Rūšinių geografijos terminų apibrėžčių struktūros ypatumai

117Terminologija | 2024 | 31 doi.org/10.35321/term31-06 Rūšinių geografijos terminų peculiarities of the structure of definitions Peculiarities in the Structure of Definitions of Specific Terms of Geography AUŠRA RIMKUTĖ-GANUSAUSKIENĖ Lietuvių kalbos institutas ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8655-7333 ANNOTATION The definition of a concept in any field is a complex logical operation that requires knowledge of that field, and the result of this operation is the definition of the term. In terminology, the definition of each term is unique. It helps to associate a concept with the term that represents it. The article analyzes the definitions of the 648 generic terms of the Explanatory Dictionary of Geographical Terms published in 2021, briefly reviews the definition requirements, distinguishes the models of definitions of generic terms found in that dictionary. The most common model for defining a generic term is to name its logical dominant at the beginning of the definition and reveal the essential characteristics of the definition after the comma, explaining the generic element or elements of the term to be defined. The logical dominant of the definition is defined separately as a relative term in the dictionary under consideration. The other four models of definitions of species terms are less productive, some of which can easily be transformed into definitions of the first model. KEY WORDS: definition, definition structure, definition requirements, terminological meaning, generic term. A B S T R A C T The process of defining a concept within in any field is a sophisticated and systematic endeavor that requires expertise in the subject matter. The result of this process is the definition of term. Each term has a unique definition. It helps to link a concept to the term that represents it. The article analyzes the definitions of 648 specific terms found in Aiškinamasis geografijos terminų žodynas issued in 2021 (Explanatory Dictionary of Geographical Terms, 2021), briefly overviewing the definitions' requirements and identifying definitions' models of specific terms. The most common model of definition of specific terms is such model, when at the beginning of definition is told logical dominant and after comma the essential 118 Rūšinių geografijos terminų apibrėžčių struktūros ypatumai Aušra RimkutėGanusauskienė attributes of definition are indicated. This logical dominant is defined as a general term in the dictionary. The other four models of definition of specific terms are less productive, some of them can be readily transformed into the most common model of definition. KEYWORDS: definition, structure of definition, requirements of definition, terminological meaning, specific term. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS How to precisely define a homogeneous or composite term and formulate a definition of a term that would meet certain requirements, as for terms, for example, that the scope of the defining concept is equal to the scope of the defining concept, that the definition is accurate, clear, unambiguous, non-tautological, when the defining and defining concepts are expressed identical, that the definition is consistent with other definitions of the system of concepts, that it is neither too narrow nor too broad, etc., is a matter for specialists working in practical terminology work. It must be admitted that in the works of Lithuanian terminologists we do not find all systematized definition requirements. Kazimieras Gaivenis (Gaivenis 2004: 85–117; 2014: 204, 221, 223 and others) has written about them, and one other thought can be found in the works of Angelė Kaulakienė (2014), Palmira Zemlevičiūtė (2018), Alvydas Umbrasas (2008, 2022), Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė (2021) and others. However, there are no clear and detailed rules or guidelines for writing definitions in the work of terminologists. If there were, they would probably be based on the requirements most often mentioned in logic textbooks and terminology textbooks and standards, and moreover, scientifically accurate definition of a certain area would be possible only with a good knowledge of the object of the defined concept, understanding the content and scope of the concept, as well as having not only theoretical but also practical knowledge. The aim of this article is to identify the specificities of the structure of the definitions of geographical terms. 1) to review the insights of Lithuanian and foreign authors on the writing of definitions of terms and their requirements; 2) analyze the definitions of generic terms in the chosen field and distinguish their structural patterns. One of the newest printed dictionaries of explanatory terms was selected for the study – the Explanatory Dictionary of Geography Terms published in 2021. It is “the first systematic dictionary of such a large volume and of terms from various geographical areas, prepared in cooperation with the State Lithuanian Language Commission” (AGTŽ 2021: 7). It provides 3405 most important and commonly used general, 119Terminology | 2024 | 31 Terms of natural and social geography, as well as landscape geography and landscape planning and cartography and geoinformatics. A distinctive feature of this publication is that the descriptions of terms are presented in a table, which “consists of 10 ni terms, terminus