Grex Language Conference

View Responses

Grex Language Item 56: "forensic(s)" etymology
Entered by albaugh on Sat Jan 29 08:30:07 UTC 1994:

Can anyone provide the etymology to show the difference between
"forensics" as in "debating" and "forensic" (medicine) as in "pathology" ?

5 responses total.

#1 of 5 by davel on Sat Jan 29 14:26:48 1994:

This isn't etymolgy as such: my dictionary assumes that there's no difference.
I'll quote:

> 1. Pertaining to or employed in legal proceedings or argumentation:
> _forensic medicine_.  2. Of, pertaining to, or employed in debate or
> argument; rhetorical.

The etymology it gives is Latin _forensis_, from _forum_, & refers you
to the Appendix on *dhwer-*, which I'll forego following up.  Is there
a problem with this?  Debate, in court or out, is the common element,
I think.

#2 of 5 by albaugh on Sat Jan 29 23:31:50 1994:

Curious that my understanding of "forensic medicine" - pathology, i.e.
determining cause of death - would have adopted this "debate" component for
its terminology.  Maybe they thought it was an inexact science, open for
debate by attorneys?  "How can you be sure that arrow thru the heart really
killed him?"  :-)

#3 of 5 by davel on Sun Jan 30 01:41:49 1994:

I suspect that the reason "forensic" got applied to pathology is that it
was seriously pursued as an aid to legal procedings - determination of cause
of death being needed for determination of whether a crime has been committed,
etc.

#4 of 5 by srw on Sun Jan 30 01:45:38 1994:

Yes, I don't believe forensic medicine is a direct reference to
pathology at all. Rather it is a reference to medicine used in court.
Admittedly, this is very often pathology.

#5 of 5 by keesan on Tue Feb 24 04:42:46 1998:

The Russian for forensic medicine is literally 'court medicine'.  There is
another phrase that translates 'forensic chemistry'.

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.