Development and publication of a multilingual chemical dictionary: A collaborative approach to terminology standardization

Abstract

The Chemical Dictionary, a collaborative effort by the Lexicographic Centre "Georgi Stardelov" at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia, is a significant contribution to the standardization and accessibility of chemical terminology. The dictionary comprises 3,743 entries, each featuring a lemma, a concise definition, translation equivalents in four languages, and, in some cases, illustrative content. This multilingual and multidisciplinary approach addresses the growing need for uniformity in chemical language across educational, research, and professional contexts. Published in two volumes of approximately 500 pages each, the dictionary adheres to international standards, including IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) nomenclature, ensuring its global relevance and accuracy. Its development involved extensive efforts from a multidisciplinary team of chemists, terminologists, and linguists who collaborated extensively from 2019 to 2024. The rigorous process included terminology extraction, definition refinement, and linguistic harmonization. In addition to the print edition, the dictionary will be available online at https://term.manu.edu.mk/chemistry, utilizing the Lexonomy platform. This digital version offers advanced search capabilities, cross-referencing, and multilingual navigation, making it an indispensable resource for educators, researchers, and students.

Keywords

• multilingual chemical dictionary
• chemical terminology
• Macedonian language
• Lexonomy
• Macedonian Scientific and Professional Terminology