International scientific vocabulary

International scientific vocabulary (ISV) consists of scientific and specialized terms that may have uncertain origins but are widely used across various modern languages. This vocabulary exists in translingual forms, including naturalised words, loanwords, and calques.

The term "international scientific vocabulary" was first introduced by Philip Gove in Webster's Third New International Dictionary published in 1961. As highlighted by linguist David Crystal, the field of science is particularly prolific in generating new terms. The nature of scientific work fosters immediate translingual sharing of terminology, as scientists from diverse countries and linguistic backgrounds often read each other's research articles in scientific journals. They rely on foreign language skills, translation assistance, or both, to stay updated on advancements and readily integrate reported findings into their own work. This interconnectedness facilitates the global dissemination and adoption of scientific vocabulary, contributing to a more unified language of science.

Instances

According to Webster's Third New International Dictionary, some words in the International Scientific Vocabulary (ISV), such as "haploid", are formed by taking terms with general meanings from ancient languages—primarily Latin and Greek—and assigning them specific and complex meanings for contemporary scientific discourse. These ISV terms typically consist of classical compounds or derivatives that draw their foundational elements from antiquity while being adapted for modern use.

The online version of Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged (Merriam-Webster, 2002), elaborates that ISV comprises words or linguistic forms that are prevalent in two or more languages. Unlike New Latin, ISV terms are modified to fit the structural norms of the individual languages they inhabit. Consequently, these terms, often constructed using Greek, Latin, or other combining forms, are pronounced according to each language's phonemic system, allowing for natural integration within that language's morphological framework. Thus, ISV can be seen as a significant borrowing of loanwords derived from Neo-Latin, reflecting the collaborative and evolving nature of scientific language across cultures and languages.

McArthur characterizes International Scientific Vocabulary (ISV) words and morphemes as "translinguistic", indicating that they function across multiple languages that serve as mediums for education, culture, science, and technology. In addition to European languages like Russian, Swedish, English, and Spanish, ISV lexical items are also prevalent in languages such as Japanese, Malay, Philippine languages, and other Asian languages. McArthur asserts that no other collection of words and morphemes is as universally recognised and utilised.

From a practical standpoint, it is often irrelevant to concerns beyond philology and the history of science to determine the original language of any specific ISV term. This is because the cognate naturalised counterparts in other languages typically emerge concurrently for most scientific applications and are self-evidently equivalent upon surface analysis. This phenomenon aligns with the intrinsic nature of science, which promotes immediate translingual sharing of terminology. Scientists, working across various countries and languages, consistently read each other's latest research published in scientific journals, utilising foreign language skills, translation assistance, or both. They are motivated to adopt and apply reported advancements in their own contexts. This dynamic holds true regardless of whether scientific exchanges occur in openly collaborative environments (as in open science) or in contexts driven by espionage or industrial espionage, such as in the development of weapons systems.

The International Scientific Vocabulary (ISV) plays a significant role in the development and standardisation of Interlingua, a constructed language. In Interlingua, scientific and medical terminology is predominantly derived from Greco-Latin roots, yet, similar to most Interlingua vocabulary, these terms are found across a diverse range of languages.

Interlingua's lexicon is created using a selection of control languages that are chosen for their capacity to both disseminate words into and assimilate words from a wide array of other languages. A prototyping technique is then employed to identify the most recent common ancestor for each eligible word or affix intended for inclusion in Interlingua. This selected word or affix is then adapted into a contemporary form based on the characteristics of the control languages. The objective of this methodology is to ensure that Interlingua possesses the most universally recognised and international vocabulary possible, facilitating effective communication across linguistic boundaries in scientific and technical contexts.

Words and word roots that have different meanings from those in the original languages

This is a list of scientific words and word roots which have different meanings from those in the original languages.

