"English first" status needs to be changed urgently
Follow the language inequality in academic publication
February 14, 2022 08:18 Source: "China Social Sciences", February 14, 2022, Issue 2346 Author: Reporter Wang Youran

Current,English is a common language for global academic research。To get generally recognized,Scholars from all over the world strive to share new knowledge in English、Release scientific research results,Then realize career development。But,In the competition with scholars in English as a mother tongue,Non -English mother tongue scholars may not be able to achieve the language fluency and professionalism required for formal publication。Recent,Academic Translation and Publishing Company "Academic Language Experts" released a survey report "Except English: Academic Publishing in Academic Publishing, Chinese African Mother Talk Scholar"。The report explores the language inequality in academic publication,and make some improvement suggestions。

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Introduction to the founder and CEO of "Academic Language Expert" Avi Staiman,The company's customer group is mainly non -English mother tongue scholars,You can see the language challenges faced when these scholars want to publish the results of research。In order to better understand and promote the problem to solve the problem,"Academic Language Experts" launched a survey for non -English mother tongue scholars (most interviewees have never used the service of the company),The problem involves the background of the respondent、Language ability、How to view academic publishing process、pressure of English writing and publishing research results、The language barrier encountered、Interaction between academic journals、Do you have the opportunity。

Investigation can draw the following points of the main discovery。First,Non -English mother tongue scholars generally think,Research achievements in English are necessary for the success of academic occupation。98%of the respondents bet365 Play online games plan to publish results in English,93%of the respondents regard this as a primary task。The reason is,Almost all high influence factor journals are English journals,At the same time, in order to find a satisfactory academic research work、Promoting academic career development。other,Publishing results in English publications can significantly improve the "visible degree" of scholars in the international academic community。One of the factors that cause this trend is,More and more non -English national education and research institutions require academic personnel to publish research results in English journals,Even listed this as one of the conditions for applying for government scientific research。

Second,For many non -English mother tongue scholars,I have to make the process more difficult to publish the results in English。85%of the respondents feel,Compared to traveling with English as a mother tongue,I am in weakness in academic publication。The reasons include: before submission to the journal, you need to modify and the English version of the English version,Difficulty; lack of support resources when writing in English; not understanding the writing style guidelines and submission requirements of English academic journals。other,Some interviewees said,In order to make your own English manuscript read like a native English mother tongue,They have paid great efforts。

third,Non -English mother tongue scholars lack editorial assistance resources。The most common difficulty in interviewees is,There is neither material resources nor the time to edit properly on your English draft。Almost all interviewees think,If you have better editing software to use or get the help of professional editing,I can publish more research results in English。but,For many scholars,Professional editing service is too expensive。64%of the respondents said,Except for special circumstances,I do not have enough funds to hire professional editor。Some people use free editing software,But its function is limited,Not enough to edit the English manuscript bet365 live casino games that meets the requirements of top academic journals。

Fourth,Some non -English mother tongue scholars point out,Journal editor's modification of its article is not accurate,Language editing and peer evaluation links weakened your own argument and conclusion,Make the article more reflect the editor rather than the author's perspective。The interviewee hopes to learn more about and control the editing process of manuscript,I hope that the journal editor is more tolerant of English drafts that can be understood but not standard enough。

  Because "English is not good enough" refusal is unfair to the manuscript

Modern language and cultural associate professor of modern languages ​​and culture of Pennsylvania, Marnie Jo Petray、Duke University Visit Assistant Professor Gaillynnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Clements,Non -English mother tongue scholars are often informed after submitting submission to English academic journals,You need to ask the English mother tongue to edit the manuscript。But,These opinions are not always well -founded。Some author once told the publisher after receiving the comments from returning to the modification,I have invited others to edit it on the drafts,and spend expensive。Publisher subsequently acknowledged,The author sent to the author before is a template message sent by all the contributors to all the non -British academic institutions,The articles of these contributors have not been reviewed by a separate language quality。That is to say,The publisher has not really reviewed it,Only the English language quality of the manuscript is predicted according to the area where the contribution is located。There have been studies show,Non -English mother tongue scholars are more likely to be rejected than those who are native English。Look at it here,This result is not surprising。

