ÜHTSE MÕISTMISE JA TERMINIKASUTUSE VÕIMALIKKUSEST LAIAPINDSES RIIGIKAITSES

TERM WORK IS TEAMWORK: THE SHARED CONCEPTS AND TERM SYSTEM IN COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL DEFENCE?

Abstract

In the information era and in the context of hybrid threats, military and more widely comprehensive national defence terminology plays an increasingly important role. Although modern viewpoint on terminology claims the opposite, research in defence and experience in other projects confirms that terminological variability hinders the communication and understanding between specialists. Common understanding and the shared system of symbols are fundamental in a crisis when human lives depend on the speed of message delivery. Thus, it is presumed that the areas contributing to national defence share the same information space, including the system of concepts and terms as one of its fundamental components. This article aims to shed light on the aspects of terminology as an interdisciplinary and field-based sign system that tends to remain either semiobscure or unconscious, yet expedient to keep in mind in national defence terminology work. The term work related to the project Manticus Apollo confirmed two main sources of term problems. Firstly, the adherence to source language patterns and term systems, rather than its concept level. Such weaknesses indicate more broadly the lack of knowledge about terminology as a discipline and its logic, as well as about the differences in conceptual hierarchies. Secondly, the field-related and individual differences in the concept level and use of terms. Often people without a sufficient knowledge of the field do not see terminology as a separate field of research. High-quality terminology work and the choice of the optimal form of cooperation require the awareness of the nature of terminology as a highly applied field of research with its challenges. Terminology work should always have two main goals: to reduce differences on the one hand, and raise awareness on the other. Term work is teamwork. Like effective terminology development, outreach requires a team: other professionals who can have a say in decisionmaking and disseminate decisions. The broadest possible integration of professionals into terminology work creates a sense of involvement crucial for decision dissemination.