The usage of Latin/Greek names and prefixes in science is holding science back! amirite?

Simple historical explanation aside, the reason that Latin is still commonly used in scientific nomenclature is precisely because it's a dead language. Which means the meanings of words do not change and this immutability is required when you're talking about science. Using a current language where meanings evolve isn't suitable when you require specificity.

by Keven52 2 weeks ago

Laugh so hard, should tell him the origin of moon 😆

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

OP, if you think that the toughest part of learning science is the greek names, then you would never have been able to dip your toes into science beyond oversimplified pop science that is created more for entertainment value than learning.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Latin nomenclature is actually quite useful because it is international. Like medical professions from all over the world can use the same terms for anatomy. In czechia some asshole so it fit to invent czech names for everything in 19th century so we had to memorize two sets of names for everything. It was not fun.

by Abigayle49 2 weeks ago

How very Anglocentric of you.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Like it or not, English is the default language in the world. It's the mandated standard language worldwide for aviation-- every pilot and air traffic controller in the world MUST be able to speak English. It's also the most common second-language for non-native English speakers. If you don't like it, maybe you can form an empire that dominates large swaths of the world for hundreds of years only to be supplanted by one of your colonies that becomes a global military and economic superpower.

by Mountain_Steak 2 weeks ago

Why must science be Latin-centric in a world where a fraction of a percentage of the human population actually speaks said language?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That's exactly why it's used. No one speaks it, so no one changes it.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Because load of languages have roots in latin, making it as universal as a language can be, even if dead. Also, being dead is a good thing, as it measn that the meaning of the words are set in stone, it is not an evolving and changing language that can have the same word or term mean somethign different in a few decades.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Hey OP, you realize that no everyone who works in science speaks English right?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Which language would you use? English? You are aware that science also happens outside the US?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I agree that the language used in science creates a barrier. Reading a paper and thinking "huh?" Is a pain... When I've spent a long long time reading them. It's exhausting sometimes. I think the Latin aspect is understandable because research is international and the language itself has impacted most of the western world's, so it's somewhat relatable, and there's a lot of derivatives. Part of that is because the the specificity of the language used when writing is important. As it's science, it needs to be precise. E.g. (exempli gratia) Binomial names, are useful because it standardises communication- common names vary. I.e. (id est), it's bloody annoying trying to figure out what species someone who speaks a different language is talking about. Latin is pretty much everywhere. Snotty language is the issue.

by Effective-Arrival 2 weeks ago

Yes, it would be great if everyone on earth spoke the same language – but I'm not sure if it should be english

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

You are making it sound like a big deal, it's just few random words here and there. 'Science' is gigantic and many fields do not use any form of latin words. You do not need any form of knowledge of latin to understand scientific literature but you do need to pick up on words specific to each field, they moght have latin influence ( medical field for example ) or not, a random person wont understand them anyway.

by Gottliebdorthy 2 weeks ago

We already have an example of why this wouldn't work. Physics uses everyday terms like work, force, energy but gives them precise, specific definitions that can be at odds with their everyday common meaning. For example, "work" is defined as force * distance. So if a person spends an hour trying to push a car out of a ditch and it hasn't moved, he has done zero work in physics speak, although he has clearly been working (exerting himself) in everyday speak. Using a common word ends up confusing the layman.

by kamronfisher 2 weeks ago

If you aren't smart enough to remember the Latin names of things in whichever field of science you've chosen, then you'll never become an expert.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

What sort of Latin/Greek names of things came to mind when writing this out of interest?

by Away_Fun 2 weeks ago

Currently studying chemistry nomenclature for different chemicals/compounds. I guess what frustrates me about it isn't just the usage of Latin it's the usage of Latin and Greek for naming some of these chemicals compounds. Oh how easy it would be to live in a world where they named all of these in English.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

What if the person learning it didn't speak English?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

You see, that's where you understood OP wrong: he didn't meant that it would be better for everyone, just for OP and people in the same situation as him. The rest of the world can frick off, i guess.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Ohh, sorry. My mistake. I was thinking of what would be better for science as a whole, I didn't considered what would be easier for OP.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Why would we choose the 3rd most spoken language in the world? Wouldn't it make more sense to use the 1st or 2nd over the 3rd?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago