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Article published In: Journal of English for Research Publication Purposes
Vol. 2:1 (2021) ► pp.5–29

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ARTICLES

Scholarly publication of Brazilian researchers across disciplinary communities

 | University of British Columbia
 | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
 | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Published online: 2 August 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1075/jerpp.20012.bau
Abstract
This paper examines the context of scholarly knowledge production and dissemination in Brazil by comparing the publishing practices in both Portuguese and in English of Brazilian scholars who hold a research grant, across eight fields of knowledge. Data consists of 1,874 Curricula Vitae and the analysis focused on the language, number, and genres of publications over a three-year period (2014 to 2016). The study revealed a clear contrast regarding the more frequent use of English by researchers in the ‘harder’ sciences and the preference for Portuguese by those in the ‘softer’ sciences. The results also suggested an interconnection in which scholars who published the most tended to adopt English. Multiple factors involved in the genre and language choices made by academics were analysed, such as characteristics of the work produced by each disciplinary community, the audience of the research, the type of language used, and the need to obtain research funding. This investigation can potentially inform policies and investments in Brazilian higher education and research to provide continued support specific to the needs of different disciplinary communities, as well as foster the inclusion of multilingual scholars who do not have English as their first language in the global arena of knowledge production and dissemination.
Resumo
Este artigo examina o contexto de produção e disseminação de conhecimento acadêmico no Brasil através de uma comparação das práticas de publicação em português e inglês de pesquisadores brasileiros com bolsa de produtividade em pesquisa em oito diferentes áreas do conhecimento. Dados de 1.874 curricula vitae foram analisados em relação à língua, à quantidade e ao gênero textual de publicação ao longo de um período de 3 anos (2014 a 2016). O estudo revelou um contraste marcante em relação ao uso mais frequente de inglês por pesquisadores nas ciências mais exatas e a preferência pelo português por acadêmicos das áreas das ciências menos exatas. As análises também sugerem que aqueles pesquisadores que mais publicaram, tendem a utilizar mais a língua inglesa. Diferentes fatores envolvidos na escolha do gênero textual e da língua de publicação foram analisados, tais como as características do trabalho produzido por cada comunidade disciplinar, o público alvo da publicação, o tipo de linguagem utilizada e a necessidade de obtenção de financiamento de pesquisa. Os resultados desta investigação podem vir a informar políticas e investimentos no ensino superior brasileiro e em pesquisa, a fim de fornecer suporte contínuo e específico para as diferentes comunidades disciplinares, bem como de promover a inclusão de acadêmicos que não tenham o inglês como sua primeira língua na arena global de produção e disseminação de conhecimento.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The use of English for publication purposes in different disciplinary communities
  • 3.Methodology
  • 4.Analysis
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Note
  • References
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