pristatančių prasminių stulpelių: eilės poskyryje nr., gimininis terminas, (po)rūšinis terminas, santrumpa, apibrėžtis, sinonimai, neteiktian English equivalent, a Russian equivalent and a German equivalent” (AGTŽ 2021: 11). The object of the study was randomly selected 648 definitions of species terms assigned to the group of natural and social geography terms by the dictionary compilers. It is expected that this sample size will allow to draw conclusions about the patterns of the structure of definitions of generic terms and will help to identify the most typical characteristics of definitions. In addition to the definitions of generic terms, the authors of the dictionary also provide definitions of related terms, which are not discussed in this article due to their limited scope, but the analysis of the definitions of these terms is an interesting and unresearched subject requiring separate research. It should be added that the Explanatory Dictionary of Geography Terms selected for analysis has been prepared by experts in their field, reviewed by a terminologist, discussed in the Terminology Subcommittee of the State Lithuanian Language Commission. All this suggests that the terminology of geography is organized, and the definitions of the terms presented in the dictionary meet the terminological requirements. Thus, the research material will show the principles on which the definitions of terms are formulated, as well as reveal certain methodologically useful structural aspects of the definitions of terms. When writing the article, the analytical descriptive method is applied, which allows not only to describe the object of the study – namasis metodas, padedantis palyginti ne tik pasirinktas nagrinėti apibrėžtis, bet ir skirtingų mokslininkų įžvalgas. Be šių metodų, pasitelkiamas skaičiathe definition of the dictionary generic terms, but also to analyze it in detail, based on the theoretical terminology material, as well as the comparison method, which allows the obtained data to be represented graphically and to base the conclusions made on them, as well as to reveal certain peculiarities of the investigated object. DEFINITIONS Terms are the basis of any field of science. Their terminological meaning is described by definitions or definitions. The definition of the term, as Regina Kvašytė writes, is “a detailed verbal description, reflecting the semas of the nucleus of the terminological meaning1 and specifying the content of the concept, with which it is 1 Here and further diluted by the author of the dictionary R. Kvašytė. 120 Definitions of Species Geography Terms struktūros ypatumai Aušra RimkutėGanusauskienė reveals the essential characteristics that distinguish it from neighboring concepts on a true abstraction level” (Kvašytė 2005: 13). In other words, the definition of a concept in a particular field must reveal the content of the concept, which consists of the totality of the characteristics of the object or phenomenon to be defined. According to Kristinos Rickevičiūtė, “[w]hen defining a concept, a double goal is pursued: 1) the indicated features must help to distinguish the object of the defining concept from other objects belonging to the same genus and 2) the features indicated in the defining concept must be selected and grouped in such a way that the definition shows the essence of the object of the defining concept, its historical development” (Rickevičiūtė 1960: 149). Klaus-Dirk Schmitz points out that “definitions are best when they relate to other concepts and identify characteristic features of the concept being defined. Based on the mis, galima sąvokas susieti ir sudaryti jų sistemas, atspindinčias tam tikros srities ar posričio žinias“ (Schmitz 2015: 25). Naujausiame 2022 m. tarpdefinitions and the specificity of the concepts, the national standard ISO 704 Terminology work – Principles and methods essentially emphasizes the same things – the definition must indicate the essential characteristics of the concept to be defined, thus distinguishing the concept from other concepts in the same subject area (ISO 704 2022: 33). In other words, the definition must select such necessary and additional (secondary) characteristics that would show how the defined concept relates to other concepts in the same field and how it differs from them. Thus, defining a concept is undoubtedly a complex logical operation that requires knowledge of a certain field, and the result of this operation is the definition of the term. In terms of Lithuanian terminology in general, due to political, historical and other circumstances, the Russian terminology school had a great influence on Lithuanian terminology in the 20th century. In 1973, the publication Terminological Work (Basis and Methods), translated from Russian, compiled on the basis of the works of engineer Dmitry Lotte (1898–1950) and the Scientific and Technical Terminology Committee of the USSR Academy of Sciences, states that when revealing the content of the concept, attention should be paid to the place of the concept in the classification of concepts, therefore it is necessary to properly classify the concepts of a certain field. In addition to all this, general requirements for definitions are also distinguished, such as definitions must record the objective content of the concept, reveal the essence of the concept, “must not restrict scientific-technical thought” (TD 1973: 21), must be mainly verbal, comply with language norms, definitions “should use those concepts (terms) that are already defined or known to all” (TD 1973: 22). 