Military Terminology in Military Terminology in OfficerOfficer TrainingTraining

Epp LEETE – VARNA 2010Epp LEETE – VARNA 2010

TERMSTERMSTerminology and terms are Terminology and terms are an inseparable and integral an inseparable and integral part of any specialized part of any specialized language and specialty language and specialty training as terms connect training as terms connect us to the objects in the us to the objects in the real world.real world.

What is a term?What is a term?AAccording to Cabré, ccording to Cabré, conceptsconcepts are mentally are mentally independent and exist independent and exist before they are named, and before they are named, and it’s only through the it’s only through the standardization of terms standardization of terms that the concepts that that the concepts that mostly do not have a rigidly mostly do not have a rigidly set border obtain artificially set border obtain artificially set limits (1999:42-43). set limits (1999:42-43).

What are the main characteristicsWhat are the main characteristicsof a term? of a term?

• transparency and clarity;transparency and clarity;• appropriateness;appropriateness;• linguistic economy;linguistic economy;• monosemy or carrying one monosemy or carrying one

meaning;meaning;• preference of native preference of native

language;language;• grammatical aspects - grammatical aspects -

derivability and correctness.derivability and correctness.

Present terminologyPresent terminologystandardization standardization

• Security and Defense Policy and Military Terminology Committee Security and Defense Policy and Military Terminology Committee attached to the Ministry of Defence was established in 2003attached to the Ministry of Defence was established in 2003))..

• online Estonian-English bilingual dictionary called MILITERM http://mt.legaltext.ee/militerm/

• the Committee can cover and admit up to 1000 terms per year;• by the end of 2009, around 7000 terms with definitions were admitted;

Lack of termsLack of terms

• SIMULATOR – SIMULAATOR - MATKEMUDEL – (IMITATION MODEL)• TACTICAL OPERATION – TAKTIKALINE OPERATSIOON (LAHINGUTEGEVUS –

COMBAT ACTIVITY)• CONTROL –KONTROLL - (JUHTIMINE – MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP) • COMMAND AND CONTROL (C2) JUHTIMINE (C2)• CONTROL JUHTIMINE (CONTROL)• COMMAND JUHTIMINE (COMMAND)

– In the meaning of TACCON, OPCON• ARMS CONTROL (AC) – RELVASTUSKONTROLL

LLack of termsack of terms• MISSION– MISSIOON PÕHIÜLESANNE (MAIN TASK)– ÜLESANNE - TASK (essential task, key task(s), specified

tasks, implied tasks, tactical task).• The following neoterm was offered by one of our master

student: TEGUM – TASK (IT field)

““Spread the word”Spread the word”• How new harmonized terms admitted by the Military

Terminology Committee are communicated to the students and other personnel of the Defence Forces?

• Two 4-hour sessions of the Terminology Committee were organised in the ENDC with our master students (Advanced Officers’ Training Course) participating in them.

Terminology in English classTerminology in English class

Specialised language courseSpecialised language course• Elective course for the Advanced Officers’ Training Course

(master’s level education) - 3 ECP (European Credit Points, ab. 40 contact hours, ab. 40 hrs of independent work).

Why?• To introduce the work of the military terminology committee, i.e.

the harmonized terminology produced by the committee;• To give our future staff officers the fundamentals of terminology

work and translation principles;• To bring terminology work closer to the target group.

Aim of the courseAim of the course• To introduce military terminology for job-related interaction in Estonian and

English;• To give an overview of translation theory and the principles of terminology

work;• To give an overview of harmonized military terminology in the Estonian

language;• Address diverse problem areas with regard to terminology and translation;• Reinforce the skills necessary to write their master’s theses.

OutcomesOutcomes

• Knows the main concepts of terminology work and can put this knowledge into practice within his specialty/field of research;

• Knows the main means of term production and requirements set for terms; can choose the most appropriate term from among many equivalents with regard to their linguistic and concept-related appropriateness, and can justify their decision;

• Can translate specialised texts from English into Estonian (text level) and from Estonian into English (word and phrase levels – collocations, idioms); can analyse translations with reference to translation theory.

Translation of terms in contextTranslation of terms in context Staff Procedures This subject examines in great detail the decision-making

process of an infantry battalion staff and infantry brigade staff. In accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures, case studies of some units are examined. The subject also addresses the subdivision of tasks, as well as the tactical control and posting of command post in an infantry battalion staff and infantry brigade staff.

Translation of a text from English into Translation of a text from English into EstonianEstonian

In the Estonian Defence Forces, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is widely used in 3-coordinate positioning equipment. Nowadays, there are at least 6-8 GPS radio ranged satellites within orbits near the Earth, which enable 3-coordinate positioning with the precision needed for the Defence Forces. The GPS satellite transmitters can operate at two frequency levels, thereby enabling the tracking of diverse meteorological parameters in radio wave propagation through different atmospheric layers. Meteorological parameters are required by the artillery for fire control, as well as for ground-to-air missile systems. Moisture content in air layers is also important for radar surveillance equipment.

Terminology projectTerminology project• Choose ab. 20 core terms related to your master’s thesis. • The source language can be either Estonian or English • Find all target language terms available• Comment on the target language terms• Presented in the form of a presentation.

In the futureIn the futureConsecutive interpretation• Oral translation of the segments of speech of any length

after uttering them, can be from a few sentences to a speech of 2-3 minutes; with notes and without notes.

• Draft version of STANAG 2579 “LINGUISTIC SUPPORT”

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

БлагодаряБлагодаря!!

AitähAitäh!!