Scientific, Technical, and Humanities Texts
Definition
Scientific, technical, and humanities texts collect and transmit human knowledge. Scientific texts pertain to the exact sciences (math, logic) and experimental sciences (physics, chemistry, biology). Technical texts originate from applied sciences (computer science, mechanics, electronics). Humanities texts belong to the humanities (philosophy, linguistics) and social sciences (history, sociology).
Authorship and Audience
The author is typically a specialist with thorough knowledge of the subject. The intended audience is usually the scientific community, students, or researchers.
Communication
The channel is normally written. The message usually takes expository and argumentative forms. It can be disclosed through newspapers or specialized training.
Spanish Language Word Formation
Processes
- Incorporation: Introducing a word from a living or dead language (Latin, Greek). This includes loanwords, cultisms, and neologisms.
- Derivation: Creating a word from existing elements within the language. This includes derivation, composition, parasynthesis, abbreviations, and acronyms.
- Creation: Introducing a new word by imitating sounds (onomatopoeia).
Loanwords
Castilian words originating from other modern languages through geographical or cultural contact (e.g., Arabic, French, Catalan, English).
Cultisms
Loanwords from classical languages like Latin and Greek. Lexical doublets occur when a cultism and a word derived from the same Latin etymon exist (e.g., “rapidus” (cultism) and “rápido” (Spanish)).
Neologisms
Words formed using Greek or Latin elements (e.g., “bibliophile”).
Derivation
Adding affixes or morphemes to a lexeme. Prefixes precede the stem (e.g., “unfair”). Suffixes are placed between the lexeme and inflectional morphemes (e.g., “boscoso”). Suffixes can be nominalizations, adjectives, verbalizations, or adverbializers.
Infixes are meaningless segments placed between the stem and a suffix to avoid hiatus or prevent homonymy (e.g., “llamar”). These processes often involve a change in the semantic meaning of the lexeme.
Composition
Combining two or more lexemes to create a new term (e.g., “cobweb,” “peppermint,” “pastime,” “bittersweet”).
Lexia
Stable combinations that function as a single oral element (e.g., “swordfish,” “creche,” “frogman,” “sleeper,” “policeman,” “Indian ink,” “houndstooth”).
Parasynthesis
Simultaneously adding a prefix and a suffix to a lexeme (e.g., “desalmado”).
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Words formed from initial letters or by joining the start and end of other words.
Onomatopoeia
Words imitating the sound of the thing they name.
Verb Conjugations (Indicative and Subjunctive)
Includes present, perfect, imperfect, pluperfect, future, and conditional tenses for common verbs like “amar” (to love), “temer” (to fear), and “partir” (to depart).