Science or science fiction?

LANGUAGE: If you’re going to watch the new Star Trek film, you might first want to look at a recent book by lexicographer Jeff Prucher. He explains that many technical terms we assume came from science were actually created in works of science fiction. These include "space shuttle", "computer virus" and "robot".

In Brave New Words, The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Prucher gives details of how and when many scientific-sounding words entered English. One example from the book is "computer virus". Prucher says that the term’s creator was David Gerrold, who used "virus" to describe software that could spread from computer to computer in his 1972 book When Harlie Was One about a computer that thinks it is human.

“It’s hard to tell if the author knew about viruses when he wrote it,” Prucher told The Christian Science Monitor. Prucher says his research shows that programmers “didn’t call that first computer virus a virus” until about ten years later.

The words "space shuttle", "computer virus" and "robot" came from science fiction.

By the way, Prucher lets us know that David Gerrold is also the writer of a memorable Star Trek episode,“The Trouble With Tribbles". First broadcast in 1967, the episode centres on small furry creatures that multiply rapidly.

Prucher welcomes readers' comments and corrections at his site, as he is well aware that science-fiction fans may provide new tips on the subject.