Development of Ukrainian Military Terminology in the Context of Modern Warfare: Sources, Mechanisms of Formation, and Standardization Challenges

Abstract

Modern linguistics devotes considerable attention to the study of the national specificity of specialized terminological systems, among which military terminology occupies a special place as a key element of professional communication, historical memory, and strategic culture. The present study is aimed at an in-depth examination of the linguistic and translation mechanisms underlying the formation and functioning of Ukrainian military terminology in the context of armed aggression and Euro-Atlantic integration. The focus is placed on identifying structural and semantic features, sources of replenishment, pathways of unification, and translation challenges of military concepts that are critical for ensuring the accuracy of regulatory documents, operational interaction, and international interoperability. The research is conducted through the lens of corpus analysis, terminological modelling, and a historical-diachronic approach, which makes it possible to trace the evolution of the lexicon from the Cossack era and the period of Russification to the stage of post-Soviet Ukrainianization and the implementation of NATO standards. Special attention is given to the issues of polysemy, intensive borrowing from English, translation variability, and cognitive-cultural barriers that influence the perception and interpretation of terms in both professional and public discourse. Cases of discrepancies between official documents, inter-agency norms, and media usage are analyzed, revealing semantic fragmentation and complications in inter-agency communication. The article proposes a model for harmonizing military terminology with international standards, which includes the creation of an inter-agency electronic terminology platform with multilingual equivalents and normative-level marking, the development and implementation of methodological guidelines for translators, journalists, and strategic communications officers, as well as regular corpus monitoring for tracking and standardizing new terms. The findings make it possible to identify the factors causing variability in terminological processes and to propose practical mechanisms for their regulation, aimed at ensuring clarity, accuracy, and efficiency in the use of military terminology in official, scientific, and international communication.