Medical Terminology Demystified

Interpreter’s Resource Shelf (appeared in RID VIEWS November, 2006, reprinted with permission)
Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S.

Medical Terminology Demystified: A Self-teaching Guide. By Dr. Dale Layman. McGraw-Hill, 2006. ISBN 0-07-146104-3. $19.95.

We all know how hard it is to interpret when you don’t even understand what’s being said in the source language…and medical terminology provides some of the most challenging source language interpreters face. This self-paced guide goes far beyond your basic medical dictionary by providing background information, context, and history, all in an entertaining, easy-to-read format. Information is divided logically; the first section details “The Foundations of Medical Terminology” with a broad introduction to the basics, and then later sections delve into the specifics of cells, bones and muscles, respiration and circulation, and other body systems. This, along with the comprehensive index, allows an interpreter to use the book as a solid grounding in general medical terminology, or as a ready reference for a particular subject area. Terms are introduced in context, each accompanied by a pronunciation guide and broken down by meaning for better memory retention. “Case histories” demonstrate the practical use of the terms, ensuring better understanding for the reader, and notable names in medicine (such as Hippocrates, Florence Nightingale, and Shen Nung, the “founder of pharmacology”) are presented along with their notable accomplishments. A helpful summary table at the end of each chapter breaks down key terms by prefix, root, and suffix. The book also features a multiple-choice quiz at the end of each chapter, a test at the end of each section, and a final exam at the end of the book. Though the illustrations are frankly amateurish, and the author’s elaborate “Memory Pillbox” system is of debatable use, Medical Terminology Demystified will assist interpreters working in the medical setting in learning new terminology, gaining confidence in the terms they think they know, and providing more conceptually accurate interpretation for deaf consumers.

This column appears monthly in VIEWS. Please direct questions, comments, or suggestions for resources to highlight in future issues to Kathy MacMillan at info@kathymacmillan.com.