Semantic, Formal and Pragmatic Characteristics of Terminology

Abstract

Terminological vocabulary holds a significant position in the general lexicon of a language, though not much is known about the formal structure and pragmatic functions of the semantics of social science terms in a professional and scientific discourse. The purpose of this study is to study the problem of compliance of the results of term formation in the modern Kazakh language with semantic, formal and pragmatic requirements. The study was guided by the theoretical and practical foundations of the formation of the Kazakh National terminological corpus including inventory, systematization, and regulation. The social science terms sampled for the study were restricted to 386 terminological units, selected using the mass sorting method from the terms approved during the period from 1971 to 2014. To analyze the findings, descriptive, structural, semasiological, onomasiological, combinatorial, definition, quantitative and component analysis methods were used. The results revealed the synchronous state of established terms, including molded term systems in the field of social sciences. The difficulties faced in the development of a state language, absence of a terminological system, and practical inadequacy of terminological work were also identified. The relevance of the term to the sphere of the terminological system, the ambiguity and accuracy of the term, consistency, and linguistic correctness were established. The study also established that terminology in a communicative context has semantic precision, formal stability and pragmatic variability. A comprehensive analysis of these characteristics showed their possibility to improve the standardization of terms and optimize professional communication. The results of the study can be used in works carried out in order to improve the formation and use of terms in the field of term formation.