1973: 22). 121Terminologija | 2024 | 31 The guidelines for writing definitions can be found in the no longer valid 1993 cipai of Vilnius University and Lithuanian Language Institute employees parengtą, lietuvių kalbai pritaikytą standartą Lietuvos RST 1115-90 Terminologijos principai ir metodai. Jame pateikiami apibrėžčių sudarymo prinaccording to ISO 704-87: "The concepts used to make the definition2 must be named by terms that are either already used in this system or well known. In all cases, the specialist making the definition must be sure that the terms will be understandable to everyone” (Lietuvos RST 1115-90: 7). The standard also specifies the rules to be followed when writing definitions. First of all, one of the essential requirements is mentioned – “definitions must reflect the essential characteristics of the concept” (Lietuvos RST 1115-90: 8). Second requirement: “The definition must include all essential features that are suitable for the direct identification of the concept in a particular conceptual system. The distinctive features are selected from the corresponding system of concepts" (Lithuanian RST 1115-90: 8). The third important point is the systemic nature of definitions: “The definition must reflect the characteristics of the concept and the systemic relationships between the concepts in the following ways: 1) by indicating the essential characteristics of the broader concept on which the relationships are based; <...>; 2) distinguishing them from harmonized (coordination) concepts” (Lietuvos RST 1115-90: 8). The last requirement mentioned in the standard is the brevity of definitions: “The definition must include only the essential (external and internal) characteristics of a particular concept. It is not appropriate to include other features derived from these features in the definition” (Lietuvos RST 1115-90: 9). The latest international standard, ISO 704 Terminology work – Principles and methods, which has already been mentioned, essentially emphasizes the same requirements (ISO 704 2022: 33). Since terminology standards are prepared in the same way as dictionaries, terminologists and authors and editors of dictionaries have followed and in principle continue to follow these definition writing requirements when evaluating or writing definitions of terms. The General Requirements for the Preparation of Term Dictionary approved by the State Lithuanian Language Commission by the Minutes of the Meeting of 20 December 2007 (Recommendation R-4) (version of Minutes of the Meeting No. PN-8 of 3 December 2015) specify what should be taken into account when writing the definitions of term dictionaries prepared in accordance with language programs implemented by the State Lithuanian Language Commission and evaluated according to the Term Dictionary Evaluation Rules: “The definition of a term must be precisely stated 2 In the Standard, the word definition is used in the meaning of ‘definition’. 122 Species geography definitions struktūros ypatumai Aušra RimkutėGanusauskienė’s logical publications in other languages cannot be sources sąvokos esmė ir nurodyti skiriamieji jos požymiai (vengti neesminių dalykų). Apibrėžtis turi būti išsami, bet kiek galima trumpesnė, kalbiškai taisyk linga, stilistiškai sklandi. Vienu pagrindu skiriamų sąvokų apibrėžtys turi būti to paties modelio. „Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas“ ir anaof definitions of terms – they provide an interpretation of lexical meaning rather than terminological meaning” (TŽRBR 2015). There are no more detailed definition writing guidelines in these requirements. According to Augustin Ndi-Kimbi, written forms of definitions should meet certain requirements that are generally accepted by terminologists, as well as terminographers (Ndi-Kimbi 1994: 327). In his view, although the ancient Greek and later philosophers who studied definitions did not take into account the terminology requirements and did not analyze the use of definitions outside of their field, the logical definition models and rules they applied are not always appropriate and therefore in some cases do not meet the needs of modern terminology. However, since there is not much theoretical insight into the definitions of terms, in many cases it is necessary to return to the rules of definition formulation proposed by philosophers and logicians (Ndi-Kimbi 1994: 328). As already mentioned, when it comes to definitions of terms, logic and its laws are particularly important. This is why in logic, definition is considered primarily as a logical action by which the essential characteristics of the object to be defined are revealed and the defining object is distinguished from other objects (Ažubalis 2008: 30, cf. VLEe3). It is stated that the definition consists of the following parts: 1) definiendum (Dfd) – the concept that is to be defined; 2) defining expression (Latin definiens, Dfn) – the terms by which is defined; 3) connecting expression (“is”, “means”, “called”, “the same as”, etc.; instead of it a dash can be written), which shows the connection between the defining and defining expressions (Plečkaitis 2004: 163; Ažubalis ka), ≡ equivalence sign (i.e. connecting expression). 