3.5.3. Elements of Good Definitions

The terminological definition is a concise description of the essential characteristics that distinguish a concept from any other, presented in lexicographical, or dictionary-like, format.

Its purpose is to provide a clear understanding of what a given concept is, specific to a given subject field, and to position the concept being defined within its concept system.

The definition must describe the concept (give the meaning of the term), rather than dealing with questions of the term's usage or explaining words within the term (SAGER 2000: 12). Thus, it differs in function from linguistic observations of the type "Term used in subject-field X to designate the concept Y."

The terminological definition is the most important application of the single-concept principle and the main means of establishing a textual match.

The formulation of definitions varies according to the subject field. In scientific and technical subject fields, basic terminologies are validated through the use of definitions cited from authoritative sources, whereas new terminologies in such fields often require the formulation of definitions based on textual elements identifying important characteristics of the concept found during research. This is one reason the definitions for a given concept in the best technical and scientific dictionaries can resemble each other closely.

On the other hand, in social, economic and legal subject fields, the definitions for a given concept vary greatly, depending on the historical, cultural, and legal context of the institution or country in which the concept is recognized (REY 1996: 99).

You should refer to the documentation that you have consulted when you formulate definitions. The quotation of definitions and contexts must, in fact, be kept to a minimum, for the following reasons:

• the importance of respecting copyright and avoiding unfair use
• the requirement for conciseness, quality and originality in terminological-product content
• the requirement for consistent editorial style within a terminological data collection

This professional duty is reinforced by intellectual property law as applied to the creation of commercial terminological products.

The terminological definition is a brief statement that provides a clear understanding of the meaning of a specialized term. It often begins with an anchor word identifying the broader class, such as a superordinate term in a hierarchical relationship to which the concept belongs, and then specifies the essential and delimiting features that clearly separate this concept from related concepts in that class.

The delimiting features may include (DUBUC 1992):

• intrinsic characteristics, such as the concept's nature, its material, or the topic it deals with, and
• extrinsic characteristics, such as its function or manner of operation, its origin, its destination, or its referent.

Some examples of non-essential characteristics of a concept are the shape of an object, the inventor of the object, and the time, space, and manner of use of the object. It is worth noting, however, that the distinction between essential and non-essential characteristics is a relative one when selecting defining characteristics. For example, the characteristic "shape" may be non-essential for the mathematical concept of equation, but essential for the mathematical concept of triangle. Also, non-essential characteristics such as shape, origin, or manufacturer, may become essential ones as a concept is narrowed down in specificity (e.g. carabiner vs. Petzl carabiner).