I have seen articles on Mesopotamian mathematics in which authors write about tablets for which there is much literature, sometimes their own. I understand that there are often new ways of viewing tablets within the context of research. My only objection is creating a new scholarly “lingo,” almost a secret language among scholars involved in that field. I prefer transparency. I think the purpose of research is to make information more readily available rather than creating obstacles so other scholars think that both the field of ancient Mesopotamian mathematics and its application are extremely specialized by unnecessary language created by scholars.
For scholars trying to gain understanding so that they don’t feel simple measurements or mathematics belongs only to specialists, Mesopotamian mathematics must not be obscured by new terminology. Some scholars may have forgotten mathematical terminology (easily accessible by checking a dictionary), formulae, and algebra. Researchers can follow the logic of an article if we write for others and not the very small group who deal with these matters.
French scholars are taught to write their research in French so foreigners can easily read it. This model can provide an important lesson not only for writing about Mesopotamian mathematics but also for almost any sub-category of ancient Near Eastern civilizations.
