Georgian Terminology Bank (GTB): Overview

Background & Development
The Department of Scientific Terminology at the Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics of Tbilisi State University (TSU), established in 1941, has long been engaged in the development of terminological dictionaries. This longstanding work culminated in the idea of creating a multidisciplinary terminological bank.

In 2014–2015, the Department of Translation Dictionaries and Scientific Terminology at the same institute formulated the concept of the Georgian Term Bank (GTB) —an electronic database consolidating Georgian field-specific terminological dictionaries.

Main Objectives and Functions of the GTB
The Georgian Terminology Bank serves as a central platform for:

1. Digitizing and unifying printed field-specific terminological dictionaries.
2. Conducting ongoing terminological research across disciplines.
3. Creating sub-databases for specific fields.
4. Updating Georgian terminology and creating neologisms where needed.

Methodology and Standards

The GTB is founded on the principle of comparative and harmonized terminology work, aiming to identify and prioritize “matching” terms across languages and disciplines. This methodology is inspired by the UNESCO Terminology Policy Manual (2005) and emphasizes contextual meaning, multilingual comparison, and transparent documentation of research and committee discussions.

Technical development follows international standards, particularly:

• ISO 16642 – Terminology Markup Framework
• ISO 30042:2019 (E) – Terminological Base Exchange (TBX)

Milestones

• 2017: The GTB project was publicly presented at the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia.
• 2023–2024: Technical documentation was finalized in collaboration with international experts, incorporating modern security system standards and terminological data management protocols.
• 2025: Tbilisi State University was designated the publishing center and supporter of the GTB.

Platform Features
The GTB website offers:

• A searchable database of Georgian terminologies and their foreign-language equivalents.
• Definitions, term creation histories, and a regularly updated bibliography.
• Access to unpublished archival materials from the Institute's Scientific Terminology Department, enabling further research and collaboration.
• Open access for academics, translators, students, and the general public.