Scientific communication in English as a second language

Abstract

The recent phenomenon of globalization has strongly favored English, which has become the preferred medium for international communication in many contexts. This spread of English has had relevant implications in the field of English used for specific purposes, where the need for a common language is particularly felt for the development of specialized communication at a global level. This chapter explores the globalizing effects of the use of English as a second language in the world of academia and the complex nature of its linguistic realizations, highlighting both homogenizing and localizing trends. Indeed, in spite of the homogenizing trends deriving from the process of globalization, academic discourse is not at all uniform but varies according to a host of factors, such as language competence, disciplinary field, community membership, professional expertise, and generic conventions, as well as some factors that clearly reflect aspects of the local tradition and culture. The survey of a few case studies discussed here is mainly based on a research project on Identity and Culture in Academic Discourse carried out by CERLIS, the research centre on specialized discourse based at the University of Bergamo. The data presented here show that the non-native Anglophone textual realizations taken into consideration are clearly influenced by their authors’ cultural allegiance to their linguistic, professional, social, or national reference groups.