Zhang Yihua, Eto Hiroyuki, Cui Jianlei
Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
PLoS One. 2025 May 27;20(5):e0324760. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324760. eCollection 2025.
This study investigates the linguistic challenges encountered by Chinese academics in science and engineering when writing for English-language scholarly publications. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research draws on survey responses from 732 participants and insights from semi-structured interviews with 13 interviewees. Sentence construction emerged as the most significant challenge, followed by issues with vocabulary selection, cohesive devices, coherence, and grammar, with notable variation across academic ranks. Common strategies to address these challenges include utilizing online tools, seeking peer support, and employing professional editing services. The findings offer actionable recommendations for tailored academic writing training, institutional support, and the integration of advanced technological tools, aiming to enhance publication success rates among non-native English-speaking scholars.
本研究调查了中国理工科科研人员在撰写英文学术出版物时所面临的语言挑战。该研究采用混合方法，借鉴了732名参与者的调查反馈以及对13名受访者进行半结构化访谈所获得的见解。句子构建成为最显著的挑战，其次是词汇选择、衔接手段、连贯性和语法问题，不同学术职级之间存在显著差异。应对这些挑战的常见策略包括使用在线工具、寻求同行支持以及聘请专业编辑服务。研究结果为量身定制的学术写作培训、机构支持以及先进技术工具的整合提供了可操作的建议，旨在提高非英语母语学者的发表成功率。
