Lesson 7. Terminology

Dealing with scientific and technical literature you should first of all understand its main and important stylistic features — brevity (краткость) of interpretation and clarity of wording (ясность формулировки). The translation of scientific and technical texts needs perfect and clear knowledge of terminology. So what is a term? A term is a word or word combination which has the special, strictly definite meaning in this or that branch (отрасли) of science. The term precisely (точно) expresses the idea or conception (концепцию), the process or the name of something and strives for monosemantics. The monosemantics leads to the independence from the context. The term should be brief and precise (краткий и точный).

According to their morphological building the terms are divided into three groups: simple (e.g. circuit, feeder (Схема, устройство подачи пищи)); complex (e.g. flywheel, clock-work (маховик, часовой механизм)); terms-word-combinations (e.g. trip coil; circuit breaker (катушка отключения; автоматический выключатель)).

Terms are united into the terminological systems, which express the notion of the definite branch of knowledge. Scientific and technological terminology is formed by the great number of widely used words, which have several meanings apart from their basic ones. For example, the well-known word "arm" which you'll without fail translate as "рука" acquires several different meanings if it is used in a special text.

While translating the scientific and technical text you can't do without the terminological dictionary. There is a great number of such dictionaries. Each branch of science has its own one. For example, you can easily find chemical, medical, politechnical or economical dictionaries.

Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks with the proper word from the brackets (term, notion, terminology, context, terms):

1. The terms of payment are indicated in the agreement. They should be obligatory followed. Сроки оплаты указаны в соглашении. Они должны быть обязательно соблюдены.

2. I don’t have the first context (точка зрения, взгляд) about this accident.

3. You have to study terminology of the Subject, otherwise it is impossible to conduct (проводить) the research.

4. I can’t find this term in the terminological dictionary.

5. He explained this in the context of present conditions notion. Он объяснил это в контексте представления настоящих условий

Ex. 2. Translate the following into Russian using the proper meaning of the basic words:

The presidential term ends in four years. Президентский срок заканчивается через четыре года.

It’s necessary to study the terminology of the subject before reading special literature. Необходимо изучить терминологию предмета перед чтением специальной литературы.

He has no notion of writing the dissertation. He should study how to do it. Он не имеет ни малейшего представления о написании диссертации. Он должен изучить, как это сделать.

There is a great number of terms in this text. You can translate it only with the help of terminological dictionary. В этом тексте содержится большое количество терминов. Вы можете перевести его только с помощью терминологического словаря.

This happened in the context of to-day’s America. Это произошло в контексте/ситуации сегодняшней Америки.

Now they are not on terms but I hope they will come to terms. Сейчас они не в дружеских отношениях, но я надеюсь, что они придут к соглашению

There are a lot of notions at the haberdashery department. В секции галантереи есть много необходимых мелочей.

This word has several meanings so you can translate it only in the context. Это слово имеет несколько значений, поэтому вы можете перевести его только в контексте.

His head is full of silly notions. Его голова полна глупых представлений.

We signed the agreement on beneficial terms. Мы подписали соглашение на выгодных условиях.

Ex. 3. Answer the questions to the text.

What are the main and important features of scientific literature? Main and important stylistic features — brevity of interpretation and clarity of wording and usage of terminology.

2. What is a term? A term is a word or word combination which has the special, strictly definite meaning in this or that branch of science

3. Does the term depend on the context? The monosemantics of terms leads to the independence from the context.

4. What are the main groups of terms according to their morphological building? According to their morphological building the terms are divided into three groups: simple, complex and terms-word-combinations.

5. How do you understand the notion of a terminological system? Terminological systems express the notion of the definite branch of knowledge.

6. What kind of dictionary it’s necessary to use while translating scientific literature? Terminological dictionary

Ex. 4. Read proposed text, translate it and find the terms and notions.