This workshop focuses on the most typical terminology work: terminographical work. It involves carrying out a terminological project, within the setting of the Communicative Theory of Terminology (CTT), respecting the principle of adequacy, according to which, terminological work must cover the professional needs that have given rise to it and the functions for which it will be used. To this end, all the phases of carrying out terminographical work will be studied through a series of exercises. The workshop comprises three teaching units: Teaching unit 1 focuses on the first two phases of terminological work in the framework of the Communicative Theory of Terminology (CTT). Teaching unit 2 deals with phases three and four of the terminological work, comprising the start of the project and database preparation. Teaching unit 3 deals with phases five and six of the terminological work, comprising database revision and drafting the work. 

Objectives

The objective of the Methodology for Terminology Work is to design and develop a terminological glossary model.

This general objective may be broken down into the following specific objectives:

  • To explain the concepts upon which terminography is based
  • To define the needs and target public of a multilingual terminographical project
  • To design a project that meets the defined needs
  • To design the terminographical article model
  • To prepare a work plan
  • To search for and select the necessary documentation
  • To establish the terminology extraction corpus
  • To create a database
  • To prepare suitable definitions
  • To search for and evaluate equivalents
  • To publish a work in the proper format.

Potential candidates

Translators and interpreters, documentalists, technical writers, journalists involved in scientific dissemination, lexicographers and dictionary editors, editors of scientific journals, philologists and linguists interested in lexicon, text book editors, teachers of languages for specific purposes, teachers and specialists in various subjects interested in building subject-specific glossaries.
 

Methodology

Digital classroom with access restricted to course students and lecturers, with exclusive teaching material in the form of websites, discussion forums, chat, tests, exercises and administrative and academic services.

Individual attention with direct, ongoing contact with teaching staff for the taught units, the course directors, the dynamiser and the webmaster for resolving any academic queries or other issues.

Innovative teaching methodology based on discussion forums and the teaching material available on the homepage of the course's digital classroom.

Programme work method:

To begin with, registered students receive technical instructions. When a module or each of the module units begin, they receive a welcome message for starting the corresponding activities and completing them within the stated period.

Course is organised into teaching units which conclude with targeted exercises. Each unit is given by a single lecturer, who will deal with queries on a daily basis throughout the unit.

Students must read the material for each unit, consult any queries with the lecturer and prepare the exercises. The teaching staff will ask for the exercises to be corrected if they are not up to standard when initially submitted, monitoring each student individually.

Evaluation

Students are assessed by means of a combination of the following indicators:

  • Marks from the exercises for all the units in the workshop.
  • Evaluation of the student's willingness to review those exercises not passed initially.

Academic contents

The Methodology for Terminology Work (10 ECTS credits) is structured into three practical units:

  • Unit 1: Phases 1 and 2 of the terminological project in the setting of the Communicative Theory of Terminology (CTT), exploration and definition of a terminological work.
  • Unit 2: Phases 3 and 4 of the terminological work: starting the project and preparing the database.
  • Unit 3: Phases 5 and 6 of the terminological work, database revision and drafting of the work.

Qualification and Academic Value

Students who undertake, make the most of and successfully complete the proposed exercises will receive a certificate of completion for the Methodology for Terminology Work issued by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).

10 ECTS*

*European Credit Transfer System. 1 ECTS credit is equivalent to approximately 25 hours' work by the student, including taught sessions and independent work.
*In exceptional cases, the course directors may consider the possibility of recognising the Postgraduate Course in Terminology Basics.