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English language papers and authors' first language: Preliminary explorations

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Abstract

The paper argues for greater linguistic sensitivity in scientometric research, discussesBaldauf andJernudd,11–13 and raises issues of North/South, English/non-English imbalance in research communication. It then proposes a procedure for identifying native/non-native speaker status of authors in English periodical literature on textual evidence. Preliminary application to 623 articles is reported and evaluated. The Health Science NNS percentage was 23%; in Economics half that. In both there were few papers of Third World provenance, thus supportingBaldauf andJernudd. It is suggested that Scientometrics could contribute to the teaching of Research English, against a background of adjusting suspected imbalance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Language Studies Unit, University of Aston in Birmingham, B4 7ET, Birmingham, England

    J. M. Swales

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  1. J. M. Swales
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Swales, J.M. English language papers and authors' first language: Preliminary explorations. Scientometrics 8, 91–101 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02025223

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