This workshop focuses mainly on the problems linked to theory and methodology, and intends to offer complementary approaches for terminology problem-solving. Our objective is to expand the list of the most common but complex problems in the field of terminology, with other problems which often are not perceived as such, with the aim to achieve high-quality solutions to the broad terminology-related problem typology. 

Objectives

The main objective of this workshop is to develop the skills necessary for terminology problem solving, i.e. to identify the problems that arise during the development of any terminological work, and learn how to deal with them, applying various methodologies and good decision-making in order to find the most appropriate solutions.

Taking into account the standard activities in each phase of terminology work, our main objective involves the development of the following skills:

  • To learn how to delimit terminological units, and recognize terminological units which do not have a nominal category (i.e. nouns).
  • To detect equivalent terminological units (term variants), and learn how to treat them according to the type of work being developed.
  • To learn how to write appropriate terminological definitions, and recognize incorrect or inadequate definitions.
  • To learn how to deal with situations which require new terminology (including neological creation) based on sound analysis and criteria.

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

This workshop has three main units:

The first unit deals with problems related to term extraction, and analyzes term delimitation in relation to adjectives, verbs and term variation.

The second unit revolves around problems related to the definition of terms, with special emphasis on the quality of good (correct) terminological definitions.

Finally, the third unit focuses on problems related to the creation of neologisms in different scenarios, and the most suitable resources in each case.

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 Workshop II: Troubleshooting in Terminology Work issued by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).

5 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.