3 Cf. “definition (Latin definitio), logical operation by which criteria are established 2008: 30; Eidukienė 2009: 60; Bubelis ir kt. 2012: 116; Valatka 2014: 63). Taigi, loginę apibrėžties formą galima išreikšti tokia formule: T ≡ A, kur T – terminas (apibrėžiamoji išraiška), A – apibrėžtis (apibrėžiančioji išraišto distinguish the object of study from other objects by indicating its specificity and the meaning of the linguistic expression used or entered” (VLEe). 123Terminologija | 2024 | 31 We usually see the connecting expression in texts, and in term databases, explanatory term dictionaries (both paper and electronic) we will not find this expression – usually the term is written, and its definition is distinguished graphically (a different color, a different font, etc.), in databases the definition can be written in another data cell, etc. In the Explanatory Glossary of Geographical Terms under consideration, there is also no connective expression, because, as already mentioned, the information on the term articles is presented in a table, and therefore the definition is presented in a separate column. Bruno de Bessé argues that the act of defining a concept itself must be based on the analysis of concepts, and adds that very often terminologists or specialists who create terms do not do it, i.e. they do not analyze concepts and their conceptual systems systematically, although they should do so in some way – in their heads or notes, in order to be able to deal with the most complex problems of the relationship of concepts with other concepts, the distinction of their characteristics, definition and other problems (De Bessé 1997: 66, 106). Thus, in order to properly define a certain concept, i.e. to create a definition of the term, preparatory work must be carried out. K. Gaivenis notes that the definitions of the dictionaries of explanatory terms “depend on the structure of the content and scope of the concept called the term, the place of the term in the classification system of concepts” (Gaivenis 2002: 74). When analyzing the definitions of glossaries of explanatory terms, we cannot do without discussing the concept of terminological meaning. Termal meaning is not the same as lexical meaning, in other words, the meaning of a simple word4, but from a structural point of view these meanings are quite similar, because they are linked by semantic components, also called sems (Jakaitienė 2010: 57). The lexical meaning, as stated in the VLEe, is “the individual part of the word’s content – the conceptual information conveyed by the word about the named thing. The content of a word consists of meanings of various abstractions: grammatical (of the part of language to which the word belongs), general (of the verb or semantic groups to which the word belongs) and individual. For example, the word writer is a specific noun, its general group meaning is the name of the actor (like other nouns made from verbs with the suffix -tojas name the one who performs the action described by the base word), the individual meaning is ‘a person who creates works of fiction’”. The lexical meaning, according to K. Gaivenis, reflects the “intentional and some implicational” aspects of the terminological meaning. 4 Cf. “The meaning that reveals the relationship of the sound complex that constitutes the word with the object, phenomenon, concept represented by that complex” (Kvašytė 2005: 52). 124 Species geography definitions struktūros ypatumai Aušra Rimkutė- "Ganusauskienė semas" (Gaivenis 2002: 17). Terminological meaning is perceived by terminologists as the meaning characteristic of a word in the terminology of a particular field (Kvašytė 2005: 53). In other words, the term meaning is associated with a special, not-all-known object of reality (denotation). For example, the term leakage is understood by geographers as a water cycle process: The water cycle process when water flows towards a drainage area. 2016: 122. In the field of hydrogeology, the term leakage is described as the amount of water: The amount of water flowing out of a unit of land area over a period of time; expressed by flow, modulus, leakage coefficient. 2003 ECW. Thus, comparing the terms of natural geography and hydrogeology, we see that the term leakage has different terms in different fields. However, in both areas, the concept of leakage relates to water. As we can see from the first definition, the first part consists of the most important word of the definition – process, and describes what process – water cycle, the second part of the definition is dedicated to the essential feature of the concept – water flows towards the drainage area. In hydrogeology, the definition is slightly broader: here the logical dominant, i.e. the main word of the definition, is the word quantity, it is stated that it is the quantity of water, and then the characteristics related to the defining concept are kuo šis kiekis išsiskiria – nuteka iš sausumos ploto vieneto per tam tikrą laiką. Aptariama apibrėžtis išplečiama papildoma informacija, nurodant antridescribed. In summary, it can be said that the terminological meaning of each field of the term has precise, by definition defined limits. However, it is certainly not always clear what those limits should be and how they should relate to the essential and non-essential (additional) characteristics of the term that must be highlighted when defining a particular concept. Essential characteristics of a concept to be defined may be considered to be those characteristics each of which is necessary and sufficient