TERM PLANING MODELS AND THE CATALAN CASE

This paper introduces the framework of term planning in the context of language planning, which is a vital activity in all languages and is becoming increasingly important. Several examples of term planning in different languages are given, and some of their weaknesses highlighted. A model of term planning is set out, based on the literature and on three cases which have been studied in detail by the author. These three cases are TERMCAT (the term planning organisation for Catalan), Terminologicentrum TNC (the term planning organisation for Swedish) and the Irish-language term planning organisations, principally the Terminology Committee (Forasn a Gaeilge) and Fiontar, Dublin City University. The term planning model covers planning, research, standardisation, dissemination, evaluation and training, all of which contribute to the most important aspect, term implantation. Three interesting aspects of the TERMCAT approach are described: term standardisation, term dissemination and evaluation, particularly of implantation. These three aspects show how much can be learned from term planning in practice. While standardisation has been studied extensively, the way in which the theory has been put into practice for Catalan is noteworthy. Although dissemination (in the sense both of publication and of marketing and awareness-raising about term resources) is essential for term implantation, it is hardly discussed in the literature, and the Catalan approach, particularly the Antena de Terminologia, could provide inspiration for other organisations. Finally, the comprehensive, systematic, approach to evaluation taken by TERMCAT allows for continuous improvement – and illustrates, again, the importance and challenges of term implantation