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The Terminology Committee’s Stock of Terms

What is this stock?

The main terminology collection on the focal.ie site consists of the terminology stock accumulated by the Terminology Committee over the years. The various kinds of sources which comprise the stock are described below.

Domain-specific dictionaries

This stock was accumulated in the main due to the work initiated by the Department of Education in 1927 in order to provide technical terminology for the educational sector, including textbooks, examination papers and educational documentation. The work focussed, therefore, on the primary and secondary school syllabi subjects over the years.

The work was primarily carried out by establishing expert subcommittees in the subject fields in order to discuss sets of concepts thought to be essential for the teaching of these subjects, and to recommend standardized terms to be published as domain-specific dictionaries. The work of the many subcommittees led to the publication of over 20 such dictionaries.

Subcommittees are currently working on terminology collections in the domains of education and sport. Recently-published dictionaries arising from the work of other subcommittees are Dictionary of Geology and Geophysics, Dictionary of Literature and Criticism, Dictionary of Sailing, Proper Names from the New Testament.

New editions of some dictionaries were compiled and published from time to time, e.g. Dictionary of Biology, Dictionary of Computing and Information Technology, Dictionary of Physiology and Health, Dictionary of Science, Flora and Fauna Nomenclature, Geography and Planning.

Some dictionaries compiled by external editors and published by Foras na Gaeilge or for which publication permission was received are also included in this terminology stock, e.g. An Tobar [a terminology manual for the public sector], Dictionary of Parliamentary Terms, Dictionary of Philosophy, Dictionary of Religion, FIONTAR Dictionary of Terminology, Gluais de Théarmaí Teileachumarsáide [Glossary of Telecommunications Terms], Lámhleabhar Bia agus Dí [a terminology manual of food and drink], Lámhleabhar Miondíola [a terminology manual for the retail sector].

Domain-specific lists

In some cases, terminology lists relating to certain subjects were compiled and disseminated to inspectors and teachers of those subjects, and copies are supplied to the public on demand. Some of these lists are works in progress which are updated from time to time with a view to publishing them as a result of new projects in planning, e.g. Archaeology Terms, History Terms, Mathematics Terms, Sports Terms. Other lists were incorporated into terminology dictionaries being compiled for publication, e.g. Metalwork, Technical Drawing, and Woodwork lists were incorporated into the Dictionary of Trades and Technology and Accounting and Business Management Terms, and Office Terms, were incorporated into Dictionary of Business Studies, and the original Mathematics list was included in Dictionary of Science.

Further domain-specific lists were compiled in collaboration with external organizations who were preparing handbooks or terminology glossaries or software products in their specific domains. The Terminology Committee participated in 15 such publications and in some software products, including works published by An Garda Síochána, Birdwatch Ireland, RTÉ, Sherkin Island Marine Station, Óglaigh na hÉireann, Telecom Éireann (now Eircom), The National Botanical Gardens, Microsoft Corporation, Sony Corporation.

Miscellaneous terminology

Terminology resulting from enquiries received from the public over the years was compiled in the form of miscellaneous lists. Two substantial collections of miscellaneous terminology based on the periods 1985-2000 and 2000-2005 were compiled and published on the Internet (at www.acmhainn.ie). Subsequent miscellaneous terminology is input into the focal.ie database.

The establishment of a national terminology database

The focal.ie database was developed in order to manage and present the terminology stock accumulated by the Terminology Committee. Firstly, the terminology sources already available in electronic format were input. Other sources were scanned and input. Thus, a significant number of sources, published and unpublished, were compiled in one central resource, constituting a major benefit to the public and to staff members in having ready access to the complete terminology stock. This achievement, however, generated various streams of questions which the Terminology Committee and staff at Fiontar have been working to address.

The main kinds of questions being generated are

• how to differentiate between different concepts to which the same term has been designated;
• how to differentiate or choose between different terms designated to the same concept;
• how to identify and deal with multiple versions of the same concept to which different terms have been designated (in both English and Irish);
• how to identify and deal with terms and concepts which have fallen into disuse or are deemed deprecated;
• how to deal with concepts which are commonly designated by one or more terms in the spoken language and by another term in written sources;
• how to identify and deal with multiple terms belonging to different language registers to designate the same concept;
• how to deal with terms competing on the basis of derivation and formation – terms based on native Irish elements as opposed to loanwords;
• questions relating to the spelling and grammar of loanwords;
• questions relating to spelling, grammar and punctuation in general.

Editorial methods

In order to address the questions above, the following tasks are being carried out by Terminology Committee staff and by staff at Fiontar, and on advice from the Terminology Committee:
• disambiguation tags are assigned to different concepts to which the same term has been designated;
• choices are made between different terms designated to the same concept on the basis of accuracy, popularity of usage, transparency, co-ordination, age of the collection in which each term is found – the other terms are tagged superseded;
• multiple versions of the same concept to which different terms have been designated (in both English and Irish) are combined as one concept;
• terms which have fallen into disuse or are deemed deprecated are tagged superseded; concepts deemed deprecated are deleted and replaced by acceptable concepts;
• terms which are more commonly used in the spoken language than those in written sources are tagged colloquial;
• multiple terms belonging to different language registers to designate the same concept are tagged accordingly, colloquial, in use, in use USA, legislation;
• terms competing on the basis of derivation and formation (e.g. native Irish elements as opposed to loanwords) are analysed on the basis of accuracy, popularity of usage, transparency, co-ordination, age of the collection in which they were found; one is chosen and the other(s) are tagged superseded or in use;
• mistakes and inconsistencies in spelling, grammar and punctuation are corrected or co-ordinated.

