The degree of success: Assessing the implantation of terminological innovations Marina Nogué Pich; F. Xavier Vila i Moreno Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia GLAT – BREST 2008 Terminology : discourse, technology and social partners 22-24 May 2008

Catalan in Europe

Catalan-speaking areas‏

Catalan-speaking areas (2)‏

Terminology in the Catalan-speaking area Connected to efforts to maintain/encourage the use of Catalan Producers Official institutions Termcat / IEC Mass media Professionals and users Others : universities, cultural associations, etc.

Connected to efforts to maintain/encourage the use of Catalan

Producers

Official institutions Termcat / IEC

Mass media

Professionals and users

Others : universities, cultural associations, etc.

Between language and people Standardising terminology involves not only language but also people . People are tied into communities . People learn and unlearn (language) continuously. People have habits , opinions and preferences .

Standardising terminology involves not only language but also people .

People are tied into communities .

People learn and unlearn (language) continuously.

People have habits , opinions and preferences .

The assessment of terminological implantation In theory , final stage of a language planning process , after implementation efforts Fundamental to gauge the cost/benefit balance In actual terms , rarely executed A few precedents in a few contexts: Quebec, France, Netherlands, Israel…

In theory , final stage of a language planning process , after implementation efforts

Fundamental to gauge the cost/benefit balance

In actual terms , rarely executed

A few precedents in a few contexts: Quebec, France, Netherlands, Israel…

The goals of our research Analysing the spread of some Catalan terminological innovations in a number of fields. Devising and testing techniques to assess the degree of spread of terminological innovations.

Analysing the spread of some Catalan terminological innovations in a number of fields.

Devising and testing techniques to assess the degree of spread of terminological innovations.

Some features of our research Focussed on minority sports in Catalonia: fencing, rock climbing, field hockey, snowboarding and roller hockey. Emphasis on analysing the sociolinguistic structure of the community of users . Interest in use, active/passive knowledge, representations . Interest in understanding the process of language change and terminological spread.

Focussed on minority sports in Catalonia: fencing, rock climbing, field hockey, snowboarding and roller hockey.

Emphasis on analysing the sociolinguistic structure of the community of users .

Interest in use, active/passive knowledge, representations .

Interest in understanding the process of language change and terminological spread.

Methodological approach Differences between projects Multiple methodological approach, with both qualitative and quantitative techniques : Participant observation Self-administered questionnaires Personal interviews Analysis of audiovisual media Analysis of specialized and non-specialized press

Differences between projects

Multiple methodological approach, with both qualitative and quantitative techniques :

Participant observation

Self-administered questionnaires

Personal interviews

Analysis of audiovisual media

Analysis of specialized and non-specialized press

Improving the methodology Evaluation of the study Improvement of methodology Study

Establishing a methodology: a proposal

Some results in rock climbing…

… and field hockey

Conclusions Remarkable degree of internal variation in denominations: spontaneous Catalan forms + English-based forms + Castilian based forms + officially standardized forms + etc. Different fields (= different communities)  different dynamics: Some fields/communities, more open to standardization Some fields/communities, more open to English/Spanish

Remarkable degree of internal variation in denominations: spontaneous Catalan forms + English-based forms + Castilian based forms + officially standardized forms + etc.

Different fields (= different communities)  different dynamics:

Some fields/communities, more open to standardization

Some fields/communities, more open to English/Spanish

Attitudes toward standardization tend to be more favorable than negative. Spread efforts are clearly insufficient Exclusively in vitro standardized denominations are rarely used Exclusively in vitro standardized denominations are scarcely known by users Conclusions (2)‏

Attitudes toward standardization tend to be more favorable than negative.

Spread efforts are clearly insufficient

Exclusively in vitro standardized denominations are rarely used

Exclusively in vitro standardized denominations are scarcely known by users

Some areas do not have enough production of written materials to spread the standardized terminology. Significant differences between Field/community Spoken/written language In-group / general communication Conclusions (3)‏

Some areas do not have enough production of written materials to spread the standardized terminology.

Significant differences between

Field/community

Spoken/written language

In-group / general communication

Some ideas to rethink terminological work Know who you are playing with. Assess your own means. Be concerned about what people think. Reach implantation through implication.

Know who you are playing with.

Assess your own means.

Be concerned about what people think.

Reach implantation through implication.

Moltes gràcies per la vostra atenció Merci beaucoup pour votre attention Thank you very much for your attention Marina Nogué Pich F. Xavier Vila i Moreno [email_address] [email_address]

Moltes gràcies per la vostra atenció

Merci beaucoup pour votre attention

Thank you very much for your attention

Marina Nogué Pich F. Xavier Vila i Moreno

[email_address] [email_address]