Standardization of terms in terminological dictionaries

Abstract

Terminological standardization ensures clarity, coherence, and precision in specialized communication, avoiding misunderstandings where conceptual accuracy is critical and collaboration in a globalized world. Despite the existence of international standards and consolidated theoretical and practical models, operational challenges persist: the accelerated proliferation of fields, the lack of user-friendly systems, poor coordination between organizations, and rigid approaches that fail to capture the dynamic nature of terminology. This paper analyzes the process of systematizing specialized lexicons, laying the groundwork for the development of coherent normative dictionaries. It was found that terminological standardization requires a comprehensive, two-phase approach (systematization and logical-material modeling) that guarantees the univocality and internal coherence of the terminological system. This systematic framework requires that standard terms meet rigorous requirements, such as technical precision, adequate adaptation to production processes, functional differentiation, and linguistic economy. Furthermore, the adoption of thesauri and ontological models significantly improves the navigation and contextualization of terms, providing users with clearer conceptual relationships and hierarchical structures. In this constantly evolving landscape, machine learning-based tools and collaborative platforms stand out as promising solutions for streamlining the standardization process, offering innovative approaches that can accelerate standardization while maintaining quality and consistency across specialized domains. These results reinforce the need for an interdisciplinary and dynamic approach to terminology, integrating the continuous updating of standards, the inclusion of non-recommended variants with clear annotations, and the development of collaborative environments to maintain the validity and accessibility of terminology systems in the face of rapid knowledge expansion.