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Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The use of Latin terminology in medical case reports: quantitative, structural, and thematic analysis

Authors: Yuliia V. Lysanets, Olena M. Bieliaieva

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

This paper focuses on the prevalence of Latin terms and terminological collocations in the issues of Journal of Medical Case Reports (February 2007–August 2017) and discusses the role of Latin terminology in the contemporary process of writing medical case reports.

Methods

The objective of the research is to study the frequency of using Latin terminology in English-language medical case reports, thus providing relevant guidelines for medical professionals who deal with this genre and drawing their attention to the peculiarities of using Latin in case reports. The selected medical case reports are considered, using methods of quantitative examination and structural, narrative, and contextual analyses.

Results

We developed structural and thematic typologies of Latin terms and expressions, and we conducted a quantitative analysis that enabled us to observe the tendencies in using these lexical units in medical case reports. The research revealed that the use of Latin fully complies with the communicative strategies of medical case reports as a genre. Owing to the fact that Latin medical lexis is internationally adopted and understood worldwide, it promotes the conciseness of medical case reports, as well as contributes to their narrative style and educational intentions.

Conclusions

The adequate use of Latin terms in medical case reports is an essential prerequisite of effective sharing of one’s clinical findings with fellow researchers from all over the world. Therefore, it is highly important to draw students’ attention to Latin terms and expressions that are used in medical case reports most frequently. Hence, the analysis of structural, thematic, and contextual features of Latin terms in case reports should be an integral part of curricula at medical universities.
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Metadata
Title
The use of Latin terminology in medical case reports: quantitative, structural, and thematic analysis
Authors
Yuliia V. Lysanets
Olena M. Bieliaieva
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-018-1562-x

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