Scientists must communicate with each other and the public to share ideas. Scientific language is used to make this communication effective. Sometimes scientific information can be misinterpreted or reported with bias. It is important that we understand scientific information presented by the media and are able to decide if it is reliable. When we play sports or a musical instrument we are entering the world of sport or music. In order
to understand these worlds we must use and understand language appropriate and specific to them. In the same way, to have a real understanding of the nature of science we must use and understand language appropriate to science.
5.1 Scientific language
Think about these words: matter, force, energy and cell. Make sentences using each of them. These words mean different things in scientific language compared to everyday language. In everyday language you might say, ‘It doesn’t matter if I miss the game.’ In science the word ‘matter’ means anything that occupies space and has mass. Science has its own language. Scientific knowledge is communicated internationally through words, numbers, symbols, graphs, diagrams and equations. Scientists can communicate with the rest of the scientific community using this language in a way that would not be possible using everyday language.
Fig. 1 Scientific knowledge is communicated internationally through words, numbers, symbols, graphs, diagrams and equations.
