Chapter 3. Diastratic variation in language for specific purposes
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Aurélie Picton
Abstract
In this chapter, we examine the possibility of analyzing diastratic variation in the context of specialized discourse. In order to do so, we first show that diastratic variation is still in need of a clear definition when applied to specialized languages. We then present the results obtained from the analysis of two specialized corpora. The first corpus, in the field of nuclear medicine, contains articles written by experts as well as extracts from machine operator forums. The second corpus is based on texts, documents and websites produced for academic staff in the field of higher education. The information drawn from these corpora shows that diastratic variation does indeed occur within a given field of professional activity, and should be better taken into account by terminologists.
Abstract
In this chapter, we examine the possibility of analyzing diastratic variation in the context of specialized discourse. In order to do so, we first show that diastratic variation is still in need of a clear definition when applied to specialized languages. We then present the results obtained from the analysis of two specialized corpora. The first corpus, in the field of nuclear medicine, contains articles written by experts as well as extracts from machine operator forums. The second corpus is based on texts, documents and websites produced for academic staff in the field of higher education. The information drawn from these corpora shows that diastratic variation does indeed occur within a given field of professional activity, and should be better taken into account by terminologists.
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
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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
