A Corpus-Based Study on Grammaticalization and Lexicalization in Medical English

Medical English, as a specialized form of English, has attracted considerable attention due to its unique linguistic features. Grammaticalization and lexicalization represent critical mechanisms in the evolution of language and are essential for understanding and mastering medical English. This study, drawing on the MEDLINE corpus, investigates the characteristics of grammaticalization and lexicalization in medical English from the perspective of cognitive linguistics, aiming to unveil its underlying cognitive foundations. The findings suggest that the processes of grammaticalization and lexicalization in medical English reflect cognitive mechanisms such as categorization, inferential processing, and pragmatic strategies. These insights provide novel approaches and methodologies for the teaching of medical English.