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Medical acronyms in Catalan: self-centered or allo-centered?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2436/20.2503.01.194

Keywords:

acronyms, abbreviations, healthcare communication, medicine, Catalan, terminology

Abstract

In this article we review the uses and problems associated with abbreviations in the healthcare field, such as abuse, polysemy, and the complications they can entail for understanding. We focus specifically on acronyms, which are one of the categories

of abbreviations, and on how they are used in different texts in Catalan, including those addressed to other professionals and those intended for laypersons. After that, we compare the situation of Catalan, its trends and the available resources (dictionaries,

publications, etc.) with Spanish and English, the other two languages that are used in healthcare in Catalonia. Likewise, we analyse acronyms of 15 compound terms to find out when those produced from terms in Catalan (self-centered acronyms) are used and when, on the other hand, acronyms are used that are based on terms in another language (allo-centered acronyms) and especially in Spanish. We then conclude by proposing some solutions for a better use of abbreviations in the biomedical sciences.

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References

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Published

2023-12-30

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How to Cite

Kotáktová, A. (2023). Medical acronyms in Catalan: self-centered or allo-centered?. Terminàlia, (28), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.2436/20.2503.01.194

Issue

Num. 28 (December 2023)

Section

Articles

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