Diversification of English Medical Terminology: social and historical determinants Cover Image

Diversification of English Medical Terminology: social and historical determinants
Diversification of English Medical Terminology: social and historical determinants

Author(s): Dorota Gonigroszek
Subject(s): Historical Linguistics, Comparative Linguistics, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Instytut Historii UJK - Filia w Piotrkowie Trybunalskim
Keywords: medical terminology; etymology; formal and informal terms; diachronic changes;

Summary/Abstract: The present article focuses on English medical terminology and its easily noticeable division into formal and informal terms. Numerous factors which may account for the observed diversification are discussed. The dichotomy formality-informality, however, seems to be related primarily to the history of the English language. Informal terms are predominantly of Anglo-Saxon, French, Germanic or Scandinavian origins, while formal terms are mainly borrowings from Latin and Greek.

  • Issue Year: 22/2021
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 83-98
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English