Horizontal and vertical terminology work in the context of EU translations

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the decisions the translator has to take while translating terminology in EU texts. Starting with the theoretical aspects, the interrelation of terminology and translation will be explored – leading to the reinterpretation of some key terms in both disciplines: the notion of term in a translation-oriented perspective, and the notion of translation in a terminology-oriented perspective. Second, turning to the EU context, a short overview will be given of the peculiarities of the EU’s language regime and its impact on the role of translators as terminologists. Third, it will be revealed how the interconnection of conceptual systems and languages at EU level makes terminology work a multi-layered activity, with a number of decisions to be taken by the translator. Two terms, horizontal and vertical terminology work, will be introduced to label these activities. Special attention will be paid to the notion of EU term. It will be argued that the emergence of a special EU-language and terminology and the limits of corpus planning at national level make the involvement of Member States especially relevant in this context.