Research groups at the Institute of Languages for Specific Purposes

Our researchers, research teams and international partners undertake interprofessional, empirical, data-based, machine and manual analysis of health communication. We investigate patient-centered medical communication and terminology and, in close collaboration with medical professionals, we develop language strategies that support the development of medical terminology and patient-centered communication.

Software used for research

Title

Terminological, pragmatic, and dental professional analyses of dental consultations for patients treated for oral mucosal diseases

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi PhD, habil., Orsolya Németh PhD

Co-researchers

Prof. Péter Holló PhD

Dániel Mány PhD

Short description

Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analyses of dental consultations for patients undergoing treatment for STIs. Considering that systemic factors often underlie oral mucosal diseases, a complex linguistic and dental examination is conducted regarding the diagnostic role of the patient’s reported medical history, based on patient education preceding medical history taking. The research focuses on the communication strategies, particularly those employed by dentists, during medical history taking, with special attention to topics treated as taboos. In this research, the aim is to integrate identified communicative strategies into patient-centered dentist-patient communication education and provide quantitative data to support the significance of information obtained from medical history in dental decision-making.

Language

Hungarian

 

Title

Terminological, pragmatic, and dental professional analyses of dental consultations for patients seeking care due to xerostomia

Principal investigators

Orsolya Németh PhD, Katalin Fogarasi PhD, habil.

Co-researchers

Dániel Mány PhD

Nárcisz Tegze PhD

Luca Rausch-Molnár PhD

Short description

Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analyses of dental consultations for patients reporting subjective dry mouth. Considering that systemic causes (immunological or geriatric) or subjective (psychological) factors are often behind dry mouth, a complex linguistic and dental analysis is carried out based on the patient’s reported medical history. This research seeks to answer whether hyposalivation or psychological factors underlie xerostomia. The aim is to integrate identified communicative strategies into patient-centered dentist-patient communication education and quantify the significance of information obtained from the medical history in dental decision-making.

Language

Hungarian

 

Title

Exploring Metaphorical Descriptions and Terminological Features of Diagnosis Probability in Histological and Autopsy Documentation

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi PhD. habil.

Jan Engberg PhD

Short description

The research group’s objective is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of alterations and linguistic features related to the probability of diagnoses in histological and autopsy documentation, in the fields of pathology and forensic medicine. This research will involve a contrastive analysis of such documentation in Hungarian, German, and English languages.

The central aim of this research is to delve into the metaphors employed to depict alterations or injuries. Within these documents, diagnoses are linked to the described lesions, and the probability of these diagnoses can be expressed through diverse linguistic techniques, encompassing specific stylistic and terminological elements.

In pursuit of this goal, the research team will conduct the analysis of authentic documentation in the selected languages, aided by the Sketch Engine concordance software. Their primary emphasis will be on discerning similarities and distinctions in the use of linguistic metaphors and the techniques employed to depict visual and, where possible, tactile perceptions within diverse cultural contexts. Furthermore, the research will detect phraseo-terminological structures and linguistic patterns that define these genres in the respective languages.

Another key objective of the research group is to create guidelines for the translation of these documents between these languages. They will also compare the ways in which probability is reflected in histological and autopsy documentation in Hungarian, German, and English, with the aim of providing professionals with guidelines to improve the expression of subtleties, precision, and clarity of their documentation in this specialized field.

Language

English

 

Title

Establishing Evidential Linguistic Markers in Healthcare Discourses

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi PhD. habil.

Jerome Tessuto Prof.

Short description

The research group aims to investigate linguistic means for proving damage in healthcare by focusing on discourse-specific markers within healthcare settings. This research group will delve into the expression of the probability of evidence in discourses related to diagnostic procedures, clinical negligence, and bodily harm. Terminological, phraseo-terminological, stylistic, and discourse-specific linguistic features in authentic corpora of Hungarian, German, and English findings are analyzed. The primary goal of this research is to describe the linguistic characteristics found in these languages through a contrastive analysis. Furthermore, the research group aims to publish guidelines to assist professionals dealing with specific healthcare discourses in expressing the strength of evidence effectively for interventional, civil legal, and criminal legal purposes.

Language

English

 

Title

The Terminological and Sociopragmatic Analysis of Online Consultations on the ‘Webbeteg’ Portal

Principal investigators

Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.

Zsuzsa Vladár Ph.D., habil. (Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities)

Co-researchers

Andrea Keresztélyné Barta Ph.D.

Emese Márton (Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities)

Ingrid Lengyel Ph.D. (Ministry of Interior, Integrated Legal Protection Service)

Short description

The objective of the research group is to construct and deliver a software-based terminological and sociopragmatic analysis of a text corpus composed of material related to online, asynchronous advice-seeking and advice-giving interactions. This study focuses on the distinctions between everyday language and medical terminology, examines code-switching, and seeks to reveal sociopragmatic characteristics within the context of seeking and giving advice. Ultimately, the goal is to develop guidelines for effective language strategies in this domain.

