FORESTRY QUARTERLY 



Vol. XII.J March, 1914. [No. i. 



A SUGGESTION FOR SECURING BETTER 

 PROFESSIONAL TERMINOLOGY. 



By p. S. Lovejov. 



Most of our new words and phrases arise either by direct 

 translation from another language in which they are already in 

 use to express the identical idea, or, through the more or less 

 gradual adaptation of words and phrases already in our own lan- 

 guage. 



The first source is illustrated by our use of "working-plan" ; 

 the second by "reconnaissance." Further terms originate by di- 

 rect manufacture from established roots, as "silviculture" or 

 "dendrology," or by new combinations of old words, as "lookout- 

 station." It is usual for such professional words and terms' to 

 differentiate as the profession develops so that their definition 

 is different from time to time. 



Any new term is likely to become permanently grafted into 

 our professional language and has rather great possibilities for 

 use or abuse. An unfortunately adopted term may become very 

 mischievous. 



If a term is short, easily spelled, self-defining, legitimate in 

 derivation and accurate in significance, it is likely to be a good 

 term. 



Our need for new terms and phrases is constant. The in- 

 troduction and adoption of new terms is too easy: the results 

 are often unhappy. 



An illustration of the perv^ersion of tenns is found in the 

 current use of "woi king-section" and "working-circle." The use 

 of the terms in Schlich is constant and consistent. Forest Ser- 

 vice Bulletin 61, properly intended to be the official dictionary for 

 professional terms, retains the terms but exactly reverses the 

 definitions. This seems to have been a clerical error, but tlie 



