Originally Posted by Botnst

I used to translate simple botanical descriptions from Spanish into English. It is all verbal with sometimes some simple length measurements. Many of the root terms are Latin, as is the type description of the species. Even so, translation is a PITA. Nuances of language become extremely valuable to maintain. Often more than a few words are necessary to express a simple thought that is succinctly described in one language or the other.

This is the great value of using mathematics as the language of physical sciences. It makes communication among the cognoscenti of different natibe tongues much easier. But it makes communicating with lay people hugely difficult. The language divide builds suspicion or contempt, depending on which side of the barrier we find ourselves. The fundamental goal of scientific publication is to communicate findings. This is increasingly difficult as complexity increases and the incentives are few for a scientist to explain his work to a lay audience.

Thus the priesthood grows.