Page 29 - 4806

3. Both the term and the word denote concepts. But unlike the
words that denote general concepts, the terms denote specific
professional concepts. Compare:
storage – gen., the act of storing;
computing, the act or process of storing information
in a computer memory or on a magnetic
tape, disk, etc.
force – gen., physical power or strength possessed by
a living being
law, unlawful violence threatened or
committed against persons or property
Professional concepts are more precise than the general ones.
There is a belief that general concepts are related to national
units, and scientific concepts – to international ones. But it is not
true: (foreign affairs – international affairs).
4. A term has a definition whereas a word has an
explanation. The definition gives a strict short explanation of the
scientific concept. Definitions establish a relationship between
terms and the outside world. Definitions must
 describe the concept (i.e., they must be true);
 allow differentiation of the defined concept from similar
concepts in the same or in different special fields;
 bring together the dimensions pertinent to each special
field;
 be located in the perspective of the conceptual field a
concept belongs to;
 be appropriate for the aims of the project in which they are
presented.
Definitions must be written so that the initial descriptors are
of the same grammatical category as the head term and are in an
inclusive relationship semantically with the head term:
oxygenate: treat, combine, or infuse with oxygen
circulation: movement or passage through a system of

28