need help with medical English please
Hello people,

I'm working on my thesis right now and it's related to medical language (specialised vs common language). I wanted to know whether it is common to hear such scientific terminology for a disease like 'Cerebral arteriosclerosis' and 'Hypermetropia/hyperopia' in conversations between laypersons.

If you are a native English speaker (not necessarily), do you usually hear such medical terminology or do you use (or hear from a doctor for example) the common vulgarised term?

Cerebral arteriosclerosis → hardening of the brain arteries.
hyperopia → farsightedness.

thank you in advance everyone

Question

need help with medical English please
Hello people,

I'm working on my thesis right now and it's related to medical language (specialised vs common language). I wanted to know whether it is common to hear such scientific terminology for a disease like 'Cerebral arteriosclerosis' and 'Hypermetropia/hyperopia' in conversations between laypersons.

If you are a native English speaker (not necessarily), do you usually hear such medical terminology or do you use (or hear from a doctor for example) the common vulgarised term?

Cerebral arteriosclerosis → hardening of the brain arteries.
hyperopia → farsightedness.

thank you in advance everyone

Answer

It depends on the term.  Some medical terms do get used in everyday English, but other terms are rarely used except by people who work in medical fields.

I don't believe I've ever heard any of the three terms you mention used in normal, everyday English.  In fact, of these terms, "hyperopia" is the only one I would be able to understand without using a dictionary.  A doctor would use the word "hyperopia," but in normal speech, most people would say "farsightedness."  (And even a doctor, speaking to a patient, might say, "Hyperopia, or farsightedness," to make sure that the patient understood.)

Answer

I think that such terminology is generally used by medical specialists or scientists. An 'average' person would probably have a general idea of what e.g. cerebral arteriosclerosis is (so something to do with the brain and arteries), but wouldn't know what it means exactly. I personally don't use specialized medical terms in everyday conversations and I don't think it's common, unless you have a particular interest in a medical condition or you have it yourself.

Answer

No, it isn't a commonly used term amongst layperson, however Arteriosclerosis is a term commonly used. So is myopia and it refers shortsightedness and hyperopia is used for long sightedness.

Hope this helps!

Answer

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arteriosclerosis#examples
May be it could help you.

Answer

Thank you, everyone, for replying. Your answers are really helpful. I'll be able to build a proper argument now.

Answers · 9

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