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In:Handbook of Terminology: Volume 4. Terminology planning in Europe
Edited by Rossella Resi and Frieda Steurs
[Handbook of Terminology 4] 2025
► pp. 58–75

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Rise and fall — Lessons learnt

The Danish case

 | Independent Researcher
 | University of Southern Denmark
Published online: 26 September 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/hot.4.ris1
Abstract
From the mid-1970s until 2016, terminology activities in Denmark were progressing in many respects. Around 2015, a rather sudden decrease followed their pinnacle. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to identify the key factors underlying the rise and fall of terminology in Denmark. We describe the lack of language awareness and legislation in Denmark, and the dominance of English. We ascribe the rise of Danish terminology to the development and structure of terminology institutions, in close co-operation though at the same time competing. Further, we describe terminology teaching over time and provide an overview of Danish terminology associations and activities, including the closure of LSP language study programmes. Finally, we outline the current terminology situation.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The general language situation in Denmark
  • 3.Terminology institutions
  • 4.Education
  • 5.Associations and other terminology activities
    • 5.1Terminologigruppen: The terminology group in Denmark
      • 5.1.1Center for Sprogteknologi [Centre for Language Technology] (CST), University of Copenhagen
      • 5.1.2The Council of the European Union and The Danish Unit
      • 5.1.3Department of International Business Communication, CBS
      • 5.1.4Translatørforeningen [The Danish Association of Certified Translators and Interpreters]
      • 5.1.5Kommunikation og Sprog [Communication and Language]
      • 5.1.6Dansk standard [Danish Standards] (DS)
      • 5.1.7Institut for design, medier og uddannelsesvidenskab [Department of Design, Media and Educational Science] (IDMU), (former Institut for fagsprog, kommunikation og informationsvidenskab [Department of Business Communication and Information Science] (IFKI), University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
      • 5.1.8Dansk Sprognævn [The Danish Language Council]
      • 5.1.9Center for Leksikografi [Centre for Lexicography], University of Aarhus
      • 5.1.10FORVIR (Forum for Vidensmodellering i Offentlig Regi) [Forum for knowledge modelling in public organisations]
      • 5.1.11Sprogambassadørerne [the Language Ambassadors]
    • 5.2Other terminology activities
  • 6.The current situation
  • 7.Rise and fall
  • 8.Concluding remarks
  • References
References (42)
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