If you had asked me about terminology in Turkey one year back, I would probably have answered that there is not much going on in this country. It’s true, we have the occasional (however, I must say, very interested) participants at TSS. But else there was not much information coming out of the country that reached me.
But that was before I encountered TermTurk project (www.termturk.net). This project, sponsored by the EU-Turkey Dialog programme, is an eye-opener for me.
What’s it all about? Actually, it is meant as a beginning. A group of people got together to kick-start what they perceived as long overdue – the development of an elaborate and active terminology infrastructure in Turkey.
Surprisingly, there has not been much institutionalised research on terminology. Nor is there something like an information centre where interested groups or individuals can find what they need to know about it. It is surprising, because there is such a strong patronage: Kemal Mustafa Atatürk himself wrote a brochure to introduce Turkish geometry terminology. Atatürk, as we know was very dedicated to language planning in order to promote and facilitate nation-building processes in the new republic. Terminology is even explicitly mentioned in the country’s famous Anıtkabir – his mausoleum and museum in Ankara (something that my colleagues and I still marvel about because it such a pleasant feeling to see terminology being rewarded such public recognition).
So finally, TermTurk should achieve what is still lacking: an information and research centre at Hacettepe University in Ankara, closer ties with internation organizations and activities (e.g. in standardization and reserach), a national terminology policy, and networking, networking, networking of the many different and often isolated initiatives within Turkey.
And TermTurk is doing well in achieving these goals: Turkish standards institute is now actively participating in ISO/TC 37 standardization projects, a series of well-attended trainings, conferences and workshops foster dialogue and knowledge transfer, quality assurance and service certification (LICS) take root, training material is obtained, translated and produced at high speed.
TermTurk as a project will come to an end in November 2009. But the continuation of the achievements is already planned and prepared.
There is much to be expected from Turkey in the next years. And I, for my part, am quite proud to be at the core of the action from the very beginning.
Neslihan Önder
Sep 02, 2009 @ 10:30:26
After listening Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dir Schmitz, I felt a need to read more about the Bologna Process in Terminology Teaching and Education. In addition, the part “who needs Terminology (Training)” affected me most, for one of the target group was LSP dictionary producers. As I will be teaching Medical English this term, it seems that this training will be beneficial to my field of study because this year I will study English for Specific Purposes. The comparison he made about “Situation in Germany before Bologna and Current Situation in Bologna is also incredible. I decided to suggest my colleague, who is interested in e-learning, to search the E-Learning project at Cologne University of Applied Sciences (ELCAT project – see blog here)
The conclusion Prof. Dr. Klaus made was fascinating: “Terminology teaching modules have to be an integrated part of all university curricula educating experts dealing with LSP or multilingual communication and domain knowledge.” Therefore, I felt that I am in the right place In the break time, I have asked Prof. Dr. Klaus whether I can find terminology projects on medicine. He gave me this website: http://www.termportal.de
When I looked it up, I realized that Prof. Dr. Klaus is too experienced for me because there are a number of Projects in which he was a Project Coordinator. Moreover, the page that was regarding my research area Medicine was in German. He promised to help me find English version.
I have learnt a new English word from him: coin (v) In his presentation Prof. Dr. Klaus used the phrase “coining new terms”. It was the first time I have had heard, so I jot down and looked it up dictionary as soon as I come to my room
coin(v): 1. to invent a new word or expression, especially one that many people start to use:
-The word ‘aromatherapy’ was coined in the 1920s.
2. to coin a phrase (spoken) said in a joking way when you use a very common expression, to show that you know it is used a lot:
-He’d thought the flight would never – to coin a phrase – get off the ground.
Reference: Longman Advanced Dictionary Online (http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/coin_2)
He said that there is an International Terminology Summer School in Vienna in June 2010. Maybe I can have a chance to go. Who knows? Prof. Dr. Klaus promised me that I will come as his guest. I hope he does not forget his promise and I can attend.
Lecturer Neslihan Önder-Uludag University, Bursa-TURKEY
Ender
Sep 02, 2009 @ 14:42:03
TermTurk was reported about in Turkey’s largest newspaper “Hurriyet”. Here is the link:
http://www.bhim.hacettepe.edu.tr/basin/images/terim_0109