Why vocabulary is part of the practical work
Project participants can use the same word for different activities. “Review” might mean checking the target text, comparing it with the source, approving a layout or accepting a delivery. An apparently agreed process may therefore contain an unresolved disagreement.
A vocabulary reference helps participants locate the intended meaning in a particular standards context. It does not remove the need to explain how the term is used in the actual project.
An illustrative terminology exercise
A multilingual team writes, “All translations must be checked.” Before assigning work, ask what that sentence means. Which text will the checker see? What criteria will they use? Can they change the translation, or only report findings? Who resolves a disagreement?
For this exercise, the team can record its chosen terms in a project glossary and identify the reference edition used. Where a term comes from a standard, consult the authorized text rather than assuming a dictionary or a software label uses the same definition.
Our example deliberately avoids presenting invented wording as an official ISO definition.
Relationship to LISA and technical terminology
The connection is thematic: shared terminology supports shared processes. ISO 20539 is not a LISA exchange specification. It also differs from TBX, which concerns representing and exchanging terminology data. A vocabulary resource and a format for storing terms can complement one another without performing the same task.
AI and multilingual explanations
For this website, our editorial recommendation is to maintain a controlled list of important English terms and their reviewed equivalents in Dutch, German, Spanish and Polish. A generated translation should preserve the distinction being taught, not merely choose a fluent synonym.
If an AI system explains a term, verify both the explanation and its claimed source. A model-generated definition should not be attributed to ISO unless it has been checked against the applicable document and its reuse is permitted.
Source record and related reading
ISO 20539:2023. This article identifies the vocabulary's purpose and gives original planning advice; it does not reproduce the protected definitions.
Continue with ISO 11669 for project specifications or the editorial policy for how this collection handles terminology.