Science, scientific, scientist

The first meaning of science given in the COD is "know­ledge". However, this is marked archaic. The second is: "sys­tematic and formulated knowledge (natural, social, etc.); pursuit of this or principles regulating such pursuit". This meaning coincides with that of the Russian наука. However, there is a marked difference in usage between the two words; whereas in Russian наука is used in this sense equally with or without a qualifying adjective or phrase, in English science in this sense is nearly always qualified.

e.g. natural science linguistic science

medical science the science of language
social science the exact sciences

(See also unit 388.)

When used alone, science usually has the meaning given in the COD as number three, viz: "the physical and natural sciences collectively". The example given to illustrate this is: Science now shares the curriculum with literature, history and maths.

This is the meaning which science has in the name faculty of science and in the title Department of Education and Sci­ence. It corresponds in Russian not to наука but to естествен­ные науки.

In education science, or the sciences are often contrasted with art, or the arts (see arts, unit 392).

Science and technology is very widely used as a collective

term denoting the natural sciences and all their practical and industrial applications.

e.g. a. (Describing a new encyclopedia) Articles by spe­cialists, under more than 6,000 main headings, pay particular attention to the rapidly advancing areas of science and technology.

b. There are many interesting careers in science and technology open to young people nowadays.

е. The National Lending Library for Science and Tech­nology — name of a library.

Note that technique cannot be used instead of technology. It has a different meaning, defined by Hornby as follows:

"1. (U) * technical or mechanical skill in art, music, etc. 2. (C) * method of doing sth. expertly; method of artis­tic expression in music, painting, etc."

The main point which has been made about the noun sci­ence applies also to the adjective scientific. It has a general meaning, which can be applied to all branches of knowledge, and a second, more restricted one, which applies particularly to the natural sciences, and which is the most common.

The general meaning, as given in the COD, is: "according to rules laid down in science for testing soundness of conclu­sions; systematic, accurate".

e.g. a scientific study/investigation/approach to have a scientific mind

This meaning corresponds to the Russian научный.

The second, restricted meaning is defined as "of, used or

engaged in esp. the natural sciences". Examples of this use

are:

scientific work/research scientific progress

a scientific career the scientific revolution

a scientific conference (научно-техническая pe-

scientific books/instru- волюция)

ments/equipment a scientific experiment

a scientific journal/paper/ a scientific achievement
article scientific language/terms

The main point made about science and scientific applies with even greater force to the word scientist; for whereas science/scientific usually, but not always, refer to the natural

* U = uncountable; C = countable 224

sciences, a scientist is always a natural scientist, or sometimes, loosely speaking, someone in a related field, such as engineer­ing.

Scientist may be used of anyone specialising in the natural sciences at whatever level, for example:

(1) a senior schoolboy/girl who is specialising in science
subjects in preparation for a scientific career;

(2) a student in the science faculty of a university, or a stu­
dent of science at a college. Science student is more specif­
ic.

(3) a teacher in one of the above faculties or colleges;

(4) someone doing research in science;

(5) someone whose work demands specialised knowledge of
science, for example, in industry.

Thus it is clear that in one sense scientist is a narrower term than ученый since it refers exclusively to the natural sciences. In another sense, however, it is a wider term, since it includes not only those engaged in research but also students and even, in some cases, schoolchildren.

416. syllabus

This is a summary of what is to be taught in each subject on the curriculum. For example, in a school there is a sylla­bus for each subject, form by form. We speak of, for example,

the English/science syllabus

the first-form maths syllabus The following expressions with syllabus are used:

to draw up a syllabus

to put smth. on the syllabus

to take smth. off the syllabus

to be on the syllabus Here are some examples of usage:

a. There is a copy of the syllabus in the staff room.

b. / must remember to look at the syllabus for next term.
е. "The Merchant of Venice" has been put on the syllabus.

d. This material is too difficult for the second year. It
should be taken off the syllabus.

e. You needn't teach the subjunctive. It's not on the
syllabus.

Syllabus is also used specifically in connection with an examination, meaning a list of the material on which the can­didates are to be examined.

e.g. the degree/diploma/GCE syllabus (see unit 340)

It is also used by extension to mean not only a list of the material to be taught, or studied for an examination, but the material itself.

e.g. a. We must cover the syllabus by the end of this month. b. The fifth-form syllabus is very difficult.

е. The history syllabus is getting

417. teach

Teach is used in such sentences as:

a. — What does she do?

— She teaches. = She's a teacher.

b. — She teaches English. = She's an English teacher.
е. — Miss Carter teaches German now as well as English.

d. — / taught five lessons today.

e. — Mrs Andrews teaches first and second year students.

f. (Form teacher to form) — Who's teaching you
next period?

g. — I've just taught the fourth form the use of the present

perfect. h. — Can you come and see me at 1 o'clock?

— No, I'm afraid I can't. I'm teaching.

Take and have are often used instead of teach in everyday conversation, as illustrated below:

(1) take

a. — Who takes you for English? = Who teaches you

English?

b. — I'm taking the second form next lesson.

е. — Miss Duncan is taking English with the third form at the moment.

d. — / take conversation on Mondays. (See also unit 272.)

(2) have

This is slightly more colloquial than take on the whole.

a. — Who do you have for English? — Who teaches you

English?

b. — I've got the second form next lesson.

e. — On Fridays I have English with the third form.
d. — Miss Smith has got the first year for grammar now.

To train, training

To train is more restricted in its application than to teach. It implies a specific purpose, often a particular job or profes­sion. The following expressions are often used with train, training:

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