Terminology as a part of the language word stock

It is clear to many people that the basic feature of any language is that it consists of words. If we write in Uzbek, Spanish, English, Russian or another language, we can identify words on the page – we learn them, we use them while speaking or reading, we can look up the unfamiliar words in dictionaries. It should not be difficult to identify what a word is.

The word is the basic unit of a language system used for the purpose of human communication, materially representing a group of sounds, possessing a meaning, susceptible to a grammatical employment and characterized by formal and semantic unity. The word is the largest on the morphologic and the smallest on the syntactic plane of linguistic analysis. The word as well as any other linguistic sign is a two – faced unit possessing both form and content or, to be more exact, sound – form and meaning. Neither can exist without the other.1

All the elements of lexico-semantic groups remain within limits of the same part of speech and the same lexico-grammatical group. When grammatical meaning is not taken into consideration, we obtain the so-called ideographic groups.

Thematic groups as well as ideographic groups, i.e. groups uniting words of different parts of speech. The ideographic subgroups are independent of classification into parts of speech. Words and expressions are not classified according to their lexico-grammatical meaning but according to their system of logical notions in other words according their signification. These subgroups may include nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, provided they refer to the same notion.2

The approach resembles the much-discussed theory of semantic fields but is more precise than some of them, because this author gives purely linguistic criteria according to which words belonging to the group may be determined. The equivalence of words in this case is reflected in their valiancy.

The Lexico-semantic field –it is the term, applied in linguistics more often for a designation of a set of language units, united by any general (integrated)

lexico-semantic sign. Originally in a role of such lexical units considered units of lexical level - words; later in linguistic works there were descriptions of the semantic fields including also word combinations and the sentences.3

Despite an abundance of theories of the "field", allocated in the previous paragraph to understand, what maintenance is put by the author in this term, it is possible only empirically. 4

The Lexico-semantic field is the hierarchical organization of words, united by one patrimonial value and representing in language certain semantic sphere. The semasiological characteristic of a field consists that, members of a field correspond with each other to integral-differential signs in the values. It allows uniting and distinguishing them within one field.

Actually, semantic structure of a field consists of following parts:

• 1)    The nuclear is presented root seme (hyperseme). A hyperseme is a semantic component of higher order (level) organizing wider semantic field around it.;

• 2)    field centre consists of elements(units) having integral, common feature with the nucleus and peripheral units of differential meaning;

• 3)    field periphery includes units far from the nucleus due to its meaning, where the common root notion is away in the category of potential or relative semantics peripheral units can have a contextual meaning in case a field is formed according to a certain literary text. Peripheral units can usually contact with other semantic fields, forming lexico-semantic continuity of a language system.

• I.I.    Chumak has distinguished full properties of Lexico – semantic field in the following way:

• 1.    The semantic field is formed by a set of meanings, which have at least one general component (the general semantic sign). This component is usually expressed archilexeme (hyperlexeme), that is a lexeme with the most generalized meaning;

• 2.    Microfield, which is a semantic entity the members of which are connected with an integral marker usually expressed by microfield dominant (nuclear lexeme), is distinguished in lexico-semantic field. Outer structure of a field is comprised by the nucleus and several parts, one of which can be settled directly nearby the nucleus (close periphery), whereas others are settled in the periphery of the microfield (far periphery);

• 3.    The internal structure of a field is understood as a set of correlations, connecting semantic units;

• 4.    a field is characterized by the mutual- determinability of elements, which can sometimes be interchangeable;

• 5.    Lexico – semantic fields are not isolated from each other. Each word of a language belongs to a certain Lexico – semantic field, and, more often, owing to its Polysemantic character, not only to one semantic field;

• 6.    One semantic field can join in other field which has a higher level.⁵

Thus, the lexico-semantic field represents the certain group of words (word combinations), united by one root meaning (a nuclear field). An LSF contains the units settled in different distances from the nucleus (close periphery and far periphery) due to their meaning. One LSF can be settled in the other (for instance, the semantic field of “engine” can belong to the field higher level “car”); an element of one LSF, in its turn can belong to the other field depending on its marker taken as a basis of arranged field (so, for example, the term “machine” can belong to the field “industry” according to its size).

