Terminologijos komisijos (1921–1926) veiklos apžvalga

8 0 A. Auksoriūtė | Overview of the activities of the Terminology Commission (1921–1926) Terminology Commissions (1921–1926) overview of activities ALBINA AUKSORIŪTĖ Lithuanian Language Institute esMInIAI žodžiaI: Terminology Commission, term, terminology, Terminology Commission protocols The article reviews the activities of the Terminology Commission (1921–1926), discusses the circumstances of its establishment, structure and composition, aims to explain the reasons for the change of the Commission and assess the significance of its activities for the development of terminology in Lithuania. In 1918, after the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania, the development of science and education was taken into consideration, school textbooks were published, Lithuanian terminology for the necessary fields was created, and the first collections of terms were prepared. In 1919, M. Šikšnis published a dictionary of arithmetic and algebra terms (47 p.) and a Lithuanian-Russian and Russian-Lithuanian military dictionary (106 p.), in 1920 – a collection of geometry and trigonometry terms by Z. Žemaitis (99 p.), a dictionary of zoology systematic terms by J. Elison (144 p.) and a dictionary of technology by A. Maciejauskas (141 p.). The creation and management of terms was carried out solely on the initiative of individual linguists and specialists in various fields. As the need for Lithuanian terminology increased, it became necessary to create Lithuanian terms and work on terminology in an organized way. The linguist Jonas Jablonskis wrote about this already in 1920: “There are written textbooks for schools, there are written other writings for people; we have to talk about new things in science and science people and various branches of state work. When we speak or write about these things, we do not all use the same terms for the same purpose. The new life has brought so many things that it is now difficult for different people and different institutions to deal with the few terms that we used to be satisfied with. In the field of those terms, anyway, a mixture is now forming; part two 8 1Terminology | 2011 | 18 The school suffers from the mixture, the work of culture itself suffers...” (JR II 210–211). Following the Latvian example, J. Jablonskis proposed to the Ministry of Education to set up a terminology commission to deal with terminology matters. He envisioned its structure as follows: “in the state apparatus should form several or several dozen term commissions of specialists of various work; Commissions could be formed – for various natural sciences, administration, economic subjects, new trade and industry, military subjects, etc. Each larger state's work area, which has to do with various terms, should set up a commission for its own purpose, which will be able to work on the subject of its terms in a planned manner, in consultation with Shviet. "The 211th Joint Chiefs of Staff" (PDF). The terminology commission was established at the Ministry of Education on 14 March 1921. The first meeting of the Commission took place on 21 April 1921. The Ministry of Education had invited ten members of the commission to the meeting, seven of whom attended the first meeting: Kazimieras Būga, Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Adamas Jakštas, Pranas Dovydaitis, Jonas Jablonskis, Pranas Mašiotas, Antanas Smetona and Antanas Vireliūnas. Vladas Požela, Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas and Adomas Varnas did not attend the meeting. The meeting was chaired by A. Smetona and A. Vireliūnas was the secretary. As stated in the minutes of the meeting, “the first task of the Commission was to unify the official language of the state institutions. Also, the assembled voiced the need to revise and correct and otherwise the terms of various branches” (TKP 1921: 1)1. The Commission's working procedures were also discussed at this meeting. It has been decided that the responsible persons of the ministries concerned shall formally submit draft timetables in writing for consideration by the Commission: ten copies of the draft must be submitted, which are sent to the members of the Commission for their knowledge. The Commission shall notify in writing the Ministry that submitted the draft of the time when it will be considered. Representatives of the concerned ministry are invited to discuss the draft, and it has been decided to accept draft terms submitted in writing by individual persons. The Minutes state that each draft term must be accompanied by explanatory sentences with that term. The participants of the meeting decided to announce in the newspapers that the Terminology Commission has been formed and has begun its work. 1 Protocols of the Terminology Commission No. 1–80 (1921–1923) are kept in the Terminology Centre of the Lithuanian Language Institute, and No. 81–180 (1924–1926) in the Central State Archives of Lithuania (f. 631, ap. 12, p. 94). The colon is followed by the protocol number. 