designation

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A designation is the name of an object by a word or phrase. In linguistics and terminology theory, naming is the linguistic form with which concepts are brought into consciousness. In this respect, a name is the verbalization of an idea. The broader generic term designation , on the other hand, includes not only the designation but also non-lingual such as numbers, notations and symbols. In the case of a technical term, one also speaks of a technical expression or term. Terms occur as one-word and as multi-word terms , also called multi-word terms .

The relationships between designation (also designation, sign, etc.) to concept (also content, meaning, etc.) to object (also object, designated, etc.) are illustrated in semiotics and linguistics in the semiotic triangle .

One-word and multi-word names

Technical one-word designations exist as:

  • Simplizia (root words), for example: switch , button , handle
  • Compounds (compound words), for example: vice , escalator , elevator
  • Derivatives (derived words), for example: connection , tenacity , fence

A multi-word term , also known as a multi-word term, is a term made up of at least two separate words. These form a syntactic unit. The respective individual words can in turn be compound words. Examples of multi-word designations are: Gaussian bell curve , torque converter and roulement à aiguilles Or also: stepped raised countersunk head , bare electrode , disc with square hole , hexagon socket with handle .

Designation requirements

The DIN 2330 terms and designations; General principles stipulate that designations should be linguistically correct and appropriate and, in particular, require:

  • Accuracy of terms
  • Shortage of names
  • Orientation towards recognized language usage

If there is a clear relationship between a term and a designation, only one content is assigned to each linguistic expression . Here, however, the same content can also be represented by one or more other expressions. In the case of a one-to-one or reversibly unique relationship, each expression is assigned only one content and each content only one expression. In this respect, DIN 2330 says with regard to the "accuracy of designations":

“Accuracy of terms is achieved by establishing as unambiguous a relationship as possible between a term and a term. H. If possible, only one term is assigned to each term and only one term is assigned to each term. "

These requirements relate to technical languages. In the so-called common language , uniqueness or unambiguity is neither feasible nor desirable, since flexibility plays a major role here.

Problems in assigning the term and designation arise, especially for technical languages, from:

  • Synonymy : two or more terms are assigned to one term.
  • Polysemy : the designation is ambiguous, but there is a connection between the meanings concerned, which is comparatively common in German.
  • Homonymy : the designation is ambiguous, there is no connection between the meanings concerned, comparatively rare in German.

Formation of terms

There are different methods of naming in the technical languages:

  • Terminologization : An existing general language word is given a very specific meaning in a technical language (or several). To Terminologisierung also counts metonymy if, for example, from the material designation glass is the name of the vessel, or personal names are used to denote physical terms ( Volts , Hertz , Newton ).
  • Word composition or multi-word designation: New terms arise through composition (compound words) or stringing together in word groups (multi-word designations).
  • Word derivation : A stemmed word is reacted with (at least) one dissipation element ( prefix , suffix connected), for example testing / he , Ver / bind / ung .
  • Conversion : The change from one word class to another, for example from the infinitive to the noun plowing .
  • Borrowing and loan translation : The unchanged or largely unchanged adoption from another language (borrowing) plays a major role, especially in science and technology. In the last few decades, English has been particularly important as the source language for borrowings in many other languages. In loan translation, the individual elements are translated into the target language, the structure of the naming remains the same, for example machine aided translation (en) into machine aided translation (de).
  • Word abbreviation : Abbreviations arise when terms are not written out in full. An initial word (acronym) can be used as a spoken abbreviation (can be pronounced like a word, for example laser ) or as a spelling abbreviation ( LKW ). A syllable word (also syllable abbreviation) is the abbreviation of the form of determination and the basic form of a word composition (compound) to a new lexeme ( Kripo für Kriminalpolizei ).

In contrast, the formation of new words plays almost no role.

Web links

Wiktionary: naming  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

References and footnotes

  1. ^ Sentence based on DIN 2342 Terminology Theory (1992: 2), there: Designation : designation consisting of one word or several words , quoted from Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work , 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag , 2004, p. 112
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g sentence after Susanne Göpferich: Interkulturelles Technical Writing , Narr, 1998, pp. 177 to 179
  3. ↑ Composition based on Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work , 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag, 2004, p. 112
  4. ↑ Sentence after Dieter Möhn: Determinative compounds and multi-word designations in German technical vocabulary in Jahrbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache , Volume 12, 1986, p. 111. On p. 126 to 128 there is an extensive typology with numerous other examples.
  5. ↑ Typesetting and enumeration according to Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work , 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag, 2004, p. 112. There based on DIN 2330 (1992: 8)
  6. ↑ a b c sentence after Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work , 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag, 2004, p. 113
  7. ↑ quotes terms and designation according to DIN 2330 . Edition: 1993-12, page: 8, paragraph: 6.1.1 Accuracy of terms
  8. ↑ Composition based on Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work. 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag, 2004, p. 114
  9. ↑ a b c sentence after Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work. 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag, 2004, pp. 125 to 131
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k sentence after Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work , 5th edition, Georg Olms Verlag, 2004, pp. 114 to 122
  11. ^ Sentence and example according to Harald Weinrich: Textgrammatik der deutschen Sprache , 2nd edition, 2003, p. 929