
• discovery of a new concept
– Concepts, concept relations, concept systems
– 4 rules for a good definition, 7 criteria for a good term
– Evaluation of terms from technical texts
– Resources
– Assignment: evaluation of terms (due day 15)
• One 1-hour discussion (day 22)
– Discussion of assignments

5
An introduction to the basic elements

6
 A preview: where are we going

• Informed choices of terms are made

when:
– corresponding concepts are fully specified
• a concept is fully specified with a definition and
its position in a concept system
– existing glossaries are consulted
– principles for term rendering are observed

7
 The terminology triangle

unit of knowledge* created by a unique combination of characteristics

2. concept general: refers to a class of

objects (cable bridge)
individual: refers to an individual
object (Golden Gate bridge)

3. term 1. object
verbal designation of a general anything perceivable
concept in a specific subject field or conceivable

* humans, recognizing the common characteristics that exist in a majority of

individual objects of the same type, use concepts as “cognitive representatives” of
these objects
8
 The three basic players of
terminology
unit of knowledge created by a unique combination of characteristics

2. concept definition
our minds 

characteristics

communication reality
3. term 1. object
verbal designation of a general anything perceivable
concept in a specific subject field or conceivable

9
When/how do terminology needs come up?

10
 Terminology need: an unknown term
context
objects
(subject field)

linguistic/mental
plane

characteristics

definition
concept

initially
designation
(term) Χ
known to me

Most common need: designation (term)  definition*  concept

– What does X mean?
– Χ is … (the definition through selected characteristics makes the
concept known)
*sources of definitions? 11
 Examples of unknown terms (1/3)
• advection
• caisson
• air sparging

12
 Examples of unknown terms (2/3)
• advection
– subject field: fluid flow, contaminant transport
• caisson
– subject field: geotechnical engineering, structural
engineering
• air sparging
– subject field: geoenvironmental engineering

13
 Examples of unknown terms (3/3)
• advection (a physical phenomenon)
– subject field: fluid flow, contaminant transport
• caisson (a structure)
– subject field: geotechnical engineering, structural
engineering
• air sparging (a remediation method for
contaminated groundwater)
– subject field: geoenvironmental engineering

to be defined later…

14
Terminology need: how should we call it? (1)
context
objects
(subject field)

linguistic/mental plane

characteristics

definition
concept

designation
(term) Χ initially known to all
Need to choose among terms: objects  characteristics  concept
 definition  designation
– Similar terms I don’t think much about when others choose them
– If I need to make a choice, then I must first (1) seek definitions (use
sources, consider guidelines for a good definition), (2) create concept
system and then make my informed choice 15
 Choice among “similar” terms
• Choice between common engineering terms (in
alphabetical order):
– coefficient
– constant open assignment for
– factor seminar participants!
– index
– parameter
• How “similar” are the corresponding concepts? Is one
of them a super-category (superordinate concept)
where all/some others belong?
• Perhaps common issue in subject fields where many
quantities are determined experimentally
16
 Terminology need: how should we call it? (2)
context
objects
(subject field)

linguistic/mental plane

characteristics

definition
concept

designation
(term) Χ initially known to all
Need for a code term: objects  characteristics  concept 
definition  designation
– I need to refer to a concept (in order to facilitate communication within my
research group)
– I select a definition (use sources, consider guidelines for a good definition)
and we agree to call it X 17
 An instance of making up terms
• Some background:
– During landfill operation, fluids infiltrating through the
waste to the landfill bottom are removed and treated
– Treated fluid is either discharged/used (type 1 landfill) or
returned to the mass of waste in order to increase moisture
and accelerate waste decomposition (type 2 landfill)
• In an environmental engineering class, type 1 landfill
is called a “dry landfill” to distinguish it from type 2,
called “moist landfill” (instead of using the more
descriptive term “recirculation landfill”)

18
 Terminology need: Discovery
context
objects
(subject field)

created studied
linguistic/mental plane

characteristics

definition
concept

designation
Source Language (term) Χ
discovered
Conception: New knowledge is conceived in the mind of the first “godfather
or godmother” in a source language
– Εureka! This is a new concept! (created by a specific combination of
characteristics)
   How should I describe it?  How should I name it?
– It is … (original definition). I will call it with the term Χ. 19
 Example of discovering a concept (1)

• The new concept may be only broader or

narrower than another concept, but needs to
be distinguished with a different term
– recirculation landfill
• addition of water
– bioreactor landfill
• addition of water and/or nutrients

20
 Example of discovering a concept (2)
• Student in the Greek Open University working on his
thesis in subject field Graph Theory:
– invents a mathematical quantity that avoids the calculation
of factorials, thus providing an efficient solution to the
Traveling Salesman Problem
– makes up Greek terms for this quantity & related concepts
– approaches the Hellenic Society for Terminology (ELETO)
and runs by them equivalent English terms
– ELETO offers a synonym for one of the Greek terms and
modifies the English terms by applying terminology good
practices

21
Need: Term rendering from source language

MUST be
available at
a minimum!

