Chapter 9. Term and concept variation in specialized knowledge dynamics
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Pilar León-Araúz
Abstract
Variation is a relatively new area of study in Terminology, as traditional approaches initially relied on the univocity principle and represented concepts in static universal structures. This means that for a long time, neither term nor concept variations were regarded as important and were largely ignored. Nonetheless, specialized domains are dynamic, and dynamism is an inevitable source of variation. The same reality can be perceived in different ways, giving rise to different conceptualizations, which in turn cause different denominations to emerge. This is known as multidimensionality. This chapter explores this phenomenon by analysing its impact on term and concept variation. As shall be seen, term and concept variation, far from being unrelated, are the consequence of the convergent influence of multidimensionality, context, and dynamism in specialized domains.
Abstract
Variation is a relatively new area of study in Terminology, as traditional approaches initially relied on the univocity principle and represented concepts in static universal structures. This means that for a long time, neither term nor concept variations were regarded as important and were largely ignored. Nonetheless, specialized domains are dynamic, and dynamism is an inevitable source of variation. The same reality can be perceived in different ways, giving rise to different conceptualizations, which in turn cause different denominations to emerge. This is known as multidimensionality. This chapter explores this phenomenon by analysing its impact on term and concept variation. As shall be seen, term and concept variation, far from being unrelated, are the consequence of the convergent influence of multidimensionality, context, and dynamism in specialized domains.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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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
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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
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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
