Representation of neurotechnological terminology in podcasts and lexicographic sources

Abstract

This paper explores the features of neurotechnology terminology represented in modern media platforms—particularly in podcasts—as well as in various lexicographic sources. Due to globalization and rapid technological advancement, interest in neurotechnologies is increasing. It is important to understand how specialized terminology is acquired by a broader audience through accessible media formats, including podcasts, traditional and online dictionaries, and specialized glossaries. The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of scientific terminology transmission in podcasts in comparison with both traditional and electronic dictionaries. The novelty of the study lies in its integrated approach, combining perspectives from lexicography, dis
course analysis, and sociolinguistics to examine the structure and function of the relevant terminological system. The study employed qualitative methods (a survey) and quantitative methods, including content analysis of podcasts related to neurotechnologies and comparative analysis of lexicographic sources. The research is grounded in an interdisciplinary framework, integrating methodologies from lexicography, media linguistics, and cognitive linguistics. The research material consists of 18 podcast episodes on neurotechnologies from the “Cortex”, “Neurocast”, “TEDTalks Technology”, “The Future of Neurotechnology”, and “Neurotrend” channels, available on Podcasts, YouTube, and the Apple Podcasts app. All podcasts were transcribed using automatic speech recognition and subsequently manually analyzed to extract specialized terminology. A total of 76 terms were included in the final sample. Based on the collected data, a comparison was conducted be tween the terms found in the podcasts and their representations in lexicographic sources. Particular attention is given to the survey results, which revealed the strengths and weaknesses of each source. According to re spondents, podcasts are perceived as a modern and convenient tool due to their use of natural language and up-to-date content, facilitating the development of listening skills and vocabulary expansion. At the same time, certain shortcomings were identified, such as the lack of visualization and the inability to quickly search for information. In contrast, dictionaries were characterized as reliable sources with precise and structured definitions, but less flexible regarding context, neologisms, and slang. The results demonstrate that podcasts contribute to the contextual understanding of terms and enhance listener engagement, while dictionaries provide clear and accurate definitions. Thus, the study highlights the importance of the combined use of both sources for effective acquisition of specialized vocabulary. The findings partially confirm the initial hypothe sis.