Language

Via Efficient Academic two articles in The Scientist about the issue of scientific work and language. Quotes for the lazy:

E. James Lieberman: English-Only Science in a Multilingual World: Costs, Benefits, and Options.

Besides translating texts, [scientists] must learn enough English to understand and deliver oral presentations, and to converse with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and accents. The time and effort detracts substantially from scientific work. Presenters feel humiliated by language mistakes, and struggle to understand what they hear and read in English. Ulrich Ammon points out that the work of those less fluent is more likely to be ignored, hence colleagues and employers value scientists who are fluent in English. Some Finns worry that their own language may fail to develop new scientific words and concepts, thus barring lay people from science discourse and causing social inequality based on English proficiency.

and

Richard Gallagher: Speaking Your Mind.

Is monolingualism also having an impact on efficiency? Most certainly — consider public understanding of science. Journalists in non-English-speaking countries have the formidable twin barriers of language and complexity of the science to overcome in order to present the latest concepts to their audience, and inevitably, mistakes are made. Non-Anglophone scientists have a more difficult time assessing research, and therefore advising policy makers, who themselves are handicapped in accessing the literature. Teaching, even at the most basic school level, is complicated by the use of English terms in place of the native language. With scientific issues playing an increasingly central role in social discourse, the dominance of English is holding back the free exchange of ideas across most of the world, which may have consequences for all of us. Moreover, the Anglophone world has obvious economic benefits, although these remain to be quantified.

I am of cause aware of the irony that this blog is written in English (which in all likelihood gives it a smaller audience than if it had been written in Danish), but it is worth noting that politicians and university managers in Scandinavia generally pay no attention to the costs of and issues raised by the new monolingualism. Writing and teaching in Inglisj makes you international. As an out-and-out cynic, I have little hope for the recommendations of the Danish Sprogudvalget to make an impact on research and higher education.

Oops: Forgot the link to Efficient Academic. Hereby entered.

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