In recent years,Global scientific research output continues to improve,The research results waiting to be published are increasing daily,The manuscripts voted for English academic journals from non -English scholars also increased bet365 best casino games significantly。Facing the continuous poureding draft,Journal editor has to speed up the screening speed,Language quality naturally becomes a necessary evaluation standard。It can be said,Use English, an international universal language writing,Expressing accuracy、Tongshun、Elimination of academic specifications is the reference line of editing the initial screen。but,preconceived、Summary that the English writing level of non -English national contributors is not up to standard,or because of the imperfect quality of English writing、Refuse the manuscript as the English mother tongue,This is very unfair。and,Journal editors have not received special training for the contributors,Third -party editing services are costly for many scholars of multinational contributions。So,High -level research results of non -English mother tongue scholars are likely to face long -term difficulties。

  Strengthen support for non -English scholars

Based on the results of the survey and existing related research,Stamman、Petre and Klemez recommend that solve the problem of language inequality in academic publishing from three aspects。

First,Improve academic publishing process。It is necessary to promote the preliminary review of editors focusing on substantial knowledge content,Whether the decision -making of the reciprocated manuscript should be based on academic value,instead of the language background of language expression or contribution。If the preliminary review judgment has academic value,You can ask the author to use in language、Forms and other aspects to further edit the manuscript。Academic journals should be set more clear、Standardized submission requirements,Avoid unnecessary misunderstandings。Periodicals can recommend some functions to non -English mother tongue contributors、Editable tools that can be affordable。Now I have tried to set up the "Editor -in -Chief Project",To help non -English contributors better understand the academic publishing process,At the same time, it promotes journal editors and peer judges to think about whether they have bet365 Play online games prejudice and lack of prejudice and basis for non -English -speaking scholars。

Second,Structural change。Academic journals should take into account the needs and actual situation of non -English scholars,Appropriate adjustment requirements。High academic quality、Articles written in clear English,After the peer review is completed, it can be edited by English experts。There are similar methods in the field of natural sciences,But it is still rare in the field of humanities。English academic journals can launch non -English version,and let the articles on the English version and non -English version of the article "circulate"。Universities and scientific research institutions shall relax the provisions of "academic personnel must publish research results in English",Journal of the journal admitted when non -English journals are added to academic assessment。

third,Promoting language service funding。colleges and scientific research institutions should provide scientific researchers with the language service funds required for the results,To improve the opportunity。For example,Public universities in Israel to issue a capital to senior scholars to pay for translation and editing costs,This policy effect is very good,It is worth learning from other countries,Especially the scholars who should be included in early career should be included in the scope of funding objects。Scientific research funding institutions should allow applicants to list language services as a reasonable direct or indirect expenditure in the funding plan。Academic Publishing House should also provide contributors with a reasonable price service,The service itself can be borne by the staff of the publisher,It can also be borne by the language service company signed with the publisher。On these basiss,The financial support of the government and the private sector should also keep up with。

 Knowledge diversification requires language diversification

Steman talks,Whether it is a new physics theory、Review a new perspective of colonial history、New Bet365 app download understanding of language,Dynamic、Revolutionary research may occur in any place in the world in any one language。But,History accidentally created the dominant position of English in the academic world,This means that the study of non -English mother tongue scholars, no matter how full of innovation,All are automatically placed under higher benchmarks。Improve the ability of non -English mother tongue scholars to publish research results in international academic journals,It is beneficial to human pursuit of knowledge。So,The judgment of the results of any scholar should be based on quality and academic significance,instead of the language used。Clementz thinks,Scientific research funding is an effective way to improve the "treatment" of academic publishing of non -English mother tongue scholars,But you can't solve the problem completely,Because not every study can get funding support。More importantly to enhance the tolerance of the academic community,Encourage the economy、Politics、Society、Edge scholars on the cultural level vocalization,Especially global southern scholars。

Petre said,The academic community must recognize the harmfulness of language inequality and make up for losses。"Language Discrimination in American Higher Education: Language Discrimination in American Higher Education: Power、Bad、Impact and Remedy Measures "proposed,Language prejudice will hurt non -dominant、Non -"standard" language users' energy。The external evaluation of them is not based on value、Efforts、Smart,but based on language expression,As a result, they suffered unfairly and negative effects。Economic and political factors make English a general language of today's academic circles,But there have been studies and showed,Similar social linguistic dynamics (non -mainstream language users are discriminated against) also appeared in other languages ​​and cultural backgrounds。Language inequality in academic publishing will hinder scientific progress,Lack of language diversity will lead to bet365 live casino games lack of knowledge diversity。What needs to be emphasized is,The status quo of "English first" in academic publishing does not mean that the standard for reducing academic publishing,but to break the barriers,Make more high -quality research results obtain opportunities。Show a diversified perspective and research angle in academic publications,This is good for everyone。

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