Page 22 - 4806

Lexicology deals with words in order to account for the
lexical competence of speakers. Terminology, on the other hand,
deals with terms in order to establish a reference to concepts of the
real world. Terminology, then, is aimed at identifying and naming
the concepts belonging to a specific subject.
Finally, the methodology used also differentiates lexicology
from terminology. Lexicology works from theoretical hypotheses,
which it refutes or confirms by analysing samples of speakers'
discourse. Terminology, on the other hand, does not explain
human behaviour, but rather looks for terms to fill in a previously
established conceptual grid.
Based on this argument, the conclusion has been drawn that
terminology is a complex cross-disciplinary science. To place
terminology within the system of modern sciences, E. Wüster
affirmed terminology doctrine (Terminologielehre) to be a
boundary area among linguistics, logic, ontology, computer
science and the subject sciences. This interdisciplinarity of
terminology is determined by the characteristics of terminological
units, which are simultaneously language units (linguistics),
cognitive elements (logic and ontology, i.e. part of cognitive
science) and vehicles of communication (communication theory).
Terms appear in specialized communications (information science)
and computers are usually employed in terminographic activity
(computer science).

1. 6 Subjects related to Terminology Science
Terminology is a science itself, with its own theories on the
specialized vocabulary of a language and the methodology to work
with it; however, it takes some aspects from other sciences:
Philosophy and Epistemology
From these two sciences, terminology takes, among others,
the theories on how knowledge is structured, the generation and
representation of concepts, the enunciation of definitions. It takes
specifically from epistemology, the way knowledge is organised in

21