Physics in a second language | symmetry magazine

Physics in a second language | symmetry magazine

‘Science is like a different language’

For some scientists, the domination of English in science is so total that it can even be a challenge to discuss their field in their native tongue. “I’m having to actively teach myself how to talk about science in Spanish, which is very ironic,” says astronomer Rose Ferreira of her science-communication efforts on Instagram. “Science is like a completely different language.” Particle physicists Suyog Shrestha and Yangyang Cheng laud the benefits of a lingua franca when communicating with colleagues from over 80 countries at CERN. But they also share stories of being criticised or misjudged for their accents, and note that English can exclude people who don’t have access to the language.

Symmetry | 5 min read