Lecture 8. Terminology Databases (tdBs) and Terminological Data Banks

1. Historical background.

The terminological data bank is the instrument which has opened up new perspectives for lexicography and terminography and has expanded the former limits of these disciplines.

The evolution of term banks began in the 1960-s and has grown from its modest beginnings to become an important branch of terminography today. This evolution was conditioned by two factors: firstly, the purely technical aspect – electronic data processing has, through increasingly sophisticated hardware and software, made giant strides; secondly, the theory of terminology too has progressed. These twin developments ran parallel to each other remaining in constant contact.

Machine translation should also be mentioned in this connection. Once it has surmounted the technical and linguistic problems, it needs enormous inventories of words (terms, mainly) if it is to produce satisfactory results. In short, term banks should also be viewed in this perspective. The evolution of term banks has never been marked by stagnation, the process is regular and constant.

Term banks originated in various environments, all of which were typically specialized. These environments do not always coincide with the traditional lexicographical environments. Five major groups may be distinguished.

1) Banks which were started in close co-operation with the major translation services whose special focus of interest might be different but which had all recognized the same problem – that traditional special dictionaries proved inadequate (e.g., EURODICAUTOM, the term bank of the EU).

2) Banks whose particular objective is closely related to language planning and especially the development of terminologies in one particular language (e.g., the bank of Quebec).

3) Banks that store first and foremost the terminologies which a particular institution has elaborated, cultivated and frequently published in book forms (e.g., TREMDOK at TNC).

4) Banks attached to universities and institutes of higher education and containing a significant research component (e.g., the bank of Dresden and Copenhagen).

5) Banks that store only standardized terminologies and are generally linked with standardization bodies.

These groups do not exist in isolation, on the contrary. As the development approached our days the greater became the rapprochement, harmonization, intermingling of these groups, without their special goals having been lost sight of. Today's technology permits a "both-and" situation, instead of "either-or" of former times.

Admitting that term banks have made enormous progress possible, there remain a number of problems that may not be ignored and to which no satisfactory solution has yet been found. Term banks have not obviated the need for the intellectual contribution of a terminologist.

2. Data elements, data fields, formats, records interrelations.

Termbank classification has a dual purpose. Firstly, it makes it possible to organize large amounts of terminological units in such a way that they may be accessed under major special fields and/or subfields so that enquiries may be made to relate to a specific subject field making if possible to provide answers that are accurate and precise. Secondly, the uniform classification of several banks means that inventories may be exchanged between banks without re-classification, i.e. without the intervention of human intelligence. The idea is not new and there is a general agreement on the desirability of such a classification. But it is difficult to reach agreement upon more than the initial declaration of intent. In many banks, especially the larger ones, different classifications – depending on the purpose of the bank – have been in use for a considerable period of time and it is easy to imagine that attempting a uniform classification would entail the re-classification of vast quantities of terminological data.

The terminological data format – like classification – has a dual purpose. Firstly, through the format the mass of individual items of information if ordered into a specific sequence and the item mutually delineated. For it is essential for each individual item of information to remain homogeneous in itself and not to be blended with others. Secondly, it is only through compatibility of format that the efficient exchange of terminological data becomes possible. This will not be achieved by classification alone.

It is undoubtful that a translation-slanted termbank must have at its disposal extensive inventories before it can be of real help to the translator. The inventory must be sufficiently extensive, at least in certain special fields, to ensure a satisfactory degree of coverage for queries received. The quality of the inventory must, if possible, be such that it surpasses that of a traditional dictionary. Inventories must be constantly added to and subjected to a test of current validity comparable to standardization.

3. Classifications for TDB and Term banks.

4. Interchange of terminological data.

5. Term banks and terminological dictionaries.

6. TDB application.

What can a bank achieve? This question can hardly be answered globally because the answer depends on the system and on the bank. A number of tasks can, however, be performed by all or most of the banks existing, while some less usual ones depend on the conception of the bank, its purpose and technical limitations.

7. EuroDicAutom. TERMIUM Plus. LOGOS Terminology data bank.