Terminologist

Terminologists may be involved in collecting, systematising and documenting terms belonging to a particular technical field or fields. They need to verify terms to establish their linguistic and technical accuracy, in collaboration with experts and other authorities. They provide equivalents in addition to creating terms in the target language. They may be required to edit and accurately proofread documents, as well as revise and update terminology used in them.

They are involved in the facilitation and standardisation of terminology, in collaboration with subject specialists, as well as promoting the use of standardised terms. They may also be involved in the compilation of glossaries or dictionaries, usually as part of a team, in order to make terminological data available to prospective users; and providing an information service, thereby rendering terminological and linguistic assistance and advice to the public.

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Employment

• the National Terminology Services of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and and Technology, which is responsible for the publishing of term lists and dictionaries and which also manages the National Termbank, is one of the largest organisations that employs and trains terminologists


• other employers are the language services of some municipalities, banks, insurance companies, as well as the South African National Defence Force, the State Language Services, Mittal Steel, Telkom and the SABS


• self-employment, can do private work for publishers and act as a consultant for writers; can also write a subject or a synonym dictionary

The 11 official languages in South Africa created a great need, especially in the African languages for technical terminology. This need should widen the terminologist’s scope for self-employment considerably.

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Where to Study

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Related Occupations

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