UDC

81’22

Authors

Liliya R. Sakaeva
Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University; ul. Tatarstan 24, Naberezhnye Chelny, 423828, Respublika Tatarstan, Russian Federation; e-mail: liliyasakaeva@rambler.ru
Liliya V. Bazarova
Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University; ul. Tatarstan 24, Naberezhnye Chelny, 423828, Respublika Tatarstan, Russian Federation; e-mail: shagapovalilya@mail.ru
Emma N. Gilyazeva
Kazan Innovative University named after V.G. Timiryasov; ul. Raskol’nikova 17, Naberezhnye Chelny, 423822, Respublika Tatarstan, Russian Federation; e-mail: emma.giljazeva@mail.ru

Abstract

Little research has been done on the semantics of medical terms in a comparative perspective, in particular when it comes to the English and Russian languages. This article deals with polysemy and homonymy of the microfield represented by nosological terms, which is included in the terminological field of medical vocabulary. We studied terms and word combinations selected from mono- and bilingual dictionaries as well as English and Russian medical encyclopaedias. Polysemy is rare in the medical sublanguage, but closer examination of this phenomenon can provide a deeper understanding of its nature. Homonymy in the medical sublanguage is manifested in various forms. Having analysed English and Russian nosological terms, we were able to identify those that function both within one and the same medical discipline and within different disciplines, keeping, however, within the limits of medical science, i.e. interscientific homonymy. The qualitative analysis we have undertaken indicates that it is the monolexemic terms that are polysemantic in the microfield of nosology. We come to the conclusion that the most common both in Russian and in English are interscientific homonymy and homonymy of eponymic terms. Polysemy and homonymy in terminology differ from similar processes in common literary vocabulary. These phenomena operate within certain limits without violating the semantic definition of the term or affecting the distinctive lexicosemantic characteristics of terminology.

Keywords

terminology, medical terminology, nosological term, lexicosemantic process, polysemy, homonymy

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