for defining the concept and distinguishing it from other concepts of the same category. Algirdas Ažubalis to distinguish it from other (even similar) objects” (Ažubalis 2008: 24). The non-essential characteristics of the concept are teigimu, esminiai tam tikro objekto požymiai yra tokie, kurių „kiekvienas skyrium būtinas, o visų kartu pakanka, kad būtų galima tam tikrą objektą those that supplement it, but without them the content of the concept does not change. Logic also distinguishes general characteristics, which are important when speaking about 125Terminology | 2024 | 31 definitions of terms. General features are "characteristic of all objects of a certain group" (Ažubalis 2008: 24). In the light of what has been said, it should be added that each defining term may have not one or two, but many characteristics, which is why it is practically impossible to list them all, so the definition is formulated according to the principle of indicating only the essential characteristics that distinguish the defining term from other concepts. The lexical meaning, of course, can be the basis of the terminological meaning. There are cases when a term has more than one terminological meaning, so each of its meanings is usually defined separately as self-contained, by kas vienetas. Aiškinamajame geografijos terminų žodyne terminų, turinčių ne vieną reikšmę, nėra daug. Tais atvejais, kai reikšmė ne viena, apibrėžiama numbering the meanings, e.g.: colonização 1. the conquest of another country or territory, its colonization. 2. Mass displacement of people to other countries and territories. AGTŽ 2021: 208. As we can see from the example, the term colonization has two terms: the first is associated with the conquest of a country or territory, and the second – with the mass movement to live. Alvydas Umbrasas points out that “[c]omputerization of dictionaries and their inclusion in term databases encourages more independent definition of each meaning” (Umbrasas 2008: 222). After reviewing the selected geographical terms, it appears that polysemantic terms, i.e. such terms that have two or more meanings (the term Europeanization presented in the geography dictionary (AGTŽ 2021: 280) has as many as 4 meanings, 5 found terms (seeds, metropolis, city, geographical culture and nation), each with 3 meanings), account for about 2.3%. Thus, this is a small percentage compared to terms with one meaning (97.7%). It should be recalled that traditionally, polysemanticism as a semantic phenomenon is considered one of the main problems of terminology and it is aimed at adhering to the principle: one term in a certain field – one meaning, in order to avoid ambiguity5. As can be seen, unambiguity as one of the requirements for terms is generally respected in the Explanatory Glossary of Geographical Terms under consideration. However, returning to the structure of the definitions of terms, it can be said that in terminology, as well as in terminography, the definition of terms is the most important 5 Palmira Zemlevičiūtė in her article on the issue of the polysemanticity of medical terms in the late 19th – early 20th centuries discusses in detail the concept of polysemanticity in terminology and medical terminology (Zemlevičiūtė 2020: 98–131). 132 Species geography definitions struktūros ypatumai Aušra RimkutėThere are also a few more terms with more meanings than Ganusauskienė. All terms defined by this model are biwords. As the research shows, the Explanatory Glossary of Geographical Terms defines species terms according to five models (see Figure 1). It can be said that in the organized and standardized terminology of geography the classical definitions, also called definitio per genus proximum et differentiam specificam, prevail. These definitions reveal species differences through the genus and species difference next to the genus (the genus term), that is, what is called distinctive features in this article. These signs, as we have seen from the examples, help to characterize the defining concept as a species (species term) and allow to distinguish it from all other matching concepts of the same category. The determination of the species difference is one of the essential actions in order to precisely define and distinguish the concept to be defined from others. It is precisely for this reason that it is stated that there may not be one definition of the same concept, definitions may be as many as and what will be distinguished the most important features, therefore "not only one, but even several definitions of terms may be correct" (Gaivenis 2002: 19). The choice of one predominant model of definition of generic terms indicates that definitions are written according to the principle of analogy. This standardisation of definitions appears to be related to the requirements for glossaries. One of the important requirements for definitions is brevity and logic, mentioned not only by terminologists, but also by logicians, and also mentioned in the latest ISO 704 standard. Thus, ideally, the definition of the term should be formulated in one sentence (Ndi-Kimbi 1994: 334), but this is not the case. Frequency of patterns of definitions of generic terms (%) 133Terminology | 2024 | Part 31 – Definitions of several sentences. Very reikalavimas ne visada įgyvendinamas. Peržvelgus rūšinių terminų apibrėžtis, matyti, kad apie 77 proc. visų apibrėžčių yra vieno sakinio, likusi short definitions, one after the