lecture 2 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What centuries mark the origins of LSPs?
The 1550s–1600s, with the rise of specialized scientific terminology.
Why did the Scientific Revolution necessitate a specialized lexicon?
New discoveries (e.g., gravity, telescope) required naming concepts, tools, substances, and laws that had never been described before.
Which language served as the starting point for early scientific terms?
Latin, as the language of scholarship—terms were borrowed, translated, or coined with Latin/Greek roots.
Give two examples of direct borrowings from Latin into English scientific vocabulary.
“Species” and “Radius.”
Name three disciplines that established their own jargon during the Scientific Revolution.
Physics (“force,” “inertia,” “velocity”), Biology (“organism,” “cell,” “species”), Chemistry (“acid,” “element,” “reaction”).
What role did the Royal Society (founded 1660) play in ESP lexicon development?
It provided a community demanding clear, standardized scientific language and helped establish an objective, impersonal register.
What is the Royal Society’s motto and its significance?
Nullius in verba (“Take nobody’s word for it”)—emphasizing empirical observation over authority.
Define non-arbitrariness in ESP lexicon.
Word forms reflect their meaning (e.g., “photosynthesis” = light + putting together).
What does monoreferentiality mean in a specialized lexicon?
One concept ↔ one term (e.g., “H₂O” always means water).
How is non-ambiguity realized in scientific terms?
Terms have only one meaning within their field (e.g., “cell” in biology, not prison or battery).
What is productivity in ESP lexicon?
New terms form predictably with roots/prefixes/suffixes (e.g., “neuro-” → “neuron,” “neuroplasticity”).
Explain sharedness as a feature of ESP terminology.
Experts across regions agree on term meanings (e.g., chemists worldwide interpret “NaCl” identically).
What is artificiality in the context of specialized lexicon?
Terms are deliberately invented rather than evolving naturally (e.g., “quark,” “bit”).
Why are ESP terms considered technical?
They’re highly specialized and rarely used outside their field (e.g., “mitochondrion”).
What does “diachronic” variation refer to?
Language change over historical time (Old → Middle → Modern English).
Give an example of diatopic variation.
“Truck” (US) vs. “Lorry” (UK).
What is diastratic variation?
Variation across social groups or strata (e.g., youth slang vs. formal academic language).
Define diaphasic variation.
Variation depending on context or formality (e.g., “Hey, what’s up?” vs. “Good morning, how can I assist you?”).
What does diamesic variation involve?
Changes based on communication medium (text message vs. formal email vs. spoken conversation).
What is diagenic variation?
Gender-linked differences in language use (e.g., politeness or assertiveness linked to gender roles).
Why is understanding word-formation important in academia?
It enables naming new ideas, tools, ideologies (e.g., “woke capitalism,” “lawfare”) and reveals nuance via morphology.
How are loanwords used in ESP lexicon formation?
Direct borrowing from Latin/Greek to name new scientific concepts (e.g., “radius,” “species,” “vaccine”).
What is a calque in word formation?
A literal translation of a foreign term into English (e.g., “law of motion” from Latin lex motus).
Define affixation and give an example.
Adding prefixes/suffixes (e.g., “pre-trial” with pre- “before”; “clockwise” with -wise “direction”).