Word or root	Scientific meaning	Original language	Original word	Original meaning	Notes
andro-, -ander	stamen, man	Greek	ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός	man	in flowers of flowering plants
gyno-, -gyne	carpel, woman	Greek	γυνή, γυναικός	woman
capno-	carbon dioxide	Greek	καπνός	smoke
electro-	electricity	Greek	ἤλεκτρον	amber	via static electricity from rubbing amber
-itis	inflammation	Greek	-ῖτις	pertaining to
thorax	chest (anatomy)	Greek	θώραξ	breastplate
toxo-	poison	Greek	τόξον	bow (weapon)	via 'poisoned arrow'. It means 'bow' in Toxodon and 'arc' in isotoxal.
macro-	big	Greek	μακρός	long
In names of biological taxa
-ceras	ammonite	Greek	κέρας	horn	via resemblance to a ram's horn
-crinus	crinoid	Greek	κρίνος	lily	extracted from name "crinoid"
grapto-	graptolite	Greek	γραπτός	written	via resemblance of fossil
-gyrinus	labyrinthodont	Greek	γυρῖνος	tadpole
-lestes	predator	Greek	λῃστής	robber
-mimus	ornithomimid	Greek	μῖμος	mime	extracted from name Ornithomimus = 'bird mimic'
-mys	rodent	Greek	μῦς	mouse	including in Phoberomys
-saurus	reptile, dinosaur	Greek	σαῦρος	lizard
-stega, -stege	stegocephalian	Greek	στέγη	roof	via their cranium roofs as fossils
-suchus, -champsus	crocodilian	Ancient Egyptian	σοῦχος, χάμψα	Quoted by ancient Greek authors as Egyptian words for 'crocodile'
therium	usually mammal	Greek	θηρίον	beast, animal
Names of bones
femur	thighbone	Latin	femur	thigh	Classical Latin genitive often
fibula	(a leg bone)	Latin	fībula	brooch	tibia & fibula looked like a brooch and its pin
radius	(an arm bone)	Latin	radius	spoke
tibia	shinbone	Latin	tībia	flute	via animal tibias modified into flutes
ulna	(an arm bone)	Latin	ulna	elbow, cubit measure
Other
foetus / fetus	unborn baby	Medical Latin	fētus (var. foetus)	As 1st/2nd decl. adjective, 'pregnant' As 4th decl. noun, 'the young of animals'

Words and word roots that have one meaning from Latin and another meaning from Greek

This is a list of scientific words and word roots which have one meaning from Latin and another meaning from Greek.

Word or root	Scientific meaning from Latin	Example	Latin word	Latin meaning	Scientific meaning from Greek	Example	Greek word	Greek meaning	Notes
alg-	alga	alga	alga	seaweed	pain	analgesic	ἄλγος	pain
crema-	burn	cremation	cremāre	to burn (tr.)	hang, be suspended	cremaster	κρεμάννυμι	I hang (tr.)

Other words and word roots with two meanings

This is a list of other scientific words and word roots which have two meanings.

Word or root	Scientific meaning 1	Example	Origin	Original meaning	Scientific meaning 2	Example	Origin	Original meaning	Notes
uro-	tail	Uromastyx	Greek οὐρά	tail	urine	urology	Greek	urine
mento-	the mind	mental	Latin mēns	the mind	(of the) chin	mentoplasty	Latin mentum	chin

other differences

A notable distinction between scientific terminology and classical Latin and Greek is that many compounded scientific terms retain the inflection vowel at the end of a root when followed by another root or prefix that begins with a vowel. For example, in the term "gastroenteritis," the inflection vowel is preserved, whereas in "gastrectomy," elision occurs (not forming *gastroectomy).

The Greek word τέρας (tera-), which translates to "monster", typically conveys the meaning of "abnormal monster" in scientific contexts, as seen in terms like "teratology" (the study of abnormalities) and "teratogen" (an agent that causes malformation). However, in some biological classifications, this term can signify "enormous monster," exemplified by the names of extinct species such as Teratornis (a condor known for its 12-foot wingspan) and Terataspis (a trilobite that measured 2 feet in length). This dual application of the term illustrates the nuanced ways in which ancient roots are adapted for specific scientific meanings.