Every sphere of science needs words to define and then to describe its objects and their interconnection. This specific language is needed for scholars to communicate and to impart information without changes of meaning or, otherwise, it would be challenging for them to interact and to develop. Such words are named terms. A term must be needed for international communication of specialists in connection with the growing trend towards internationalisation of scientific research, an increase in the exchange of scientific and technical information is reflected in the growing prestige of internationality: it is about similarity or proximity in form and coincidence in content of terms used in several, more than two, languages.
Terminological systems are the reflection of scientific concepts in the language, and creation, ordering, and studying of such systems is the purpose of terminology as a science. The definition of this branch of linguistics can be found in one of O.S. Akhmanova’s books, which author was the Soviet linguist-anglicist and professor at the Faculty of Philology of Lomonosov Moscow State University:
“Терминология – совокупность терминов данной отрасли производства, деятельности, знания, образующая особый сектор (пласт) лексики, наиболее легко поддающийся сознательному регулированию и упорядочению”.[1]
As a result of new inventions and technologies, the number of terms is rapidly growing, therefore the development rate of this lexical sphere can be characterised as high compared with other fields of linguistics. The consequence is that this field depends not only on linguistic factors, but also on what sphere of science it describes.
To be more specific about the concept of term, its definition should be given. But the problem is that the word “term”, being unconventional, has numerous meanings and none of them can describe it in full. Nevertheless, I would like to adduce the definition given by O. S. Akhmanova:
“Термин – слово или словосочетание специального (научного, технического и т. п.) языка, создаваемое (принимаемое, заимствуемое и т. п.) для точного выражения специальных понятий и обозначения специальных предметов”[2].
On this basis, we can conclude that a term, firstly, can be not only a word, but also a word combination. Secondly, the idea of a term implies that it was produced for the exact expression of special concepts and the designation of special objects. Moreover, the ways of their appearance are presented here as they can be accepted, borrowed or created. Also, we get an understanding of usage of a term and where the notions are usually applied.
Psychology is at the intersection of sciences because its subject of study is the human psyche, which belongs to the human sciences, and its research methods can be attributed to natural sciences. As a result, there are some features acquired by the terminological system of psychology. First of all, this leads to the fact that psychological terminology often integrates terms from other disciplines, such as biology, sociology, and education: there are many terms borrowed from other spheres of science, in psychological terminological hierarchy. Therefore, efforts are made to ensure that borrowed terms retain consistent meanings across different fields. Additionally, this also means that we should pay attention to the context in which terms are used: terms are defined consistently across different texts and contexts to avoid confusion and misinterpretation, and, as a result, terms may have context-specific definitions that are acknowledged and clarified within particular subfields or applications. To avoid this, professional bodies and organisations often establish guidelines and dictionaries to standardise terminology, and psychological terminology is tailored to the context in which it is used, whether in research, clinical practice, education, or public policy.
Since psychology is a young and developing science, numerous new terms appear every year: terminology evolves with advances in research, theory, and practice, incorporating new findings and discarding outdated concepts. Being connected to sociology, the system follows cultural and societal changes, reflecting shifts in understanding and values. Due to this, ongoing education and training ensure that professionals stay current with evolving terminology.
What helps to use terms in the right way is the hierarchical structure within psychology: terms are often organised hierarchically, from broad concepts (e.g., "mental health") to specific sub-concepts (e.g., "anxiety disorders"). Also, there are taxonomies and detailed classifications, such as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which help to organise psychological terms into categories based on shared characteristics.
One more feature is intradisciplinary consistency which allows terms to be used consistently within various subfields of psychology, e. g. clinical, cognitive, developmental. Moreover, terms are aligned with related disciplines, such as psychiatry and neuroscience, to maintain coherence across fields.
Living in the age of technology, there are digital databases established to stay current about new terms. Online databases and digital tools provide accessible and up-to-date terminological resources. Technology is used to assist in the accurate usage and application of psychological terms, such as in electronic health records and research databases.
These features collectively ensure that the psychological terminological system remains robust, flexible, and effective in facilitating clear communication, accurate diagnosis, and effective research within the field of psychology.
Список литературы
- “Словарь лингвистических терминов” О. С. Ахманова, 1966
