The Visual Mathematical Dictionary is an ongoing collaborative and didactical project aimed at breaking language barriers.
Initiated by Professor Antonella Perucca at the Department of Mathematics (DMATH) to support refugees, the dictionary offers a glossary of mathematical terms (everyday and specialised terms) in more than 20 different languages, including Chinese and, of course, Ukrainian. Other languages will soon join the repertoire. It also has a section for children with easier terms.
According to Prof. Perucca, the project, which aims to make math terminology accessible to students, researchers and the general public, is reflective of the multiculturalism and diversity that the Grand-Duchy, and the University, are known for. The dictionary, managed entirely by volunteers, offers more than literal or automatic translation of the terms. As Prof. Perucca explains, “Some terms may not exist in a language. In such a case, the convention is to write a substitute sentence.” The terms are thematically grouped into chapters to facilitate learning. And, despite mathematical concepts being quite abstract, each term is illustrated by a picture with an example. The translations are also carried out by volunteers, many of whom are from DMATH: Professors: Christophe Ley (Luxembourgish), Mark Podolskij (Russian) Postdoctoral candidates: Andrea Conti (Italian), Laurent Loosveldt (French), Mikolaj Kasprzak and Rafal Martynek (Polish), Vytauté Pilipauskaite (Lithuanian), Shi-Yuan Zhou (German), Doctoral candidates: Bryan Advocaat (Dutch), Oskar Frost (Swedish) Visiting guest: Olha Nesterenko (Ukrainian).
Many thanks to all contributors!