Current members of the Terminology Committee

   Dr Antain Mac Lochlainn, Chairman
   Dr Éamonn Ó hÓgáin, Vice-Chairman
   Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair, Secretary
   Austin Duff, The European Commission
   Liam Mac Con Iomaire
   Prof. Micheál Mac Craith, University of Ireland, Galway
   Carmel Nic Eoin, Department of Education and Science
   Dr Máirín Nic Eoin, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra
   Póilín Ní Chiaráin
   Dr Gearóid Ó Cleircín, FIONTAR
   Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
   Seán Ó Dubhda, Rannóg an Aistriúcháin [Government Translation Section]
   Labhrás Ó Finneadha, The European Parliament
   Tadhg Ó hÚrdail, The Council of Ministers
   Dr Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Foras na Gaeilge
   Liam P. Ó Murchú, University College, Cork
   Seosamh Ó Murchú, An Gúm
   Donla uí Bhraonáin

Subcommittee members

The subcommittee members are named in the introduction to every published dictionary. Therefore, only the membership of the most recently-active subcommittees is given here.

The Sports Subcommittee

Dr Gearóid Ó Cleircín (Fiontar and The Terminology Committee), Finín Mac a’Bhaird, Tadhg Ó Bric (The Terminology Committee), Colm Ó Ciardubháin (Fiontar), Pádraig Ó Gaora, Dr Pádraig Ó Mianáin (The Terminology Committee), Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Éamonn Ó Riordáin, Donla uí Bhraonáin (The Terminology Committee).

The Education Subcommittee

Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (The Terminology Committee), Seán de Brún (Mary Immaculate College), Seán Mac Corraidh (Belfast Education and Library Board), Pól Mac Fheidhlimidh (The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment), Seosamh Mac Ionmhain (The National Educational Psychology Service), Antain Mag Shamhráin (The State Examinations Commission), Carmel Nic Eoin (Department of Education and Science), Máire Ní Rianaigh (The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment), Seán Ó Broin (The State Examinations Commission), Feargas Ó Casaide (The National Educational Psychology Service), and, for various periods, Peadar Mac an Iomaire (Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge), Caoimhe Máirtín, Íosold Ní Dheirg (Linguistics Institute of Ireland), Nóirín Ní Nuadháin (St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra), Stiofán Ó Deoráin (The Terminology Committee).

The Proper Names Subcommittee

Dr Éamonn Ó hÓgáin (The Terminology Committee), Rev. Gary Hastings, Máire Nic Mheanmain (An Gúm), Dr Fearghus Ó Fearghail (Mater Dei Institute of Education), Dr Joe Ó Labhraí (St. Mary’s College, Belfast), Dr Pádraig Ó Mianáin (The Terminology Committee). Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (The Terminology Committee).

The Business Subcommittee

Donla uí Bhraonáin (Fiontar and The Terminology Committee), Dr Antain Mac Lochlainn, Cian Marnell (Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology), Caitlín Mhig Fhloinn (Letterkenny Institute of Technology), Máirtín Ó Cadhain (An Gúm), Diarmuid Ó Cearbhaill (National University of Ireland, Galway), Pádraig Ó Conghaile (Department of Education and Science). Aodh Ó Domhnaill (The Central Bank), Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (The Terminology Committee).

The Literature and Criticism Subcommittee

Dr Máirín Nic Eoin (The Terminology Committee and St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra), Prof. Gearóid Denvir (National University of Ireland, Galway), Dr Liam Mac Cóil, Antain Mag Shamhráin, Dr Máire Ní Annracháin (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dr Proinsias Ó Drisceoil, Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (The Terminology Committee).

The Computing Subcommittee

Donla uí Bhraonáin (The Terminology Committee and Fiontar), Michael Everson (Evertype Ltd.), Marion Gunn (EGT Ltd. and National University of Ireland, Dublin), Antain Mag Shamhráin (An Gúm), Niall Ó Cearbhaill (Fiontar), Elaine Uí Dhonnchadha (Fiontar and the Linguistics Institute of Ireland), and, for various periods, Henry Leperlier (Fiontar), Niall Mac Uilidhin (Fiontar and National University of Ireland, Galway), Dr Roibeárd Ó Cuirrín (National University of Ireland, Galway), Dr. Ciarán Ó Duibhín (Queen’s University, Belfast), Colm Breathnach and Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (The Terminology Committee).

The Archaeology Subcommittee

Dr Eoghan Ó Súilleabháin (The Terminology Committee), Muiris de Buitléir (Dúchas), Prof. Séamus Mac Conghamhna (National University of Ireland, Dublin), Máire Nic Mhaoláin (The Terminology Committee), Dr Raghnall Ó Floinn (National Museum of Ireland), Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (The Terminology Committee).

The Geology Subcommittee

Dr Bearnárd Ó Dubhthaigh (Department of Education and Science), Micheál Breathnach (Co. Wiicklow Vocational Education Committee), Prof. Breandán S. Mac Aodha (National University of Ireland, Galway), Máire Nic Mhaoláin (An Gúm), Réamonn Ó Ciardha (The Geological Survey), Dr Raghnall Ó Floinn (National Museum of Ireland), and, for various periods, Pádraig Ó Maoláin, Liam Mac Cóil, Colm Breathnach (The Terminology Committee).