English for Academic Purposes: Theoretical Aspects of Professional Communication in Medical Studies

Language Teaching Research Quarterly. 2018. Vol. 5. P. 59–73.

Гумовская Г. Н.

The article is devoted to the theoretical aspects of Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP). The author proceeds from the assumption that the interaction of people with their environment can be understood as receiving and decoding certain information. Certain types of information can be stored and be transferred only with the help of specially organized systems – languages, which are specially adapted to the given type of modelling and communication. Such a type of occupational verbal communicative system is identified as language for specific purposes. The article presents a survey of the corresponding scholarly literature, which reveals the views, opinions and approaches to the problems of professional communication. The author gives evidence that LSP is not fundamentally different from LGP in terms of linguistic usage but differs rather in terms of particular modes of language that are common in different professional settings. LSP is defined as a conventionalized semiotic system based on a natural language and characterized by a cognitive function, which indicates the development of civilization and serves as an instrument of professional work and training. Particular emphasis in the article is laid on English for Medical Studies (EMS). Subjected to analysis is the vocabulary of that professional domain.

Ключевые слова: vocabulary, terminology, languages for specific purposes, English for General Purposes, English for Medical Studies, semantic field, term