The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science

TLDR

English as the lingua franca of science hampers the full contribution of non‑native speakers, yet few studies have quantified its impact on their career development. The study surveys 908 environmental science researchers to estimate and compare the effort required for English‑language scientific activities across linguistic and economic backgrounds, and proposes actionable solutions for individuals, institutions, journals, funders, and conferences. The authors collected data by surveying 908 researchers, recording the time and effort spent on reading, writing, presenting, and disseminating research in English across different countries and economic contexts. Results show that early‑career non‑native speakers expend more effort on English‑language tasks and are less likely to attend or present at English‑language conferences, prompting a call for the scientific community to address these disadvantages. Supporting information files S2–S6 provide alternative language abstracts and figures 5 and 6.

Abstract

The use of English as the common language of science represents a major impediment to maximising the contribution of non-native English speakers to science. Yet few studies have quantified the consequences of language barriers on the career development of researchers who are non-native English speakers. By surveying 908 researchers in environmental sciences, this study estimates and compares the amount of effort required to conduct scientific activities in English between researchers from different countries and, thus, different linguistic and economic backgrounds. Our survey demonstrates that non-native English speakers, especially early in their careers, spend more effort than native English speakers in conducting scientific activities, from reading and writing papers and preparing presentations in English, to disseminating research in multiple languages. Language barriers can also cause them not to attend, or give oral presentations at, international conferences conducted in English. We urge scientific communities to recognise and tackle these disadvantages to release the untapped potential of non-native English speakers in science. This study also proposes potential solutions that can be implemented today by individuals, institutions, journals, funders, and conferences. Please see the Supporting information files (S2-S6 Text) for Alternative Language Abstracts and Figs 5 and 6.