However, sometimes we can come across words not very clear to the listener or speaker. For example, the words “flywheel” or “crankcase” or “glow plug” are not easy to understand for a common language learner or even speaker.

Such words refer to a specific language layer called terminology. Terminology is a specific style in the language among other functional styles, which are characterized by their own specific linguistic, communication and pragmatic features.

Proceeding from the famous definition of the style of a language offered by V.V. Vinogradov times ago, we shall follow the understanding of a functional style formulated by I. R. Galperin as "a system of coordinated, interrelated and interconditioned language means intended to fulfill a specific function of communication and aiming at a definite effect."

All scholars agree that a well-developed language, such as English, is streams into several functional styles. Their classifications, although, coincide incompletely: most style theoreticians do not argue about the number of functional styles being five, but they disagree about their nomenclature. This manual offers one of the rather widely accepted classifications which single out the following functional styles:

• 1.    official style, characterize all kinds of official documents and papers;

• 2.    scientific style, found in brochures, articles, monographs and other scientific and academic publications;

• 3.    publicist style, covering such genres as essay, feature article, public speeches, etc.;

• 4.    newspaper style, observed in the majority of information materials printed in newspapers;

• 5.    belles-lettres style, embracing numerous and flexible genres of imaginative writing.

Only the first three of them are invariably recognized in all stylistic treatises. To compare different views on the number of functional styles and their classification we can see corresponding chapters in stylistic monographs, reference and textbooks.

The number of functional styles and the principles of their differentiation change with time and reflect the state оf the functioning language at a given period. So, all the above-mentioned styles are singled out within the literary type of the language. Their functioning is characterized by the intentional approach of the speaker towards the choice of language means suitable for а particular communicative situation and the official, formal, preplanned nature of the latter.

The colloquial type of the language, on the contrary, is characterized by the unofficiality, spontaneity, informality of the communicative situatiоn. Sometimes the colloquial type of speech is labeled "the colloquial style" and entered into the classification of functional styles of the language, regardless of the situational and linguistic differences between the literary and colloquial communication, and despite the fact that а style of speech manifests a conscious, mindful effort in choosing аnd preferring certain means of expression for the given communicative circumstances, while collоquial speech is shaped by the immediacy, spontaneity, unpremeditativeness оf the communicative situation. Alongside this consideration there exists a strong tendency to treat colloquial speech as an individual language system with its independent set of language units and rules of their connection.

Terminology is understood as а set of terms оf certain branch of knowledge or manufacture, as а system оf particular vocabulary units characterized by their applicability to an area of sciences, engineering, occupations, professions, etc.

Subject of the general theory оf terminology make: studying оf formation and the use of special words with which help the knowledge saved up by mankind accumulates and imparted; searches оf optimum ways оf creation of new terms and their systems; searches of the universal lines peculiar to terminology оf different areas оf knowledge.

The term (from Latin. terminus ' the border, a limit, the end ') is a special word or a word combination accepted in certain professional sphere and used in special conditions. The term represents a verbal designation of the concept entering into system of concepts of certain area of professional knowledge. Terminology (as set of terms) makes the independent sector of any national language closely connected with professional work. Terms of each branch of a science, techniques, manufacture form the systems defined, first of all, by conceptual communications of professional knowledge at aspiration to express these communications by language means.

Terminology constitutes the greatest part оf every language vocabulary. Terminology оf a language consists of many systems of terms. We shall call a term any word or word-group used to name a notion characteristic оf some special field of knowledge, industry or culture. The scope and content of the notion that a ‘term serves to express are specified by definitions in literature on the subject. Many of the influential works on linguistics that appeared in the last five years devote much attention to the problems оf sociolinguistics. Sociolinguistics may be roughly defined as the study of the influence produced upon language by various social factors. It is not difficult to understand that this influence is particularly strong in lexis. Now terminology is precisely that part оf lexis where this influence is not only оf dominant importance, but where it is recognised sо that terminological systems are purposefully controlled. Almost every system оf special terminology is nowadays fixed and analysed in glossaries approved by authorities, special commissions and eminent scholars.

