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Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world

Current state and developments
  • Kassem Sara
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Handbook of Terminology
This chapter is in the book Handbook of Terminology

Abstract

The cherished terminological principle of a single term for a single concept seems to be lagging behind in the Arab world despite the serious standardization steps taken to that end. Arabic medical terminology, like terminologies of other disciplines, is unfortunately still in a state of chaos due to the plurality of Arabic terms for the same scientific concept. This article attempts to describe the current state of Arabic health and medical terminology, shedding light on the political, educational and terminological practices followed to overcome this problem. It also highlights certain individual and institutional responses to issues of medical terminology and proposes a number of ways to help standardize Arabic terminology.

Abstract

The cherished terminological principle of a single term for a single concept seems to be lagging behind in the Arab world despite the serious standardization steps taken to that end. Arabic medical terminology, like terminologies of other disciplines, is unfortunately still in a state of chaos due to the plurality of Arabic terms for the same scientific concept. This article attempts to describe the current state of Arabic health and medical terminology, shedding light on the political, educational and terminological practices followed to overcome this problem. It also highlights certain individual and institutional responses to issues of medical terminology and proposes a number of ways to help standardize Arabic terminology.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 1. The history of Arabic lexicography and terminology 7
  5. Chapter 2. Terminology standardization in the Arab world 31
  6. Chapter 3. Terminology and translation in Arabic 59
  7. Chapter 4. Medical terminology in the Western world 83
  8. Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world 109
  9. Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world 139
  10. Chapter 7. There is nothing like Him 155
  11. Chapter 8. Sufi terminology and aspects of interaction with symbols 181
  12. Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization 217
  13. Chapter 10. Covering linguistic variability in Arabic 235
  14. List of contributors 255
  15. Index 259
https://doi.org/10.1075/hot.2.06sar

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 1. The history of Arabic lexicography and terminology 7
  5. Chapter 2. Terminology standardization in the Arab world 31
  6. Chapter 3. Terminology and translation in Arabic 59
  7. Chapter 4. Medical terminology in the Western world 83
  8. Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world 109
  9. Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world 139
  10. Chapter 7. There is nothing like Him 155
  11. Chapter 8. Sufi terminology and aspects of interaction with symbols 181
  12. Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization 217
  13. Chapter 10. Covering linguistic variability in Arabic 235
  14. List of contributors 255
  15. Index 259
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