page 1 “if we need up-to-date technical terminology in arabic, where do we get it ?” deutsche...
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“If we need up-to-date technical terminology in Arabic, where do we get it ?”
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Arab League` Cultural, Educational, Scientific Organisation (ALECSO)
Guido Zebisch, M.A.
Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) e-Age 2014 / Fourth International Platform of Integrating
Arab e-Infrastructure in a Global Environment
Dec 10-11 2014Rabat, Morocco
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Age (Years)
Male Population (Millions)
Female Population (Millions)
70+ 04 05
65-69 04 05
60-64 06 06
55-59 06 06
50-54 09 09
45-49 09 09
40-44 15 14
35-39 15 14
30-34 15 14
25-29 20 19
20-24 22 21
15-19 22 21
10-14 23 22
05-09 23 22
I. Unchanged baselines: The Arab World‘s Employable Population will Grow Dramatically Over the Next 10 Years
20 – 25 million people will exit productive age
80 – 90 million people will enter productive age
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I. Unchanged baselines: linguistic assessments in UNDP AHDR reports state
“… In order to create an Arab Knowledge Society, not only information technologies are to be imported, but along with them, the „arabizing“ of their very terminology...“ (AHDR 2003)
Knowledge transfer is hard to achieve when academic and vocational students do not dispose over a command of terminological precision in their habitual language.
“… there is an extreme need for accurate tools and methodologies to provide accurate and standardized learning output…”
which falls under the mandate of ALECSO, the „equivalent of the UNESCO of the Arab world“
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II. Linguistic assessment: institutional diversity
Private Sector Companies (will worry about industrial espionage) Industrial Associations (will not act as terminology sources)
Normalization Authorities (will share against money) …
Governmental and non-governmental institutions “The philological domain”, e.g. Language Academies, Language Councils (will take all their time to convene) Universities (will tend to make their own terminology) Ministries (will not act as terminology sources) Normalization Authorities (asf) …
Some Labor Market Agencies (definitely need it in Arabic see OFPPT)
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II. Linguistic assessment: observations
Terminology efforts are too often unrelated and insular: e.g. organization-internal terminology does not help advance
Terminology efforts can be improved tremendously: Little budgets do not allow a hold of latest innovative technology´s terminologies
Institutional / national knowledge management within the concerned sectors is liminal so far Institutional frameworks are not solidified HR-wise
Terminology efforts lack consensus: there is no consensus terminology ought to be available in Arabic, not even as a back-up resource (see Springer vs. QRF)
Terminology efforts are too often unbalanced from a private-sector approach and a scientific point-of-view
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II. Linguistic assessment: technical improvement
There is consensus that terminology for tuition purposes is only relevant as per direct access
New technical appliances offer new forms of outreach, e.g. by way of plug-ins, mobile versions, etc.
The data highway is constantly being brought forward (increase of DAC by 2700 percentage points between 2003 and 2012 or so, research with regard to the e-Arabic and script seizure, LMF formats allowing inter-linkage of terminology banks)
Linguistic trends favor multi-lingual substantial competence over
single choices: even if research happens in English, this ought not exclude Arabic as a back-up !
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• has more than 35 years of experience in Arab countries
• is developing national strategies for labour markets and TVET systems
• is analysing the qualification demand and the framework conditions of economic development
• creates national occupational skills standards‘ systems
• has implemented many TVET projects worldwide successfully
• cooperates closely with the private sector
• has a strong TVET network in Arab countries and worldwide
… and in Detail – GIZ …
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III. GIZ´s quatrilingual technical online dictionary regional project www.arabterm.org
GIZ has sustained ALECSO`s Bureau of Arabization (BCA) to some degree on its way towards terminology production online. The objectives until mid-2016 are:
• The work process has become entirely computerized and web-based
• Terminology management systems extend across a tangible network of stakeholders expert commission “cells” convene, validate [and arabize (quickly)]
• Terminology generation considers advanced terminology-providing centers only, and does not exceed 1.5 years as a timeline
• Terminology volumes contain no less than 4500 - 6000 terms plus definitions
Terminology is on the agenda of relevant institutions
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III. GIZ´s quatrilingual technical online dictionary regional project www.arabterm.org
• Topics at present: Topics in future:
• Automotive Engineering Educational Sciences Water Technology Environmental Engineering & Climate Renewable Energy Nano- and BiotechnologyElectronics Nutrition and Food Security Textile & Agricultural Machinery Transport & Infrastructure Economy, Commerce, Accounting
Value Chains, Fiscal Systems
ITC & Media 2014: 20.000 terms Civil Engineering
Construction 2016: + 25.000 terms
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III. GIZ´s quatrilingual technical online dictionary regional project www.arabterm.org
More donor-driven demand-driven increase means more normalization and standardization:
stakeholders might commission terminology according to their need
authorities share available data in the respective field
ALECSO / BCA provides translations & revisions acc. to its mandate
ARABTERM uploads entries for public use
Ministries, universities, industries share ARABTERM according to their need
Towards a hyper data base for Arabic technical terminology
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III. GIZ´s quatrilingual technical online dictionary regional project www.arabterm.org
In short, the structure is in place, it now needs more stakeholders to nurture and develop its content
ALECSO provides funds for the basic set-upALECSO-backed terminology will be held valid in 22 Arab countries
Extra support (financial or immaterial) will allow to approach expensive terminology providers at the core innovation centers
Linguistic mismatch will be reduced, users will feel substantiated :
«We always need absolute accuracy in linguistic s, especially in the fields of international trade, production of high-tech machines, building bridges, scientific discussions with colleagues or patent applications».
His Excellency Mr. Thomas Fitschen, German Ambassador to the UN Geneva, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 07/13
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III. GIZ´s quatrilingual technical online dictionary regional project www.arabterm.org
Invitation to candidate for
- a terminology steering committee (institutions)
to identify terminology market needs and select topics to engage funding
- a controllers´ network (individuals)
for topical revisions and updates in each of the technical domains (in a cloud-like light way)
Please contact [email protected] .Thank you for your attention !