On Linguistic Discrimination and the Scientific Register

[paoladm (PDM)]

To point out in public discussions that English may not be someone’s first language, is a discriminatory practice, both for natives and non natives. (Especially in the case of native but non standard English speakers or people with linguistic or cognitive disorders etc) In some jurisdictions, employers can be held liable for discrimination in the workplace, especially if this amounts to a form of harassment. Some background here https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210528-the-pervasive-problem-of-linguistic-racism (there is a wealth of literature on the subject btw) By contrast, when adopting a scientific and technical language register, communication is generally acceptable to a scholarly community, irrespective of national designation, even when not perfect. Passing judgement is a double edge sword. Adopting a scientific language register in scholarly communication may be a goo idea purely for that reason.