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Part of
Handbook of Terminology: Volume 2. Terminology in the Arab world
Edited by Abied Alsulaiman and Ahmed Allaithy
[Handbook of Terminology 2] 2019
► pp. 59–82

Chapter 3
Terminology and translation in Arabic

Shared aspects and conflictual relationships

Much of scientific and technical terminology is developed outside of the Arabic world. Therefore, translation, in all its various aspects, seems to be the only means of creating terminology in Arabic. Borrowings, derivations and semantic transfers are used by terminologists and translators, as each Arabic translator is also, by desire or by necessity, a terminologist. Consequently, Western terminological problems are rampant in Arabic. There are three reasons for the major shortcomings that characterize terminology in Arabic translations: (1) Western is consider terminology as an ideal terminology with a one-to-one relation between concept and term, (2) the linguistic aspect is considered as a priority because term is confused with concept, and (3) the terms in bilingual lists are considered as static units which are cut from the textual canvas in which they are used. Consequently, many translated texts are illegible or difficult to digest. There is an abundance of foreign terms and terms coined by individuals. Translation seems to be a mere transcoding operation.

Keywords: term, concept, translation, transcoding, terminology, Arabic
Article outline
  • 1.Incidence of terms in general dictionaries
  • 2.Terminology creation and forms of translation
  • 3.Translation and terminology creation
  • 4.Terminology creation processes
    • Borrowing
    • Semantic neologisms
    • Formal neologisms
    • Creation of new roots
    • Creation outside the norms
  • 5.Translation and Arabic terminology problems
    • Proliferation of terms
    • Polysemy of terms
    • Overlapping terms
    • Inappropriate equivalents
    • Inappropriate reuse of traditional terminology
    • Idealization of European terminology
    • Similar problems and size difference
    • Confusion between term and concept
    • Approaches followed by translators and terminologists
    • Inadequate treatment of polysemy in dictionaries
    • Terminology and direct translation: A fill-in-the-blanks exercise
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 29 January 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/hot.2.04ham
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