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CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS
IN OIL AND GAS (EVIDENCE FROM ESP TERMINOLOGY)
Assoc. prof.
Taktasheva Dinara Rinatovna
Branch of Russian State University of Oil and Gas
named after I.M. Gubkin in Tashkent city
ORCID: 0009-0007-5953-2588
taktasheva.dinara03041980@gmail.com
Abstract
.
This article is devoted to substantiating the significance of terminological
competence in professional activity and communication, the need to master terminological
competence as the most important indicator of professionalism and a factor in improving the
professional communication quality. In addition, the article analyzes English professional
vocabulary, in particular jargon associated with the use of animal names, provides examples of
the most difficult to translate and perceive vocabulary, namely zoonyms used in the oil and gas
industry. Moreover, the article contains a large number of examples from modern literary sources.
Keywords
:
term, terminology, professional competence, terminological competence, oil and
gas industry, future specialist, zoonym.
NEFT VA GAZ SANOATIDA BULAJAK MUTAXSISLARINING KASBIY
KOMPETENSIYATLARINI RIVOJLANTIRISH MUAMMOLARI
(INGLIZ TILINING MAXSUS TERMINOLOGIYASI MISOLIDA)
Dots.
Taktasheva Dinara Rinatovna
I.M.Gubkin nomidagi Rossiya davlat neft va gaz
universitetining Toshkent shahridagi filiali
Annotatsiya.
Ushbu maqola kasbiy faoliyat va aloqa sohasida terminologik
kompetentsiyaning ahamiyatini, kasbiy mahoratning eng muhim ko’rsatkichi va neft va gaz
sanoati mutaxassislarining kasbiy muloqot sifatini oshirish omili sifatida terminologik
kompetentsiyani o’zlashtirish zarurligini asoslashga bag’ishlangan. Bundan tashqari, maqolada
ingliz tilining professional terminologiyasi, xususan, hayvonlar nomlari, neft va gaz sanoatida
qo’llaniladigan zoonimlar bilan bog’liq jargon so’zlari tahlil qilinadi. Maqolada zamonaviy adabiy
manbalardan ko’plab misollar mavjud.
Kalit so’zlar:
atama, terminologiya, kasbiy kompetensiya, terminologik kompetentsiya, neft
va gaz sohasi, bo’lajak mutaxassis, zoonim.
UOʻK: 371.38
181-187
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ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНЫХ КОМПЕТЕНЦИЙ БУДУЩИХ
СПЕЦИАЛИСТОВ НЕФТЕГАЗОВОЙ ОТРАСЛИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ СПЕЦИАЛЬНОЙ
ТЕРМИНОЛОГИИ АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА)
Доц.
Такташева Динара Ринатовна
Филиал Российского государственного университета
нефти и газа имени И.М. Губкина в городе Ташкенте
Аннотация.
Статья посвящена обоснованию значимости терминологической
компетенции в профессиональной деятельности и общении, необходимости овладения
терминологической компетенцией как важнейшим показателем профессионализма и
фактором повышения качества профессиональной коммуникации специалистов
нефтегазовой отрасли. Кроме того, в статье анализируется английская
профессиональная лексика, в частности жаргонизмы, связанные с использованием
названий животных, а именно зоонимы, используемые в нефтегазовой отрасли. Статья
содержит большое количество примеров из современных литературных источников.
Ключевые слова:
термин, терминология, профессиональная компетенция,
терминологическая компетенция, нефтегазовая отрасль, будущий специалист, зооним.
Introduction.
Under new socio-economic conditions, the development of the education becomes one of
the most essential issues in the Republic of Uzbekistan, since it facilitates the transition to the
the formation of priorities for the development of the state. Highly educated youth constitute
the main strategic reserve of socio-economic reforms in Uzbekistan. Currently it is impossible
to imagine the further development of the society without the youth.
In modern realities, specialists who are proficient in information technology and who are
proficient in foreign languages are in great demand.
