Current Issues In Language Planning
Polity Editors: Robert B. Kaplan (University of Southern California), Richard B. Baldauf Jr. (University of Queensland) and Nkonko Kamwangamalu (Howard University)Bob and Dick are also editors of the book series Language Policy and Planning
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Volume: 5 Number: 2 Page: 142–150
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Developing Electoral Terminology for a New Official Language: Tetun in East Timor
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Catharina Williams-van Klinken
Language Unit Coordinator, Dili Institute of Technology, PO Box 293, Bairro Pite, Dili, East Timor
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As an official language of newly-independent East Timor, the public role of Tetun has increased markedly since 1999. Its use is, however, hampered by a shortage of agreed, well-understood, technical terminology. This paper reports on a project by the Independent Electoral Commission and the United Nations Development Programme to develop a glossary of electoral terms for Tetun. Most of the proposed terms were based on Portuguese words; however, phrases were usually adjusted to Tetun syntax. Abstract nouns were given alternative translations as verbs. Definitions used complete sentences which included the head word, and gave more information than traditional dictionaries do.
Keywords: Tetun, East Timor, language shift, terminology, UNDP
©2004 C. Williams-van Klinken
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