Examining the impact of English on Brazilian scientific publishing: An initial exploration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.mut.15176Keywords:
english, lingua franca, Scientific publishing, SciELOAbstract
The interface between English, i.e., the international language of science, and the Brazilian scientific community can be seen as both a burden and an opportunity. While individual researchers deal with foreign-language literature and mediators in the authorship process such as translators of varying quality and increasingly-demanding journal editors, larger-scale organizations such as scientific journals struggle to define language and editorial policy in the face of pressing visibility and funding needs. The development and expansion of regional databases, especially SciELO, a non-profit electronic metapublisher for scientific journals, have brought a measure of direction and cohesion to the Brazilian approach to this question. This article presents an analysis of an interview with a Brazilian researcher, a doctoral candidate in Physical Therapy, and compares her answers with statements from the current coordinator of SciELO in a preliminary attempt to find common norms, postures and attitudes at work on different levels of the scientific community. The results were that, besides funding and visibility problems, bilingualism was seen as both a necessity and an opportunity without discarding the validity of Portuguese. There was a fundamental and mutual desire to see Brazil increase in international scientific standing.
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