Within this framework mastering a professional language constitutes one of the high-
priority objectives of current professional education. This is due to the fact that terminology
performs several functions at different stages of the formation of a specialist:
- at the stage of professional education it acts as a source of knowledge and a tool for
mastering professional experience, during the period of professional activity;
- as a means of professional communication and a theoretical basis for the professional
growth of a specialist through its replenishment and updating.
Therefore, the terminological competence of the relevant field of knowledge is
traditionally an indicator of the quality of assimilation of educational material within the
educational process, and its active use in communication among professionals contributes to
mutual understanding and cooperation in the experience exchange.
Taking into account the fact that in addition to the state language, Russian and English are
widely used at oil and gas industry enterprises, as well as the presence of representative offices
of foreign companies and joint ventures in our republic, determines the relevance of knowledge
of English by specialists in the oil and gas industry.
Knowledge of English for specific purposes (oil and gas terminology) allows future
graduates to:
- read and understand in English instructions for the use of equipment and technologies
and design documentation, which is developed in reliance upon technical English;
- use geological software packages for building virtual 3D models of oil and gas fields with
an interface in English, used by almost all oil and gas companies;
- study foreign experience in the use of the advanced oil and gas production technologies,
know the capabilities of new equipment, get acquainted with innovation-based developments
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and advanced achievements of science and technology by reading specialized literature,
professional journals in English;
- carry out professional communication with foreign experts and partners in English;
- have the prospect of career development, since in the oil and gas industry, in light of the
use of the latest innovation-based developments in modern conditions of digitalization, the
demand for highly qualified engineers who speak English and can apply it in practice is
increasing.
Literature review
.
Considering the issue of determining the essence and structure of a specialist’s
terminological competence is justified by a number of objective reasons. The first reason is
associated with the intensive development of art, science and technology and emergence of new
terms that enable to fix in the language the results of intellectual and creative human activity.
As Churilova (2015) notes, the terminological “explosion” resulted in a terminological “barrier”
that manifested itself at the beginning of the XXI century and “which became the basic obstacle
in solving many problems that arose as a result of the lack of a common understanding and
interpretation of terms that function in different spheres of life of both individual peoples and
entire countries” (Churilova, 2015).
Eliminating this terminological barrier represents paramount importance in intercultural
and professional communication. The second reason is associated with a change in the
paradigm of the current education. The transition from a knowledge-based to a competency-
based model of education has radically changed the attitude to the significance of terminology
in the process of assimilating educational information, and primarily in the disciplines of the
humanitarian subject areas. The emphasis is gradually shifting from the elementary
reproduction of stable definitions and their most accurate application in educational situations
to understanding the terminological diversity of modern humanitarian knowledge. In this
regard, there is an increased need not only for differentiation, but also for clarifying the
meanings of the terminology used in intellectual, creative, communicative and other types of
activity. In this regard, there are being actively carried out terminological studies, which are
related to identifying and describing the functions of a term in professional texts of different
genres and in various situations of professional communication, defining the features of using
terms in speech and computer systems, practical issues of terminography in the design and
development of the professional vocabulary (Drujilov, 2015).
Professional communication traditionally implies communication within the professional
sphere between representatives of certain professions (as well as between representatives of
related professions). In recent years, in many countries researches are being carried out on the
issues of terminological education of specialists, since scientists and practitioners admit, that
terminology, as one of the main features of the scientific style, the informative core of the
vocabulary of the language of science and profession, should be reflected at all stages of
preparation for professional activities and communication. After all, the sphere of professional
activity is served by a special language - the language of professional communication. In the
opinion of Butylov (2014), terminology should formulate the core of the language of
professional communication, since it concentrates in itself its main features and properties
(Butylov, 2014).
That is, scientists pay attention to the importance of knowledge of terminology in the
formation of the linguistic and professional competence of a contemporary specialist. The
description of the functional map of a specific type of professional activity requires the use of
special terminology that determines the nature and scope of professional competencies.
