Terminography has been benefiting from computerised Natural Language Processing. In this article we discuss the possibilities offered by computer tools for both terminography and terminology research. We also draw the attention to the limitations imposed by traditional terminology theory (e.g. the Vienna school approach) and propose alternative principles and methods for terminography. We show how a new paradigm inspired by recent developments in cognitive semantics and discourse analysis could yield more realistic principles and methods for terminography and the development of alternative Natural Language Processing Tools.