Describing specific types of mathematicians
andrew_c
July 19, 2008, 03:32 PM posted in General DiscussionDoes anyone know how to describe mathematicians who have specialized into the different branches of mathematics? In English we say: Algebraist, Topologist, Analyst, Graph Theorist, Geometer, etc. To say it in Chinese do you just add 家 to the name of the branch of mathematics? So that an analyst would be called 分析家? If so, does it make sense if you specialize further and, for example, call a real analyst 实分析家?
RJ
July 27, 2008, 03:04 PMinteresting point cuiy0001.
andrew_c
July 20, 2008, 01:05 AM*it would be really helpful
(sorry, that type really bothered me, had to correct it)
cuiy0001
July 20, 2008, 02:50 AMAs a Chinese, I never saw anyone directly add 家to the names of respective branches of Math.
In fact, under some circumstances, adding 学家 would be more appropriate.
e.g. 几何学家，代数学家
cuiy0001
July 20, 2008, 03:38 AMHello, acorrigan
As to "Analyst" , do you mean someone specialized in mathematical analysis? If so, I think you can use 数学分析学家。
It sounds bizarre, but I think most Chinese people may understand it.
andrew_c
July 19, 2008, 08:42 PMThanks. HanziBar translates 分析家 as a political analyst. Even if one of these gets a lot of hits in Google, it's not really clear if it's being used in the manner that I'm referring to.
Also, I would be really helpful if someone could explain any nuances associated with using these words that differ from English.
andrew_c
July 20, 2008, 11:41 AMThanks for more information. I'm glad that would make sense to Chinese-speaking people. That's a first step! You mention that it sounds 数学分析学家 sounds weird. Is this the case even for people involved in mathematics?.
RJ
July 21, 2008, 01:15 PMFrom what I can gather, 数学分析学 would be the only way to describe the analysis that one refers to inside of mathematics (doing proofs basically). Using the jia on the end might not be popular. I didnt push breaking it down into "real" analysis or "complex variables".
topology is a transliteration and indeed is 拓扑. Topologist suspected to be 拓扑学家.
algebraist and geometer you have:
几何学家，代数学家
my source was a Chinese friend (phD ME). These are not common terms. A trip to the local univ math dept should turn up a Chinese PhD candidate with all the answers. If I find myself in the vicinity I will venture in.
-RJ
cuiy0001
July 27, 2008, 02:21 PMI have some additional notes:
To be a 学家（代数学家，拓扑学家etc), one must achieve greatly in one's field of study. For most of
Chinese college students, mathematical analysis seems a fundamental and sophisticated subject.
Maybe it is hard to advance in this area.
Rarely does someone claim oneself as analyst. Yet, one might say : 我专攻数学分析领域。（I am dedicated to, am specialized in ,major in, am adept at mathematical analysis). This could also apply to
several branches of Math, Chemistry, Physics...
Another important thing is that the titles such as mathematician, chemist, algebraist , should be an
honour awarded to the eminent. Mathematicians(including their subsidiaries) always mean men of mathematics, excluding 2nd and 3rd class mathematicians. In most cases, in China self-claim as a mathematician would be
deemed boldness and arrogance. To show confidence, that is another story.
So that is why the titles you concern occur seldom.
Most Chinese people are humble.
cuiy0001
July 27, 2008, 02:24 PMAs an analyst
cuiy0001
July 20, 2008, 03:44 AMP.S.
I have applied to join this group, could you approve it?
By grace of Euler, thank you.
marcelbdt
July 19, 2008, 08:09 PMThis seems to be a question one can solve by googling for the supposed words. Actually, google does not seem to give any hits for 实分析家 or 实解析家 (real analyst) (although there is already one to this very thread..:) , however 分析家 (analyst) is frequent. Maybe most of these analysts are not mathematicians, but are analysing other things.
There are a few hits for "拓扑家" (topologist), but not overwhelmingly many. Topology is not so popular in China. More surprisingly, "代数家" (algebraist) has even less hits.