Does science need a global language? : English and the future of research / Scott L. Montgomery ; with a foreword by David Crystal.

Author/creator Montgomery, Scott L.
Other author Crystal, David, 1941-
Format Book
PublicationChicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Descriptionxiii, 226 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Subjects
Science--Language.
English language--Social aspects.

Contents A new era -- Global English : realities, geopolitics, issues -- English and science : the current landscape -- Impacts : a discussion of limitations and issues for a global language -- Past and future : what do former lingua francas of science tell us? -- Does science need a global language?
Abstract "A new era in the scientific community has arrived, and it is an era of multinationalism and cooperative reach. Globalization, the Internet, and digital technology all play a role in making this new era possible, but something more fundamental is also at work. In all scientific endeavors lies an ancient drive for sharing ideas and knowledge. Communication serves as the driving force behind turning brilliant ideas into world-changing realities. Yet, only one language serves as the scientific mother tongue--English. Is this a good thing? In Does Science Need a Global Language?, Scott L. Montgomery seeks to answer this question by investigating the phenomenon of global English in science, how and why it came about, the forms in which it appears, what advantages and disadvantages it brings, and what its future might be. He also examines the consequences of a global tongue, interviewing scientists who have struggled to work in a language not their own and looking at emerging nations, where research is still at a relatively early stage and English is not yet firmly established. Throughout the book, Montgomery includes insights from a broad range of perspectives in linguistics, history, education, geopolitics, and more. Each chapter includes revealing anecdotes from the front-line experiences of today's scientists. Montgomery explores topics such as student mobility, publication trends, world Englishes, language endangerment, and second-language learning, among many others. What he uncovers will challenge readers to rethink their assumptions about the development of contemporary science, as well as its future."--book jacket.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 189-213) and index.
LCCN 2012027704
ISBN9780226535036 (hardcover : alkaline paper)
ISBN0226535037 (hardcover : alkaline paper)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner General Stacks Q226 .M658 2013 ✔ Available Place Hold