Currently many studies prove that mastering professional (core subject) competence in a
university environment is more successful if this process proceeds in a purposeful, structured
manner and in parallel with the study of terminology (V.A. Bukhbinder, T.V. Vasilieva, N.P.
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Vetlov, E. Yu. Dolmatovskaya, R.K. Minyar-Beloruchev, R.G. Piotrovsky, I.V. Rakhmanov and
others). This is justified by the fact that the secrets of any profession underlie the terminology
of a specific specialty. It is terminological literacy, contributing to the acquisition of scientific
knowledge and practical skills, that makes a specialist more competitive (Yermolaeva, 2016).
Another essential reason is the maintenance of communication in the professional community.
Knowledge and accurate use of special terms in the course of direct or indirect communication
of professionals ensures the quality of understanding of information, promotes professional
consolidation and expands the possibilities for professional experience exchange. From the
point of view of Nesterskaya, “It is the terminology that provides informational understanding
of the subjects of the academic sphere: students and teachers, and then the subjects of the
professional sphere of communication: managers and subordinates, colleagues, partners,
competitors” (Nesterskaya, 2023)
.
The role of the professional community in enhancing the
importance of terminological competence is also ensured by involving its representatives in the
expert assessment of the professional education quality. Understanding the specifics of
“terminological competence” is impossible without referring to the definition of the
“competence” term, which constitutes one of the basic categories in the competence approach.
Research methodology
.
Based on the goals and objectives of this research article, as well as taking into
consideration that this research is theoretical in nature, in the process of investigation such
research methods as observation, comparison, analysis, synthesis, and the method of
generating ideas have been widely applied.
Analysis and Discussion of Results
.
Under modern conditions it has become obvious that the level of proficiency in a foreign
language that ensures effective social intercultural communication, including in professional
activities, is impossible without a good knowledge of industry terminology. The multifaceted
nature of the oil and gas complex terminology system reflects rapid development of the
industry and is characterized by the emergence of a large number of new terms. Often,
professional jargon, actively functioning in professional speech activity, becomes a source of
terms and vice versa: academic terms become jargon, acquiring new imagery and new life. For
example: the slang words
“fish”, “fishing”
have gone from a slang word to an academic term.
The persistent dependence of the standard of living and development of humanity on
hydrocarbon production forces oil companies to interact in the international oil market: to
import and export equipment and technologies that require certificates and operating
instructions. Translation of oil and gas industry documentation is a complex process, since it
must be translated accurately, without distorting the meaning, since even the slightest error
can lead to serious losses or injuries to personnel. This documentation includes such areas as
exploration, development and operation of oil and gas fields; drilling of oil and gas wells;
operation and maintenance of oil production facilities; operation and maintenance of oil, gas
and refined products transportation and storage facilities; operation of oil and gas equipment;
contracts and accompanying documentation for all production processes.
Particular difficulties in professional foreign language communication are presented by
trope terms, turns of speech, in which words or whole phrases are used in a figurative sense.
That is why the object of our study was the terms and terminological combinations of the
English language of the oil and gas terminology system, containing the names of animals. In this
paper, we use the term:
zoonym
as a general vocabulary unit, which, on the one hand,
represents a zooseme, the actual name of an animal, and on the other, can act as a zoomorphism,
its figurative, metaphorical version. It is the metaphorical transfer of meaning that becomes the
basis for the development of pragmatic meanings in oil and gas industry terms with
zoocomponents. Associative ideas about the character, habits of animals, their external
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similarity to an object or process are decisive in the choice of a zoonym in the emergence and
functioning of a zooterm.
A large number of zoonyms used in the professional language of English-speaking oil
workers creates certain difficulties for Russian-speaking representatives of this industry, this
is due to the intercultural differences of two different nations.
