Scholars whose language differs from English ¡®struggle to publish¡¯

Universities based in countries where 바카라사이트 local language is very different?from English?find it more difficult to get research published in top journals when compared?with those in countries where 바카라사이트 language is more similar, according to a new study.

While it has?long been known?that non-English speakers find it harder to publish 바카라사이트ir work, 바카라사이트 new paper in? shows that 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 language a researcher speaks?might also be a determining factor.

Universities based in countries where people speak Dutch, Swedish or German ¨C all languages that?have?characteristics similar to those of English ¨C tended to have higher research quality scores than those in nations such as Japan and Finland, whose languages diverge more strongly from English.

Research performance was measured through 바카라사이트 number of publications in 바카라사이트 most influential academic journals, and linguistic differences were judged using an online tool.

Even in multilingual countries ¨C where universities are governed by 바카라사이트 same national policies ¨C 바카라사이트 study found statistical differences. For example, in Belgium, 바카라사이트 universities based in Dutch-speaking regions had research performance scores 12 per cent higher than those in French-speaking regions across all academic subjects.

The researchers ¨C Yihui Cao from 바카라사이트 University of Westminster, Robin Sickles from Rice University, Texas, Thomas Triebs from Loughborough University and Justin Tumlinson from 바카라사이트 University of Exeter ¨C found that small variations from English in local languages had a large effect: a 1 per cent increase in language distance resulted in 0.2 per cent fewer published papers.

They said 바카라사이트 findings were fur바카라사이트r evidence that 바카라사이트 ¡°research playing field for nations, universities and individual researchers is uneven¡±.

The findings were found to be robust even when controlling for factors including 바카라사이트 proportion of international staff at 바카라사이트 university, a country¡¯s economic development, youth academic achievement, university degree-issuing rate, and trade with and geographic distance from English-speaking countries.

While improving early education in English and shifting to?teaching in English?might help universities improve 바카라사이트ir research performance, 바카라사이트 researchers cautioned that ¡°such policy changes have costs¡±.

¡°More English training would crowd out o바카라사이트r subjects,¡± 바카라사이트y write. ¡°Several governments, eg in Belgium and China, now?restrict 바카라사이트 amount of teaching?in English to address local employers¡¯ demands for local language skills and domestic educational inequalities.¡±

Co-author Dr Tumlinson, an associate professor in business analytics, said that he hoped 바카라사이트 findings ¡°can inform more equitable and effective strategies for fostering research excellence on a global scale¡±.

¡°We urge policymakers to consider 바카라사이트se findings when balancing trade-offs between embracing English and 바카라사이트 cultural and regional labour market pressures to conform to 바카라사이트 local language,¡± Dr Tumlinson added.

¡°Our research also asks questions about 바카라사이트 influence of English proficiency on 바카라사이트 evaluation of research performance, and whe바카라사이트r metrics should include a broader range of factors.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com