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In:Terminology throughout History: A discipline in the making
Edited by Kara Warburton and John Humbley
[Terminology and Lexicography Research and Practice 24] 2025
► pp. 148–166

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Chapter 7
Terminology science, international languages, and knowledge communication

 | University of Macerata
Published online: 23 May 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/tlrp.24.07leo
Abstract
Eugen Wüster, the founder of terminology science, is considered in this study as part of a long tradition of interventions in natural languages aiming at improving their representative and communicative efficiency. From the invention of artificial language systems (in 17th century Europe), through language planning (from the 19th century onwards) this tradition continues in contemporary formalised models developed in Natural Language Processing that are at the basis of Artificial Intelligence applications. International artificial/auxiliary languages are recognised to have a key role in the birth of terminology as a scientific discipline.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The emergence of new science and technology, and the language issue
    • 2.1The philosophical language: A universal language of science
  • 3.From universalism to terminology
    • 3.1Wüster, Esperanto and terminology
    • 3.2Wüster, logic, and linguistics
  • 4.Modern developments and tentative conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
References (59)
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