Why traditional terminology theory impedes a realistic description of categories and terms in the life sciences

Temmerman, Rita

doi:10.1075/term.5.1.07tem

Article published In: Terminology
Vol. 5:1 (1998) ► pp.77–92

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Why traditional terminology theory impedes a realistic description of categories and terms in the life sciences

Rita Temmerman

Published online: 4 July 2000

https://doi.org/10.1075/term.5.1.07tem

On the basis of an empirical study of categorisation and lexicalisation processes in a corpus of English language scientific publications in the domain of the life sciences, we claim that traditional terminology theory (the Vienna school) has five principles which impede a realistic description of many categories and terms. We propose an alternative socio-cognitive terminology theory inspired by cognitive semantics.

Keywords: Template Representation, Category, Terminography, Univocity, Polysemy, Synonymy, Socio-Cognitive Terminology, Di-Achrony, Metaphor, Prototype Structure, Cognitve Models, Understanding, Life Sciences, Unit of Understanding, Lexicalisation

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