Dear Roger Keller Celeste

Many thanks for your question.

I find your discussion very valuable and important.

Frankly, I have been thinking about this issue for a long time and I think it should be discussed.

I absolutely agree with you that scientific meetings and conferences should definitely be multilingual, as this is an important sign of cultural and linguistic colonialism.

The scientific events such as conferences, congresses and symposiums that I have participated in so far have generally been monolingual or at most bilingual. For example, the language of a scientific meeting held in Russia is usually Russian and English in addition. Or the language of a scientific meeting held in Turkey is usually Turkish. But some organisers also include English. Therefore, there is a national language and English as an international language.

Congress organisers usually accept the official language of the country where the congress is organised and English. In other words, congresses are usually either monolingual or bilingual. When this is the case, researchers and scientists working in other languages cannot be fully represented. Or, although they want to attend, they cannot attend due to language barriers.In this case, how inclusive and democratically diverse can such an event be?

Let me tell you something more interesting: Scientific meetings, not only in quantitative fields such as health, science and engineering, but also in the social sciences and humanities, have almost identical language policies.

They are generally monolingual or bilingual at most. There are academic events that are trilingual or multilingual, but they are very few. What is interesting is that there is also a language barrier at scientific events focussing on values such as human rights, justice, law and democracy. This is absolutely unacceptable. Imposing monolingualism is tantamount to ignoring other languages and cultures. This is a reflection of the colonialist understanding. It does not coincide with universal values such as law, human rights and democracy. I believe that this sensitivity should be kept at the highest level, especially in scientific activities.

I am open to co-operation in making a critical academic study on this subject with you.

Best Wishes,

Recep Baydemir

Accepting the local language and English could be the starting point. What about an "international scientific meeting" that only accepts presentations in English and not in the local country language?

Dear Roger Keller Celeste

That's a very good question. Thanks again. A monolingual event is, first of all, problematic from a scientific point of view. Because I think one aspect of science is its diversity and inclusiveness. There are quite a lot of events that accept presentations in a single language, but how scientific are they?

In my opinion, a scientific text or a scientific activity should be ‘ethical’ first and foremost. How ethical is it to impose a single language on the people making presentations? For example, in a country where at least 10 different languages are spoken, I liken this situation to a country where the political regime imposes the obligation on the people to speak in a single language and all people have to learn that single language. We call such situations monism and monolingualisation. Hundreds of languages are spoken in the world. I think it is not right to impose a single language in academia or in a scientific activity. Ignoring the language of people, no matter who they are, is tantamount to ignoring them. I think his is a violation of universal human rights. In my opinion, the following five features should definitely be present in a scientific activity: 1) Ethics, 2) Courtesy, 3) Tolerance, 4) Objectivity 5) Pluralism and democratic understanding

In my opinion, in a monolingual meeting it is questionable whether these 5 points are fully complied with.

Now, if we come to your question exactly :)

A ‘meeting’ that only accepts presentations in English and does not accept presentations in the local country language is already, 1) It is arguab whether a scientific meeting. 2) It is not ‘international’. How can a monolingual event be international? In my opinion, one of the conditions for it to be international is that it should include multiculturalism, multilingualism and diversity. If it is international, it should include the languages of different nations. Otherwise, I think it is a controversial issue for a monolingual meeting to be an international meeting. However, I also recognise that a general language may be necessary for everyone to benefit from a scientific text or activity, but this cannot be done by ignoring other languages. I think linguistic diversity is absolutely necessary. Everyone can express themselves better in their own language.

I am not sure whether these meetings, which advertise themselves as ‘international scientific meetings’, fulfil the criteria of being both ‘international’ and ‘scientific’. I would like to make a suggestion for these ‘international scientific meetings’ in terms of language and diversity.

For scientific meetings, instead of renting fancy halls, more modest places can be preferred. This way, more money for the hall can be allocated to the translators. :) Also, some meetings are really wasteful. Food and beverages such as tea, coffee and cakes, brochure printing, food and materials such as bags, mugs, pens and notebooks are necessary but not as necessary as an interpreter. :) Tea, coffee, cakes and cookies are not lacking at meetings, but an interpreter is lacking. :) :) :) The organisers of the meeting can provide diversity by hiring more interpreters and providing the necessary instant translation in the halls.

Best Wishes,

Recep Baydemir

I don't know.sory

Thanks for your reply, I know it is not easy to find them.