When I use a word . . . On the origins of medical words

In English medical vocabulary Greek words, Latin words, and hybrid combinations contribute about 76% of the total. In contrast, they contribute only about 40% of general vocabulary, the rest being largely derived from Old English and French. Furthermore, many fewer other languages contribute to medical than to general vocabulary. The development of English general vocabulary was influenced first by the Roman invasions between 55 BC and 43 AD, followed by over 360 years of Roman presence, and then later, after the Romans had left, by the arrival of St Augustine as Archbishop of Canterbury in 597 AD, bringing Latin from Rome. The arrival of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, at the end of the 6th century AD, brought Anglo-Saxon or Old English into the general mix, and the Norman conquest in 1066 added Old French. In contrast, the domination of Greek and Latin in medical vocabulary was partly due to the influence of Greek science, mathematics, and philosophy and partly due to the fact that many Latin words derived directly from Greek. Studying classical languages exposes us to classical thought in both sciences and humanities. It teaches us about history. It helps us in acquiring a rich English vocabulary and understanding how our language is constructed. It trains us in logic and systematic thinking. Its rich and highly entertaining literature and mythology is much better read in the original than in translation. Furthermore, having read it we are better equipped to understand the classical allusions that occur in later authors. I have previously commented on a strapline, published under the heading of a recent article in the online version of The Time s newspaper titled “How to become a doctor—a step-by-step guide by those who’ve done it.”1 It began “The entry criteria is tough and the course even tougher ....” …