Language

Hungarian

 

Title

Terminological examination of injury-related medical documentation

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil. – Zoltán Patonai Dr. Med., Ph.D. (Pécs University, Clinical Center, Department of Traumatology and Hand Surgery)

Co-researchers

Attila Gátos Dr. Med., Ph.D.

Judit Császár (Ph.D. student)

Magdolna Pálinkás (Ph.D. student)

Viktória Sirokmány (Ph.D. student)

Short description

The interprofessional research group focuses on multilingual, contrastive terminological analysis of medical, dental, and pediatric documentation generated during the care of accidents and assaults.

The aim of the research is to reveal and categorize documentation mistakes and their terminological causes, as well as  work out guidelines for improving the quality of documentation.

Language

Hungarian, German, English

 

Title

Examination  of diagnosis disclosure and oral patient-information in GP consultations using the methodology  of terminology and linguistic conversation analysis

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil. – Prof. Dr. Péter Torzsa (Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine)

Co-researchers

Anikó Hambuchné Kőhalmi Ph.D. (Pécs University, Medical School, Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication)

Renáta Halász (Pécs University, Medical School, Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication)

Rita Kránicz Ph.D. (Pécs University, Medical School, Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication)

Dániel Mány Ph.D.

Andrea Keresztélyné Barta Ph.D.

Enikő Földesi (Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Behavioural Sciences)

Short description

The aim of the interprofessional research group is to examine the terminology and communication strategies of code switching required for patient-centered diagnosis disclosure in GP consultations, and to implement  the results directly in  the interprofessional practical course “Linguistic aspects of patient-centered diagnosis disclosure”.

Conversation analysis is based on the software-aided and manual analysis of audio texts and the examination of the automatically created and  manually checked transcripts  of  the texts, including metadata.

Language

Hungarian

 

Title

Intercultural communication in healthcare

Principal investigator

Alexandra Zimonyi-Bakó

Co-researcher

Barbara Marshall Ph.D.

Short description

The aim of the research  is to develop  a language teaching methodology which prepares students for  intercultural medical communication and  using English as a lingua franca.

During the research, which relies on theory and teaching practice, validated teaching and assessment materials are developed.

Language

English

 

Title

Patient-centred communication

Principal investigator

Barbara Marshall Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Alexandra Zimonyi-Bakó

Short description

Exploring the application of person-centred communication theory and background studies in the practice of patient-centred communication, and developing teaching methodological strategies based on classroom research.

Language

English

 

Title

Improving the speaking and comprehension skills of students of Hungarian medical and dentistry terminology

Principle investigator

Mónika Schmidtné Putz Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Hortenzia Halász

Short description

Error analysis of audio recordings captured in exam situations and transcribed using mechanical devices. Examination of the impact of Hungarian vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation on the comprehensibility in the speech productions of non-native Hungarian students. Measurement of comprehensibility and speech understanding according to a defined framework, and exploration of correlations among the results. The goal is to teach language for specific purposes based on empirical data effectively, support curriculum development, and enhance students’ success in clinical communication. The justification of the necessity and legitimacy of teaching language for specific purposes starting from the beginner level.

Language

Hungarian

 

Title

Terminological and sociopragmatic examination of written and oral patient information texts

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil.
Dániel Mány Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.

Short description

During the research   written or spoken Hungarian texts are collected, a text corpus is constructed and analyzed in an empirical, qualitative and quantitative way. In the course of the research, the focus will be on exploring and describing the characteristics of patient satisfaction and patient-centered doctor-patient communication, and later  integrating them into education with the help of MemoQ, Sketch Engine and Alrite software.

Language

Hungarian, English, German, French

 

Title

Taboo and euphemism in health translation, interpretation and in languages for medical purposes

Principal investigator

Dániel Mány Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Andrea Pizarro Pedraza Ph.D. (Université Saint Louis Bruxelles)

Short description

The research attempts to describe the strategy and characteristics of information transfer during physician-patient communication, concentrating on the emotional dimension of lay patients, and the importance of euphemism and taboo. The research is conducted in an intercultural and interdisciplinary framework with corpus building, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of authentic and translated oral and written texts in Hungarian, English, French and Spanish.