8 2 A. Auksoriūtė | Overview of the activities of the Terminology Commission (1921–1926) Figs. "Terminology Commission Protocol No. 1". 8 3Terminology | 2011 | 18 8 4 A. Auksoriūtė | Overview of the activities of the Terminology Commission (1921–1926) The second meeting of the Terminology Commission took place on 24 April, attended by nine members: K. Būga, A. Dambrauskas, Pr. Dovydaitis, J. and Blonskis, Pr. Mašiotas, A. Smetona, J. Tumas-Vaižgantas, A. Varnas and A. Vireliūnas. A. Smetona was elected permanent Chairman of the Commission and A. Vireliūnas was elected Secretary. At this meeting, the general working procedure was agreed, it was decided that “the issues raised in the Commission are resolved by a simple majority of the votes of the members attending the meeting” (TKP 1921: 2), and decisions are made at the meeting only if at least 6 members of the Commission are present, among whom there is at least one philologist (J. Jablonskis or K. Būga) and a rapporteur. It was also decided to publish excerpts of the minutes in the newspapers and to meet every Thursday. At the second meeting, sixteen foreign geographical names submitted by J. Jablonskis were considered. It is decided to write: "1. eststas, stai (instead of „estouniai“); 2. greek, griekaaj; 3. olándas, -ai (7 votes in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention); 4. scotas, -ai (Scholten), Scotland; 5. aurris, aurors (Iren); 6. lãtvis, lãtviai; 7. Scandinavia, Scandinavia; 8. swede, swede; 9. Norwegian; 10. French (8 votes in favour, 1 against), France (4 votes in favour, 1 against, 4 abstentions, 4 votes in favour, 3 against, 2 abstentions for “Fransija”); 11. eskāms, eskāmmai; 12th is my number; 13. nægras, -ai; 14. hotentot (5 votes in favour, 3 against, 1 abstention); 15. Bushman's (4 in favour, 1 against, 4 abstentions, Bushman voted for, 2 in favour, others abstained); 16. beduenas"2 (TKP 1921: 2). Several other meetings were held to discuss various geographical names, which were decided to publish in the press, but some names were reviewed again in the Commission before publication. The Commission discussed the names of the streets of the city of Telšiai and the town of Užventis, various terms and words used in the press, for example, in the minutes of the meeting held on June 9, it is written: Smetona raises the need to establish more firmly the words needed every day in journalism, corresponding to the words of the Russian language: власть, правительство, начальство, наслеъдствие and others. It indicates that the words “consequence, event” and others used in the Lithuanian press are not made in accordance with the language rules. <...> it has been established that the Russian “власть” in our language corresponds to power, “правительство” – government, “начальство” – superiority, “фактъ” – leave a fact, which in individual cases can be popularized with words phenomenon, event; „результат” – result, popularised by words: end, result; „сверхчеловек (Uebermensch)” – can be translated as superhuman, superhuman; „сверхестественныеи” – supernatural; „процесс“ – a process” (TKP 1921: 10). 2 Quotations from the minutes are authentic, spelling has not been corrected. 8 5Terminology | 2011 | 18 The draft estimate of the Terminology Commission for 1922 was discussed at a meeting held on 6 October 1921, and it was decided to set up commissions for terms in mathematics, nature, geography, literature and law, each with three members. The Mathematical Terms Commission consists of A. Dambrauskas, Pr. Mašioto and A. Varno, J. Jablonskis and A. Vireliūnas were appointed to the Geography Terms Commission, who were tasked to invite a collaborator from abroad as a third member. A. Smetona was entrusted with the task of forming the Legal Terms Commission, and J. Tumas-Vaižgantas was appointed to form the Literature Terms Commission, inviting Liudas Giras and Vincas Krėvė as collaborators. The establishment of the Commission on Natural Terms has been postponed until a naturalist specialist is invited to the Commission. Tadas Ivanauskas was included in the composition of the Commission at the next meeting and he was tasked with forming the Nature Terms Commission. In the beginning of February 1922, the Terminology Commission raised the question of reorganizing its work. The minutes of the meeting of February 2 state two reasons for the reorganization: “1) because the more and less members of the Commission come to the meetings and 2) because the work of the Commission itself and the commissioners has become extremely stagnant, unprepared and unfruitful” (TKP 1922: 31). It was decided to keep the organization of the Commission unchanged, to increase the payment for meetings, to oblige its presidium to meet to arrange additional material and prepare letters; proposed the establishment of a permanent Working Commission to consider and prepare dates for joint