Consider good
practices for term
rendering
22
Back to terminology basics

23
 Concepts
• Concepts are cognitive representatives for
objects, created on the basis of common
characteristics
– characteristics define and delimit concepts
• Concepts are related to one another on the
basis of their characteristics
• Concept relations can be hierarchical (generic
and partitive relations) or non-hierarchical

24
 Concept relations
• A generic (genus-species) relation exists
between a broader (superordinate) concept
and a narrower (subordinate) concept
• Different criteria can be used to create generic
relations. Example: Bridge
– Suspension bridge (a bridge with a deck supported
by cables draped from towers and anchored at
both ends) Criterion: type of structural design
(cable bridge, arch bridge, …)
– Pedestrian bridge Criterion: type of use (railway bridge,
highway bridge, overpass, …)
25
 Concept relations (cont’d)
• A partitive (part-whole) relation exists
between a concept and between its individual
components
– Bridge (foundation, pylon, deck, …)
• Non hierarchical relationships refer to any
type of association (e.g., sequential relation,
spatial relation, cause-and-effect, sharing of
characteristics)

26
 Concept systems
• A concept system depicts the relations
between concepts and their position in the
system
• The position of a concept in a concept system
together with its definition help in anchoring
the concept in the subject field under study
– the relations depicted in the concept system can
help in stating/improving the definition of a
concept
27
 Concept system example:
contaminant hydrology
degradation
contaminant (Α.4)
transport sorption: binding
sorption desorption
of dissolved
transport
(Α.3) (Α.3.3) substances to soil
phenomenon constituents
adsorption absorption
(Α.3.1) (Α.3.2)
mechanical molecular
transport transport
phenomena phenomena

advection mechanical diffusion adsorption:

(Α.1.1) dispersion (Α.2.1)
(Α.1.2) sorption to the
Note: surface of soil
Generic relations (genus – species relations) are particles
shown with tree-like structures

Associative relations are shown with arrows

28
Concept system example:
structures (bridges no 1)
bridge

foundation superstructure
Concept
systems are
support elements deck not unique,
hence can be
(horizontal) (vertical & inclined)
improved.
Any
pier pylon cable
truss suggestions?

Note:
Generic relations (genus-species relations)
are shown with tree-like structures

Partitive relations (whole-part relations)

are shown with rake-like diagrams

29
 Concept system example:
structures (bridges no 2)
bridge

(use) (material) (load transfer mechanism)

truss bridge
pedestrian
bridge fiber - reinforced
railway rope polymer
bridge bridge bridge
conventional bridge
road timber steel- concrete (horizontal main girders)
bridge bridge composite
underbridge overbridge bridge
arch cable bridge
overpass bridge

concrete
masonry steel cable stayed
bridge suspension
bridge bridge bridge
bridge

Note:
Generic relations (genus- species relations)
are shown with tree- like structures

30
 Guidelines for a good definition
A definition is valid if it can replace a term in a text without loss
of or change in meaning
It is a preferred practice to describe the concept in terms of its
superordinate concept and its delimiting characteristics

Good practices (also known as “4 rules of logic”)

- Definitions must be concise
- Do not define a concept with unknown concepts, do not paraphrase
-The term designating the concept to be defined cannot appear in the
definition (circular definition)
- The term designating the concept and the concept’s definition must be
equally broad

Deficient definitions
- Incomplete (too narrow, too broad): clarifications may be included in
accompanying notes
- Improper negative definitions
ISO 704, 2000
31
 Definitions: sources, comparisons (1)
• advection (a physical phenomenon):
Meanings differ
definition sources among subject fields!
– Google command “define: advection”
• <meteorology> the horizontal transfer of heat or other
atmospheric properties
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
– Textbooks (“Groundwater” by Freeze & Cherry, 1979)
• process by which solutes are transported by the bulk motion of
the flowing groundwater
• advection: suggested definition
• <contaminant hydrology> mechanical phenomenon of solute
transport due to the bulk motion of the flowing groundwater

32
 Definitions: sources, comparisons (2)
• air sparging (a remediation method for contaminated
groundwater): definition sources
– www.iso.org: search for standards with keywords “terms”,
“vocabulary”, “definitions” or by technical committee
• introduction of air under pressure in groundwater
ISO 11074 (2005) Soil quality – Vocabulary (prepared by ISO/TC 190)
– Google command “define: air sparging”
• in air sparging, air is injected into the ground below a contaminated area,
forming bubbles that rise and carry trapped and dissolved contaminants
to the surface
http://www.brownfieldstsc.org/glossary.cfm?q=1

• air sparging: suggested definition

• introduction of air in groundwater under pressure and flow rate suitable
for the removal of volatile contaminants through vaporization
NOTE Air sparging also enhances to a lesser extent biodegradation of contaminants.

