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The Language of Science Maurice Pierre Crosland

The Language of Science By Maurice Pierre Crosland

The Language of Science by Maurice Pierre Crosland


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Summary

A fascinating and highly accessible account of the development of scientific terminology, with particular emphasis on the systematic approach to classification and measurement that emerged during the 18th Century.

The Language of Science Summary

The Language of Science: From the Vernacular to the Technical by Maurice Pierre Crosland

Where do scientific terms come from? Why are they so similar in so many languages? How was the new nomenclature spread across the world? The Language of Science analyses the development of scientific vocabulary from its basic origins in everyday agricultural work, through to the need for a measurement system when it came to trading, to the scientific innovations of the seventeenth century and a subsequent period of consolidation in the eighteenth century. This is a period of great relevance in history of science and a strong focus of Crosland's work. The time between 1750 and 1800 saw many movements trying to organise and revolutionise scientific names and units the significance of which is often overlooked. Crosland talks here about the development of language in botany, chemistry and the metric system, drawing a connection between the three fields and the development of the sciences in general. The final chapter pays close attention to how the international conferences helped in the adoption and standardisation of the new language. Crosland's approach to the subject matter is very clear and concise. The Language of Science will be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about history of language, social history and of course science. The author popularises an often intimidating and complex segment of the English language. Scientists and non-scientists alike will find this book stimulating and thought-provoking. Aimed at anyone interested in Popular Science, this book is a stimulating introduction to the development of Scientific Language and offers a historical overview of the progress of standardisation of the Sciences.

The Language of Science Reviews

In The Language of Science, Maurice Crosland condenses ,many decades of distinguished scholarship into a brief survey recounting how subjective descriptions were converted into abstract labels. Patricia Fara, The Times Literary Supplement (December 22, 2006)

About Maurice Pierre Crosland

Maurice Pierre Crosland has lectured on the History of Science at the University of Leeds and several leading American universities. For twenty years he was Director of the Unit for the History of Science at the University of Kent at Canterbury. He has a lifelong interest in scientific language, and has served as Honorary Editor of the British Journal for the History of Science and President of the British Society for the History of Science.

Table of Contents

1. THE LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE IN THE 18TH CENTURY. The need for a specific language of science. A connected series of developments. The 18th century. The language of Science. From the vernacular to the technical. 2. THE LANGUAGE OF BOTANY. The beginnings of botany. Herbals. Common names for plants. Latin names. Predecessors of Linnaeus. The botanical nomenclature of Linnaeus. After Linnaeus. 3. THE LANGUAGE OF CHEMISTRY. Chemistry before Lavoisier. Old names and the beginning of reform. Lavoisier and the 'Chemical revolution'. The influence of Condillac on Lacoisier. The Method of Chemical Nomenclature. Acceptance of the new names. 4. THE METRIC SYSTEM. Old measures. Early stages of reform. The Commission of weights and measures. Explaining the metric system to the public. Decimalisation. Adoption of the metric system. 5. INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES. The problem of international authority. The Metric Conference of 1798. From international co-operation to conferences. The Karlsruhe Congress. Other international conferences.

Additional information

GOR013359751
9780718830601
0718830601
The Language of Science: From the Vernacular to the Technical by Maurice Pierre Crosland
Used - Well Read
Paperback
James Clarke & Co Ltd
20061001
128
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book. We do our best to provide good quality books for you to read, but there is no escaping the fact that it has been owned and read by someone else previously. Therefore it will show signs of wear and may be an ex library book

Customer Reviews - The Language of Science