Lost in Transliteration

Abstract

The Random Samples article “One Wei or another” (15 February, p. [881][1]) addressed the confusion caused in the scientific community by Asian names that use the same English transliteration. This situation becomes more serious as increasing numbers of Asian scientists publish papers in English journals ([1][2]). To complicate matters even further, about half of the Chinese names have three words: one for the family name and two for the first name. Just like the two-word names ([2][3]), they sometimes use the same English spelling. For instance, the name “Lixin Wang” is a transliteration of at least 1600 possible Chinese names. The three-word scenario may lead to citation confusion because journals follow different styles. Some journals treat “Lixin Wang” as “L Wang,” whereas others abbreviate it as “LX Wang.” Both ways make sense given that the first name “Lixin” includes two words (Li-Xin). However, some major databases (such as Web of Science) misinterpret “L Wang” and “LX Wang” as two unique names; changing affiliations only add to the confusion. ![Figure][4] Source of confusion. All of these Chinese names could use the transliteration “Lixin Wang.” CREDIT: LIXIN WANG To be more precise, Physical Review Letters allows authors with Asian names to include the original spelling on papers ([2][3]). It is a good start, but it is still difficult for non-Asian researchers to identify the characters and thus the specific author. Instead of including Asian spellings, I suggest that researchers each adopt a unique identification number, which can be published along with their names ([3][5]). Scientists with Asian names are not the only ones who would benefit from a more precise naming system. 1. 1.[↵][6]1. Editorial , Nature 447, 885 (2007). [OpenUrl][7][CrossRef][8][PubMed][9][Web of Science][10] 2. 2.[↵][11]1. K. W. Burton , Science 319, 881 (2008). [OpenUrl][12] 3. 3.[↵][13]One such “ResearcherID” is developed by the Thomson Corporation ([http://www.researcherid.com/][14]). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.319.5865.881d [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: pending:yes [5]: #ref-3 [6]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1. in text [7]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%26rft.stitle%253DNature%26rft.volume%253D447%26rft.issue%253D7147%26rft.spage%253D885%26rft.epage%253D885%26rft.atitle%253DAsia%2Bon%2Bthe%2Brise.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252F447885a%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F17581541%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [8]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/447885a&link_type=DOI [9]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=17581541&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F320%2F5877%2F745.1.atom [10]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000247373100001&link_type=ISI [11]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2. in text [12]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.volume%253D319%26rft.spage%253D881%26rft.atitle%253DSCIENCE%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [13]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3. in text [14]: http://www.researcherid.com/)