Terminus

A term (also technical term , technical term , technical term ) is a defined designation for a term within the technical language of a subject . Synonyms for this are also term or terminus technicus (Latin terminus technicus ; genus m .; Pl. Termini technici , short terms ). Terminus , however, besides the purely linguistic designation also the important content that term itself, appeal.

A technical term is a linguistic expression that is used in a technical language and has a special meaning there. Technical term is a more suitable substitute for term compared to technical term. Because a term can not only be in the form of a one-word term, but also as a multi-word term (also multi-word term ).

The set of all terms in a subject area (the names of all terms) forms the respective subject-specific terminology (the specialist vocabulary ). Terminology theory deals with the investigation and establishment of terminology . If a technical vocabulary is standardized or standardized, one also speaks of a thesaurus or controlled vocabulary and calls the terms contained therein descriptors .

Word origin

The word terminus has been used in German to mean “fixed expression, technical term” since the 15th century. It is considered a further development of the Latin terminus ("fixed (border) point"). The Latinizing phrase terminus technicus did not emerge until the 17th century. The composite formation of terminus and logic to terminology , as "fixed vocabulary", developed in the 18th century.

Delimitations (definitions)

The DIN 2342 (1992: 3) Terms of terminology teaching defined :

"Terminus (also: technical term): The related pair of a term and its designation as an element of a terminology."

As a concept , the DIN 2342 (1 in 1992) defines:

"A unit of thought that is formed from a set of objects by determining the properties these objects have in common by means of abstraction."

When naming the DIN 2342 (2 1992) defined as:

"Designation consisting of one word or several words."

These relationships between concept , designation and object are based on the semiotic triangle . In this respect, this definition aims to ensure that the term is understood not only to mean the linguistic expression, but also its meaning ( term ). In contrast, ISO 1087-1 (2000: 6) defines term as:

"Verbal designation of a general concept in a specific subject field."

Here term corresponds to the German “naming” and designation to the “description”. These respective standards are not congruent, the English term and the German term are not equivalent. When dealing with terminology in practice, however, these differences are not of great importance. However, against this background, there are simplified term definitions that do not take the term into account:

"A defined and standardized name."
"A defined but not necessarily standardized term."
"Technical term of a single science that is precisely defined in a theory-based terminology."

Web links

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

Wiktionary: Technical term - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b sentence after Susanne Göpferich : Intercultural Technical Writing. Communicate technical information in a way that is appropriate for the target group. A textbook and workbook (= forum for technical language research. Vol. 40). Narr, Tübingen 1998, ISBN 3-8233-4760-8 , p. 179.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d sentence according to terminology. In: Kluge : Etymological dictionary of the German language. 24th, revised and expanded edition, edited by Elmar Seebold . de Gruyter, Berlin et al. 2002, ISBN 3-11-017472-3 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c Quoted from Reiner Arntz , Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer : Introduction to terminology work (= studies on language and technology. 2). 5th, improved edition. Georg Olms, Hildesheim et al. 2004, ISBN 3-487-11553-0 , p. 37.
↑ ^a ^b ^c sentence after Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work (= studies on language and technology. 2). 5th, improved edition. Georg Olms, Hildesheim et al. 2004, ISBN 3-487-11553-0 , p. 41.
↑ ^a ^b Analogously and almost literally after Susanne Göpferich: Intercultural Technical Writing. Communicate technical information in a way that is appropriate for the target group. A textbook and workbook (= forum for technical language research. Vol. 40). Narr, Tübingen 1998, ISBN 3-8233-4760-8 , p. 179.
^ Terminus. In: Helmut Glück (ed.), With the assistance of Friederike Schmöe : Metzler Lexikon Sprache. 3rd, revised edition. Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2005, ISBN 3-476-02056-8 .

[Göpferich-1] sentence after Susanne Göpferich : Intercultural Technical Writing. Communicate technical information in a way that is appropriate for the target group. A textbook and workbook (= forum for technical language research. Vol. 40). Narr, Tübingen 1998, ISBN 3-8233-4760-8 , p. 179.

[Kluge-2] sentence according to terminology. In: Kluge : Etymological dictionary of the German language. 24th, revised and expanded edition, edited by Elmar Seebold . de Gruyter, Berlin et al. 2002, ISBN 3-11-017472-3 .

[Terminologiearbeit37-3] Quoted from Reiner Arntz , Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer : Introduction to terminology work (= studies on language and technology. 2). 5th, improved edition. Georg Olms, Hildesheim et al. 2004, ISBN 3-487-11553-0 , p. 37.

[Terminologiearbeit41-4] sentence after Reiner Arntz, Heribert Picht, Felix Mayer: Introduction to terminology work (= studies on language and technology. 2). 5th, improved edition. Georg Olms, Hildesheim et al. 2004, ISBN 3-487-11553-0 , p. 41.

[Göpferich179-5] Analogously and almost literally after Susanne Göpferich: Intercultural Technical Writing. Communicate technical information in a way that is appropriate for the target group. A textbook and workbook (= forum for technical language research. Vol. 40). Narr, Tübingen 1998, ISBN 3-8233-4760-8 , p. 179.

[6] Terminus. In: Helmut Glück (ed.), With the assistance of Friederike Schmöe : Metzler Lexikon Sprache. 3rd, revised edition. Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2005, ISBN 3-476-02056-8 .