A SOCIO-COGNITIVE AND APPLIED LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON CYBERSECURITY TERMINOLOGY

Abstract

This paper explores cybersecurity terminology from a socio-cognitive and applied linguistic perspective. Drawing on the Romanian Intelligence Service cybersecurity glossary and a recent white paper from the World Economic Forum, terms are classified into three levels, from general vocabulary to highly specialized acronyms and emerging terminology associated with artificial intelligence, highlighting their functional proximity or distance for non-specialists, semi-specialists and experts. A classroom example in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) illustrates how students negotiate meanings, verify sources, and adapt terminology for academic and professional purposes. The study further examines the morphological and grammatical structure of cybersecurity terms, their degree of specialization, and gaps in institutional terminological resources, particularly regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven threats. The findings highlight the prevalence of English loanwords, compounds, acronyms, and metaphorical extensions, which contribute to the precision and codification of cybersecurity discourse. Finally, the adoption of AI generates new terminology related to threats, cyber skills, including mitigation measures, requiring continuous updates in glossaries and effective teaching to ensure understanding for students, professionals, and researchers alike.