A Knowledge-based Approach in the Conceptualisation of Disease Terms in Tiv for a More Effective Health Communication
Keywords:
terminology, conceptualisation, diseases, communication, knowledge structuresAbstract
There is a general perception that terminology constitutes an intractable obstacle to the use of African languages in high-function domains such as science and technology, engineering, medicine, etc. It is with a view to enhancing specificity which facilitates better communication that one of such domains (bio-medicine) was chosen for this study. Specifically, the study looked at cases of semantic extensions and mismatches that lead to vagueness inbio-medical discourse in Tiv speakers (Tiv, a language spoken in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States of Nigeria). Focus group discussions and translation exercise were employed to carry out the study which revealed, as expected, cases of semantic extensions and mismatches in the discourse of the research subjects. For example, cases of semantic extensions13 were noticed when pre-clinical students conceptualised diseases through the use of terms with narrower semantic coverage at some point, and wider coverage at another. Also cases of mismatch were seen. Both point to the imperative of engagement with disciplinary knowledge structures for the creation of better designations for concepts leading to greater clarity.
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