Transition in Romanian Medical Terminology – From Birth to the English Influence
Transition in Romanian Medical Terminology – From Birth to the English Influence

Summary/Abstract: With a history of more than three centuries, Romanian medical terminology is based on a Greco-Latin nomenclature. Throughout its history, it has also been subjected to many other linguistic influences, such as French, Italian, German, Russian, and to the more recent English influence. In our country, however, the studies on the history and evolution of this specialised vocabulary are scarce. The present paper brings its contribution to filling that gap. To do that, the article surveys Romanian medical terminology from birth till the advent of English as a lingua franca of medicine. This study brings to light the linguistic influences exerted on Romanian medical terminology at different stages of its evolution, by means of concrete examples of lexical borrowings from the languages it has been in contact with.The historical overview is not only an account of things past, but also a source of answers and solutions to the problems Romanian medical terminology is facing nowadays, due to the overwhelming English influence.

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