What is the place of terminology work in an age of artificial intelligence? How can terminologists across the EU institutions share experience and best practices while preparing for the future?
These were some of the questions explored during the 3rd Interinstitutional Terminology Forum, held in Luxembourg on 22 and 23 September. Hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation, the forum brought together terminologists from EU institutions and agencies to share expertise, compare working practices and reflect on the future of their profession.
Putting terminology at the heart of multilingualism
Professor Leonardo Zilio (Université Catholique de Louvain) gave an introduction to terminology theory, while Dr Nicole Keller (University of Heidelberg) highlighted some of the tools available to correct terminology during post-editing of translations.
Additional workshops explored practical aspects of terminology work, including term extraction, definition writing and the use of IATE, the EU’s interinstitutional terminology database.
IATE: evolving with the profession
The forum also showcased the latest developments and upgrades to IATE. A more user-friendly interface and AI-powered features are opening up new possibilities for exploring EU terminology resources.
The discussions underlined the importance of making sure terminology tools and practices continue to keep pace with the needs of language professionals.
AI and the future of terminology
New skills in the era of AI were a key focus, particularly in a panel bringing together perspectives from 5 EU institutions.
The panellists explored new skills and competences required by terminology work, and the differences between the job now and 5 years ago.
Precision and consistency are crucial for accurate multilingual communication, and terminologists play a vital role in making sure the right term is used in the right context across EU official languages and EU institutions.
Critical thinking, research skills and the ability to assess the reliability of information will remain fundamental, alongside the adaptability needed to work effectively with new technologies. At the same time, a core task performed by terminologists is to provide and maintain the high-quality language data that is essential for AI performance.