Language

Hungarian, English, French, Spanish

 

Title

Patient safety and communication in a multicultural and multilingual healthcare environment

Principal investigator

Ágnes Horváth

Co-researchers

Gábor Pörzse  Dr. Med., Ph.D.
Péter Molnár
Ágnes Csorvási Dr. Med.
Anna Júlia Szákács

Short description

The research examines how  interpreters and translators are involved in healthcare services in different countries, in order to provide equal opportunities, a safe environment and high- quality services for patients not speaking the local language. A pre-defined set of criteria, personal interviews and questionnaires are applied to map the strategies used in each country. The aim of the research is to develop  theoretical and practical teaching  materials for  the training of translators and interpreters in health sciences, and to collect useful international teaching strategies for Hungarian adaptation.

Language

Hungarian, English, German, French

 

Title

Language Assistance in Hungarian Health Care: Translations for Effective Communication (LAHTEC)

Principal investigator

Ágnes Horváth Ph.D. (SE)

Co-researchers

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil. (Semmelweis University), Alexandra Vivien Zimonyi-Bakó (Semmelweis University), Dániel Mány Ph.D. (Semmelweis University), Juhász-Koch Márta Ph.D. (Semmelweis University), Enikő Benedek Ph.D. (Semmelweis Univeristy), Réka Rebeka Gabányi (Semmelweis University), Annamária Marthy Ph.D. (Semmelweis University), Csilla Keresztes, Ph.D., habil. (University of Szeged), Andrea Stötzer (University of Szeged), Réka Csenki-Bozsó (University of Szeged), Zsuzsanna Szűcs (University of Szeged), Balázs Sinkovics Ph.D. (University of Szeged), Vilmos Warta (University of Pécs), Anita Hegedűs Ph.D (University of Pécs), Gabriella Nagy (University of Pécs), Tímea Németh Ph.D. (University of Pécs), Alexandra Csongor Ph.D. (University of Pécs), Katalin Rozman (University of Debrecen), Anna Jóna (University of Debrecen), Szilvia Gergely (University of Debrecen), Ildikó Gerő (University of Debrecen), Judit Kovács (University of Debrecen), Mónika Krasznai (University of Debrecen), Zsuzsa Mezei (University of Debrecen), László Répás (University of Debrecen)

Short description

The research group is dedicated to offering language assistance through translations for hospitals and non-Hungarian-speaking patients. This initiative aims to prevent potential adverse events resulting from language barriers, ensuring that patients’ rights to information and the quality of healthcare services remain uncompromised. Language assistance will be provided through sample translations, bilingual glossaries, and translation guides. Notably, the research group gathers the medical language teaching departments of all medical universities in Hungary.

Language

Hungarian, English, German, Latin

 

Title

Examination of archived autopsy reports

Principal investigators

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil.
Dániel Ittzés Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Mária Szabó Ph.D.

Dr. Attila Zalatnai (Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research)

Short description

The research examines the terminology of autopsy reports from  the 19th and 20th centuries using corpus linguistics methods. The Hungarian descriptions and the Latin diagnoses  are also compared with today’s medical documents. The aim is to describe the language usage of both languages in the archived reports, to compile a terminology database based on diachronic examinations and to publish the  handwritten reports.

Language

Hungarian, Latin

 

Title

Terminology Methodology Research Group

Principal investigator

Andrea Keresztélyné Barta Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.
Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil.

Short description

The aim of the research group is to create an innovative medical terminology teaching material  based on the latest research results, with special regard to the characteristics and differences of the Hungarian, English and German medical languages. Our scientific research done prior to the development of teaching material in the fields of Latin anatomical nomenclature, authentic clinical documentation and pharmaceutical terminology is aimed at transferring knowledge that can be used immediately at  the patient bedside.

Language

Hungarian, English, German

 

Title

Anatomical Names Research Group

Principal investigator

Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Andrea Keresztélyné Barta Ph.D., Alexandra Bíró (demonstrator)

Short description

The aim of the research group is to collect Hungarian anatomical names in a terminological database, to unify the anatomical names of descriptive anatomy and clinical fields, and to detect the missing anatomical names based on the analysis of medical texts (textbooks, journal articles, patient information leaflets) and medical documents, taking into account the changes in the Latin international anatomical nomenclature, then implement the results  directly into education and make recommendations to professionals for unhindered  doctor-patient communication.

Language

Hungarian, Latin

 

Title

Hospital Documentation Research Group

Principal investigator

Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil.

Zoltán Patonai Dr. Med., Ph.D. (Pécs University, Clinical Center)

Tünde Vágási Ph.D.

Short description

The aim of the research group is to stylistically and terminologically analyze the text genres of hospital documentation, to examine and collect the database of conventionalized terminological phrases, and then implement the results into the teaching of general medical and specialist terminology, writing and keeping medical documentation, and modern medical languages.