meetings of the Commission. At the meetings held at the end of February and beginning of March, it was decided to invite M. Zinkevičaitė, Jonas Avižonis, Morkas Morkelis and Izidorius Tamošaitis as members of the Commission. At the meeting of March 9, M. Morkelis was elected Chairman of the Commission in place of A. Smetona, who had resigned from this post, and at the next meeting J. Avižonis was elected Secretary in place of P. Vireliūnas. At the meeting on 30 March, Mr. Jablonskis resigned from the Commission as an official member, but agreed to continue participating in the work as an advisor on language issues. At the end of April, the Working Commission was approved, which included the linguists J. Jablonskis and K. Būga, and the third member was proposed as the Head of Affairs and Secretary of the Commission. At the meeting of October 13, two new members were added to the Commission: Jonas Martynas Laurinaitis and M. Bagdonas, after M. Morkelis refused to chair, I. Tamošaitis was elected as chairman, A. Vireliūnas as secretary. The draft terms submitted to the Commission were not always accepted and discussed, for example, the list of terms in psychology submitted by the Commission for the Publication of Books of the Department of General Affairs of the Ministry of Education in 1921 and the list of terms submitted by the Department of Education of the Department of Agriculture in 1922. 8 6 A. Auksoriūtė | Overview of the activities of the Terminology Commission (1921–1926) The Commission returned the list as inappropriately prepared, indicating that they should be prepared properly. As can be seen from the minutes, the Commission responded not only to letters and inquiries from the institutions, but also to questions from private individuals. For example, in the protocol No. 75 of 5 October 1923 it is written that “It was decided to reply through the Minister of Education to the report of the High Plenipotentiary of the Government of Lithuania for the Klaipėda region of 20 September 1915, written to the Prime Minister of the Ministry and forwarded to the Ministry of Education, and from there, by resolution of the Ministry, forwarded to the Terminology Commission for review, the following: In the opinion of the Commission, the name Šilutė should be retained, as translated by the Plenipotentiary himself; Instead of „Főrsterei – Klampovė“ the committee proposes to choose one of the following names: Budriai, Jankai or Girûliai. Mr. Vaitkūnas (Panevėžys, Respublikos g. 31N) to his letter of September 23, 2016. report this: At its hearing on 5 October 2014, the Commission clarified that both hairdresser’s shop and barber’s shop are possible terms to use” (TKP 1923: 75). Following suggestions and amendments, the Commission has re-examined some of the terms and added or changed them. For example, on February 22, 1923. Protocol No 57 states that „deliberated, after one month from the date of publication (see „Lietuvos“ NN ) sent Kn. Criticisms, corrections and other remarks on the terms published by J. Laukaitis, M. Grigonis, J. Lazauskas, J. Beinoris and A. Varnas for educational purposes. It is decided to make the following variations: 2. Near the environment, circumstance, help and tàrpas. Pav. And all kinds of people appear among us. 4. Nanny, -jos (child) – to throw away. 8. "Pious" to throw away. 10. Before virtuous still help virtuous, virtuous. 13. Help cross on the bigfoot. 14. Note that ambiguity is a characteristic. (fig. ambiguous word), ambiguous – thing. and b. 18. To “savilava” to help and to educate, to educate and to develop (lavėja – развываться). 20. To help nature and nature. 26. Add pamėga to „pomegis, mogis, magmogis“ (TKP 1923: 57). On January 11, 1923, J. Jablonskis refused to participate in the work of the commissions, arguing that he did not see any benefit from the work of the Commission, that the terms would not help improve the language of newspapers, and at the next meeting (January 18) he also refused to participate in the work of the Terminology Commission, but it should be noted that he also withdrew because of disagreements among its members. The Commission did not agree on the question of Lithuanianization of terms: A. Varnas and A. Vireliūnas 8 7Terminology | 2011 | 18 they did not leave any term from other languages, they sought to replace all international terms with new ones. In June, M. Morkelis and M. Zinkevičaitė withdrew from the Commission, and it was proposed to replace them with St. Dabušis and J. Beinoris. In autumn, Kazys Kepalas and J. Murka were invited to join the Commission. K. Būga died on 2 December 1924, leaving the Commission without another linguist who had worked with it since its establishment. After the departure of J. Jablonskis, and especially after the death of K. Būga, the Commission’s activities shifted towards extreme purism (see Palionis 1979: 268). In late 1921 and 1922, the commission considered terms for literature, law, excise, railways, technology, geography and education. The protocols contain not only the Lithuanian terms approved by the Commission, but also their Russian, and more rarely German, equivalents, and sometimes explanations of terms or examples of use. Some examples of railway (a) and geography (b) terms adopted by the Commission: (a) ‘1. Atšlai tà, cokolis – цоколь. 