Terminology Policies in Wales

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Terminology Policies in Wales

• Delyth Prys, Dewi Jones
• Dublin 28 July 2007

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Are there coherent terminology policies in place
in you language ?

• Background
• 1993 School Curriculum Authority standardize
  Welsh terminology
• 1993 new Welsh Language Act (leading to
  establishment of Welsh Language Board)
• mid1990s onwards numerous commissions from public
  bodies for standardized terminologies
• 1998 publication of Guidelines for Welsh
  terminology
• 1998 establishment of the National Assembly of
  Wales
• 2007 revised Guidelines for Welsh terminology
  commissioned by Welsh Language Board

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How do they work ?

• Bottom up approach (demand-led)
• Standardization and guidelines informed by
  international standards (ISO and CEN)
• Terminology expertise based in academic
  environment (University of Wales, Bangor)
• Terminology and Corpus Planning section
  established by the Welsh Language Board (also
  have Translation Services in their remit)

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Are they effective ?

• v Customer-led initiatives succeed (customers
  ensure that policies are implemented, work is
  done by terminology experts working with subject
  specialists)
• X Centralized (Welsh Language Board mediated)
  terminology panel consists entirely of linguists
  and traditional lexicographers no terminology
  experts

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Standardization projects

• The group should include the least possible
  number of members in order to promote effective
  communication and cooperation. Between 5 and 8
  subject specialists are indicated as the usual
  number for such a committee (4.3.4). The
  inclusion of an experienced terminologist as a
  member of the group is also recommended.

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• Guidelines for the Standardization of Terminology
  for the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh
  Language Board
• Delyth Prys, Dewi Jones (to be published by the
  Welsh Language Board 2007)

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• 1. Background
• 1.1 ISO Standards
• 1.2 Explanation of terms
• 1.3 Technical terms and the Welsh language
  
• 1.4 Terms in a multilingual world

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• 2. Managing terminology projects
• 2. 1 The relevant international standards
• 2.2 Relevant administrative procedures
• 2.2.1 Phase 1 Preparing for the project
• 2.2.2 Phase 2 Planning
• 2.2.3 Phase 3 Action
• 2.2.4 Phase 4 Review and evaluation

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• 3. Collating terms
• 3.1 Authoritative sources
• 3.2 What should be collected
• 3.3 Methods of term collection
• 3.4 Terminology management needs in the
  translation industry
• 3.5 Sharing terms with other bodies

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• 4. Structure of terminology databases
• 4.1 Fields and metadata
• 4.2 Database structure
• 4.2.1 Plurals
• 4.2.2 Practical use of ISO 166422003
• 4.3 Production of electronic and paper-based
  dictionaries
• 4.4 Searching in several databases simultaneously
  

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• 5. Criteria for Terminology Standardization
  
• 5.1 ISO 704 and 860 standards
• 5.1.1 The changes between ISO 7041987 and ISO
  7042000
• 5.1.2 Working conceptually
• 5.1.3 Concept systems
• 5.1.4 Monosemy
• 5.1.5 Forming definitions
• 5.1.6 Methods of term creation

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• 5.2 Adapting the Criteria for Welsh
• 5.2.1 Principles of term formation
• 5.2.2 Transparency
• 5.2.3 Consistency
• 5.2.4 Appropriateness
  
• 5.2.5 Linguistic economy
• 5.2.6 Derivability
• 5.2.7 Linguistic correctness
• 5.2.8 Principle of precedence to the native
  language
• 5.3 Preferred, admitted and deprecated
  designation of terms
• 5.4 Use of disambiguators
• 6 Language Registers

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How is authoritative terminology disseminated in
your language ?

• Y Termiadur
• National Database of Welsh Terminology
• TermCymru
• Cysgeir
• Enwau Cymru
• welsh-termau-cymraeg
• Maes T

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Further needs

• Training
• Simultaneous standardization in both national
  languages
• Research on socioterminology / appropriate
  language registers