These days it’s necessary to have at least a basic level of English proficiency in most research contexts. But at the same time, our collective emphasis on English places a significant burden on scientists who speak a different first language.
In research published today in PLOS Biology, my colleagues and I reveal the enormity of the language barrier faced by scientists who are non-native English speakers.
English has become essential in academic life
Scientists need to know English to extract knowledge from others’ work, publish their findings, attend international conferences, and collaborate with their peers from around the world.
There’s no doubt this poses a significant challenge for non-native English speakers, who make up more than 90% of the global population.
Yet there is a shocking lack of insight into how much extra effort non-native English speakers must invest in order to survive and thrive in their fields.
Making these hurdles visible is the first step towards achieving fair participation for scientists whose first language isn’t English.