This paper examines the relationship between terminology management practices in the software development and localization process and the empowerment of end-users. It shows that because a positive evaluation of the software use experience is often premised on clear and consistent terminology, indeterminacy phenomena such as non-transparent, “inappropriate” and inconsistent terms and icons lead to various forms of flawed communication (no meaning, wrong meaning, multiple meanings, unintended meaning, unintended association, etc.).