2. Plough the road. Hard ploughing. Ploughing, plough – utrombovka. A drill is a tool for drilling. 3. Slope – slope. 4. Atkalnė – Kosovogorъ. Backward or forward. 5. Excavation – excavation. 6. Pýlimas – embankment. The filling requires a lot of samples <...>“ (TKP 1922: 27); (b) ‘1. A. Vireliūnas proposed: aukšttė = возвышенность, lygė = равнина. The commission decided: aukštuma (aukštė) = возвышенность, lyguma (lygė) = равнина. 2. Lowland, valley = низменность. 3. Paslėnė – a slightly elevated place near a valley, lowland. 4. Slesnas, -à. Slesna place - <...>. Low, low and high islands. Panevėžys is higher than Vilnius. 5. Valley or slope, -io – Tal. Rivers flow through the valleys. 6. more mountainous, -ė, more hilly, -ė. It is more mountainous than the surrounding area of Panevėžys. <...> 9. The mountain is not a steep, but rather a steep ridge. Cups. 10. Stalkalnis – Tfelberg. Tableland – Tableland. 11. Ma siniai mountains, maskalniai. Massive mountains. Massive. 12. the wrinkled mountains. In the Alps there are wrinkles, they are wrinkled. Wrinkle – Falte, wrinkling – Falteng. 13. Šùkakalnis – Kammgebirge <...>“ (TKP 1922: 44). Not only related, but also a number of species terms were discussed and approved, e.g.: "41. The ladder is a staircase. 42. Hook ladder – штурмовая лњстница. 43. Folding ladder – видвижная лњстница. 44. Rotational, mechanical ladder – механическая лњстница. 45. Roof ladder – Dфchleiter. 46. Support ladder – Stockleiter. <...> 48. A mask. 49. Smoky coffee – дымовая маска. 50. Gas mask – газовая маска. <...> 56. Hose – sleeve – hose. 57. Suction hose – suction sleeve. 58. Liejamoji švirkštiamoji žarna – выкидной рукавъ – Druckschlauch” (TKP 1923: 63); „835. Allegedly, 8 8 A. Auksoriūtė | Overview of the activities of the Terminology Commission (1921–1926) – „visual, relative motion, comparative judgment, comparative humidity, comparative measurement error, comparative refractive index, comparative mass weight, comparative resistance – относительное движение, относительная влажность, относительная ошибка измњрения, относительный показатель преломления, удњльный вњсъ, удњльное сопротивленiе“ (TKP 1923: 77). In 1923, the terminology commission discussed the terms of telephony, political economy, education, physics and firefighters, as well as the names of places in the Klaipėda region. In 1924, the terms of the metric drawing were discussed, the terms of A. Varnas, V. Adamovičius, J. Baronas, I. Končius, A. Baltrušaitis and J. Juzikis in physics, the real names sent by the Railway Board. The terms adopted by the Terminology Commission were published in the periodical press. The members of the commission paid attention to whether the terms they approved were used, for example, the protocol of 7 December 1922 states: “A. Vireliūnas reported that the editors of legislative acts do not always comply with the terms established by the Commission, such as: Act 917 N (Vyr. Žinios 118N) uses “akcinės bendrovės”, “bravarus” – “yeast workshop” and so on. According to the speaker’s knowledge, in the Chancellery of the Cabinet of Ministers, the terms established by the Commission are sometimes deliberately replaced by others. It was decided to write a letter to the Ministry of Education" (TKP 1922: 48). A. Vireliūnas published the terms adopted by the end of 1923 in a separate publication in 1924, Įvardžiai, arba terminai, priimti Terminologijos komisijos: 1. Excise, 2. Law, 3. Roads, 4. Telephony, 5. Geography, 6. In the cover of the booklet, the compiler wrote that “in this nounbook there are only those nouns that are printed in “Švietimo Darbas”, but they are more accurate, more detailed, and therefore more convenient to use” (Įv 3). J. Jablonskis briefly discussed the publication in the 4th issue of the 1925 issue of the journal “Švietimo Darbas”, drawing attention to its careless preparation, the abundance of proofreading errors, and other errors and inaccuracies in the collection (see JR IV: 322–324 for more details). However, in spite of various inaccuracies and flaws, doubtful terms in terms of composition, a number of terms presented in this collection are still used today, e.g.: excise duty Įv 5, criminal case Įv 14, dictation Įv 119, humidity Įv 110, two-wire line Įv 74, clamp Įv 75, ditch Įv 30, ditch Įv 32, uphill Įv 33, receiver Įv 76, cut Įv 77, melting Įv 77, price list Įv 34, AC Įv 80, deck Įv 35, cubic meter Įv 36, boathead Įv 36, witness Įv 18, gauge Įv 38, button Įv 82, mixture Įv 7, descent Įv 39, hammer Įv 44, plate Įv 44, device Įv 45, pile Įv 47, arrow Įv 88, sankasa Įv 48, transmitter Įv 88, mortar 4 Įv 9, flying Įv 10.