General bases for the formation of Spanish scientific terms with Greco-Latin elements

Abstract

Even though classical Latin and Greek are considered dead languages since they are not spoken officially in any country, they are the current sources of scientific terminology because they make it possible to create a common, vocabulary for all users. Words that derive from Greek and Latin roots a adapted in accordance with personal taste, but as dictated by a basic set of rules for transcribing, accentuating, and forming words that have been applied in ore language (and in others as well) for as long as terms have been adapted from, those other tongues. These rules are not always observed for a number of reasons, yet a few practical guidelines for creating or adapting terms uniformly can be given. Such guidelines are provided in Chis article, along with examples for the benefit of specialists in scientific disciplines or of persons who engage in scientific work without being linguistic experts. Regardless of the circumstances, a minimal knowledge of those languages is necessary in order to understand the system whereby words are formed.