Filologija, No. 65, 2015.
Review article
Monolingualisation of research and science as a hegemonial project: European perspectives and Anglophone realities
Siegfried Gehrmann
; Učiteljski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Ivana Rončević
; Učiteljski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
When discussing the international status of languages in current research and science, the first place certainly belongs to the English language. With that in mind, this paper explores the tense relationship between the inherently multilingual project of the European integration and the monolingual communication practice in scientific publishing, which promotes English as the world language of research and science. The authors analyse the causes and mechanisms of this development in scientific communication and propose that it is based on a US-led hegemonial project aimed at dominating and controlling international science and research. This is achieved by establishing and maintaining language asymmetries and a hierarchy of research cultures. A central role in this aspect is played by the Journal Impact Factor, which is currently the most important tool of monolingualisation in research and science. One consequence of such an approach is the suppression of national and regional languages in scientific publishing and communication, as well as the change in the meaning of the concept ‘international’. A successful long-term implementation of the Anglophone linguistic hegemony in international scientific publishing may lead to huge obstacles for the European integration project. With that in mind, this paper explores alternative options such as multilingualism in scientific communication.
Keywords
European multilingualism; Journal Impact Factor; global English; language policy
Hrčak ID:
154176
URI
Publication date:
13.3.2016.
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