The emergence of an impressive number of zoonyms in the vocabulary of the oil industry
was rather influenced by the conditions in which the industry was formed: the first wells in
America were drilled in the 60s of the XX century by representatives of various strata of the
population, who called the tools and production processes using simple, everyday language,
making up for the lack of their vocabulary by using commonly used words in a figurative sense.
In English “oil and gas” slang, zoonym terms denote key elements of wells and important
aspects of its operation. Some components of the drilling rig and associated objects have
animalistic nominations.
The derrickman performing his duties on a special platform at the top of the drilling rig
(derrick) is called a
“monkey”
. Accordingly, the platform itself is called a
“monkey board”
.
“Where is the monkey? He’s on the monkey board”
.
In the professional slang of Russian oil workers, “martyshka” means a special metal tool
for quickly and efficiently tightening pipeline valves. Thus, a literal translation can mislead one
of the parties to intercultural communication.
In multilateral drilling, the term
“rathole”
is used to denote a well’s lateral.
“Kelly
rathole”
is a corresponding translation of the trench for the leading pipe.
“Big Bear”
is a shift that lasts more than 50 days,
“elephant”
is a giant oil field,
“nodding
donkey”
is a pump-pumping unit. A well with difficult operating conditions is called a
“bear
cat”
in foreign oil slang. A
“cat”
is also a tracked all-terrain tractor designed to prepare a site
for a drilling rig. A
“wild cat”
is an exploratory well that is drilled to discover new oil and gas
horizons in an area that is not an explored oil field.
“Cathead”
is a pin reel,
“catwalk”
is a
walkway.
Well operation is always associated with a large number of complicating factors, one of
which is the formation of asphalt-resin-paraffin deposits on the walls of wells and other oil and
gas production equipment, which significantly impair hydrocarbon production. Various
methods are used to combat them, one of which is the mechanical removal of deposits from the
walls of pump-compressor pipes and pipelines using a tool called
“pig”
by foreign oilmen; in
Russian it is called
“scraper”
or
“chushka”
. The verb
“pig”
means “to drag a scraper through
pipes to clean them”.
“We have pigs today
.
Get the guys to have the pig launcher ready” -
this refers to the
scraper and the pig launch chamber.
There are several versions explaining the name of the pig scraper:
1)
pigskin
was used to make the first scrapers, it was filled with various materials and
launched into water pipes to clean them.
2) for some time, the scraper was a log and had metal pads, firstly, to ensure high-quality
cleaning of the pipe and secondly, to prevent it from abrading against the walls of the pipeline.
The metal pads of the scraper, moving inside the pipe, scratched the pipe from the inside and
“
squealed like pigs
”.
3) For this device, you can find the name - a device for gaging pipelines (pipeline
inspection gauge). It is logical to assume that
“pig”
is an abbreviation.
Never let a worm bring the pipeline pig
. (Never send a newbie for a scraper). “Worm” is
an unskilled worker, a young specialist. In Russian-speaking companies, the word “young” is
used in this sense. Recruits in the American army are also called “worms”. During the operation
of a well, there are “losses” of tools in the mine workings. As a result, there is a need to perform
“fishing jobs”
. The “lost” tool itself is called a
“fish”
. Almost all tools for performing such work
are zoonyms.
“Spider”
is a special fishing tool that has become a slang of domestic oil workers
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in literal translation - spider, “casing dog” is a pipe snare for casing pipes,
“lifting dog”
is a
gripping tool for lifting rods that transmit movement from the pumping machine to the pump,
“latch dog”
is a gripping tool with a latch.
The most frequent zoonym among English-speaking oil workers is the word
“dog”
. The
popularity of the dog is easy to explain, it is devoted to humans and lives with workers at the
fields. What resembled parts of the dog’s div, its habits, became zoonyms:
dog house
(dwelling),
dog leg severity
(the intensity of the curvature of the barrel),
dog nut
(faceplate),
dog leg
(a sharp curvature of the wellbore),
hand dog
(a key for screwing together drill rods),
lockdown dog
(lock latches). In Russian, in the speech of oil workers, on the contrary, there is
no mention of “dogs”, accordingly, a translation by calque will not positively serve the purpose
of intercultural communication.
