IRREGULAR PLURALS IN MEDICAL ENGLISH

Competent professional communication and preparation of scientific documentation in English in the healthcare field requires not only acquisition of the specific medical terminology, but also certain rules for its correct use. The current study concerns main patterns and their rules for irregular plural formation in English medical terminology, coming from Latin and Ancient Greek languages. The aim of this report is to analyze and systematize the main models of irregular plural forms in medical English by examining their etymology and the potential challenges in mastering them in academic and practical environments. Especially in English medical terminology, these two ancient languages have a powerful influence, giving a significant impact on English vocabulary and grammar. The conclusions show tendencies to adapt Latin and ancient Greek medical plural forms to the English language, and at the same time confirm the use of the Latin plural as a distinctive feature of the scientific style.