The Compilation of the Shona–English Biomedical Dictionary: Problems and Challenges

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The bilingual Shona–English dictionary of biomedical terms, Duramazwi reUrapi neUtano, was compiled with the aim of improving the efficiency of communication between doctor and patient. The dictionary is composed of terms from both modern and traditional medicinal practices. The article seeks to look at the methods of production of the dictionary, the presentation of entries in the dictionary and the problems and challenges encountered in the compilation proc-ess, namely, developing Shona medical terminology in the cultural context and especially the as-pect of equivalence between English and Shona biomedical terms.Keywords: BIOMEDICAL, ADOPTIVES, ENTRIES, SYNONYMS, CROSS-REFERENCES, IDIOMS, CIRCUMLOCUTION, STANDARDISATION, HEADWORD, EQUIVALENCE, VARI-ANTS, DEFINITION, CULTURE, EUPHEMISMS, MODERN, TRADITIONAL, MONOLINGUAL, BILINGUAL, CORPUS, BORROWING, SHONA, COMMUNICATION*****OPSOMMING: Die samestelling van die Sjona–Engelse biomediese woorde-boek: Probleme en uitdagings. Die tweetalige Sjona–Engelse woordeboek van biomediese terme, Duramazwi reUrapi neUtano, is saamgestel met die doel om die effektiwiteit van kommunika-sie tussen dokter en pasiënt te verbeter. Die woordeboek bestaan uit terme van sowel moderne as tradisionele geneeskundige praktyke. Die artikel wil die metodes van die totstandkoming van die woordeboek beskou, die aanbieding van die inskrywings in die woordeboek en die probleme en uitdagings wat in die samestellingsproses teëgekom is, naamlik, die ontwikkeling van Sjona- mediese terminolgie binne die kulturele konteks en veral die aspek van ekwivalensie tussen Engel-se en Sjona- biomediese terme.Sleutelwoorde: BIOMEDIES, LEENWOORDE, INSKRYWINGS, SINONIEME, KRUISVER-WYSINGS, IDIOME, OMSKRYWING, STANDAARDISASIE, TREFWOORD, EKWIVALENSIE, WISSELVORME, DEFINISIE, KULTUUR, EUFEMISMES, MODERN, TRADISIONEEL, EEN-TALIG, TWEETALIG, KORPUS, ONTLENING, KOMMUNIKASIE, SJONA