Group items tagged

The author reflects on the use of acronyms, jargon, and terminology in electronic engineering. According to the author, terminology is a very significant issue since a common language is vital for the proper exchange of information, particularly when a new technology is developed. The author believes that many of the terms for the various devices were developed given the fact that the technology involved is old and established. (Description provided by EBSCO.)

The report discusses how the complexity of medical information affects the health of the patient. The terminology used by doctors and other health professionals contribute to low literacy in patients, and because of the difficulty patients have understanding medical information, health outcomes of patients are jeopardized. The report makes interesting points that expose the unnecessarily complex and confusing language doctors insist on using when talking to patients.

This NYT article is about how the way we refer to and treat the elderly (calling them "dear" or speaking loudly to them, for example) can affect their health. Such studies have broader ranging implications. When we call others derogatory names, can it affect their health? Does using "baby talk" affect the language development of children? Do our assumptions about teenagers affect their intellectual development?