Sooner or later, the translator faces the question of the correctness and adequacy of the
translation of zoonyms. Direct translation and calque will not solve this problem. Attempts to
guess the imagery, due to some features of the mentality and historical prerequisites for the
emergence of certain zoonyms, will also not lead to the desired result.
When translating jargon that carries an animalistic connotation, it is advisable to analyze
the historical reasons for mentioning animals. In the verbal translation of zoonyms, if the exact
equivalent term is unknown, a descriptive translation should be used, it is advisable to find
images of the described objects or processes using search engines.
Difficulties may also arise in situations where the technologies and tools used abroad are
not available in our country and vice versa. In such situations, it is also necessary to resort to a
descriptive translation, using some analogies in the target language.
It is possible that the original purpose of professional zoo-slang was to introduce a playful
component into the hard everyday work of drilling rig workers. Zoonyms express ethnocultural
features of understanding the surrounding world more clearly than any other vocabulary, since
images of animals in one culture in some cases can be endowed with properties that for
representatives of another culture may seem logically unfounded or even contradict the
established stereotypes of perception of these animals. In the process of working with foreign
colleagues, these problems are gradually resolved through mutual communication. Translation
of oil and gas vocabulary can only be carried out on the basis of an integrated approach,
availability of relevant knowledge and the ability to use associations in translation.
Conclusion
.
In reliance upon the research results it can be concluded, that terminological competence
of the student majoring in oil and gas has the following characteristics:
1. Diversity of demonstration. This type of competence is implemented in two aspects: an
integral characteristic of a person, which is developed in the process of mastering and applying
the conceptual and terminological apparatus of a particular science and (or) the sphere of
human activity and a situational characteristic of a person, manifested in the system of working
with terms within the boundaries of a certain conceptual and terminological field.
2. Integrativeness. The integrative nature of terminological competence is demonstrated
in the fact that it, in one way or another, is present as a component in other competencies.
Understanding and adequate use of special vocabulary ensures their implementation in
professional, communicative, creative, social and other types of activities of a contemporary
person.
3. Connection with the terminological potential of the individual. According to
Yermolaeva, terminological competence is the result of the development of the terminological
potential of an individual, which manifests itself “in the steady desire of a specialist to
contribute to improving the functioning of the conceptual and terminological apparatus of the
subject area of the discipline, guided by social interest” (Yermolaeva, 2014).
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4. High dependence on education. Terminological competence is developed in two ways -
through training and self-education. In the first case, the formation of terminological
competence can act as a specially set goal that depends/does not depend on the needs and
cognitive interest of students. Herewith knowledge of terminology acts as the basis for
mastering specific subject educational material. In the second case, the formation of
terminological competence is determined by the motives and cognitive interests of the person
himself.
However, it should be noted that the terminological competence of oil and gas university
students is of great importance in the formation of their professional skills.
Reference:
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competence of linguiststranslators. Multiauthored monograph. Edited by O.A. Dronova. Tambov,
TROO Biznes-Nauka-Obshchestvo Publishers, 2014, pp. 309–314.
Churilova I.N. (2015). Professional terminology as the means of professional communication
in training of specialists in performing arts. [Scientific Bulletin of Siberia], 2015, Special issue (15),
pp. 223–229.
Drujilov S.A. (2015). Professional competence and professionalism of a pedagogue:
psychological approach. Siberia. Philosophy. Education, 2005, № 8, pp. 26–44.
Khutorskoy A.V. (2016). Defining general subject content and key competencies as
characteristics of a new approach to designing educational standards. Online magazine Edios.
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Kuban state technological university, 2020, p. 88.
Yermolaeva J.E. (2014). Development of topical and terminological training vocabulary on
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