The skills comprising the profile of a professional terminologist encompass multiple domains. In practice, they are applied in accordance with the specific needs that arise in diverse organizational contexts. Above all, terminologists are acutely aware of the constantly changing, highly adaptive nature of language as it endeavors to communicate new realities and situations in life and in society. As such, organizations involved with any kind of language-related service will always depend at least partially on the knowledge generated by professional terminology practices and procedures. Multilingualism, machine translation, computer-assisted translation and localization technologies, as well as natural language processing are likewise important dimensions of terminology research. Presently, there is considerable focus internationally on the harmonization and distribution (and sharing) of terminology resources as part of language resources.

Terminologists who are trained professionally have a solid foundation in linguistics (including sociolinguistics and pragmatics), semantics, lexicology, logic, information theory and documentation. They master the techniques and methodologies necessary for creating monolingual, bilingual and multilingual terminological resources for specific subject domains. These techniques are linked more and more frequently to the new and evolving technologies needed to deal with burgeoning data repositories, online environments, increasingly complex specialized domains and globalizing communication. In many commercial, governmental and institutional contexts, terminologists are responsible for creating, maintaining and updating glossaries, databases and translation memories. They set reference criteria, respond to queries on terminology usage, and provide translators with advice.

Formal education and training programs have been established within academic and university institutions, mostly in conjunction with translation programs. Terminology is included as a major division in many professional translation associations and organizations. Some regions provide opportunities for professional certification. Terminologists work in-house or freelance in language service settings of government, educational institutions and businesses. They play a crucial and growing role in contemporary global information and knowledge economies, where they are involved in standardizing protocols for data exchange and in creating frameworks supportive of language policies and procedures for a number of initiatives, including codification, harmonization, standardization and regulation of language use. These policies are often implemented to encourage and reinforce language rights, and to promote equitable, sustainable linguistic and cultural diversity and identity.

References:

Cabré, M. Teresa (1998), Terminology: Theory, methods and applications, Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Cooper, Tim (March 2011), "Terminology" powerpoint presentation, Brussels: European Commission Directorate-General for Translation.

ISO Standards, "Terminology-Principles and Coordination" (including terminography): ICS 01.020.

L`Homme, Marie-Claude, and Sylvie Vandaele, eds. (2007), Lexicographie et Terminologie: Compatibilité des modèles et des méthodes, Ottawa: Les Presses de l`Université d`Ottawa.

Public Works and Government Services Canada-Translation Bureau, Handbook of Terminology, Ottawa. Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean and Arabic.

Wright, Sue Ellen, and Gerhard Budin (1997), Handbook of Terminology Management, Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.