A Universal Tongue?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33043/c3rcq358Abstract
Did you know that, as of 2023, there are more than 7,000 known spoken languages in the world (Eberhard et al., 2024)? Did you know that the population of the world is more than 7 billion, and increases every day? Did you know that out of that 7 billion, only about 1.5 billion speak English (Statistics and Data, 2024)? To most, those facts are common knowledge. To everyone, those facts are only a Google search away. However, here is a fact you may not know-English is widely considered to be the language of science. This means that nearly all journals with national or international impact accept submissions in English only (Malayil, 2024). This initially may make sense, but I would like to take some time to dig deeper and fully understand some of the history behind this, the implications of it, and how we as a community might work to create a more informed, inclusive environment.
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Eberhard, David M., Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2024. Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Twenty-seventh edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
The most spoken languages 2024. Home page - English - Statistics and Data. (2023, November 24). https://statisticsanddata.org/data/the-most-spoken-languages-1900-2024/
Malayil, J. (2024, March 24). Prestigious journals hinder non-english speaking scientists, study finds. Interesting Engineering. https://interestingengineering.com/science/prestigious-journals-hinder-non-english-speaking-scientists-study-finds
Crystal, D., & Potter, S. (2025, January 8). English Language-Old English, Middle English, Modern English. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language/Restoration-period
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, October 12). Decline of the British Empire. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Decline-of-the-British-Empire
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2021, October 22). When did the British Empire begin?. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/When-did-the-British-Empire-begin
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