A hybrid method for determining technical vocabulary

Abstract

Abstract Knowledge of technical vocabulary has become increasingly important over the last few decades along with the advances in various subject disciplines. ESP teachers and book authors need to know what words are considered technical vocabulary when creating ESP learning materials. LSP lexicographers need to know how to determine technical vocabulary when deciding the entries for LSP dictionaries. This paper examines four methods which have been used for determining technical vocabulary. These four methods are called vocabulary classifications, keyword analysis, term extraction, and systematic classifications. A financial text taken from the Chartered Financial Analyst book is used to analyze the merits and demerits of each method. Realizing the problems with those four methods, this paper rounds up with a proposal called a hybrid method for determining technical vocabulary. This hybrid method does not only present a better way to determine technical vocabulary but also expand the concept of words in order to obtain a more comprehensive coverage of the items that constitute technical vocabulary.