Defining architecture : considerations in the field of architectural corpora / Monika Bogdanowska // W: The language of art and cultural heritage : a plurilingual and digital perspective / ed. by Ana Pano ... więcej

Defining architecture : considerations in the field of architectural corpora / Monika Bogdanowska // W: The language of art and cultural heritage : a plurilingual and digital perspective / ed. by Ana Pano Alamán, Valeria Zotti. – Newcastle upon Tyne : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020. – S. 140-156. – ISBN 1-5275-4567-9. – ISBN 978-1-5275-4567-0

Each year brings many new dictionaries which incorporate terms related to architecture, building and construction. Some are published in the traditional form, while others are made available via websites. ... więcej

Each year brings many new dictionaries which incorporate terms related to architecture, building and construction. Some are published in the traditional form, while others are made available via websites. Another popular approach to distribution is the .pdf file, which may easily be downloaded and printed if necessary. Some contain definitions in one language, whereas others are multilingual. Each of the forms has its pros and cons, and their assessment should precede undertaking any new dictionary project. Architectural terminology encompasses a number of topics, beginning with particular motifs and forms, building techniques, construction, technology and design, etc. and as the discipline flourishes, its continuous development results in the expansion of corpora. Further complications arise as architecture is strongly culturally related – particular technical solutions have always been created within the context of local traditions, geographical conditions, they have been depended on materials available on site, localised styles and tastes, etc. Thus many terms are simply untranslatable, i.e. have no equivalents. Still, architecture has an interlingua that is of great use – many terms can be “defined” in pictorial form. Unfortunately, some terms related to historical architecture have fallen into oblivion as ancient techniques have lost their importance and been gradually abandoned. For this reason, heritage studies is a key field within which historical terminology may survive. Recording and classifying concepts is crucial, not only for technical or scientific reasons, but also as a way of protecting the immaterial heritage of mankind. The paper will provide a general overview of popular databases on the subject which are available online in English, along with their advantages and drawbacks. Further, the paper will draw some conclusions, including possible directions for future research and define possible limitations. It seems that architecture is not only an excellent topic for a dictionary, but it is also much needed. Due to the wide range of issues related to architecture, scope will be limited mainly to heritage studies; i.e. historical architecture. The paper will provide material for discussion between researchers and will hopefully provide a useful resource for future development in the field.