Writing English for Research and Publication Purposes (ERPP): Personal Identity and Professional Voice

This chapter presents a third phase of a mixed method study (a survey and 2 interview phases) on the perceptions of Icelandic academics on publishing their research in English. The findings of this second set of interviews with ten Icelandic scientists from various research fields suggest that they encounter a broad spectrum of issues while writing for publication beyond extra time, effort and expense identified previously. These issues pertain to the local as well as the international culture and discourse of their different disciplines, intended audience and conflicts related to identity, personal voice and expression of authority in a language different from their own. The interviews clearly show that it is in their L1 that their thinking is rooted. This is further illustrated by the psychological conflict perceived by the interviewees who profess to have a deeper and more authentic connection to the content when writing in their first language. Finally participants express concern for the development of academic Icelandic.