TS ISO 704

TS ISO 704 is a foundational standard for terminology work, setting out the core principles and methods used when preparing and compiling terminologies. It focuses on the relationship between objects, concepts, and their terminological representations so that terms are handled within a clear conceptual structure rather than as isolated labels.

How the terminology model is organised

In general technical terms, an object is a real-world entity, a concept is the organised mental and linguistic understanding of that entity, and a terminological representation is the term used to name the concept. This distinction matters because the same term may be used differently across contexts, and one concept may be expressed by more than one term. That conceptual discipline is essential in technical communication, knowledge organisation, lexicography, and multilingual content creation.

What this standard covers

The standard addresses the basic principles and methods for preparing and compiling terminologies both within and outside standardization work. Its concern is not merely the listing of terms, but the conceptual basis on which terms are created, selected, and presented. In practice, that makes terminology work more consistent across specialist fields and supports more reliable cross-language alignment in technical documentation and information systems.

• Explains the relation between objects and concepts.
• Clarifies how terminological representations are linked to concepts.
• Sets out basic principles and methods for terminology preparation and compilation.
• Provides a common terminology approach usable inside and outside standardization.