Travel and Tourism Terminology and Document Databases, Essential Tools for

Handling Specialized Knowledge and Professional Communication

Simona BUCSA, Liviu GACEU
Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania, Faculty of Food and Tourism
Bd. Eroilor Nr.29, 500036 Braşov, Romania

Abstract:
Terminology and document databases for travel and tourism, which make the subject of this
analysis, are the best collections of terms that enable communication among specialists and
help build up monolingual and multilingual specialist languages based on specific standards.
The authors of the paper approach one specialist language with the largest transfer from one
country to another, i.e. the language of travel and tourism, emphasizing the idea that specialist
language practitioners should add new value to their activity involving specialized knowledge
and professional communication. The authors of the paper, who cover the two essential areas
of terminology and documentation, the linguistic and the specialist one, propose a pattern for
travel and tourism terminology databases, which proves essential in producing high-quality
technical writings and technical documentation, having in view the fact the production of
technical texts increasingly involves several languages and terminology databases are the
infrastructure of specialized knowledge.
Keywords: tourism, database, terminology

1. Introduction

The rapid evolution of the specialist and technical vocabulary in all languages due to the
rapid technological development and to the rise of entirely new fields and industries gives
terminology an important part to play in learning and using not only the specialist vocabulary
of a particular field in a foreign language but also the specialist vocabulary of a particular
field in the native language. Terminology is in fact the specialist knowledge that is renewed
every year, which, they say, doubles every five to fifteen years, depending on the area
concerned.
Terminology plays a fundamental role in characterizing the specialist language and in
classifying different specialist languages, being one of the elements that allow us to make the
difference between general and specialist language.
On the other hand, documentation complements terminology. “Documentation is for
terminology a source of information and a working document. Terminology uses
documentation as description and indexing instrument” (Maria Teresa Cabre, 1998: 221).
Therefore, documentation holds a fundamental role as documents are the source for building
up the knowledge and the terminological structure of a text; similarly, documents certify the
real use of terms in a particular field of knowledge.
Terminology and document databases, with focus on tourism – oriented databases, are the
best collections of terms that enable communication among specialist and help build up
monolingual and multilingual specialist languages based on specific standards.
That is why, in order for members of the academic environment, researchers and other
professionals to handle specialized knowledge and professional communication, we propose a
pattern for travel and tourism terminology and document databases, which proves essential in
producing high-quality technical writings and technical documentation.

2. Hypothesis, Research Question, Research Method

The hypothesis of the paper is:

Members of academic community, researchers and professionals (in our case, specialists
in travel and tourism) get familiar with their field of study and research, in both a
unilingual and multilingual context, provided they are exposed to complete terminology
and documentation in their field of study.
The research question we attempt to answer is:
What are the best ways of implementing terminology and document databases in order
for users – database developers and readers - to fully benefit from their existence?
The answer to the research question will be given through specific research-based
methodology, i.e. basic research and applied research.
Level of basic research. At the level of basic research we have carried out a systemic study
into terminology management. We trust the examples provided prove the importance and the
impact of terminology database upon the use of specialist languages through the
interconnection between terminological units, concepts and contexts.
The Level of applied research proposes a pattern for travel and tourism – oriented
terminology or document database designed as a single complex database to address both
monolingual and multilingual audiences.
Some of the applications of the proposed terminology and document database may be:
Technical writing and discourse; Intercultural technical communication; Technical and
specialist documentation; Translations; Laboratory for teaching/learning specialist language
competencies; Use of both monolingual and multilingual terminology by local and foreign
professionals.
On the whole our objective is to identify research methods and develop practical applications
of those research methods to be used for interdisciplinary investigations in terminology and
documentation.

3. Terminology and Document Databases and Production of Technical Writings

The whole structure of the research paper is based on principles of terminology and document
management as a way to acquire and use specialist languages. We have done this starting
from the very definition of LSP - Language for Special Purposes - as framed in the
Guidelines for Terminology Policies (UNESCO 2005:3):
“Special purpose language means the language used by expert communities with a greater
or smaller share of terminology and domain-specific linguistic conventions.”
Terminological resources are indispensable instruments for producing technical writing and
technical documentation, the knowledge structure of a particular field of knowledge is set up
on a terminology database. The best environment for terminology and document databases to
be produced is the university environment since designing and producing terminology
databases is a serious matter of research and development. This will make all professionals
involved in writing specialist texts aware of the importance of producing adequate technical
writings and documentations. Of course, it is up to the terminologist and to the field specialist
to decide on the best method of designing terminology databases for specific purposes.
Here are some of the applications and products that terminology handles in the vast world of
information.

