oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021

Terminology work -- Principles and methods

This document establishes the basic principles and methods for preparing and compiling terminologies both inside and outside the framework of standardization. It describes the links between objects, concepts, definitions and designations. It also establishes general principles for the formation of terms and proper names and the writing of definitions.
This document is applicable to terminology work in scientific, technological, industrial, legal, administrative and other fields of knowledge.
This document does not stipulate rules for the presentation of terminological entries in International Standards, which are treated in ISO 10241-1 and ISO 10241-2.

Travail terminologique -- Principes et méthodes

Le présent document établit les principes fondamentaux et les méthodes permettant d’élaborer et de compiler des terminologies, qu’il s’agisse d’activités menées dans le cadre de la normalisation ou non. Il décrit les liens établis entre les objets, les concepts, les définitions et les désignations. Il énonce également des principes généraux pour la formation des termes et noms propres et la rédaction des définitions.
Le présent document s’applique au travail terminologique effectué dans les domaines scientifiques, technologiques, industriels, juridiques, administratifs ainsi que dans d’autres domaines de connaissance.
Le présent document ne décrit pas les règles de présentation des articles terminologiques dans les Normes internationales, qui sont traitées dans l’ISO 10241-1 et l’ISO 10241-2.

Terminološko delo - Načela in metode

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 14-Oct-2021
• ICS: 01.020 - Terminology (principles and coordination)
• Technical Committee: IDT - Information, documentation, language and terminology
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 23-Aug-2021
• Due Date: 10-Jan-2022
• Completion Date: 05-Nov-2021
• Ref Project: ISO/DIS 704 - Terminology work — Principles and methods

RELATIONS

• Revised: SIST ISO 704:2013 - Terminology work -- Principles and methods
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Standards Content (sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
01-oktober-2021
Terminološko delo - Načela in metode
Terminology work -- Principles and methods
Travail terminologique -- Principes et méthodes
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO/DIS 704
ICS:
01.020 Terminologija (načela in Terminology (principles and
koordinacija) coordination)
oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021 en,fr

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 704
ISO/TC 37/SC 1 Secretariat: SAC
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2021-06-22 2021-09-14
Terminology work — Principles and methods
Travail terminologique — Principes et méthodes
ICS: 01.020
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 704:2021(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2021
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
ISO/DIS 704:2021(E)
ISO/DIS 704:2021(E)
Contents Page

Foreword .................................................................................................................................. vi

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... viii

1 Scope ............................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references ............................................................................................. 1

3 Terms and definitions ............................................................................................ 1

4 Reality and language ............................................................................................... 4

5 Concepts ...................................................................................................................... 4

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4

5.2 General concepts ...................................................................................................... 5

5.3 Individual concepts ................................................................................................. 5

5.4 Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 6

5.4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6

5.4.2 Terminological analysis ........................................................................................ 7

5.4.3 Intension and extension ........................................................................................ 9

5.4.4 Essential characteristics and non-essential characteristics ................. 10

5.4.5 Shared characteristics and delimiting characteristics ............................ 10

5.5 Concept relations .................................................................................................. 10

5.5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 10

5.5.2 Types ......................................................................................................................... 11

5.5.3 Notations .................................................................................................................. 11

5.5.4 Hierarchical relations ......................................................................................... 13

5.5.5 Associative relations ............................................................................................ 27

5.6 Concept systems .................................................................................................... 30

5.6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 30

5.6.2 Development and visualisation ....................................................................... 30

5.6.3 Types ......................................................................................................................... 31

6 Definitions ............................................................................................................... 38

6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 38

6.2 Intensional definitions ........................................................................................ 38

6.3 Extensional definitions ....................................................................................... 39

6.4 Writing definitions ............................................................................................... 39

6.4.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 39

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT 6.4.2 Nature of intensional definitions .................................................................... 40

6.4.3 Writing intensional definitions ....................................................................... 41

© ISO 2021

6.4.4 Applying the substitution principle ............................................................... 45

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may

6.4.5 Writing extensional definitions ....................................................................... 45

be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting

on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address

6.4.6 Indicating a domain or subject......................................................................... 47

below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.