 

Language

Hungarian, Latin

 

Title

The Determinologization/transfer of Medical Terminology into Colloquial Language

Principal investigator

Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Emese Márton

Balázs Indig Ph.D. (Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Digital Humanities),

Gábor Palkó Ph.D., habil.  (Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Digital Humanities),

Zsófia Sárközi-Lindner (Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Digital Humanities)

Short description

The aim of the research group, in collaboration  with the Department of Digital Humanities of Eötvös Loránd University, is to observe and describe the emergence and integration of new terms, to provide a corpus-based analysis of the accelerated determinologization of medical terminology related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing processes in the medical terminology of the Transylvanian language versions based on the text corpora (Covid corpus and Transylvanian news corpus) created  by the Eötvös Loránd University – Department of Digital Humanities, containing articles from Internet news portals.

Language

Hungarian

 

Title

Content-Based Curriculum Development (CLIL) Research Group

Principal investigators

Viktória Sirokmány, Éva Katalin Varga Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil.

Short description

The research group examines the methodology of content-based language teaching and the  development of  CLIL-based teaching materials. CLIL focuses on the application of the method in a higher education environment.

Analyzing the structure of the curriculum and exam tasks developed for the medical language courses, Semmelweis University  develops guidelines to support the teaching of modern languages applying the principles of the CLIL methodology.

Language

English, Hungarian, German, Russian

 

Title

Developing Communication in Healthcare

Principal investigator

Tímea Takács Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Jay Miller, Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D., habil., Viktória Sirokmány

Short description

The research focuses on the development of healthcare professional-patient communication and the involvement of  native speakers as  simulated patients in the English for health and medical sciences language classes. With the help of  simulated patients, needs analyses, case studies, error analyses, (self) evaluation sheets, discourse analyses, new teaching materials and role-plays are created.

Language

English

 

Title

Inclusive language use in health care and academia

Principal investigator

Alexandra Zimonyi-Bakó

Co-researcher

Barbara Marshall

Short description

The research team aims to develop an inclusive language use guide through text analysis and community engagement that will support everyday communication in health care and academia. In addition, we will develop a course that will provide opportunities to put inclusive language use into practice and help sensitise students to and use language consciously.

Language

English, Hungarian

 

Title

Medical humanities in language teaching

Principal investigator

Barbara Marshall Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Tímea Takács Ph.D., Alexandra Zimonyi-Bakó

Short description

The research team explores the application of medical humanities in language education and expands the interdisciplinary alternatives for teaching health communication. The aim is to introduce health humanities into professional language classes through a content-based language teaching approach and to develop teaching methodological strategies based on classroom research.

Language

English, Hungarian

 

Title

Diverse approaches to ageing in professional narratives

Principal investigator

Barbara Marshall Ph.D.

Co-researcher

Tímea Takács Ph.D., Alexandra Zimonyi-Bakó

Short description

The research team explores the representation of diverse approaches to ageing through the analysis of professional narratives. Research into the linguistic manifestations of stereotypes and ideas about ageing will help to develop the education of appropriate health communication tools and methods.

Language

English, Hungarian

 

Title

French Medical Terminology and Communication

Principal investigators

Dániel Mány Ph.D., Serge Quérin M.D., F.R.C.P.(C), Pascaline Faure Ph.D. habil.

Co-researchers

Luca Rausch-Molnár Ph.D., Réka Gabányi

Short description

This research provides an in-depth analysis of the linguistic challenges that international medical students encounter when learning French medical terminology and communication. Based on exam data from Semmelweis University and a corpus of French hospital consultations, the study focuses on issues such as intercultural challenges, patient-centred communication, false friends, polysemy, and cultural variations in medical terminology. In collaboration with the Diplôme de Français de la Santé, Français des Affaires, the research seeks to integrate identified strategies into student education, improving their understanding and communication in francophone healthcare settings. The aim is to enhance communication between patients and healthcare professionals through more effective language learning, fostering better patient care and common decision-making.

Language

French, English

 

Title

Linguistic Analysis of Uro-oncological Consultations

Principal investigators

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Imo, Dániel Mány Ph.D., Katalin Fogarasi Ph.D. habil., Tatiana Osipenko Ph.D., Victoria Fedorovskaja Ph.D.

Co-researchers

Valeria Schick, Dominic Hendricks

Short description

This research group explores doctor-patient interactions in uro-oncological consultations, comparing linguistic practices in German, Russian, and Hungarian. The research focuses on variations in address forms, politeness strategies, and conversational structures, revealing the cultural and communicative norms that shape these interactions. Using interactional sociolinguistics, consultation transcriptions from each language are analyzed, identifying key differences in communication strategies. The findings highlight how linguistic practices influence the dynamics of doctor-patient relationships, impacting both the delivery of information and the patient’s experience. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding these differences to improve communication and provide culturally sensitive care in medical settings.

Language

English, German, Russian, Hungarian