Edem (2000) quoting Eugen Wüster (1974) argues that the starting point of all terminology work is the concept, and that terminology distinguishes between concepts and designations. The former is, in fact, viewed as generally independent from the second, and this is why terminologists speak about concepts while linguists speak about meaning. That is to say, the terminologist would always see that a concept is assigned through meaning to a word that itself is comprised of a unit of designations. Whereas, a terminologist would always see that the meaning of a word is limited to that particular meaning it is associated with in a given and particular field. However, a word for the majority of contemporary linguists is necessarily made of two indivisible units: word-form and meaning, Edem (ibid) argues.
Concept then according to Wüster is not only the starting point of all terminology work but is rather considered a central notion in both the practice and discourse of terminology.
The concept in terminology is neither a simple nor a straightforward issue to determine. Edem (ibid) argues that first, the complexity of terminology resides in the fact that terminology as a discipline draws on various disciplines such as engineering, philosophy, linguistics, psychology… etc. Such disciplines have already preoccupied themselves with concepts: how to perceive, create, stabilise, organise, and communicate them. Second, terminology consists of different fields of specialised subject areas, and therefore the accounts of the concept have necessarily to deal with all those subject areas and their diverse ontological and epistemological dimensions. Yet, such variety is supposed to affect the process of how a concept creation and description could be perceived and viewed, Edem adds (ibid).
On the other hand, Humbley (2004) referring to Rey (1979) argues that what is important about Wüster is that he did not give much importance to the problems of translation and definitions but he rather focused on the elaboration of the theory of concept.
The idea of concept/notion, Humbley (2004) argues, is designating concrete objects in different contexts, and it shows that reality is not always apprehended the same way in different languages. Such a claim emphasises the importance of concepts in different languages, and shows that every language has its own particularities. Hence, a particular object in a given language might be looked at differently in another language; it is neither the object nor the word (lexical attribution) that counts but rather the concept. Therefore, while doing terminology and translation, it is necessary to look for equivalent concepts in the target language and culture than looking for words. Consequently, in order to translate, it is first of all necessary to agree upon the potential limits of what one designates, Humbley adds (ibid).
The importance of concepts in terminology –
Sources:
Antia Bassey E, 2000, Terminology and language planning: an alternative framework of practice and discourse, John Benjamin Publishing, Amsterdam, pp 81-84.
Humbley J, 2004, La réception de l’oeuvre d’Eugen Wüster dans les pays de langue française, Les Cahiers du CIEL, CIEL, Paris, pp. 33-51.
Written by Yacine Chemssi
Terminology Study Visitor at TermCoord
Student at the University of Luxembourg