The Significance of Medical Terminology in the Arabic 111 Course at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS): An Analytical Pragmatic Study

Abstract

Medical terminology in the “Arab 111” curriculum varies in its use within the educational context, which may affect students’ comprehension and understanding. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the suitability of these terms from a pragmatic perspective and their relationship to the effectiveness of scientific communication. Medical terminology possesses multiple contextual dimensions and is not confined solely to the scientific context among physicians, patients, and society. Pragmatics thus focuses on the way these terms are employed in everyday communication, since their circulation requires simplification to suit non-specialists. Moreover, misunderstanding medical terminology may lead to errors in diagnosis or treatment, making it essential to achieve a balance between scientific accuracy and ease of understanding in order to improve medical communication. The study reveals that the difference does not lie in the term itself, but rather in its pragmatic function within discourse. Some terms are used metaphorically or in an extended sense beyond their original medical practices, which normally provide them with semantic stability. Therefore, it is important to train students in strategies for presenting medical terminology through effective communication, while also teaching the distinction between technical medical terminology and simplified language directed to patients. The pragmatics of medical terminology contributes to preparing a generation that is more aware and capable of dealing with medical concepts in both academic and practical life. It is also necessary to relate medical terminology to realistic life examples that enhance learners’ comprehension, retention, and understanding.