| Abstract [eng] |
The concept “computer virus” has been in existence since 1984. However despite the fact that almost 30 years have passed, it is not properly defined in Lithuanian sources and is still confused with other concepts tied to computer security, most often with concepts such as “worms” and “Trojan horses.” There has never been comprehensive linguistic research carried out on this concept and its signifier in Lithuanian. The aim of this dissertation is to describe the semantic field of the concept “computer virus,” the basis of which is the microsystem of the term “computer virus.” The following was used for the research: a total of 919 computer threat descriptions included in the Symantec computer threat bank that are tagged virus, the terminographical resources of Threat Explorer partners and computer terminology dictionaries published in Lithuania from 1984 to 2006 as well as analytical articles about computer terminology in Lithuanian scientific journals during the same period. Additional terminographical resources in Lithuanian and French are included in the research to assess and analyze the development of this concept. All of the terminological date that was collected concerning the semantic field of the concept in question (comprised of 177 concepts in this work) was analysed using the following methods: the comparative method, descriptive method, componential analysis and uplink analysis. As the research was carried out, it became clear that the semantic field of the concept in question could be rather well-defined due to the hierarchical relationship between the concepts that comprise it. The theory of semantic fields could be a useful method of analysis in terminology for analyzing terminological data, of which the intentional definition of a term is considered to be of upmost importance. |
