Varieties of Compound Terms and Their Treatment

摘要

Compound term's are essential in technical terminologies, because of the need to distinguish precisely between subtle or detailed differences in concepts or things. Compound terms of different sorts require different approaches in defining and in handling. Unitary compound terms, those consisting of a base word and one or more affixes, are common in non-technical usage; but are generated in technical terminological work by drawing from a greater number of less common affixes. Still, multiple meanings for the affixes are common. As in the case of ordinary usage, some affixes are independent enough so that the affix may be defined, but the compound term doesn't require definition. Indexing may require cross referencing in some cases. Compound terms consisting of more than one word are common in most technical fields. These terms may be classified as one of three types; sentential, hierarchic, or categoric. Sentential compound terms are descriptive and incidental, e.g., two-inch stirred chemical reactor. Such terms rarely require definition and would usually be further described in the context of the terms usage. Hierarchic compound terms form a mini-classification and may actually be precursors of elements of a formal classification. These terms require definition when the implied classification is essential, but not formalized. In this case a vocabulary or terminology provides a convenient display of part of a larger classification. Categoric compound terms, terms of several words listing essential, non-incidental aspects of the concept or entity may be viewed as a faceted (non-hierarchic) classification. The style of definition and the indexing of technical terms may be most efficiently approached with a knowledge of the varieties of compound terms. (ERA citation 07:052470)