The first priority task in the work of the terminological commission is to determine
the boundariesofthatfield ofknowledge within which normalization and Standardi-
zation of terms are proposed. Any field of science or production apart from
notions relating exclusively to them, deals with the notions which are inherent also
to other fields of science and production. Cartography, in this respect, is not
an exception. The terms used in modern cartography relate greatly to a wide ränge
of sciences. It is known that many natural and social sciences employ cartographic
methods of research and representation of the results of their researches. We also
know that modern methods of cartography are based on the achievements of
many fields of technical sciences. All this enriches the cartographic terminology
and at the same time complicates the work on its putting in order.
At early stages of science, the notions connected with geographical maps were an
integral part of geography and its terminology. Later, with accumulation of actual
knowledge about the surroundings, geodesy, as a science which investigates shape
and dimensions of the earth and shows its surface on maps, became independent of
geography. At that period cartography was considered as a part of geodesy.
Further development of theory, technique and methods of carrying out geodetic
measurements, topographic surveys, map construction and production as well
as considerable expansion of the use of maps made the former boundaries of
geodesy too narrow for its new developing branches.
Used at the present time, when making maps, are the data of many sciences such
as: geodesy and geophysics, topography and photogrammetry, cartography and
polygraphy proper as well as a number of physico-geographical and economic-
geographical sciences. Each of them, except cartography, solves its own problems
and takes advantage of its own terminology. However in national and international
(geographic, geodetic, photogrammetric, cartographic) dictionaries published tili
now, the same terms are frequently repeated and at the same time many terms
inherent only to a given field of science are lacking. Therefore unnecessary repeated
terms appear and at the same time considerable gaps in the terminology are found.
The time has come, after differentiation of science and division of labour in
cartographic and geodesic production, to differentiate terminology preserving,
however, its unity in the adjacent fields. Therefore special attention should be
paid to the scientific definitions of such terms as 'cartography', 'topography',
'geodesy', 'mapping', 'surveying'. The establishment of correct definitions of such
terms, which correspond to the modern State of science is beyond the scope of the
usual terminological work. In this case problems of methodology of science are
affected. This fact has great theoretical and practical importance. I have noted it
earlier in an article, devoted to the problems of interconnection of cartography
with geodesy, topography and geography at the present State of these sciences.
These problems are still actual. This is proved by the report The role of the
definition of Cartography relating to the compilation of a cartographic dictionary by
dr. e. földi included in the program of the I.C.A.-Conference, Amsterdam 1967.
Modern problems, subject and methods of cartography and its definition are also
discussed in the report Le developpement de la cartographie thematique etTAssociation
Cartographique Internationale by Prof. k. a. SALICHTCHEV (12). Commission 1 on
Training of cartographers, has placed great emphasis on the definition of carto
graphy. Activities of our Commission concerning the selection of cartographic
terms, should be fully correlated with the activities of Commission I.
426
Cartographical terms
K N.A.G. Geografisch Tijdschrift I (1967) Nr. 5
