Standard written academic English: A critical appraisal

LAURA MARINA COLOMBO

Working Papers in Literacy, Culture and Language Education

Indiana University Bloomington - School of Education

Lugar: Bloomington; Año: 2012 vol. 1 p. 125 - 140

Science today is mainly communicated through standard written academic English (SWAE). In this paper, I apply the postulations of Gramsci, Bourdieu and Canagarajah to show how domination structures are reproduced in scientific communication worldwide. I argue that these structures do not allow non-dominant epistemologies and ways of producing and communicating science to participate in the international arena. I apply a critical lens to interpret each one of the terms present in SWAE. I propose that a critical appraisal of each one of these terms is the first step towards a more democratic conceptualization of science communication where the standards are not only seen as innocuous communication means but also as ideologically-charged fictitious universals. It is my claim that understanding the arbitrary nature of these universals and the influence that language has on knowledge construction will give space to non-dominant ways of producing and communicating knowledge.