The Evolution of Mathematical Terminology: From Antiquity to the Present

This article explores the evolution of mathematical terminology from antiquity to the pre-sent day. It analyzes the key stages of the development of mathematical language, starting from the first terms in ancient civilizations to the formation of modern universal mathematical terminology, which enables mathematicians from different parts of the world to communicate and ex-change knowledge. Particular attention is paid to the influence of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance scholars on the formation of mathematical terms, as well as the contributions of prominent mathematicians of the 17th–19th centuries in developing symbolism and standards for mathematical notation. The article also examines the role of globalization and the development of digital technologies in shaping modern mathematical terminology, as well as the challenges that arise in translating mathematical terms into different languages. The influence of the English language as an international standard in scientific publications and the difficulties associated with adapting terms to national contexts are also discussed. The article concludes with insights into the future prospects of the development of mathematical language and its role in interdisciplinary research.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Terminological Bulletin
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.37919/2221-8807-2025-8-24
Primary Topic
Mathematics, Computing, and Information Processing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

The Evolution of Mathematical Terminology: From Antiquity to the Present

Oleksandra Kisilevych
Terminological Bulletin
Mathematics, Computing, and Information Processing
article

The Evolution of Mathematical Terminology: From Antiquity to the Present

Oleksandra Kisilevych
article en

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of mathematical terminology from antiquity to the pre-sent day. It analyzes the key stages of the development of mathematical language, starting from the first terms in ancient civilizations to the formation of modern universal mathematical terminology, which enables mathematicians from different parts of the world to communicate and ex-change knowledge. Particular attention is paid to the influence of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance scholars on the formation of mathematical terms, as well as the contributions of prominent mathematicians of the 17th–19th centuries in developing symbolism and standards for mathematical notation. The article also examines the role of globalization and the development of digital technologies in shaping modern mathematical terminology, as well as the challenges that arise in translating mathematical terms into different languages. The influence of the English language as an international standard in scientific publications and the difficulties associated with adapting terms to national contexts are also discussed. The article concludes with insights into the future prospects of the development of mathematical language and its role in interdisciplinary research.

Terminological Bulletin(8)
Openalex Percentile: Top 78%
Mathematics, Computing, and Information Processing
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