Abstract
The creation of target language equivalents in bilingual dictionaries have always been a challenge to both lexicographers and terminologists. Lexicographers, terminologists, subject specialists and linguists face a challenging task of supplying term equivalents for foreign international languages. The lack of a sufficient technical vocabulary in the African languages poses challenges to lexicographers and terminologists when supplying technical equivalents. They often regard transliteration as the quickest lexicographical and terminological procedure without taking the practical demands of users into account. This impedes the optimal retrieval of semantic information by the target users of dictionaries. This article discusses possible reasons why transliteration should not be regarded as the first but the last resort in lexicography and terminology. It proposes different lexicographical and terminological procedures lexicographers and terminologists can use to supply accurate and appropriate translation equivalents without making excessive use of transliteration. In this way a scientific language will develop which could assist users to communicate successfully in the mother tongue. Keywords: terms, term equivalents, terminologists, subject specialists, linguists, international languages, international scientific languages, underdeveloped languages, transliteration, terminological principle, translation equivalents, semantic information, borrowing, target language.
Highlights
The creation of target language term equivalents for new foreign concepts is not as easy as it may seem
Excessive use of transliteration may result in heavy borrowing because all speakers of a target language would use the new transliterated terminology
Lexicographers, terminologists, subject specialists and linguists should try to adhere to the general terminological principles available
Summary
The creation of target language term equivalents for new foreign concepts is not as easy as it may seem. Lexicographers, terminologists, subject specialists and linguists face a challenging if not difficult task of supplying term equivalents for foreign international languages. Underdeveloped languages such as African languages largely lack a technical vocabulary and this necessitates the speedy development of a technical terminology. Trying to cope with this challenge, they apply transliteration as a lexicographical and terminological principle They often regard transliteration as the quickest lexicographical and terminological procedure without taking into consideration the practical demands of the target users. This article aims to show lexicographers, terminologists, subject specialists and linguists how appropriate and accurate term equivalents could carry the same meaning and concept of the original scientific term without the excessive use of transliteration. This is why transliteration often fails target users because the foreign concept is not transmitted into the target language
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