Towards Global Diglossia?
English in the Sciences and the Humanities
In: The Politics of English as a World LanguageSearch for other papers by Susanne Mühleisen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Abstract
The rise of English as a global language goes hand in hand with its increasing importance as the language of academic discourse and publishing. This essay examines different forms of exclusivity in the production and reception of scientific language: a) register choice, with its specific norms and strategies, and b) choice of language. With regard to the latter, the essay considers possible consequences of an almost exclusive use of English in the sciences and humanities for different types of speech communities. After discussing examples of the development of scientific language from two different types of linguistic situations, German and Jamaican creole, this essay argues for the democratization of access to scientific resources via translation.