The spelling of the words "special sensation" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The first word "special" is pronounced /ˈspɛʃəl/ with an "e" sound like in "bet" followed by a "sh" sound like in "she" and an "ul" sound like in "full". The second word "sensation" is pronounced /sɛnˈseɪʃən/ with an "s" sound like in "sea", an "e" sound like in "bet", an "ay" sound like in "say", a "sh" sound like in "she", and an "ul" sound like in "full". Together, "special sensation" represents a unique feeling or experience.
Special sensation refers to the various senses that are specialized for specific functions and provide us with specific types of information about our environment and body. These sensations include vision, hearing, taste, smell, and balance.
Vision is the ability to see and perceive the world through our eyes, allowing us to perceive color, shape, depth, and movement. Hearing enables us to detect and interpret sounds, allowing us to communicate and be aware of our surroundings. Taste allows us to perceive and distinguish different flavors, enhancing our enjoyment of food. Smell provides us with the ability to detect and recognize scents, influencing our preferences and helping us detect potential dangers like spoiled food or fire. Balance, also known as the vestibular sense, allows us to maintain equilibrium and perceive our body's position in relation to gravity, providing us with a sense of stability.
These special sensations work together to create our perception of the world and are essential for our survival and quality of life. They allow us to interact with our environment, communicate with others, and make informed decisions based on the information they provide. Special sensations are distinct from general sensations like touch, pain, and temperature, as they are more specialized in their function and provide specific types of information about our surroundings and bodies.
One referred to a stimulus produced by an external body and acting on any of the sense organs.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "special sensation" does not have a unique etymology. Instead, it is a combination of two separate words, each with their own etymology:
1. "Special": The word "special" derives from the Latin word "specialis", which means "particular" or "individual". It entered the English language in the 1300s, directly from Old French. The Latin word "specialis" is derived from the noun "species", which means "kind" or "sort".
2. "Sensation": The word "sensation" comes from the Latin word "sensatio", which means "perception" or "feeling". It entered the English language in the late 14th century, also directly from Old French. The Latin word "sensatio" is derived from the verb "sentire", meaning "to feel" or "to perceive".