Figure 1 Proposals for an Operational Infrastructure for Terminology in Europe

(Source: POINTER )

So far terminology research has mainly aimed at creating terminology databases to be used by
translators, technical writers or other specialists in a particular field who use special language
in unilingual or multilingual contexts. Many projects focus solely on designing terminology
databases, unilingual or multilingual, on a more or less standard structure for terminology
databases.
We strongly believe that document and terminology databases, be they monolingual or
multilingual, can contribute to the acquisition and use of specialist languages. “Terms and
documents make up a whole in which the two parties complete each other: terms convey the
information occurring in documents as well as the information that a database comprises
with regard to documents” (Maria Teresa Cabre, 1998: 222).
This is what has determined us to conduct research into terminology and documentation, from
both linguistic and specialist approach: new educational and research methods to be used
by means of documentation and terminology, as basic structure of specialized knowledge
in a particular field.
 4. Language of Tourism – Structured on a Terminology and Document Database

The language of tourism involves the widest transfer of information and knowledge from one
country to another, this transfer undertaking not only term transfer but concept and context
transfer as well.
The language of tourism is generally seen as language providing the basic vocabulary and
professional expressions that are most often used in tourism and travel, such as travel
programs, offers, travel contracts, information and transportation, hotel services, etc. Yet, if
we analyze the language of tourism as used by experienced professionals in the field of travel
and tourism from the perspective of writing accurate specialist texts, we analyze the language
of tourism beyond words. In a specialist text we do not deal with words but with terms.
Terms, at their turn occur in a context and designate concepts. This is the way we should look
at the language of tourism in order to shape the knowledge structure of the subject field we
are approaching, i.e. travel and tourism.
Silvia Pavel and Diane Nolet (2001:15) state that “the knowledge structure of a subject field
results from terminological analysis, that is, the contextual analysis of texts in the
specialized language with a view to understanding and describing the concepts designated by
terminological units”.
Terminological units, which take different forms (single-word and multiword terms, set
phrases, collocations, standard texts, abbreviated forms of terms), structure the specialized
text and, in combination with general language units, shape the technical or scientific
discourse.
Concepts represent the basis of terminology. Forming term is not an arbitrary process like
that of word formation, but is a fully responsible process that facilitates communication and
transmission of knowledge. Concepts make up the fields of knowledge and establish various
relations among them in order to give coherence to a particular field and in order for
specialists to establish relations among them.
Contexts establish the relationship of a terminological unit with its field of application. For
the particular terminology and document database we propose, contexts hold an important
role as they reflect the specialized knowledge of a specialist field. To say it briefly, context
“…..first provides living proof that the term is used in the field of reference and then allows a
conceptual content to be associated with the term being studied. … It makes it possible to
determine the specific relation between a term and its subject field through concept
identification.” Robert Dubuc and Andy Lauriston (1997:81)
As for the document database, we emphasize that the text of the document itself is a
complementary element of a terminology and document database. The importance of text
derives from the fact that terminology almost always is embedded in texts and, furthermore,
“the text in which the technical term occurs is an important source of information about the
terms, especially about the relationship it has to other terms.” (Gregory M. Shreve,
2001:772)
Altogether, documentation and terminology are intermingled, documents are the source for
building up the knowledge structure as well as the terminological structure of a text; likewise,
documents certify the real use of terms in a particular field of knowledge.
 5. Printed and Electronic Terminology Databases – Brief Analysis

We are presenting a brief qualitative analysis of two types of databases: printed and
electronic terminology databases. The information provided is similar, but the way of
displaying and accessing it is different.
I. Printed databases
One example is a Romanian sample of terminology card standardized at the level of the
Romanian Academy
‘ 1.Name of concept (term) – represents the entry; 2. Grammar category; 3. Thematic field
(area); 4. Thematic subfield; 5. Form or category of the term; 6. Definition ; 6’ – Sources of
definition; 7. Context in which the term is used; 7’ – Source of context; 8. Synonyms; 9.
Quasi-synonyms; 9’ – Source of quasi-synonyms ; 10. a-e. Term equivalent in English,
French, German, Spanish and Russian; 10’ – Source (sources) of terms in foreign languages;
11. Name of the author who created the card; 12. Date of card creation ‘ (Source: Pavel and
Rucareanu, 2001:101-102)
II. Electronic databases
Basically, both printed and electronic term entries are based on the same principles of a
printed terminology card. The difference is that electronic entries can be more easily accessed
by links to all items of information the user needs to find out.
We definitely believe that electronic databases represent the future in developing terminology
databases. The criteria we propose for an accurate analysis of printed and electronic databases
are as follows:
Information provided, Accessibility, Usability, Update
Information provided denotes the content, consistency and complexity of the information
comprised in the terminology database.
Accessibility denotes the degree to which a terminology database can be used by as many
people as possible. Likewise, accessibility of a terminology database is the ability to access
the functionality, and possible benefit of the terminology database.
Usability denotes the ease with which the terminology database can be used by users. Any
designer of terminology databases wants his/her database to be user friendly to help people
write technical texts by means of a terminology database.
Update denotes the process of bringing the terminology database up to date. The world of
information is evolving so fast that the terminology team must constantly keep the pace with
new entries in particular fields of knowledge.
These criteria lie at the basis of the solutions we are searching for in order to best implement
terminology databases, supported by document databases, so that members of the academic
community and professionals should fully benefit from their existence.
In conclusion, as stated by Sue Ellen Wright (2001:576) “In a paper fiche What You See is
indeed What You Get, although the human user is frequently left to infer some of the
essential information needed to interpret the record.”
In an electronic database ‘What You See is What You Get’ (WYSIWYG) is definitely
replaced by What You See invites You to See Further.
 6. Pattern for travel and tourism terminology databases

There are many terminology or document databases, but we have not come across
terminology and document databases designed as a single complex database to address both
monolingual and multilingual audiences. The implementation of such a database would meet
the needs of members of the academic staff, professionals, researchers, be they monolingual
or multilingual, for fully benefiting from the resources for education and research in their
fields of study.
The two types of databases – terminology and document – go together because our intention
is to introduce the audience to the travel and tourism field of study by making use of both
terms and documents in order to improve their specialized knowledge and communication.
Therefore, we propose a pattern for travel and tourism terminology databases that we plan to
develop at our University and, hopefully, in the future, with more universities across Europe.

