In order to elucidate the short-rang order structure in the ternary system Na2O-(3 - x)SiO2-xGeO(2) We employ in this study a quantitative description to determine the molar ratios of Na2O to SiO2 (R-si) and Na2O to GeO2 (R-Ge) in sodium germanosilicates. The calculated results show that the sodium oxide has no preference for the silicate or the germanate part of the network and there are the same short-rang order units in various Na2O-(3 - X)SiO2-xGeO(2) glasses. The Raman spectra also confirm the calculated results. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.