Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: LC204)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

This module provides an introduction to the theory and practice of terminology. Students learn the basics of lexicography (the writing of dictionaries), terminology (the study of the words used in specialised communication) and terminography (the writing of specialised glossaries). They apply their knowledge and practical skills in a terminographic project that involves the use of digital tools, including corpus-processing tools and terminology management systems, in the preparation of a termbase in a specialised area of their choice.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline the intellectual history of lexicography and terminography.
2. Critically evaluate knowledge sources.
3. Explain how knowledge is typically structured in a selected specialised domain.
4. Identify and retrieve terms from a variety of sources.
5. Formulate new definitions where existing definitions are inadequate.
6. Select good examples of use of terms.
7. Use a variety of digital tools including a corpus-processing platform and a terminology management system.
8. Produce a termbase to support communication in specialised domains.

Total Workload: 0

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
In Class Test	Students are given a one-hour test designed to assess their understanding of the key concepts covered by lectures in the first half of the module.	20%	Week 6
Project	Students are given a terminography project to apply the theoretical bases of terminology in a practical terminology preparation task for the purpose of translation.	80%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to LSP
Students will be exposed to the concept of LSP as opposed to LGP through theoretical discussions.

Introduction to theory of terminology
Students will learn key concepts of terminology as an academic discipline.

Introduction to terminology databases and terminology management tools such as MultiTerm
Students will be introduced to various existing online terminological databases and MultiTerm.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Atkins, B. T. S. and Michael Rundell: 2008, The Oxford Guide to Practical Lexicography, OUP, Oxford,
Bowker, Lynne: 2002, Computer-aided translation technology: a practical introduction, University of Ottawa Press, Ottawa,
Bowker, Lynne and Jennifer Pearson: 2002, Working with Specialized Language. A practical guide to using corpora, Part III chapters, Routledge, London/New York,
Jackson, Howard: 2002, Lexicography: An Introduction, Routledge, London/New York,
L’Homme, Marie-Claude: 2019, Lexical Semantics for Terminology: An Introduction, John Benjamins Publishing Co, Amsterdam/Philadelphia,
Sager, Juan: 1990, A practical course in terminology processing, John Benjamins Publishing Co, Amsterdam/Philadelphia,
Steurs, Frieda and Hendrik Kockaert: 2014, Handbook of Terminology, Vol. 1, John Benjamins Publishing Co, Amsterdam/Philadelphia,

Articles:

Kilgarriff, Adam, Miloš Husák, Katy McAdam, Michael Rundell, Pavel: 2008, GDEX: Automatically finding good dictionary examples in a corpus, Proceedings of EURALEX 2008,

Other Resources

None