other, to be assumed, because to reveal vyrauja ilgesni sakiniai, kai kableliais ar net kabliataškiais yra atskiriamos sakinio dalys. Tokiose apibrėžtyse apibūdinami esminiai ar papildomi požymiai, reikalingi sąvokai nusakyti. Nors turėtų atrodyti, kad kuo ilgesnė apibrėžtis, tuo ji tikslesnė ir išsamesnė, tačiau taip nereikėtų visais atvejais the thermal meaning of a generic term should be sufficient to describe the distinctive (s) and (or) most important (s) feature (s) of the concept. CONCLUSIONS The definition of a concept in any field is a complex logical operation that requires knowledge of that field, and the result of this operation is the definition of the term. In order to properly define the concept, i.e. to create a definition of the term, preparatory work must be carried out. In explanatory glossaries, the definition is the result of constructive agreement between the authors of the glossary. The definition distinguishes the concept from other concepts, establishes the limits of the term meaning, fixes the conceptual relationships of the term designating the concept with other terms, etc. The structure of the definition of a term depends on the content and scope of the concept it refers to, as well as the place of the term in the classification system of concepts. The research data reveal that the definitions of species terms in the Explanatory Dictionary of Geography Terms are created according to five models. The most common model for defining a generic term is to name the logical dominant, which passes through the solid or composite term already defined in the dictionary, and after the comma to reveal the essential features of the concept to be defined, explaining the generic term element or elements. The other four models of definitions of species terms are less productive, some of which can easily be transformed into definitions of the first model. The uniformity of the definitions of species terms in the Explanatory Dictionary of Geographical Terms, and at the same time the consistency, is determined by a relatively clear hierarchical system of dictionary terms, as well as the consistent work of specialists and terminologues. 134 Species geography definitions struktūros ypatumai Aušra RimkutėGanusauskienė ŠALTINIAI AGTŽ 2021: Explanatory Dictionary of Geography Terms. Prepared by Paulius Kavaliauskas (research editor), Dovilė Krupickaitė (editor) and others, Vilnius: Vilnius University. EHTŽ 2003: Encyclopedia of Hydrogeology Terms: Lithuanian–English–German–Russian. Prepared by Vytautas Juodkazis (ed.), Viktoras Kemėšis, Gailė Žaliūdienė, Vilnius: Lithuanian Geological Service. Online access: https://terminai.vlkk.lt/. 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Umbrasas Alvydas 2022: Teisės aktų ir jų apibrėžčių reikalavimų klausimu. – Terminologija 29, 120–138. DOI: doi.org/10.35321/term29-07. Valatka Vytis 2014: Apibrėžimas kaip medija scholastinėje mokslo teorijoje. – Logos 81, 62–69. VLEe: Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija, e. variantas, Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras, 2001– 2020. Prieiga internete: www.vle.lt. Zemlevičiūtė Palmira 2018: Iš terminų žodynų rengimo patirties. – Gimtoji kalba 7, 11–20. Zemlevičiūtė Palmira 2020: XIX a. pab. – XX a. pr. medicinos terminų daugiareikšmiškumo klausimu. – Acta Linguistica Lithuanica 83, 98–131. DOI: doi.org/10.35321/all83-05. Prieiga internete: https:// journals.lki.lt/actalinguisticalithuanica/article/view/2044. PECULIARITIES IN THE STRUCTURE OF DEFINITIONS OF SPECIFIC TERMS OF GEOGRAPHY Summary In the field of terminology professionals focus on creating precise definitions of oneword or compound terms. They aim to ensure that these definitions meet specific criteria, including having the extension of concept, also definition must be unambiguous, clear, and non-tautological, must accord with other definitions in the concept system, and must avoid being overly narrow or broad. This article aims – to identify the characteristics of the structure of definitions of specific terms in the geosciences. To accomplish this goal, the following tasks have been established: 1) to examine insights from both Lithuanian and foreign authors regarding the formulation and criteria for term definitions; and 2) to investigate the definitions of specific terms and ascertain their structural models. Aiškinamasis geografijos terminų žodynas (Explanatory Dictionary of Geographical Terms), published in 2021, is selected for this study. It is investigated, that five different definitions’ models of specific terms are used in Aiškinamasis geografijos terminų žodynas. The most common model of definition of specific terms is such model, when at the beginning of definition is told logical dominant and after comma the essential attributes of definition are indicated. This logical dominant is defined as a general term in the dictionary. The other four models of definition of specific terms are less productive, some of them can be readily transformed into the most common model of definition. The clear hierarchical system of terms in Aiškinamasis geografijos terminų žodynas and the consistent work of specialists and terminologists determine the uniformity of definitions of specific terms. Received 2024-07-05 Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė Lietuvių kalbos institutas P. Vileišio g. 5, LT-10308 Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail [email protected]