Το παρακάτω απόσπασμα προέρχεται από το Διεθνές Πρότυπο για την Ορολογία και το καταθέτω σαν απαραίτητο βοήθημα για να καταλάβει κανείς τις βασικές αρχές που διέπουν την πρωτογενή δημιουργία ορολογίας, οι οποίες οπωσδήποτε επηρεάζουν και τη δευτερογενή (τη μετάφραση όρων).
Επειδή ενδέχεται να παρανομώ μεταφέροντας εδώ απόσπασμα ενός Προτύπου, αν μου ζητηθεί να το αποσύρω, θα το μεταφράσω και θα σας τα ξαναπώ με δικά μου λόγια.
Ωστόσο, υπάρχει εδώ στα ελληνικά και την προτείνω για εμβάθυνση στο όλο θέμα η ανακοίνωση που έκαναν ο Κώστας Βαλεοντής και η Έλενα Μάντζαρη στο 1ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Μετάφρασης και Διερμηνείας στην Αθήνα, με τίτλο «H Γλωσσική Διάσταση της Ορολογίας: Αρχές και Μέθοδοι Σχηματισμού των Όρων» και με έμφαση στον δευτερογενή σχηματισμό.
For a standardized terminology, it is desirable that a term be attributed to a single concept. Before creating a new term, it is required to ascertain whether a term already exists for the concept in question. Well-established usage has to be respected. Established and widely used designations, even if they are poorly formed or poorly motivated, should not be changed unless there are compelling reasons. If several designations exist for a single concept, the one that satisfies the largest number of principles listed below should be selected.
The following principles, even though they are not all applicable for any one term, can provide assistance when creating new terms or systematizing existing terminologies.
Transparency (Διαφάνεια)
A term is considered transparent when the concept it designates can be inferred, at least partially, without a definition. In other words, its meaning is visible in its morphology. To make a term transparent, a key characteristic, usually a delimiting characteristic, is used in the creation of the term itself.
It is advisable that only essential or delimiting characteristics not likely to change quickly as a result of technological evolution be used. Otherwise, one may be faced with the task of renaming the concept as soon as the technology changes.
Consistency (Συνέπεια)
The terminology of any subject field should not be an arbitrary and random collection of terms, but rather a coherent terminological system corresponding to the concept system. Existing terms and new terms must integrate into and be consistent with the concept system.
e.g. synthetic fabrics: nylon, orlon, dacron, rayon, … etc.
Any designation for a new synthetic fabric should be consistent (end in “on”) and respect the pattern arising from the concept system.
Appropriateness (Γλωσσική καταλληλότητα)
Proposed terms should adhere to familiar, established patterns of meaning within a language community. Term formations that cause confusion shall be avoided.
Terms shall be as neutral as possible. They should avoid connotations, especially negative ones.
Linguistic economy (Γλωσσική οικονομία)
A term shall be as concise as possible. Undue length is a serious shortcoming. It violates the principle of linguistic economy and it frequently leads to ellipsis (omission).
Derivability (Παραγωγικότητα και συνθετικότητα)
Productive term formations that allow derivatives (according to whatever conventions prevail in an individual language) should be favoured.
Linguistic correctness (Γλωσσική ορθότητα)
A term shall conform to the morphological, morphosyntactic and phonological norms of the language in question.
Preference for native language (Γλωσσική εντοπιότητα)
Even though borrowing from other languages is an accepted form of term creation, native language expressions should be given preference over direct loans.
Επειδή ενδέχεται να παρανομώ μεταφέροντας εδώ απόσπασμα ενός Προτύπου, αν μου ζητηθεί να το αποσύρω, θα το μεταφράσω και θα σας τα ξαναπώ με δικά μου λόγια.
Ωστόσο, υπάρχει εδώ στα ελληνικά και την προτείνω για εμβάθυνση στο όλο θέμα η ανακοίνωση που έκαναν ο Κώστας Βαλεοντής και η Έλενα Μάντζαρη στο 1ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Μετάφρασης και Διερμηνείας στην Αθήνα, με τίτλο «H Γλωσσική Διάσταση της Ορολογίας: Αρχές και Μέθοδοι Σχηματισμού των Όρων» και με έμφαση στον δευτερογενή σχηματισμό.
