Interlingual terminological asymmetry as one of the aspects of studying foreign languages

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to explore interlingual terminological asymmetry from the cognitive-onomasiological standpoints. False synonymy of adjectives in anatomical terminology of Latin, Ukrainian, Russian, and English have been analyzed and interpreted as factors causing interlingual terminological asymmetry. In Latin anatomical terminology, there is a significant number of nominative units with similar meanings. They often have one equivalent in other (modern) languages or can be simply confused as a result of misunderstanding. It creates difficulties in the process of interlingual terminological communication. Despite the substrate nature of the Latin anatomical terminology, national terminological systems undergo different types of correlations in their functioning. The author assumes such correlations are related to the concepts of “terminological asymmetry” (lack of interlingual interchangeability of terms) and “quasi-synonymous effect” (the loss of cognitive-differential function of the term). Attention is also paid to the preparation of a theoretical basis for creating a special thesaurus to help speakers of Ukrainian study medical terminology in Latin and English.