Terminology planning : the contribution of the Jordan Academy of Arabic, with special reference to medical terminology

This study illustrates the demand for Arabic terminology policy to provide the languagewith the necessary means to meet the new challenges to Arabic in the age of globalisation.It is part of the emergent literature on Arabic term innovation, the field in which mostsignificant language planning and reforms are needed. The researcher highlights thecontribution of the Jordan Academy of Arabic in lexical generation, the most significantactivity of Arabic language planning. He investigates the language planning efforts of theJordan Academy in lexical formation. The data for the quantitative analysis in this researchis 861 medical terms sanctioned by the Jordan Academy. Before analysing the total data,the researcher investigates the work mechanism employed by the Jordan Academy ininventing and sanctioning terminology. He also investigates the terminological problems ofArabic. The analysis of the data shows which word-formation techniques the JordanAcademy has resorted to when inventing and sanctioning medical terms. All processes oflexical enhancement in Arabic including the controversial process of lexical borrowinghave been employed by the Academy except blending.This study provides the foundation for further studies in Arabic terminology planning inparticular, and Arabic language planning more generally