-ology, -logy +
(Greek: a suffix: any branch of knowledge; any science or academic field that ends in -ology which is a variant of -logy; one who speaks (in a certain manner); one who deals (with a certain topic); talk, speak)
The word -ology is a back-formation from the names of certain disciplines. The -logy element basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), "to speak". The suffix -ology is considered to be misleading as the "o" is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending; such as, bio + logy.
Through the years -ology and -logy have come to mean, "study of" or "science of" and either of these suffixes often utilize the form of -ologist, "one who (whatever the preceding element refers to)".
The examples shown in this unit represent just a small fraction of the many words that exist in other units in this lexicon.
myrmecology
The study of ants.
mythology
1. That department of knowledge that deals with myths.
2. A group of myths that belong to a particular people or culture and tell about their ancestors, heroes, gods, and other supernatural beings and history.
3. The study of myths, or the branch of knowledge that deals with myths.
Mythological Roman and Greek deities with related images.
necrology
1. A list of people who have died recently or during a particular period.
2. A notice of someone’s death; an obituary.
3. The science of the collection, classification, and interpretation of mortality statistics.
4. The study of decomposition, fossilization, and other processes affecting plant and animal remains after death.
nephology
In meteorology, the study of clouds.
neuropathology
A branch of medicine that is concerned with diseases of the nervous system.
oneirology
The scientific study of dreams.
otorhinolaryngology
The branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
Otorhinolaryngology is the type of medical specialty that can frustrate a non-medical person, both in trying to pronounce the word properly and with having any idea of what it means.
The words ear, nose, and throat are quite clear; however, and that is what is meant by oto–, rhino–, and laryngo–, which are the translations of “ear”, “nose”, and “larynx" or "upper part of the windpipe”; respectively, when used in combination in various word forms.
paleontology
1. The study of ancient life on earth; the study of fossils.
2. The study of life in prehistoric times by using fossil evidence.
papyrology
The study of papyri, including ancient papyrus manuscripts.
patrology
The study of the writings of the Fathers (of the Church), patristics; a treatise on these writings.
pedology
1. Study of the structure and formation of soils; soil science.
2. The scientific study of soils, including their origins, characteristics, and classifications.
phonology
1. Originally, the science of vocal sounds (phonetics); especially, of the sounds of a particular language. The study of pronunciation, transferring the system of sounds in a language. Now, that branch of linguistics that deals with sound systems, or with sound systems and phonetics; the study of the sound system of a particular language. The ensemble for a particular individual speaker is referred to as his/her phonological system.
2. The analysis and description of speech sounds in terms of the linguistic systems in which they function.
3. The study of the elements and principles that determine the overall sound patterns of a language, including phonetics and phonemics.
photobiology
1. The study of the effects of light on living things.
2. That part of biology designed to destroy tissues with a concentrated light beam; such as, a laser.
phytopathology
1. The study of plant diseases and their control.
2. The pathology of diseases caused by plant parasites.
protozoology
The branch of zoology dealing with protozoa.
Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "talk, speak, speech; words, language; tongue, etc.":
cit-;
clam-;
dic-;
English Words: Origins and Histories;
fa-;
-farious;
glosso-;
glotto-;
lalo-;
linguo-;
locu-;
logo-;
loqu-;
mythico-;
ora-;
-phasia;
-phemia;
phon-;
phras-;
Quotes: Language,Part 1;
Quotes: Language, Part 2;
Quotes: Language, Part 3;
serm-;
tongue;
voc-.
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