Patsy:
I don't think it was ever "official", but until from about 1850 to 1950 it was,
in practice, the Language of Science (as French was for diplomacy).  At that it
unofficially took over from Latin.  I know just enough of each not to get lost in
them.
Adrian Leek.

rueggp wrote:

> a lot of our words should have a German root...
> wasn't German the official International Scientific Language before English?
> patsy ruegg
>
> "Nader, Alexander" wrote:
>
> > >
> > > diener was used to refer to someone who helps assist with the
> > > dead, it is
> > > derived from the German and literally means slave. Some
> > > prefer not to use it
> > > today. Politically correct and all that. we call our guy (who
> > > is wonderful)
> > > our Morgue Attendant.                                  Dana
> >
> > Wrong translation! The German word "Diener" means servant, not slave (German
> > "Sklave"), so there's no political incorrectness at all to use this word.
> >
> > BTW: recently I came across another German word in CDM Fletcher's book:
> > "zellballen". I'm wondering how many other German words are used by
> > pathologists or histologists.
> >
> > Alex Nader