Written Communication Jan 2006 Open Access

Professional Academic Writing by Multilingual Scholars

Theresa Lillis The Open University ; Mary Jane Curry University of Rochester

Abstract

Scholars around the world are under increasing pressure to publish their research in the medium of English. However, little empirical research has explored how the global premium of English influences the academic text production of scholars working outside of English-speaking countries. This article draws on a longitudinal text-oriented ethnographic study of psychology scholars in Hungary, Slovakia, Spain, and Portugal to follow the trajectories of texts from local research and writing contexts to English-medium publications. Our findings indicate that a significant number of mediators, “literacy brokers,” who are involved in the production of such texts, influence the texts in different and important ways. We illustrate in broad terms the nature and extent of literacy brokering in English-medium publications and characterize and exemplify brokers’ different orientations. We explore what kind of brokering is evident in the production of a specific group of English-medium publications—articles written and published in English-medium international journals—by focusing on three text histories. We conclude by discussing what a focus on brokering can tell us about practices surrounding academic knowledge production.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2006-01-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088305283754
Open Access
OA PDF Green
Topics
empirical research multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (9)

  1. Jeria et al. (2026)
    Notions About Drafts in Scientific Research Articles: A Case Study With Writers…
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  2. Castelló et al. (2021)
    Post-PhD Researchers’ Trajectories and Networking: The Mediating Role of Writin…
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  3. Lillis et al. (2020)
    Time, the Written Record, and Professional Practice: The Case of Contemporary S…
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  4. Rounsaville et al. (2020)
    Sociomaterial Paradoxes in Global Academic Publishing: Academic Literacies at t…
    College English
  5. Corcoran (2019)
    Addressing the “Bias Gap”: A Research-Driven Argument for Critical Support of P…
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Show all 9 →
  1. Luo et al. (2017)
    Intervention and Revision: Expertise and Interaction in Text Mediation
    Written Communication
  2. Olsson et al. (2012)
    A Case Study of Swedish Scholars’ Experiences With and Perceptions of the Use o…
    Written Communication
  3. Tardy et al. (2009)
    The Construction of Author Voice by Editorial Board Members
    Written Communication
  4. Lillis (2008)
    Ethnography as Method, Methodology, and “Deep Theorizing”
    Written Communication

Cites in this index (3)

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    Written Communication
  2. GUNNARSSON (1997)
    The Writing Process from a Sociolinguistic Viewpoint
    Written Communication
  3. CANAGARAJAH (1996)
    “Nondiscursive” Requirements in Academic Publishing, Material Resources of Peri…
    Written Communication
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CrossRef global citation count: 266 View in citation network →

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