Terminology Studies
Fundamental principles, standards, and methodology of terminology
Definition
Terminology studies (terminology) is an interdisciplinary field that systematically studies, organizes, and standardizes concepts specific to a particular science, art, profession, or activity, along with the terms representing these concepts.
Terminology work analyzes relationships between concepts, creates term systems, and supports effective communication by ensuring conceptual equivalence across different languages.
Fundamental Principles
Concept Orientation
Terminology work focuses on the meaning and relationships of concepts rather than the linguistic features of words.
Systematicity
Terms are organized and defined within systems based on logical relationships between concepts.
Monosemy Principle
Each term should represent only one concept within a specific concept system (monosemy).
International Harmonization
Terminology work should be compatible with international standards and ensure cross-linguistic comparability.
ISO and TSE Standards
International and national standards used in terminology work
Terminology Work Principles
ISO 704:2022
Terminology work — Principles and methods
ISO 860:2007
Terminology work — Harmonization of concepts and terms
ISO 1087:2019
Terminology work and terminology science — Vocabulary
ISO/TR 20694:2018
A typology of language registers
ISO 24156-1:2014
Graphic notations for concept modelling in terminology work and its relationship with UML — Part 1: Guidelines for using UML notation in terminology work
ISO 29383:2020
Terminology policies — Development and implementation
Language Coding and Dictionary Work
ISO 639:2023
Code for individual languages and language groups
ISO 1951:2007
Presentation/representation of entries in dictionaries — Requirements, recommendations and information
ISO 10241-1:2011
Terminological entries in standards — Part 1: General requirements and examples of presentation
ISO 10241-2:2012
Terminological entries in standards — Part 2: Adoption of standardized terminological entries
ISO 12615:2004
Bibliographic references and source identifiers for terminology work
ISO 12616-1:2021
Terminology work in support of multilingual communication — Part 1: Fundamentals of translation-oriented terminography
ISO 15188:2001
Project management guidelines for terminology standardization
ISO 21636-1:2024
Language coding — A framework for language varieties — Part 1: Vocabulary
ISO 21636-3:2024
Language coding — A framework for language varieties — Part 3: Application of the framework
ISO 22128:2008
Terminology products and services — Overview and guidance
ISO 23185:2009
Assessment and benchmarking of terminological resources — General concepts, principles and requirements
Management of Terminology Resources
ISO 5078:2025
Management of terminology resources — Terminology extraction
ISO 12620-1:2022
Management of terminology resources — Data categories — Part 1: Specifications
ISO 12620-2:2022
Management of terminology resources — Data categories — Part 2: Repositories
ISO 16642:2025
Management of terminology resources — Terminological markup framework
ISO 22274:2013
Systems to manage terminology, knowledge and content — Concept-related aspects for developing and internationalizing classification systems
ISO/TS 24634:2024
Management of terminology resources — TermBase eXchange (TBX)-compliant representation of concept relations and subject fields
ISO 26162-1:2019
Management of terminology resources — Terminology databases — Part 1: Design
ISO 26162-2:2019
Management of terminology resources — Terminology databases — Part 2: Software
ISO 26162-3:2023
Management of terminology resources — Terminology databases — Part 3: Content
ISO 30042:2019
Management of terminology resources — TermBase eXchange (TBX)
Terminology Work Process
- 1
Domain Identification
The scope and boundaries of the scientific or practical field to be studied are determined.
- 2
Concept Analysis
Concepts within the domain are identified, their characteristics are determined, and relationships between them are analyzed.
- 3
Concept System Development
Hierarchical and relational connections between concepts are visualized to create concept diagrams.
- 4
Term Selection and Formation
The most appropriate term is selected for each concept, or new terms are created when necessary.
- 5
Definition and Documentation
Clear and precise definitions are written for each term, with usage examples and source information added.
Terminology Studies in Türkiye
Terminology studies in Türkiye have been conducted under the leadership of the Turkish Language Association (TDK) since the 1930s. Term studies initiated within the framework of Atatürk's language reform aimed to promote the use of Turkish in science and technology.
The Terminology Studies and Practice Branch conducts terminology studies in various scientific and technical fields, prepares terminology glossaries, and develops terminology work methodologies compatible with ISO standards.
The Public Institutions Terminology Coordination Commission (KaTEK) aims to ensure unity, standardization, and coordination in terms used in public institutions. KaTEK brings together terminology work from different institutions, supporting consistent terminology use throughout Türkiye.