A term is a very peculiar type оf word. An ideal term should be monosemantic and, when used within its own sphere, does not depend upon the micro-context, provided it is not expressed by a figurative variant оf а polysemantic word. Its meaning remains constant until some new discovery or invention changes the referent or the notion. Polysemy may be tolerated in one form only, namely if the same term has various meanings in different fields of science. The terms alphabet and word, for example, have in physics a meaning very different from those accepted in linguistics.

Being mostly independent оf the context a term can have no contextual meaning whatever. The only meaning possible is a denotational free meaning. A term is intended to ensure a one-to-one correspondence between morphological arrangement and content. No emotional colouring or evaluations are possible when the term is used within its proper sphere. As to connotation or stylistic colouring, they are superseded in terms by the connection with the other members оf some particular terminological system and by the persistent associations with this system when the term is used out оf its usual sphere.

Every school оf science and every branch are developing on а special terminology adjusting in their methods and nature. Its development represents an essential part оf linguistic research work.

The appearance оf structuralist schools оf linguistics has completely changed linguistic terminology. A short list of some frequently used terms will serve to illustrate the point: allomorph, allophone, constituent, immediate constituent, distribution, complementary distribution, contrastive distribution, morph, morphophonemic, morphotactics, etc.

There are a lot of terms which are in their first period known to the speaking community. The origin of terms shows several main channels. Arnold I.V. gives three of them which are specific for terminology:

• -    Formation of terminological phrases with subsequent clipping, ellipsis, blending, abbreviation: transistor receiver → transistor → trannie; television text → teletext; ecological architecture → contexture; extremely low frequency → ELF.

• -    The use of combining forms from Latin and Greek like aerodrome, aerodynamics, cyclotron, microfilm, telegenic, telegraph, thermonuclear, telemechanics, supersonic. The process is common to terminology in many languages.

• -    Borrowing from another terminological system within the same language whenever there is any affinity between the respective fields. Sea terminology, for instance, lent many words to aviation vocabulary which in its turn made the starting point for the terminology adopted in the conquest of space. If we turn back

to linguistics, we shall come across many terms borrowed from rhetoric: metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche and others.6

The development of terminology is the most complete reflection of the history of science, culture and industry. Thus, language appears as a structural element of scientific knowledge. Language "enters" into a science first of all by its specific terminology. Other elements of language cannot be comparable with it. As considered by A.A.Reformatsky, in terms we find socially organized validity, therefore terms reflect socially binding character. Being the tool with which scientific theories are formed, laws, principles, positions, terms and terminology as a system represent an important component of sciences and technologies.

As we know, in every sphere have its specific terms. One term stands for one meaning. For e.g. in automobile industry the term “tuning” “regulate” and “arrange” cannot stand for one Uzbek term “sozlash” it will be misunderstanding for everybody.

So, term is a part of the terminological system, in that terminological system it can stand for one meaning. Of course, term can be polysemantic word while using in literal text but in one specific sphere it will lose polysemantic meaning.

Sources used:

• 1.    Tukhtakhodjaeva Z.T Seminars in Modern English Lexicology. Tashkent – 2010 – 42p

• 2.    Арнольд И.В. “Лексикология современного английского языка” М.: Высш. шк., 1986. —227,228с/232с

• 3.    Лингвистический энциклопедический словарь — Москва, 1990

• 4.    Гальперин И. Р. Очерки по стилистике английского языка — Москва, 1958

• 5.    Чумак-Жунь И.И. Лексико-семантическое поле цвета в языке поэзии И.А. Бунина: состав и структура, функционирование // Автореферат. – Киев, 1996.

"Экономика и социум" №3(70) 2020