The social dimension of terminological standardisation In today's society there are two apparently contradictory trends: on the one hand there is a growing need for harmonisation at international level due to continuous economic, political, social and cultural links and exchanges. But on the other hand there is a recognition of diversity (and the consequent affirmation of individuality) in all areas of human life. Terminology, which is an eminently social field, must accommodate these general trends, along with others such as the headlong progress of technology, the advance of sciences towards interdisciplinarity and hyper-specialisation, and the immediacy with which data are exchanged in the information society. All these factors lead to an increase in the number of specialist terms which enrich terminology but also call into question some of its basic concepts, such as the one to one relationship between ideas and names, the concept of mastery of a specialist field and the role of standardisation in terminology. The basic principles of standardisation, such as consensus between the sectors of society involved, remain fully valid in guaranteeing specialist communication, but in practical terminological work the close relationship which must exist between standardisation and society is sometimes neglected. The danger in this is that there may be a breakdown in the equilibrium required between the certain degree of arbitrariness which is inevitable in a consensus and the actual use of terminology by specialists. In this case, standardisation not only ceases to be effective but also fails to fulfil its purpose. This paper looks, on the basis of experience in the standardisation of terminology in Catalan, at the social need for standardisation of terminology. Some of the difficulties faced will be discussed, and ideas will be given for approaching this field in present day society.