Abstract
Terminology is a strategic resource in a multilingual country. It is the medium through which knowledge and information is disseminated. Through the use of correct, standardised terminology, effective scientific and technical communication skills are developed. A brief overview is given of terminology development in South Africa, with special emphasis on the work of the Terminology Division of the National Language Service. Aspects of present terminology practice such as terminology management, the nature of terminology and terminography, and work-flow procedure in a multilingual terminology office receive attention. To present training activities, initiatives and needs attention is also given. Keywords: bilingual, communication skills, dissemination, documentation, domain, multilingual, sociolinguistics, source language, standardisation, standardised terminology, subject field, target language, technical dictionaries, technical language, terminographer, terminography, terminologist, terminology, terminology development, terminology management, terminology practice, terminology principles, terminology training
Highlights
The National Terminology Services (NTS) and State Language Services (SLS) of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) merged on 1 April 1998 to form the new National Language Service (NLS).With the merging of the two offices some aspects of the management of terminology and terminography changed
The NTS used to work in close collaboration with the old Language Boards, but at present the terminologists of NLS consult the language bodies already established by Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB)
— The Section Head in the African Languages Section is responsible for all terminology projects and terminography work that have to be conducted by the mother-tongue terminologists in the nine official African languages
Summary
The Terminology Division (TD) is the national office assisting the Government by providing terminology information in all the official South African languages. The TD advises on national policy concerning technical language, establishes and evaluates norms for terminographic purposes, creates and implements standardised facilities and procedures to collect, document, systematise, standardise and disseminate terminological information for the different language groups in the Republic of South Africa, provides an information service on technical languages as well as on terminographic matters, co-ordinates, supports and facilitates projects for the development of technical languages, makes terminology facilities and products available to related information and communication systems and develops and manages the National Term Bank. Resorting under the Science and Technology Branch of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the National Terminology Services ( Terminology Division) worked according to subject fields. 236 Mariëtta Alberts concerning terminology and terminography management in the new NLS will receive attention in this article
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