The Interaction between Terminology and Translation or Where Terminology and Translation Meet

Abstract

In this article Terminology and Translation are compared to one another on a number of points of comparison. On the basis of the results, the cooperation/interaction between Terminology and Translation are discussed. The contribution of Terminology to Translation is obvious, but that of Translation to Terminology is less evident, yet it does exist. Initially, Terminology claimed to be an independent discipline. In fact, Terminology has gradually become rather an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary discipline. It has been linked to a range of (sub) disciplines, from Lexicology, Semantics, Cognitive Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Communication, to Philosophy and Language Planning. The basis for the above claims is the comparison of Terminology with the various disciplines in search for similarities supporting and/or dissimilarities rejecting the claim of Terminology that it is an independent discipline. In this article, I will compare Terminology with Translation, not in order to draw any conclusions about the status of Terminology, whether it is a discipline and whether it is an independent discipline, but in order to find where and how Terminology and Translation cooperate and interact in the actual practice of a professional translation which is to be done accurately and perfectly.