"CE QUI NE RASSEMBLE À RIEN N'EXISTE PAS?" ON THE "DEFINITION" OF DEFINITION

Abstract

This paper is a theoretical approach to the concept of definition, a research topic that has become a major concern for Terminology. Several authorial perspectives will be considered in order to fully understand this complex logical-linguistic operation. In order to operationalise definition, we carry out detailed review of the Norm ISO 1087-1: 2000, which provides clear guidelines on how to build an intensional definition. Though the transformational nature of specialised knowledge is fully recognised, we argue the relevance of incorporating the topic on how to build a definition in the learning agenda of undergraduates studying Communication and Translation. Concept representation by means of linguistic description is a cognitive challenge that implies applying inferential reasoning and classificatory and organising principles provided by language as a code.