Knowledge Construction in Academia: A Challenge for Multilingual Scholars(19 Intercultural Studies and Foreign Language Learning)

This book examines the struggles encountered by multilingual scholars pursuing careers within global academia, particularly in Spain and Latin American countries. These writers face the disadvantage of having to read and write in a language other than their own. The traditional model of Anglophone universities under which academics have to «publish or perish» has ensured that English is an indicator of excellence in knowledge construction. Given this linguistic inequality, it is important that scholars from non-Anglophone countries are empowered in their efforts to publish in English in international journals, so that new knowledge can be brought to the fore. By highlighting the dominant English medium conventions, this book provides such scholars with valuable support in ensuring that their research is publishable. It explores the different ways of structuring languages and illuminates the complexities of writing an academic text in a second language. The central message of the book is that the voices of multilingual scholars can make unique and substantial contributions to the reform, expansion, democratization and enrichment of English-dominated academia.

About the Author :
Elena Sheldon holds a PhD in academic literacy in English and is a lecturer in the School of International Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney. She specializes in second language writing, using genre-based pedagogy within Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory.

Review :
«With this volume, Elena Sheldon further contributes to our understanding of contemporary efforts being made by Spanish researchers to publish in English. Although she adopts an elaborate analytic approach (move analysis, engagement aspects of appraisal theory, and textography), her ultimate aim is to provide pedagogical assistance for her target audience.» (John M. Swales, University of Michigan) «Drawing on detailed textual analysis, Elena Sheldon illuminates the nuances of research articles that pose particular challenges for non-native speakers. She reveals how knowledge is advanced in academic discourse, how it is evaluated and how it is produced, and challenges the accountability of universities in these processes.» (Louise Ravelli, University of New South Wales) «Elena Sheldon's analysis of research articles in applied linguistics and education by Spanish and English authors builds on prior work into move structure analysis to underline the rich complexity of this genre. The book contributes to the growing literature on linguistic variation and how a detailed description of language use can help inform how it is taught to students.» (Ken Hyland, University of East Anglia) «Shining a light on the challenges that Spanish-speaking academics may find in their struggle to publish in English, Elena Sheldon makes a remarkable contribution to the understanding of how academic knowledge is constructed in different writing cultures and opens new paths for research on the teaching of English for Research Publication Purposes.» (Rosa Lorés Sanz, Zaragoza University)