ABSTRACT
This chapter explores four key critical issues in the research on technical vocabulary: (1) its definition, (2) its identification, (3) its role and importance in language use and teaching, and (4) strategies and methods for learning and teaching technical vocabulary. The chapter begins with a discussion of the complexity involved in the definition of technical vocabulary. It continues with a detailed overview of the historical development of the various methodologies used for identifying technical vocabulary with a focus on the most widely used effective methods. Then, it examines the frequency and role of technical vocabulary in specialized language and its indispensability in professional and vocational communication, followed by a close look at the useful strategies and methods for learning and teaching technical vocabulary. The chapter ends with a brief discussion of the future directions in the research on technical vocabulary.
