spécialisation

Forms

spécialisation f (plural spécialisations)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French spécialiser + -ation.^[2][1][3] The verb spécialiser is derived from spécial,^[2] which is from Latin speciālis (“relating to a species, particular”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1825 in Comte's Opuscules de philosophie sociale, meaning the fact of confining oneself to one branch of study.^[2][4] The Grand Robert, GLLF and Petit Robert give 1830 for Comte's use.^[3][5][6]

Semantic evolution

Rey notes that spécialisation and spécialisé became common words with the growth of knowledge, sciences and techniques.^[4] Littré still labelled it a neologism.^[7] Besides the general sense “act or fact of specializing”, the word is used of the narrowing of a word's meaning in linguistics and of a course of advanced training in one field.^[6][4]

Timeline

• 1825 – Comte uses it of confining oneself to one branch of study.^[2][4]
• 1826 – Comte uses the verb spécialiser “to give a special, restricted use”.^[2]
• 1873 – Littré records it as a neologism.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act or fact of specializing or of being specialized; specialization: la spécialisation des tâches dans une usine.^[6][8][9]
2. The fact of specializing in one field of knowledge or activity.^[6][9][2]
3. (linguistics) The narrowing of a word's meaning to a more particular use.^[6][4]
4. A course of training giving particular knowledge in one field: faire une spécialisation en chirurgie.^[6]

Related words

• spécialiser
• spécialisé
• spécialiste
• spécialité
• spécial

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)