The Transliteration Principle: Is this the Best Procedure in African Language Lexicography and Terminology?

• Main Author: Motlokwe Clifford Mphahlele
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal-WAT 2011-10-01
• Series: Lexikos
• Subjects: TERMS; TERM EQUIVALENTS; TERMINOLOGISTS; SUBJECT SPECIALISTS; LINGUISTS; INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES; INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGES; UNDERDEVELOPED LANGUAGES; TRANSLITERATION; TERMINOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE; TRANSLATION EQUIVALENTS; SEMANTIC INFORMATION; BORROWING; TARGET LANGUAGE
• Online Access: http://lexikos.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/698

<p>Abstract: The creation of target language equivalents in bilingual dictionaries have alwaysbeen a challenge to both lexicographers and terminologists. Lexicographers, terminologists, subjectspecialists and linguists face a challenging task of supplying term equivalents for foreign internationallanguages. The lack of a sufficient technical vocabulary in the African languages poses challengesto lexicographers and terminologists when supplying technical equivalents. They oftenregard transliteration as the quickest lexicographical and terminological procedure without takingthe practical demands of users into account. This impedes the optimal retrieval of semantic informationby the target users of dictionaries. This article discusses possible reasons why transliterationshould not be regarded as the first but the last resort in lexicography and terminology. It proposesdifferent lexicographical and terminological procedures lexicographers and terminologistscan use to supply accurate and appropriate translation equivalents without making excessive useof transliteration. In this way a scientific language will develop which could assist users to communicatesuccessfully in the mother tongue.</p><p>Keywords: TERMS, TERM EQUIVALENTS, TERMINOLOGISTS, SUBJECT SPECIALISTS,LINGUISTS, INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES, INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGES,UNDERDEVELOPED LANGUAGES, TRANSLITERATION, TERMINOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE,TRANSLATION EQUIVALENTS, SEMANTIC INFORMATION, BORROWING, TARGET LANGUAGE.</p><p>Opsomming: Die transliterasiebeginsel: Is dit die beste werkwyse in dieleksikografie en terminologie van die Afrikatale? Die skep van doeltaalekwivalentein tweetalige woordeboeke was altyd 'n uitdaging vir sowel leksikograwe as terminoloë. Leksikograwe,terminoloë, vakspesialiste en taalkundiges staan voor 'n uitdagende taak om termekwivalentevir vreemde internasionale tale te verskaf. Die gebrek aan 'n voldoende tegniese woordeskatin die Afrikatale stel probleme aan leksikograwe en terminoloë by die voorsiening van tegnieseekwivalente. Hulle beskou transliterasie dikwels as die vinnigste leksikografiese en terminologiesewerkwyse sonder om die praktiese eise van die gebruikers in ag te neem. Dit belemmer die optimaleherwinning van semantiese inligting by die teikengebruikers van woordeboeke. Hierdie artikelbespreek moontlike redes waarom transliterasie nie as die eerste nie, maar as die laaste uitwegin leksikografie en terminologie beskou moet word. Dit stel verskillende leksikografiese en terminologiese werkwyses voor wat leksikograwe en terminoloë kan aanwend om juiste en gepastevertaalekwivalente te voorsien sonder om buitensporige gebruik van transliterasie te maak. Ophierdie manier sal 'n wetenskaplike taal ontwikkel wat gebruikers kan help om suksesvol in diemoedertaal te kommunikeer.</p><p>Sleutelwoorde: TERME, TERMEKWIVALENTE, TERMINOLOË, VAKSPESIALISTE, TAALKUNDIGES,INTERNASIONALE TALE, INTERNASIONALE WETENSKAPLIKE TALE, ONDERONTWIKKELDETALE, TRANSLITERASIE, TERMINOLOGIESE BEGINSEL, VERTAALEKWIVALENTE,SEMANTIESE INLIGTING, ONTLENING, DOELTAAL</p>