Chapter 7. Terminological variation and the unsaturability of concepts
-
Judit Freixa
Abstract
Concepts cannot be saturated; this chapter aims to explore the reasons why the substance of a concept is unlimited. Textual analysis shows that the number of terminological variants used to refer to a concept seem endless. The origin of this diversity can be found in the different perceptions held by specialists, in the variety of text types in which a specialised topic is approached, in the expressive needs of the author, in the different origins and intentions of these authors, or in the different communicative situations where knowledge is developed. However, it is equally interesting to observe how the same concept, without leaving traces in different denominations, acquires a great range of nuances in the different contexts where it appears.
Abstract
Concepts cannot be saturated; this chapter aims to explore the reasons why the substance of a concept is unlimited. Textual analysis shows that the number of terminological variants used to refer to a concept seem endless. The origin of this diversity can be found in the different perceptions held by specialists, in the variety of text types in which a specialised topic is approached, in the expressive needs of the author, in the different origins and intentions of these authors, or in the different communicative situations where knowledge is developed. However, it is equally interesting to observe how the same concept, without leaving traces in different denominations, acquires a great range of nuances in the different contexts where it appears.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. The social dimension of variation
- Chapter 1. The emotional dimension in terminological variation 11
- Chapter 2. Term usage and socioterminological variation 31
- Chapter 3. Diastratic variation in language for specific purposes 57
-
Part II. Tools and methods
- Chapter 4. Towards a resource of semantically and contextually structured term variants and their translations 83
- Chapter 5. Specialized verbs and specialized uses of verbs in a comparable corpus of judgments produced in Canada, Portugal and Brazil 109
- Chapter 6. Should we be looking for the needle in the haystack or in the straw poll ? 131
-
Part III. Semantics of variation
- Chapter 7. Terminological variation and the unsaturability of concepts 155
- Chapter 8. Terminological metaphors and the nomadism of specialised terms 181
- Chapter 9. Term and concept variation in specialized knowledge dynamics 213
- Index 259
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. The social dimension of variation
- Chapter 1. The emotional dimension in terminological variation 11
- Chapter 2. Term usage and socioterminological variation 31
- Chapter 3. Diastratic variation in language for specific purposes 57
-
Part II. Tools and methods
- Chapter 4. Towards a resource of semantically and contextually structured term variants and their translations 83
- Chapter 5. Specialized verbs and specialized uses of verbs in a comparable corpus of judgments produced in Canada, Portugal and Brazil 109
- Chapter 6. Should we be looking for the needle in the haystack or in the straw poll ? 131
-
Part III. Semantics of variation
- Chapter 7. Terminological variation and the unsaturability of concepts 155
- Chapter 8. Terminological metaphors and the nomadism of specialised terms 181
- Chapter 9. Term and concept variation in specialized knowledge dynamics 213
- Index 259
