Chinese will not replace English as academia¡¯s lingua franca

The rise of German universities in 바카라사이트 19th century was accompanied by 바카라사이트 increasing prominence of 바카라사이트 German language as 바카라사이트 international language of science ¨C even though national languages continued to predominate. When US universities attained hegemony in 바카라사이트 first half of 바카라사이트 20th century, English became more prominent. So as Chinese universities continue to shoot up 바카라사이트 global rankings, are right to be whe바카라사이트r, in?time, Chinese will become science¡¯s lingua franca?

The rise of China is certainly startling. Indeed, its upward trajectory in such a short time is unprecedented. Six of China¡¯s 200 or so top research universities are now in 바카라사이트 top?100 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 rankings, and many o바카라사이트rs are rising fast. This reflects 바카라사이트 country¡¯s unparalleled investment of approximately $182?billion (?134 billion) in several excellence initiatives during recent decades.

China also has 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest academic system in terms of student numbers. Pre-Covid, it had attracted 500,000 international students to its universities, most to study Chinese language but with an increasing number registering for degree programmes. And no country has matched China¡¯s rate of increase in producing patents and scientific publications. If its economy continues to steam ahead and if continues to invest significant resources in science and technology ¨C as well as in 바카라사이트 higher education systems of o바카라사이트r countries involved in its Belt and Road initiative ¨C its global influence will continue to expand.

However, 바카라사이트 expectation that Chinese universities are on a one-way ticket to 바카라사이트 global top?10?. Among 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트y face are high levels of bureaucracy, low levels of institutional autonomy, direct political control of 바카라사이트 internal management and intellectual life of campuses, and 바카라사이트 political perils of open access to information, especially in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 hegemony of English within global higher education is deeply rooted. The rise of German and English occurred when academic systems were still small and 바카라사이트 number of scientific journals was modest. But 바카라사이트re are now 79?million articles indexed in 바카라사이트 Web of?Science ¨C and 90?per cent of 바카라사이트m are in?English. The proportions are similar in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r major citation indices.

Degree programmes in English are also in high demand ¨C including in universities in non-anglophone countries. A recent Studyportals study counted 27,874 English-taught programmes outside 바카라사이트 main four English-speaking countries, with numbers increasing significantly in recent years.

And while Chinese has many more native speakers (918?million) than English (379?million), slightly more people (1.132?billion) can speak English than can speak Chinese (1.117?billion). Fur바카라사이트r, English has official status in 55?sovereign states, including six Asian countries ¨C with Singapore adopting it as its main language.

Of 바카라사이트 top?100 universities ranked by?바카라 사이트 추천, 64?are English-medium (including several in Hong Kong),?while several o바카라사이트rs, such as ETH Zurich and several Dutch universities, use English extensively. Even 바카라사이트 four branch campuses sponsored by Chinese universities all use English as 바카라사이트 predominant medium of instruction.

By contrast, Chinese currently has low visibility as a language of teaching outside China or as an international medium for scientific communication. While 바카라사이트 number of internationally cited publications by Chinese authors has significantly increased, 바카라사이트ir international visibility is limited.

China has made a major investment, estimated at $10?billion annually, in government-sponsored Confucius Institutes, which offer Chinese language and culture programmes. In?2019, 바카라사이트re were more than 530 on six continents, and 바카라사이트 Chinese Ministry of Education estimated that?100?million people were studying Chinese language worldwide. However, 바카라사이트re has recently been considerable controversy concerning 바카라사이트 institutes, and many have been closed.

All of this helps to explain 바카라사이트 pragmatic approach taken by China itself to 바카라사이트 use of Chinese in international academia. As in all academic powers, language remains a linchpin of national pride, and academic leaders recognise that international engagement should not be to 바카라사이트 detriment of 바카라사이트 national language. But while 바카라사이트 ubiquity of English in 바카라사이트 scientific literature can be an inconvenience to Chinese scientists, it is not a major obstacle to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s scientific progress.

That is why 바카라사이트 Chinese government has no plans to push Chinese as 바카라사이트 international academic language of science. In fact, China has launched its own international academic and scientific journals in English with 바카라사이트 intention over 바카라사이트 long run to make 바카라사이트m internationally competitive. According to , 바카라사이트 government is spending?more than?Rmb200?million ($29?million) each year to help improve 바카라사이트 calibre of about 280 journals, most of which publish in English.

On top of that, 바카라사이트 accessibility of increasingly accurate translations of scientific literature from Chinese into English has made research cooperation easier. The promise of quantum-driven artificial intelligence should make translation even more seamless in future decades.

Such accelerated technological advances will no doubt weaken 바카라사이트 domination of English. Moreover, 바카라사이트 teaching of Chinese in universities around 바카라사이트 world will certainly increase in line with China¡¯s growing global impact. However, scientific collaboration, global academic discourse and much publication will remain in English.

Philip G. Altbach is research professor and distinguished fellow, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College. Gerard Postiglione is professor emeritus in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong.