Dominik Berrens

Dominik Berrens, a classicist who studies Neo-Latin scientific texts, explores how early modern scientific terms were made. He traces multilingual sources, naming strategies like Greek compounds and loanwords, and debates over reusing ancient names. He also examines challenges from New World species, microscopic organisms, and the role of accident and chance in shaping technical vocabulary.

Dominik Berrens, classicist and scholar of Neo-Latin and early modern science, explores how terminology for natural history formed. He traces Latin’s dominance, the use of Greek, Arabic, vernaculars and indigenous names. He recounts naming practices for New World and microscopic organisms. He highlights debates, accidental coinages, and the surprising non-scientific forces behind technical terms.