Definitions of Some Sensitive Medical Words in Dictionaries of English

Abstract

The present article examines the definitions of six medical words (warfarin, thalidomide, lobotomy, gastroscope, cystoscope, paroxysm) in dictionaries of English. The entries in twentyone non-specialist dictionaries were analysed and compared with corresponding passages in el even medical dicti onari es. The f orm ulati on of the defini ti ons turned out to vary qui te considerably from one volume to another. The variation may in some instances stem from the difficulty of deciding what is linguistic information, what encyclopedic, but the sensitive aspects of the six words are likely to be another contributory factor. The presentation of the medical terms would in many instances benefit from further refinement. The need for cooperation between lexicographers and medical experts is evident. Consultation of medical dictionaries may also be helpful and suggest certain items of information for inclusion in nonspecialist works as well.

Construal of Mental Health Problems in English Learners' Dictionaries

“…Their attention has focused predominantly on headwords connected with race, ethnicity, ideology, religion, gender, and age (e.g., Kachru and Kahane 1995, Murphy 1998, Swanepoel 2005, Moon 2014). Recently, Norri (2018 and added two studies relating to the field of medical practice, illness, and disability. In the present paper, I would like to look at some terms connected with mental ill health which, arguably, present an even greater challenge, if only because of the stigma they still carry in most societies.…”

Examining the Usefulness of Medical Bilingual Dictionaries for Translation Purposes

“…The presentation of definitions for a set of medical words was also investigated. Norri (2017) examined the definition's formulation of six 'sensitive' medical words in several medical and general dictionaries of English; eleven medical dictionaries and twenty-one non-specialist dictionaries of English. It is found that the presentation, definition's formulation, of those words varied from volume to another.…”

“…It is found that the presentation, definition's formulation, of those words varied from volume to another. According to Norri (2017), such variations can result from the sensitivity of the topic and the difficulty of deciding whether the information, to be included in the definition, is linguistic one or encyclopedic. At the end of the paper, recommendations for further investigation of the presentation of medical terms were affirmed.…”

“…At the end of the paper, recommendations for further investigation of the presentation of medical terms were affirmed. Therefore, Norri (2017) highlighted the necessity of more cooperation between lexicographers and medical experts.…”