For a standardized terminology, it is desirable that a term be attributed to a single concept. Before creating a new term, it is required to ascertain whether a term already exists for the concept in question. Well-established usage has to be respected. Established and widely used designations, even if they are poorly formed or poorly motivated, should not be changed unless there are compelling reasons. If several designations exist for a single concept, the one that satisfies the largest number of principles listed below should be selected.
The following principles, even though they are not all applicable for any one term, can provide assistance when creating new terms or systematizing existing terminologies.
Transparency (Διαφάνεια)
A term is considered transparent when the concept it designates can be inferred, at least partially, without a definition. In other words, its meaning is visible in its morphology. To make a term transparent, a key characteristic, usually a delimiting characteristic, is used in the creation of the term itself.
It is advisable that only essential or delimiting characteristics not likely to change quickly as a result of technological evolution be used. Otherwise, one may be faced with the task of renaming the concept as soon as the technology changes.
e.g. chalk board vs. blackboard
The once transparent term blackboard has been replaced by another transparent term chalk board. With the introduction of green surfaces and white boards for markers, the complexity of the concept system increased. It is no longer clear whether the concept ‘blackboard’ includes these green surfaces and how it is related to marker boards. The term chalk board is now more transparent.
The once transparent term blackboard has been replaced by another transparent term chalk board. With the introduction of green surfaces and white boards for markers, the complexity of the concept system increased. It is no longer clear whether the concept ‘blackboard’ includes these green surfaces and how it is related to marker boards. The term chalk board is now more transparent.
Consistency (Συνέπεια)
The terminology of any subject field should not be an arbitrary and random collection of terms, but rather a coherent terminological system corresponding to the concept system. Existing terms and new terms must integrate into and be consistent with the concept system.
e.g. synthetic fabrics: nylon, orlon, dacron, rayon, … etc.
Any designation for a new synthetic fabric should be consistent (end in “on”) and respect the pattern arising from the concept system.
Appropriateness (Γλωσσική καταλληλότητα)
Proposed terms should adhere to familiar, established patterns of meaning within a language community. Term formations that cause confusion shall be avoided.
e.g. The term atomic energy is confusing and misleading because it suggests that the energy or power is created from the atom. A more scientifically precise and appropriate term is nuclear energy.
Terms shall be as neutral as possible. They should avoid connotations, especially negative ones.
e.g. The term genetic manipulation was replaced with a more appropriate designation, genetic engineering, a term without the negative connotations of the word manipulation.
Linguistic economy (Γλωσσική οικονομία)
A term shall be as concise as possible. Undue length is a serious shortcoming. It violates the principle of linguistic economy and it frequently leads to ellipsis (omission).
e.g. term bank instead of terminological data bank
The requirement for conciseness often conflicts with that for accuracy. The greater the number of characteristics included in a term, the greater the precision and transparency of the term. However, increasing the number of characteristics often makes a term too long and inconvenient to use. Practicality should govern any decision to give preference to one pattern of term formation over another. For instance, shortened forms should be favoured whenever a long, precise term is not suitable (e.g., oral communication in a factory). In contrast, complex terms, even made up of five or six words, are acceptable in scientific publications.
The requirement for conciseness often conflicts with that for accuracy. The greater the number of characteristics included in a term, the greater the precision and transparency of the term. However, increasing the number of characteristics often makes a term too long and inconvenient to use. Practicality should govern any decision to give preference to one pattern of term formation over another. For instance, shortened forms should be favoured whenever a long, precise term is not suitable (e.g., oral communication in a factory). In contrast, complex terms, even made up of five or six words, are acceptable in scientific publications.
Derivability (Παραγωγικότητα και συνθετικότητα)
Productive term formations that allow derivatives (according to whatever conventions prevail in an individual language) should be favoured.
e.g. herb vs. medicinal plant
The term herb with its derived terms herbaceous, herbal, herbalist and herby is preferred over medicinal plant which produces no derivatives.
The term herb with its derived terms herbaceous, herbal, herbalist and herby is preferred over medicinal plant which produces no derivatives.
Linguistic correctness (Γλωσσική ορθότητα)
A term shall conform to the morphological, morphosyntactic and phonological norms of the language in question.
Preference for native language (Γλωσσική εντοπιότητα)
Even though borrowing from other languages is an accepted form of term creation, native language expressions should be given preference over direct loans.
Last edited: