Does Language Matter in Epidemiology?
Author Information
Author(s): Iacopo Baussano, Patrick Brzoska, Ugo Fedeli, Claudia Larouche, Oliver Razum, Isaac C-H Fung
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
How do language and cultural context affect the development of epidemiology and public health journals in French, German, and Italian?
Conclusion
Epidemiology and public health journals in non-English languages face significant challenges due to the dominance of English in scientific communication.
Supporting Evidence
- English has become the lingua franca of scientific communication, impacting non-English journals.
- French, German, and Italian journals struggle to maintain readership and relevance.
- Professional education in epidemiology is available in French, German, and Italian, but faces challenges.
Takeaway
This study looks at how different languages affect public health research and the challenges faced by journals that publish in French, German, and Italian.
Methodology
The paper discusses historical developments and current challenges faced by epidemiology and public health journals in three Western European languages.
Potential Biases
The authors' selection of journals may reflect their own biases and experiences.
Limitations
The collection of journals is based on the authors' knowledge and is not exhaustive.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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