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Article published In: Journal of English for Research Publication Purposes
Vol. 2:1 (2021) ► pp.30–61

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ERPP practices in the Arab world

One language, different problems

 | American University of Sharjah
Published online: 2 August 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1075/jerpp.20003.abu
Abstract
Limited empirical research addresses how Arabic-speaking English as an Additional Language (EAL) scholars approach research writing and its associated challenges despite that many Arabic-Speaking EAL scholars are engaging in global knowledge production outside and inside the Arab World. This is even more the case now than in the past as some Arab universities are prompting proactive research agendas that encourage publishing in high-impact English language journals. This paper examines 20 empirical studies that investigated the research writing and publishing practices of Arabic-speaking EAL scholars, and analyzes the content of those studies according to the scholars’ research drivers and the accompanying challenges they faced when publishing their research in English. This paper also highlights how these challenges are experienced in different universities and countries, emphasizing the complexity of English for Research Publishing Purposes (ERPP) practices even within the same linguistic group. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the growing ERPP scholarship by serving as a starting point for more systematic research on Arabic-speaking EAL scholars.
ملخص البحث
تناول دراسات محدودة كيف يقوم الأكاديميون العرب الذين يتحدثون ويكتبون الانجليزية كلغة إضافية (EAL) بالكتابة البحثية والتحديات المرتبطة بها بالرغم من أن العديد من الباحثين الناطقين بالعربية يشاركون في إنتاج المعرفة العالمية خارج وداخل العالم العربي. وهذا هو الحال الآن أكثر من اى وقت مضى، حيث أن بعض الجامعات العربية تحث على إيجاد أجندات بحثية استباقية تشجع على نشر دراسات عالية التأثير باللغة الإنجليزية. شملت هذه الدراسة 20 بحث أكاديمي يتعلق بممارسات كتابة ونشر الأبحاث لعلماء EAL الناطقين باللغة العربية. حللت الورقة محتوى تلك الدراسات وفقًا لدوافع الأكاديميين العرب للبحث العلمي والتحديات المصاحبة التي يواجهونها عند نشر أبحاثهم باللغة الإنجليزية. تسلط هذه الورقة الضوء أيضًا على كيفية مواجهة هذه التحديات في الجامعات والبلدان المختلفة، مع التركيز على خصوصية وتعقيد عملية النشر العلمي باللغة الانجليزية (ERPP) ،) حتى داخل المجموعة اللغوية نفسها . تهدف الورقة إلى المساهمة في دراسات ال ERPP المتزايدة من خلال العمل كنقطة انطلاق لمزيد من البحث المنتظم على الأكاديميين EAL الناطقين باللغة العربية.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Arabic-speaking EAL scholars’ research activity
    • 1.2Scope of this review
  • 2.Methodology
    • 2.1Search strategy and review protocol
    • 2.2Inclusion/exclusion criteria
    • 2.3Themes and focus questions
  • 3.Bird’s-eye view of research in the Arab world
    • 3.1Overview of Arab universities
      • 3.1.1Language(s) of instruction in Arab universities
    • 3.2Teaching or research universities
    • 3.3The ranking craze
  • 4.Arabic-speaking EAL scholars and research drivers
    • 4.1Personal interest
    • 4.2Promotion
    • 4.3Studying abroad
    • 4.4Rankings and publishing in high-impact factor journals
  • 5.ERPP challenges
    • 5.1Challenge 1: Research infrastructure and support
      • 5.1.1Lack of research resources
      • 5.1.2Lack of collaboration opportunities
      • 5.1.3Teaching loads
      • 5.1.4Lack of research training
      • 5.1.5Lack of understanding of international publishing procedures
    • 5.2Challenge 2: Language
      • 5.2.1English as a general term
      • 5.2.2English and research writing
      • 5.2.3Studying and teaching in English
      • 5.2.4Mechanical/local issues in English
      • 5.2.5Stylistic difficulties
    • 5.3Challenge 3: Laborious writing and revising
    • 5.4Challenge 4: Hard versus social sciences
    • 5.5Challenge 5: Parochialism
  • 6.Future solutions
  • 7.Summary of the review’s themes
  • 8.Arabic-speaking EAL scholars and their multilingual peers
  • 9.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • References
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