Joan Berglund Oct 16, 2010:

Not easy to google, is it? First google told me I didn't know how to spell pleural, then when I insisted on plural, I mostly got stuff written by other people who did not know how to spell pleural. As long as it makes sense in the context, I think "types of asbestos" works best. I would hate to have to say "asbestoses" ten times fast.

Subbanna Oct 16, 2010:

for translation of chemical document. I suggest using Asbestos; if it deals also with the disease, Asbestosis would be better. See Science dictionary;dictionary reference.com.

Bruce Sanderson (asker) Oct 16, 2010:

Yes, that was my problem, because asbestoses (supposed plural of asbestos) is also the plural of asbestosis (disease due to asbestos)

Subbanna Oct 16, 2010:

Chemists think about Asbestos as a mineral and are not concerned about the etymology of the term; as translators, let us stick to current usage and serve the user community

writeaway Oct 16, 2010:

Why seems to be a question engineers ask about language. Why indeed, why not etc are often the best answers. "Ours is not to ask why".....

Bourth (X) Oct 16, 2010:

What I mean is what made people decide that "asbestosis" required a plural form ("asbestoses"). OK, presumably different types of asbestosis are due to different types of asbestos. But if "asbestos" can live without a plural, why can't "asbestosis" live without one too (even if it can't live without a pleural)? Or, given that asbestos is the cause of asbestosis, and therefore came first, why wasn't it given first dibs ("right of first refusal" for the non-autochtones) at getting the single plural?

Subbanna Oct 16, 2010:

People with occupational exposure to Asbestos are at risk of developing Asbestosis; so asbestos and asbestosi(e)s are different

writeaway Oct 16, 2010:

@Bourth yes, probably. ;-)

Bourth (X) Oct 16, 2010:

Have I been too cryptic again?

writeaway Oct 16, 2010:

Imo There is no single/plural form of the word asbestos in English. After all, in French it's informations but we don't go down that road in En, do we? Does asbestos are sound correct?
fyi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos

writeaway Oct 16, 2010:

not the same thing plural as·bes·to·ses\-ˌsēz\
Definition of ASBESTOSIS
: a pneumoconiosis due to asbestos particles that is marked by thickening and scarring of lung tissue
First Known Use of ASBESTOSIS
1927
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asbestosis

Bourth (X) Oct 16, 2010:

Fascinating one, this Dictionaries tell us that "asbestoses" is the plural form of "asbestosis", of which there are presumably several types.

Now, "asbestosis" is the egg in the chicken-and-the-egg relationship with "asbestos". So how come the egg got in first to bag the plural?

Proof, I guess, that the egg came first.