Running like Alice and losing good ideas: on the quasi-compulsive use of English by non-native English speaking scientists.

Abstract

A vast literature debated on the fairness and/or illegitimacy of having the English as the global language for science without finding credible alternatives. Many Non English Speaker (non-NES) countries agree with this situation and exert pressure on their scientists to publish in English. The ultimate problem here, is that the indirect obligation to write almost exclusively in English, is likely to deteriorate non-NES schools of thought, the quality of scientist-people and advisor-advisee interactions and the integrity of local biodiversity as well, in addition to what it hinders the emergence of many potentially brilliant minds. In this brief article, I expose an overlooked but dramatically important viewpoint to analyze this global problem and suggest alternative solutions.