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Is there a word or phrase that describes the practice of adopting a term from one field in a totally different field? Typically this term shares some conceptual meaning with the originating field. One example is the word "ecosystem". I believe it originated in the biology or natural sciences but has found its way in several other discourses such as computer science.
Quote:
As the ecosystem for database management evolves further beyond the typical DBMS user base, opportunities emerge for new programming models and for new system components for data management and manipulation

http://db.cs.berkeley.edu/claremont/claremontreport08.pdf
The Claremont Report on Database Research

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I dont think there is any word for such a practice.. You can still check out www.vocabularybuilding.org which has long word list.

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Originally Posted By: jpryde
Is there a word or phrase that describes the practice of adopting a term from one field in a totally different field?


Intelligence?

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All I can think of is co-opt, but that's not specific to words.

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Linguistic cross-pollination?

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How about 'WEB' from spiders, nets, etc, to computers?


----please, draw me a sheep----
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Originally Posted By: jpryde
Is there a word or phrase that describes the practice of adopting a term from one field in a totally different field?


Intelligence?

*********

Bullshit bingo is full of *it.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bullshittery

or even:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit

Refering to the original quote, the usage analysis:

"Assertions of fact
Bullshit is commonly used to describe statements made by people more concerned with the response of the audience than in truth and accuracy...

Seems to be accurate.


Last edited by musick; 06/29/09 07:51 PM.

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