[Medical language based on literature references of original articles in the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (1930-1995)].

OBJECTIVE

To describe and analyse the frequency of use of the various languages in the bibliographical references in the original articles published in Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (NTvG) during the past 65 years (1930-1995).

DESIGN

Descriptive.

SETTING

Hoffmann-La Roche, Basle, Switzerland.

METHODS

The language of publication of 10,462 references from 700 original articles published in NTvG between 1930 and 1995 were determined (50 articles a year at intervals of five years).

RESULTS

The proportion of references in English increased sharply in 1950, and has continued to increase more slowly since then (15% in 1935; 20% in 1945; 58% in 1955; 64% in 1965; 75% in 1975; 80% in 1985, and 79% in 1995). The proportion of references in Dutch decreased from 1945 to 1975, but has increased since then (20% in 1935; 29% in 1945; 15% in 1955; 16% in 1965; 12% in 1975; 15% in 1985, and 20% in 1995). The proportion of references in German decreased fairly steadily from 1945 onward (51% in 1935; 43% in 1945; 19% in 1955; 15% in 1965; 9% in 1975; 4% in 1985, and 1% in 1995).

CONCLUSIONS

In 1950, English supplanted German as the undisputed main language of medicine in the Netherlands. The importance of English, increasing from 1945, has stabilised by 1975. The importance of Dutch slowly decreased from 1945, but has increased substantially since 1975.