An English-Irish lexicon of scientific and technological space-related terminology

Susan McKenna Lawlor & Damien Ó Muirí

This unique lexicon features over 3,500 astronautical terms, listed alphabetically in English, with their Irish translation. It is a stand-alone edition based on a twenty-language lexicon prepared by the International Academy of Astronautics on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary in 2010. This book contains a comprehensive introductory essay, providing background information on the International Academy of Astronautics and its work to develop a multi-lingual lexicon of space-related terminology. The preface also discusses the astronomical heritage of Ireland; the Irish language; the method of translation adopted in preparing the present English-Irish lexicon; and some of the practical problems encountered in translating scientific and technical terms into Irish. Ireland has a heritage of astronomical observation that extends over more than 5,000 years and it is appropriate and timely to assemble a vocabulary that allows scientists and engineers in the present day to express contemporary issues in astronautics in the national language. Translators, historians, educators, librarians and others working in a wide variety of fields, including the mass media, will find this collection of astronautical terms of interest and value.

Susan McKenna-Lawlor has over thirty years of experience building experiments that have been successfully launched by six leading space agencies on pioneering scientific missions. She is: Professor Emeritus at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Guest Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Managing Director of Space Technology Ireland, Ltd; a recipient of the Tsiolkovsky Medal for Cosmonautics; and a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics. The late Damien Ó Muirí was a Senior Lecturer in Modern Irish at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and a member of the Irish Bar and of the State Bar of California. He was an Accredited Translator under the Accreditation System of Foras na Gaeilge. This system was developed at the request of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs of the Irish Government.