感覚の鋭敏さ ― acuity

今日取り上げる話題は少々医学に関連します。

"acuity"は、形容詞"acute"と関連していますが、"acute"は病気や症状について、”急性の”という意味や、痛みや苦痛が”激しい”、”鋭い”という意味があります。

一方で、ある人の持つ感覚や能力が”鋭敏である”、”鋭い”、”敏感である”、という意味もあります。

例えば、視力のことを、visual acuityといいます。visual acuity testは、視力検査のことです。

”V.”とか、”VA”のように略されることもあるようです。

つまりは人間の持つ感覚の鋭さを言うのに"acuity"が用いられる訳で、

"aural acuity"は、聴覚、
"taste acuity"は、味覚、
"smell acuity"は、嗅覚、
"touch acuity"は、触覚、


をそれぞれ意味します。


...your ability to see details clearly play a vital role in driving and many other occupations where good and efficient visual functioning of the individual is essential. People’s lives are entrusted into the hands of drivers when passengers are onboard a vehicle and without good vision, the driver is in danger of causing a tragic accident. The ability of a driver to see the features of objects he or she looks at, such as colour, shape, size, details, depth, and contrast if deficient or below the expected standard reduce safety and increase the risk of crashes. A driver’s visual acuity must at least be such that s/he has time to detect and to react to obstacles, pedestrians, other vehicles and signs while moving at the maximum posted speed in daylight and in the night. Greater levels of visual acuity are required for some classes of vehicles to ensure public safety on today’s congested and high-speed roads. Road signage should be designed to be easily legible at a safe distance for all drivers who meet the minimum visual acuity standard.
(Stephen Ocansey. Feature: Poor Vision Contributes To Spate Of Road Accidents. Joy Online. May 11, 2010.)