Kartografische Sectie
Cartographical terms as indicators of development of
cartographical science and practice
Cartography, as any field of knowledge, uses, for expressing its notions, a certain
System of terms and definitions corresponding to them. With the progress of
cartography its terminology developed and changed. Some terms become obsolete
and are no longer in use, others retain their nature but acquire another mea-
ning. To express newly originated notions new terms are created or borrowed from
other fields of sciences. As this takes place local or 'departmentaF terminology
is often formed in various cartographical departments and institutions.
Along with the natural process of changing terminology, which reflects develop
ment of cartographic science and practice, inexact and erroneous terms are met in
cartographers' usage. Sometimes various notions are determined by the same
term and, on the contrary, one and the same notion is translated by various terms.
Unnecessarily often synonymous terms are used. Substitute terms formed as a
result of Workshop slang not infrequently appear in scientific cartographic litera-
ture. Many similar examples can be given here but slang character of such terms
makes them untranslatable from one language into another. When the terminology
is not put in good order, the mutual understanding between specialists becomes
difficult; thereby scientific and production activities in cartography are compli-
cated. These difficulties are mostly met in multinational countries and particularly
in international relations when exchanging scientific information.
Elimination of deficiencies in the terminology and its standardization acquire
greater importance in connection with automation of processes of producing and
MEDEDELINGEN NR 37
Bestuur: Prof. dr. f. j. ormeling, Voorzitter, Bachlaan 39, Hilversum; Dr. j. j. c. piket, Secretaris,
St. Annastraat 418, Nijmegen; m. de smit, Penningmeester, Laan van Poot 124, 's-Gravenhage,
giro 484407; LedenDrs. w. f. heinemeijer, Amsterdam; w. f. den hengst, Delft; Dr. ir. c.
koeman, De Bilt; g. d. raasveldt, 's-Gravenhage; Drs. j. e. romein, Groet; a. van der waag,
Delft; Drs. g. f. Willems, Amsterdam.
Ere-lid: j. schokkenkamp, 's-Gravenhage.
Sub-Redactie-Commissie Mededelingen Dr. ir. c. koeman.
Werkgroep voor de Geschiedenis van de Kartografie: Mr. b. van 't hoff, Burnierstraat 42,
's-Gravenhage, Voorzitter-, Dr. ir. c. koeman, Park Arenberg 71, De Bilt, Secretaris.
Alle correspondentie betreffende het lidmaatschap van de Kartografische Sectie (adreswijzi-
gingen etc.) dient uitsluitend aan het Secretariaat, St. Annastraat 418, Nijmegen, gericht te worden.
Losse nrs en ab. op de 'Mededelingen' kunnen eveneens aangevraagd worden bij het Secretariaat.
Verzoeke alle kopij en recensie-exemplaren te zenden aan het redactie-secretariaat van het
Geografisch Tijdschrift, Noord Houdringelaan 28, Bilthoven.
Advertentie-kopij zenden aan Intermedia Groningen N.V., Oude Boteringestr. 22, Groningen.
K.N.A.G. Geografisch Tijdschrift I (1967) Nr. 5
