Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Language and scientific communication: The case of the reprint request

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper reports on a study of Reprint Requests (RRs). It is estimated that tens of millions of RRs are mailed each year, most being triggered byCurrent Contents. A sample of RRs generated by three papers, plus a questionnaire-survey of the requesters for one paper, form the basis of this study into language use patterns in the RR genre. English is ubiquitous, German and French infrequent, Russian and Spanish rare. This language data is significant because it provides unit-level language decision making (as opposed to that at other levels). Various applications of RR research are discussed, including its relevance to the issue of “Third World Science”.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. I. B. ONUIGBO, The utilization of request-a-print,Social Studies of Science, 14 (1984) 94.

    Google Scholar 

  2. W. I. B. ONUIGBO, Reprint Requests — a tool for documentation.International Forum on Information and Documentation, (1985) 7.

  3. J. SWALES, ESP in the Big World of Reprint Requests.English for Specific Purposes, 5 (1986) 81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. W. I. B. ONUIGBO, Printer's devils and Reprint Requests,Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 33 (1982) 58.

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. ESSEX-LOPRESTI, Why request reprints?British Medical Journal, 283 (1981) 790.

    Google Scholar 

  6. F. M. JABLIN, K. KRONE, Characteristics of rejection letters and their effects on job applicants,Written Communication, 1 (1984) 387.

    Google Scholar 

  7. R. B. BALDAUF, Linguistic constraints on participation in Psychology,The American Psychologist, 41 (1986) 220.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R. B. BALDAUF, B. H. JERNUDD, Language use patterns in the fisheries periodical literature,Scientometrics, 5 (1983) 245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. J. SWALES, Englis as the international language of research,RELC Journal, 16 (1985) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. MAHER, The development of English as an international language of Medicine,Applied Linguistics, 7 (1986) 206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M-J. St. JOHN, Writing processes of Spanish scientists publishing in English,English for Specific Purposes, (forthcoming).

  12. M. MORAVCSIK.Strengthening the Coverage of Third World Science, The University of Oregon, Eugene, USA, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. VELHO, The author and the beholder: How paradigm commitments can influence the interpretation of research results,Scientometrics, 11 (1987) 39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. M. BLOOR,English Language needs in the University of Cordoba: The Report of a Survey, The University of Aston, Birmingham, England, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The English Language Institute, The University of Michigan, 48109, Ann Arbor, MI, (USA)

    J. Swales

Authors
  1. J. Swales
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Swales, J. Language and scientific communication: The case of the reprint request. Scientometrics 13, 93–101 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017177

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017177

Keywords

Search

Navigation