The question of characterizing academic vocabulary has often been framed in a context that is purely determined by questions of language teaching. The aim in such approaches is to come up with a list of words for learners of English for Special Purposes. This book approaches this question from a more general, empirical perspective, focusing on medical vocabulary. Its main contention is that the characterization of medical vocabulary is much more complex than is suggested by a simple list. In a list, a threshold determines the borderline on a one-dimensional scale between what counts as medical vocabulary and what fails to qualify as such. In analysing how such lists have been produced and how the cut-off point has been determined, the book shows a number of factors that have to be taken into account. It uses a comparison of two corpora to demonstrate the extent to which text type determines the outcome of frequency calculations. On the basis of such observations, it argues for a new methodology for the calculation of the degree of “medicalness” of lexemes.

Medical texts written in English during the late Middle Ages have in recent years attracted increasing attention among scholars. From approximately 1375 onwards, the use of English began to gain a firmer foothold in medical manuscripts, which in previous centuries had been written mainly in Latin or French. Scholars of Middle English, and editors of medical texts from late medieval England, are thus faced with a huge medical vocabulary which no single volume has yet attempted to define. This dictionary is therefore an essential reference tool. The material analysed in the Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary in English, 1375–1550 includes edited texts, manuscripts and early printed books, and represents three main types of medical writing: surgical manuals and tracts; academic treatises by university-trained physicians, and remedybooks. The dictionary covers four lexical fields: names of sicknesses, body parts, instruments, and medicinal preparations. Entries are structured as follows: (1) headword (2) scribal variants occurring in the texts (3) etymology (4) definition(s), each definition followed by relevant quotations (5) references to corresponding entries in the Dictionary of Old English, Middle English Dictionary, and The Oxford English Dictionary (6) references to academic books and articles containing information on the history and/or meaning of the term.

Many problems and misunderstandings are the result of inadequate communication between people. If we could fully understand one another, and also make ourselves fully understood, we would live in greater harmony with one another and increase our well-being and happiness. In today's world, it is becoming increasingly more important for people in every country of the world to be able to communicate with one another through one common language. This is especially true in the medical profession. Everyone deserves access to excellent medical care, no matter where they are in the world. In many instances, interpreters are not available and communication difficulties can pose a real barrier to providing quality health care to patients. For this reason, many current and aspiring medical professionals put a great deal of time and effort into improving their knowledge of the English language, particularly their English medical vocabulary, in order to more effectively communicate with their patients and with other medical professionals from around the world. This book is intended to aid them in their efforts to improve their knowledge in this area and, hence, their ability to provide all their patients with the best possible care. This book covers all the major systems of the body. The initial chapter(s) on each system provide basic vocabulary and the remaining chapter(s) deal with specific symptoms, problems, and diseases. Each chapter begins with a list of ten words and definitions which the student is to study and try their best to understand and remember. The student can then test him/herself by attempting to complete the following activities without looking back at the list of definitions. The first activity in each chapter involves writing each word beneath its definition. The definitions are in a different order than in the original list. The student must pay special attention to spelling and check their answers by referring to the answer section at the back of the book. The second activity in each chapter involves filling in the blanks in the sentences with the words on the list. Again, the words are in a different order than in the original list and, this time, the form of the word may need to be changed in order to be used correctly in the sentence. The student can then check over their spelling, and check their answers by referring to the answer section at the back of the book. It is important to fully read and understand all instructions before beginning each activity. The idea behind this book is for the student to, not only learn new words, but to test their own knowledge and to practice using the words in new sentences, to ensure that they have truly understood their meaning. It is only in this way that they can remember the words long-term and be able to apply them in new situations in the future.

Check Your English Vocabulary for Medicine is a workbook designed to help learners of English improve their knowledge and understanding of core medical terminology. The workbook includes crosswords, puzzles and word games to test and build specialist English vocabulary. The combination of self-study exercises and practical speaking activities mean that this book is ideal for both home and class-based study.

This book offers a guide to medical English, and is addressed to healthcare professionals and students with an upper-intermediate level of English. It will also be useful as a handout for specialised English courses offered in medicine, nursing, and physiotherapy degrees, and can be used as a self-study book. The book is made up of four chapters, structured into three sections: namely, grammar, science, and phonetics. Each chapter reviews the main points of English grammar, and works with the vocabulary of the medical field. The book also provides students with basic knowledge of phonetics, which will help them to improve their listening and speaking skills.

A concise guide to the essential language of medicine. More than 35,000 entries. Pronunciations provided for all entries. Covers brand names and generic equivalents of common drugs.