The language of medicine today: English as the new Latin - benefits and challenges

The language of medicine constitutes a specialized register characterized by precision, distinctive functional elements, and historical continuity. Rooted in Latin and Greek, medical terminology has long served as the foundation of stable cross-linguistic communication. For centuries, Latin functioned as the lingua franca of medical education, scholarship, and clinical practice, before gradually being replaced by vernacular languages. After World War II, English emerged as the dominant language of medicine, supported by the geopolitical influence of Anglophone countries, the rise of international organizations, and the globalization of medical publishing and education. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the establishment of English as the new Latin in global medical communication, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of this phenomenon. The primary benefits include universality of communication, standardized terminology and education, facilitated access to scientific literature, international collaboration, efficiency in crisis situations as well as increased visibility and impact of scholarly research. Conversely, the challenges entail linguistic inequality, obstacles for non-native speakers, loss of linguistic and cultural diversity, bias in research dissemination, and limited accessibility for patients. Undoubtedly, medical English has become the lingua franca of the international health care community in the 21st century. Yet concerted efforts are required to ensure professional inclusivity, preserve linguistic diversity, and establish a balance between the principles of efficiency and equity in future global medical communication.