社会と文化の諸相を映す"Syndrome"語の語形成について

The word "syndrome" was originally a medical term. Compound words ending with "syndrome" became more widely used in the public domain when the terms for conditions seriously afflicting thousands were coined i. e., "Down\u27s syndrome." "AIDS" and "Parkinson\u27s disease." "AIDS," acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, especially contributed to the development of "syndrome" compounds. First, syndrome words were limited only to the medical world, to indicate the formation or recognition of patterns by introducing distinctive titles or labels sourced either from \u27the name of researcher, doctor or patient\u27 or \u27characteristic symptoms\u27 or \u27affected parts of the body\u27 as the prepositive elements followed by "syndrome." Then, prepositive words extended to nominals in different spheres from social, political, economic or military disorder and "undesirable" phenomena. They also reflected opinions on environmental, ethical or living defects and unpleasant effects. Particular interests in cultural activities, from such fields as computer, media and TV, sports, movies, music have also recently joined the "syndrome" compounds. This paper examines 410 words coined from 1864 to 2000, of which 143 words were extracted from The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition (1989), The Oxford Dictionary of New Words, First and Second Volumes (1991; 1997) and from 12,000 Words, A Supplement to Webster\u27s Third New International Dictionary (by Merriam Webster Inc., 1986). The list of words found under the "syndrome" entry in Progressive Reverse English Dictionary (by Shogakukan, 1999) and research drawn from Proquest, Newspaper Abstracts, 1998, 1999, and 2000 editions supplied the further 267 words. The 410 words were classified into 4 categories and discussed morphologically and semantically