Наукові конференції України, Нові матеріали і технології в машинобудуванні-2020

Розмір шрифту: 
Teaching of English technical terminology at higher technical institution
N Nikitina

Остання редакція: 2020-04-25

Тези доповіді


The difference between highly skilled professional and highly skilled professional with English language is obvious and evident. In modern world it is impossible to work, create and develop in any sphere of national economy without English communication. There are plenty enterprises in Ukraine which work on the local market and do not contact with any foreign representatives. But, unfortunately most of materials and raw material are bought abroad. Moreover, even if you buy material from local seller, you will need to understand the description on the material (to choose) and instruction (to use chosen material). In most cases, the language of instruction and description is English.

It is not enough to have even rather high level on general English (upper intermediate, advanced), due to the fact that each sphere of human activity has its specific terminology. Sometimes we have some troubles in understanding professional slang of the men from unknown business or work (of course you have an experience when you should have been explained the medicine or any other specialized jokes).

The peculiarity of English language is that a lot of words have different (sometimes almost opposite) meanings. Absolutely “general” word theater (place where various performances take place) has another meaning – operational sterile room in the hospital (so, you should be careful with this word). Another example is the word scale. There are such a lot of meanings: 1. Correlation “real size-figure”, 2. The weighing device, 3. Upper flake-like layer of a fish, 3. Coins, 4. Sinter, slag, dross, etc. That is the reason to know professional terminology not only in native language.

One more example is an attempt to translate Ukrainian word “козел”. The first general translation is goat (a hardy domesticated ruminant mammal that has backward curving horns and (in the male) a beard. It is kept for its milk and meat, and noted for its lively behavior) [1]. But in metallurgy this term is translated as trestle, saw buck, saw horse, saw trestle, etc.

So, the working tool here is terminology. A set of terms, that is, words or phrases that express specific concepts in a particular field of science, technology or art, as well as a set of all terms available in one language or another. From ordinary words, terms differ in the accuracy of semantic boundaries. [2]

To teach students to use terminology correctly we should explain the notion “technical terminology”.  Any professional-oriented information must contain only proper terminologyinherent in this field or branch. And English language at the University must be taught and related to terminology of the specialty. Technical terminology is a terminology that is associated with particular fields of engineering, production, and industry.

Technical terms can be divided into: general scientific terms, which scope is almost all industry terminology; cross-industry terms (terms that occur either in related or remote industries, for example: a mining leader has the meaning of a "copra directional arrow", in a locksmith case, a "propeller"); narrow industry terms (used in only one field of science, such as application software and so on).

Technical terms have some specific features. They have (or must have)stylistic neutrality, accuracy and context independence. The technical term should clearly convey the essence of the concept in order to avoid misunderstandings and inaccuracies, the tendency for ambiguity within a certain terminological system. They must be systematic each term has terminological meaning within the stipulated term system), concise in terms of expression, having a clearly defined definition limits its meaning [3].


Посилання


  1. ABBY Lingvo
  2. Термінологія // Літературознавча енциклопедія : у 2 т. / авт.-уклад. Ю. І. Ковалів. – Київ : ВЦ «Академія», 2007. – Т. 2 : М – Я. – С. 479.
  3. https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki

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