33
 7 criteria for a good term
• Transparency
– to make the term transparent, a delimiting characteristic is used to create the
term (chalk board vs blackboard)
• Consistency
– within a concept system (nylon, orlon, dacron, rayon)
• Appropriateness
– adhere to establish patterns, avoid confusion (atomic energy vs nuclear energy)
• Linguistic economy
– term bank vs terminological data bank
• Derivability and compoundability
– herb vs medicinal plant (herbaceous, herbal, herbalist, herbology)
• Linguistic correctness
– ιοντισμός EL vs ιονισμός EL (<ionization EN)
• Preference for native language
– λογισμικό EL (<logiciel FR) vs software EN

ISO 704, 2000 34

Application of principles

35
Discussion on terms & definitions in
own language
BBC: Sept. 9, 2007
9/11 Demolition theory challenged
kathimerini.gr - Καθημερινή: 11 Σεπτ. 2007
Ανατρέπεται η θεωρία κατάρρευσης των Δίδυμων Πύργων

Μια νέα ανάλυση της κατάρρευσης των κτιρίων του Παγκόσμιου

Κέντρου Εμπορίου έρχεται να αμφισβητήσει τις θεωρίες συνωμοσίας
των επιθέσεων της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου. Η μελέτη ενός μηχανικού του
πανεπιστημίου του Κέμπριτζ [...]

Ο Δρ. Σέφεν, χρησιμοποιώντας μαθηματικούς υπολογισμούς

κατάφερε να υπολογίσει την κατάλοιπη ικανότητα του υπόλοιπου
κτιρίου. Δηλαδή, την ικανότητα του ανέπαφου από τη ζημιά κτιρίου να
αντέξει την πλήρη κατάρρευση.

36
Discussion on term rendering from source
language (english) to target language of
home institution
BBC: Sept. 9, 2007
9/11 Demolition theory challenged
kathimerini.gr - Καθημερινή: 11 Σεπτ. 2007
Ανατρέπεται η θεωρία κατάρρευσης των Δίδυμων Πύργων

Dr Seffen was able to calculate the "residual capacity" of the

undamaged building: that is, simply speaking, the ability of the
undamaged structure to resist or comply with collapse.

Ο Δρ. Σέφεν, χρησιμοποιώντας μαθηματικούς υπολογισμούς

κατάφερε να υπολογίσει την «κατάλοιπη ικανότητα»* του υπόλοιπου
κτιρίου. Δηλαδή, την ικανότητα του ανέπαφου από τη ζημιά κτιρίου να
αντέξει την πλήρη κατάρρευση.

* υπολειπόμενη φέρουσα ικανότητα (term indicated by field expert)

37
 Resources (1)
• Terminology
– Online tutorial on Terminology, Termium Plus (The
Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic
databank)
• http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/didacticiel_tutorial/english/less
on1/index_e.html
– ISO committee for terminology TC 37 & related standards
– ASTM committee for terminology E02 & related standards
– National committees for terminology (located through the
national standards body, in turn located through ISO)
• www.iso.org/iso/about/iso_members.htm
– Plato, Cratylus (dialogue on whether name giving is
arbitrary or conveys meaning)

38
 Resources (2)
• Technical terms
– Glossaries prepared by technical committees
• ISO technical committees
– http://www.iso.org/iso/standards_development/technical_committe
es/list_of_iso_technical_committees.htm
• Committees under the national standards body
– http://www.elot.gr/committee.htm (for Greece)
– Multilingual terminology databases
• IATE (InterActive Terminology for Europe)
– iate.europa.eu
• Termium Plus (English and French, includes definitions)
– http://btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng
• Subject specific, e.g. environment
– www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

39
 Summary

• Informed choices of terms are made

when:
– corresponding concepts are fully specified
• a concept is fully specified with a definition and
its position in a concept system
– existing glossaries are consulted
– principles for term rendering are observed

40
 Assignment
• Consider a couple excerpts with highlighted
terms
• You are asked to:
– search for and evaluate definitions of terms
– evaluate terms in own language

NOTE: use suggested resources for the

evaluation, search for additional ones

41
 Assignment example
NYTimes: April 13, 2009
Earthquakes’ Many Mysteries Stymie Efforts to Predict Them
Καθημερινή: 18 Απρ. 2009
Πρόγνωση σεισμών, ραδόνιο και ανθρώπινες «παρεμβάσεις»

This gap in knowledge makes earthquake prediction a frustrating and

chancy exercise, and complicates the effort to calculate the risk that a
human construction like a water reservoir or a geothermal power plant
could inadvertently set off a deadly quake.

Το γνωστικό αυτό κενό καθιστά την πρόγνωση σεισμού μια δύσκολη

και επίπονη άσκηση. Επιπλέον, δυσχεραίνει την προσπάθεια
υπολογισμού του ρίσκου που έχει μια ανθρώπινη κατασκευή, η οποία
είτε ως υδροταμιευτήρας είτε ως γεωθερμικό εργοστάσιο παραγωγής
ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας θα μπορούσε -λόγω παραλείψεων- να
προκαλέσει έναν σεισμό.

42
 Acknowledgements
• The seminar was developed by Marina
Pantazidou (mpanta@central.ntua.gr), Assistant
Professor at the National Technical University at
Athens (NTUA) based on material prepared by
Kostas Valeontis (valeonti@otenet.gr), President
of the Hellenic Society for Terminology (ELETO)
• Both are members of ELOT TC21 National
Technical Committee, mirror to ISO TC37
• Both welcome comments and are available for
questions
43