Eugen Wüster
Encyclopedia
Eugen Wüster was an industrialist and terminologist.
when he was 15, soon coming to the fore as an Esperanto translator
and as the author of various monographs and numerous articles, particularly on questions of Esperanto terminology
and lexicography
. He trained in electrical engineering
and later took over his father's factory.
From mid-1918 to 1920, as a 20- to 22-year-old student, he compiled the core of the legendary encyclopedic Esperanto-German dictionary, which is still unmatched to this day for its detailed and faithful presentation of the early vocabulary of Esperanto and Zamenhof's usage (L.L. Zamenhof was the initiator of Esperanto). The experience Wüster acquired in compiling this dictionary
formed the basis for his Stuttgart
thesis
, which is regarded as a seminal work on Terminology Science
(2nd edition, Bonn 1966).
Due to his research on international technical communication, the Technical Committee for Terminology Standardization of the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO/TC 37
) was established in 1936.
Wüster forged the international principles of terminology standardization and contributed significantly to the foundations of the modern information society
.
He taught at the University of Vienna
. The Eugen-Wüster Archives at the University of Vienna as well as at the Esperanto Museum and Department of Planned Languages of the Austrian National Library
are based on material that he bequeathed.
The Eugene Wüster Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of terminological research has been established under the sponsorship of the Vienna University and the City of Vienna.
He also worked on problems of bibliography
, on reform of German orthography
, on the Universal Decimal Classification
system, on problems in informatics. He was an expert concerning saws, edited a model stardard dictionary using the example of Machine tools, the latest version of which is available online.
In 1971 Wüster initiated the founding of Infoterm, which he pro-actively supported until his death.
He left many unpublished manuscripts on various subjects.
Career
Wüster became enthusiastic about EsperantoEsperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
when he was 15, soon coming to the fore as an Esperanto translator
and as the author of various monographs and numerous articles, particularly on questions of Esperanto terminology
Terminology
Terminology is the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words that in specific contexts are given specific meanings, meanings that may deviate from the meaning the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. The discipline Terminology studies among other...
and lexicography
Lexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
. He trained in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and later took over his father's factory.
From mid-1918 to 1920, as a 20- to 22-year-old student, he compiled the core of the legendary encyclopedic Esperanto-German dictionary, which is still unmatched to this day for its detailed and faithful presentation of the early vocabulary of Esperanto and Zamenhof's usage (L.L. Zamenhof was the initiator of Esperanto). The experience Wüster acquired in compiling this dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
formed the basis for his Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
, which is regarded as a seminal work on Terminology Science
Terminology science
Terminology science may be defined as branch of linguistics studying special vocabulary.The main objects of terminological studies are special lexical units , first of all terms. They are analysed from the point of view of their origin, formal structure, their meanings and also functional features...
(2nd edition, Bonn 1966).
Due to his research on international technical communication, the Technical Committee for Terminology Standardization of the International Organization for Standardization
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO/TC 37
ISO/TC 37
ISO/TC 37 is a technical committee within the International Organization for Standardization that prepares standards and other documents concerning methodology and principles for terminology and language resources....
) was established in 1936.
Wüster forged the international principles of terminology standardization and contributed significantly to the foundations of the modern information society
Information society
The aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally through using IT in a creative and productive way. An information society is a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic,...
.
He taught at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
. The Eugen-Wüster Archives at the University of Vienna as well as at the Esperanto Museum and Department of Planned Languages of the Austrian National Library
Department of Planned Languages and Esperanto Museum
The Esperanto Museum in Vienna, Austria was founded in 1927 by Hofrat Hugo Steiner and was incorporated into the Austrian National Library as an independent collection in 1928. Today it is at the same time museum, library, documentation centre and archive...
are based on material that he bequeathed.
The Eugene Wüster Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of terminological research has been established under the sponsorship of the Vienna University and the City of Vienna.
Terminology
Wüster collaborated in the compilation and publishing of the first edition of the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary, London 1938. The latest version of this vocabulary is available online.He also worked on problems of bibliography
Bibliography
Bibliography , as a practice, is the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology...
, on reform of German orthography
German orthography
German orthography, although largely phonemic, shows many instances of spellings that are historic or analogous to other spellings rather than phonemic. The pronunciation of almost every word can be derived from its spelling, once the spelling rules are known, but the opposite is not generally the...
, on the Universal Decimal Classification
Universal Decimal Classification
The Universal Decimal Classification is a system of library classification developed by the Belgian bibliographers Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine at the end of the 19th century. It is based on the Dewey Decimal Classification, but uses auxiliary signs to indicate various special aspects of a...
system, on problems in informatics. He was an expert concerning saws, edited a model stardard dictionary using the example of Machine tools, the latest version of which is available online.
In 1971 Wüster initiated the founding of Infoterm, which he pro-actively supported until his death.
He left many unpublished manuscripts on various subjects.
Publications (selection)
- Internationale Sprachnormung in der Technik, besonders in der Elektrotechnik (International Language standardization in technology, particularly in electrical engineering.'). (Die nationale Sprachnormung und ihre Verallgemeinerung) (The national language standardization and generalization). Berlin: VDJ 1931. 2nd edition. Bonn: Bouvier 1966
- Die Herstellung der Sägeblätter für Holz. Eine Betriebsführung für Sägewerker und andere Sägenfachleute (The production of saw blades for wood. An operational guide for saw mills and other cutting specialists). Springer, Wien 1952
- Bibliography of monolingual scientific and technical glossaries, 2nd edition, Unesco, Paris 1955, 1959
- Einführung in die allgemeine Terminologielehre und terminologische Lexikographie (the general introduction to terminology and terminological lexicography lesson). 3rd Edition, Romanistischer Verlag, Bonn 1991, ISBN 3-924888-48-5
- International bibliography of standardized vocabularies. Bibliographie internationale de vocabulaires normalisés. (International Bibliography of the standard dictionaries.) Initiated by Eugene Wüster. Prepared by Helmut Felber [et al.]. 2nd ed / Wüster, Eugen / Saur, München 1979