Science communication in the Brazilian context from the Linguistics perspective

Science communication (SC) is a recent field of study in the Brazilian context. Therefore, SC is defined by researchers through different interpretations. To understand such differences in the concept of SC, we carried out exploratory qualitative research, through a narrative review, about the terms used by authors to express the act of communicating science. We supported our analysis on Linguistics, which allowed us to understand the uses of the term SC and others associated with it within the Brazilian context. We identified that science communication is hyperonymous with the expressions Science Dissemination, Diffusion, and Popularization, while the last three establish a synonymous relationship with each other – a result not replicated when observing the definitions in the Anglophone and French context. The results also point to divergences regarding meanings depending on the context in which the terms are used. Therefore, we consider that the debate proposed by this research can contribute to the field of science communication in Brazil.

Key words
Science communication; Scientific dialogue; Science Dissemination; Science Popularization; Linguistic studies