Term entry
Term entry: ecotourism
Thematic field: Tourism
Thematic subfield: Ecological Tourism
Definition: tourism intended to promote ecological awareness and to limit damage to the
environment
Source of definition: www.yourdictionary.com/eco-tourism
Context: As the world's oldest and largest ecotourism organization, TIES is committed to
promoting the principles of ecotourism and responsible travel. With the goal of uniting
conservation, communities and sustainable travel, TIES serves its members in over 90
countries, as the global source of knowledge and advocacy in ecotourism.
Source of context: www.ecotourism.org
Explanation: picture provided
Explanation source: www.ecotourdirectory.com
Term equivalent in French: écotourisme
Source of term in foreign languages: Collins Dictionary

Document entry
I. International initiatives on Sustainability in Tourism and Certification Programs
Extra information: The Conference on Green Travel, Climate Change and Ecotourism has
come up with initiatives on Sustainability in Tourism and Certification Programs
Related site: www.ecotourism.org/
Source: International Ecotourism Society – Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC)
Full text: http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/
Publication type: online news
Subject headings: Sustainable tourism, certification, ecotourism, tourists
II. Travel fairs
Extra information: International Fair for Alternative Travel - Event Date: 26 February 2009
ends 2-March 09
Related site: www.ecoclub.com/c/index.php?act=calendar&cal_id
Source: International Ecotourism Club
Full text: http://www.reisepavillon-online.de
Publication type: calendar events
Subject headings: travel, relaxation, adventure, ecological
We truly believe that members of the academic community, researchers, professionals, if
exposed to complete documentation and terminology in their field of study, can substantially
enrich their specialized knowledge. Moreover, using clearly defined technical terms may help
them in their future communication with other specialists and may give them a better
understanding of their specialist area.
Furthermore, a learner of a specialist language should be exposed to both terms (through
terminology databases) and texts (through document databases) so that he/she should get
familiar with the world of a specific field in maternal or foreign language by crossing the text
and term world. This world of texts and terms has to be cohesive and coherent.
We are suggesting, for a future project, an image database which, adjoined to texts and terms,
is very likely to add more value to the specialist knowledge in travel and tourism, having in
view the fact that travel and tourism means more than words, images representing an
important part of specialized knowledge and professional communication in tourism.

7. Conclusions

The present study has allowed us to test the hypothesis and to answer the research question:
The best way of implementing terminology and document databases for their users to fully
benefit from their existence is to bring the two databases together. This means that a user of a
specialist language should be exposed to both terms (through terminology databases) and
texts (through document databases) so that he/she should get familiar with the world of a
specific field in maternal or foreign language by crossing the text and word world.
The travel and tourism – oriented terminology and document database may be explored in
both unilingual and multilingual context:
• In a unilingual context the terminology and document database get the specialist
familiar with his field of study, research or work; the database enables him/her to
improve his/her message as well as the communication with other specialists;
• In a multilingual context the terminology and document database enables the
specialist to deliver his message in another cultural context, to draw up messages in
another language;
We further launch the idea of a term-document-image database in travel and tourism, trusting
that a multidisciplinary project of this type might appeal to researchers from various areas of
research, such as linguistics, terminology, tourism, engineering, information technology, etc.
The production of a large-scale terminology and document database (plus image database) is
certainly a laborious and meticulous task, but, it is for sure an extremely rewarding task for
the terminology and documentation professionals.

References

1. Cabre, Maria Teresa (1998). La Terminology. Théorie, méthode et applications.

Ottawa: Les Presses de l’Université d’Ottawa;
2. Dubuc, Robert, Lauriston Andy (1997). Terms and Contexts. In Handbook of
Terminology Management, Vol. II. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing
Company, pp. 80 – 87.
 3. Pavel, Silvia; Nolet, Diane (2001). Précis de terminologie = Handbook of
Terminology. Quebec: Translation Bureau. Minister of Public Works and
Government Services Canada;
4. Sager, Juan C. (1997). Term Formation. In Handbook of Terminology
Management, Vol. II. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 25-
41;
5. Shreve M. Gregory (2001). Terminological Aspects of Text Production. In
Handbook of Terminology Management, Vol. II. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins
Publishing Company, pp. 772-787.
6. Wright, Sue Ellen (2001). Terminology Management Entry Structure. In
Handbook of Terminology Management, Vol. II. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins
Publishing Company, pp.572-599;