Science communication in developing countries

The following exchange is from the Research and Media Network

(http://researchandmedia.ning.com/profiles/comment/thread?screenName=nandan3000)

At 10:51am on April 22, 2009, Shahidul Islam Chowdhury said…

Hi Peter,

What do you think about making communicating science issues in (a) second language in developing countries easier?

Shahid, Dhaka

At 11:57am on April 22, 2009, Peter Matthews said…

Dear Shahidul,

Firstly, It is important for researchers and science writers in developing countries to communicate in non-native languages, but the effort needs to be selective and cost effective, since it does cost something - in time, effort, and (usually) money - to do this to a high standard. Although content should take priority over style and smoothness, poorly written work - in any language - has to compete with a large quantity of better writing that also has important content. So my advice is that all researchers should be involved in translation into other languages, in wealthy and less wealthy countries, but the focus should be on the best work, and on key papers or key areas of study.

Secondly, researchers and science writers should not ignore the potential for reaching out more effectively to audiences using their home language. Every country should support critical, constructive, informed writing that helps the development of that country in ways that benefit all, directly or indirectly. And there is always a need to translate and interpret work from other countries into local languages (the difference intended here is: translation is an attempt at unaltered transfer of meaning, for the same audience type as for the original text; interpretation may summarise, transform, and express in ways that allow meaning to be understood by different audiences).

So - for example: The people of Bangladesh should know everything that can possibly known about the management of water levels and water quality, and the likely course of sea-level rise, and other countries might also learn a lot from the efforts of local researchers (in Bangladesh) on such topics.

Translation and interpretation are needed in all directions.