6.5 Deficient definitions ............................................................................................ 48

ISO copyright office

6.5.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 48

CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva

6.5.2 Circular definitions .............................................................................................. 48

Phone: [phone]

6.5.3 Inaccurate definitions ......................................................................................... 50

Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

6.5.4 Negative definitions ............................................................................................. 50

Website: www.iso.org

6.6 Information supplementing or substituting for definitions.................. 52

Published in Switzerland

6.6.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 52

ii © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
ISO/DIS 704:2021(E)
Contents Page

Foreword .................................................................................................................................. vi

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... viii

1 Scope ............................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references ............................................................................................. 1

3 Terms and definitions ............................................................................................ 1

4 Reality and language ............................................................................................... 4

5 Concepts ...................................................................................................................... 4

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4

5.2 General concepts ...................................................................................................... 5

5.3 Individual concepts ................................................................................................. 5

5.4 Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 6

5.4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6

5.4.2 Terminological analysis ........................................................................................ 7

5.4.3 Intension and extension ........................................................................................ 9

5.4.4 Essential characteristics and non-essential characteristics ................. 10

5.4.5 Shared characteristics and delimiting characteristics ............................ 10

5.5 Concept relations .................................................................................................. 10

5.5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 10

5.5.2 Types ......................................................................................................................... 11

5.5.3 Notations .................................................................................................................. 11

5.5.4 Hierarchical relations ......................................................................................... 13

5.5.5 Associative relations ............................................................................................ 27

5.6 Concept systems .................................................................................................... 30

5.6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 30

5.6.2 Development and visualisation ....................................................................... 30

5.6.3 Types ......................................................................................................................... 31

6 Definitions ............................................................................................................... 38

6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 38

6.2 Intensional definitions ........................................................................................ 38

6.3 Extensional definitions ....................................................................................... 39

6.4 Writing definitions ............................................................................................... 39

6.4.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 39

6.4.2 Nature of intensional definitions .................................................................... 40

6.4.3 Writing intensional definitions ....................................................................... 41

6.4.4 Applying the substitution principle ............................................................... 45

6.4.5 Writing extensional definitions ....................................................................... 45

6.4.6 Indicating a domain or subject......................................................................... 47

6.5 Deficient definitions ............................................................................................ 48

6.5.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 48

6.5.2 Circular definitions .............................................................................................. 48

6.5.3 Inaccurate definitions ......................................................................................... 50

6.5.4 Negative definitions ............................................................................................. 50

6.6 Information supplementing or substituting for definitions.................. 52

6.6.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 52

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6.6.2 Contexts ..................................................................................................................... 52

6.6.3 Encyclopaedic descriptions ............................................................................... 53

6.6.4 Explanations ............................................................................................................ 54

6.6.5 Notes ........................................................................................................................... 54

6.6.6 Examples ................................................................................................................... 54

6.6.7 Other descriptions................................................................................................. 55

6.7 Indicating sources ................................................................................................. 55

7 Designations ............................................................................................................ 55

7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 55

7.2 Types .......................................................................................................................... 56

7.3 Terms ......................................................................................................................... 56

7.3.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 56

7.3.2 Types of terms ........................................................................................................ 57

7.3.3 Types of appellations ........................................................................................... 57

7.3.4 Nomenclatures........................................................................................................ 57

7.4 Proper names .......................................................................................................... 58

7.4.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 58

7.4.2 Types .......................................................................................................................... 59

7.5 Symbols ..................................................................................................................... 60

7.6 Formation of terms, appellations and proper names ............................... 61

7.6.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 61

7.6.2 Principles .................................................................................................................. 62

7.7 Designation — concept relations ..................................................................... 65

7.7.1 Mononymy and monosemy ................................................................................ 65

7.7.2 Synonymy ................................................................................................................. 66

7.7.3 Equivalence .............................................................................................................. 66

7.7.4 Antonymy ................................................................................................................. 66

7.7.5 Polysemy and homonymy ................................................................................... 66

7.7.6 Harmonization ........................................................................................................ 67

7.7.7 Acceptability rating............................................................................................... 67

Annex A (informative) Other types of definitions ................................................... 69

A.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 69

A.2 Ostensive definitions ............................................................................................ 69

A.3 Lexical definitions ................................................................................................. 72

A.4 Précising definitions ............................................................................................. 72

A.5 Stipulative definitions .......................................................................................... 73

A.5.1 Using stipulative definitions .............................................................................. 73

A.5.2 Writing stipulative definitions ......................................................................... 73

Annex B (informative) Examples of term formation methods ........................... 75

B.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 75

B.2 Coining new terms ................................................................................................. 75

B.2.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 75

B.2.2 Derivation ................................................................................................................. 75

B.2.3 Compounding .......................................................................................................... 75

B.2.4 Creation of abbreviations ................................................................................... 76

B.3 Using existing forms ............................................................................................. 78

B.3.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 78

B.3.2 Conversion ............................................................................................................... 78

B.3.3 Terminologization ................................................................................................. 78

B.3.4 Semantic transfer within a special language ............................................... 79

