Terminology & Information Science(s)

Information systems now cover the "key know-how" of companies or institutions and their global environments. This implies a close cooperation between persons in the global "playing field", experts and linguists aiming at: spotting in due time the emergence of new concepts or artefacts which may represent as much threats to as opportunities for businesses or public administrations as for the IT department itself; translating correctly from one linguistic universe to the other. This is often the first step. Terminology is closely linked to innovation. New concepts are needed to comprehend the world and its transformations. New words are needed to designate or to go along with these concepts. Words belong to natural languages. Concepts belong to technical domains. The concept moved gradually to the center of terminology. But while conceptualisation works fairly well in natural language, it is not sufficient to drive computers. We need a terminology applying the principles and formal rules of formal ontology while not forgetting its deep linguistical roots: an "ontoterminology"?