B.3.5 Transdisciplinary borrowing ............................................................................ 80

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B.4 Translingual borrowing ..................................................................................... 80

B.4.1 General ...................................................................................................................... 80

B.4.2 Direct loan ............................................................................................................... 80

B.4.3 Loan translation .................................................................................................... 80

Annex C (informative) Appellations and proper names ...................................... 81

C.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 81

C.2 Categories of appellations ................................................................................. 81

C.2.1 Product names ....................................................................................................... 81

C.2.2 Names of scientific and technological phenomena ................................... 82

C.2.3 Names of honorary distinctions ...................................................................... 82

C.2.4 Names covered by nomenclatures .................................................................. 82

C.2.5 Document names ................................................................................................... 83

C.2.6 Position titles .......................................................................................................... 83

C.3 Categories of proper names .............................................................................. 83

C.3.1 Institutional names .............................................................................................. 84

C.3.2 Company names .................................................................................................... 84

C.3.3 Place names............................................................................................................. 84

C.3.4 Settlement names (oikonyms, oeconyms, econyms) ............................... 85

C.3.5 Street names and names of public spaces (hodonyms) .......................... 85

C.3.6 Country names ....................................................................................................... 85

C.3.7 Oronyms ................................................................................................................... 85

C.3.8 Hydronyms .............................................................................................................. 85

C.3.9 Meteorological names ......................................................................................... 86

C.3.10 Building names ...................................................................................................... 86

C.3.11 Temporal names ................................................................................................... 86

C.3.12 Event names ............................................................................................................ 86

C.3.13 Names of means of transport ............................................................................ 86

C.3.14 Names of works of art .......................................................................................... 87

C.3.15 Astronomical names (astronyms) .................................................................. 87

C.4 Specific forms of proper names and appellations ..................................... 87

Bibliography.......................................................................................................................... 88

© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
ISO/DIS 704:2021(E)
Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of

national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International

Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body

interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right

to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-

governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with

the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical

standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further

maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different

approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This

document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives,

Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be

the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all

such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the

document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations

received (see www.iso.org/patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users

and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms

and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's

adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers

to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and
Terminology, Subcommittee SC 1, Principles and methods.

This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 704:2009), which has been

technically revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— structure and content have been adapted based on ISO 1087;
— concept models according to ISO 24156-1 have been introduced;
— clauses on associative concept relations have been extended;
— appellations and proper names are treated more comprehensively and more
systematically;
— where necessary, existing examples have been adapted or replaced, and new
examples have been introduced.
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
ISO/DIS 704:2021(E)

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national

standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at
www.iso.org/members.html.
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
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Introduction
0.1 Overview

This document specifies state-of-the-art principles and methods of terminology work.

According to ISO 1087:2019, 3.5.1, terminology work is “work concerned with the

systematic collection, description, processing and presentation of concepts and their

designations” in various domains and subjects. It is multidisciplinary and draws support

from a number of disciplines (e.g. logic, epistemology, philosophy of science, linguistics,

translation studies, information science and cognitive science). It combines elements

from many theoretical approaches that deal with the description, ordering and transfer

of knowledge.

Terminology work according to this document is concerned with terminology used for

unambiguous communication in natural language, in particular special languages. The

goal of terminology work as described in this document is, thus, a clarification and

standardization of terminology for communication between humans. Terminology work

can also support knowledge modelling, information modelling, data modelling and
classification, but this document does not cover these fields.

This document is intended to standardize the essential elements for terminology work.

The general purposes of this document are to provide a common theoretical framework

and to explain how this framework should be implemented by organizations or

individuals involved in terminology work. This document also provides the fundamentals

for terminology science teaching and training, in particular for the training of
terminologists.

Thus, this document is intended to provide assistance to those carrying out various

terminology work activities. The principles and methods should be observed not only for

the manipulation of terminological information but also in the planning and decision-

making involved in managing terminology. The main activities include, but are not limited

to, the following:
— identifying concepts and concept relations;

— analysing and structuring concept fields on the basis of identified concepts and

concept relations;
— analysing and developing concept systems on the basis of concept fields;
— visualising concept systems, for example by means of traditional concept
diagrams or Unified Modeling Language-based concept models;
— defining concepts;
— attributing linguistic or non-linguistic designations to concepts;
— creating and maintaining terminology resources, principally in print and
electronic media (terminography).
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oSIST ISO/DIS 704:2021
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Objects, concepts, definitions and designations are fundamental to terminology work and

therefore form the basis of this document. Objects are perceived or conceived and

abstract
...