Is it ever possible for a non-native to obtain the same level of English (at the brain-level)?

[jutfrank]

So what did it say, @probus?

 

[probus]

The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science
Tatsuya Amano, Valeria Ramírez-Castañeda, Violeta Berdejo-Espinola, Israel Borokini, Shawan Chowdhury, Marina Golivets, Juan David González-Trujillo, Flavia Montaño-Centellas, Kumar Paudel, Rachel Louise White, Diogo Veríssimo
PLoS Biology 21 (7), e3002184, 2023
The use of English as the common language of science represents a major impediment to maximising the contribution of non-native English speakers to science. Yet few studies have quantified the consequences of language barriers on the career development of researchers who are non-native English speakers. By surveying 908 researchers in environmental sciences, this study estimates and compares the amount of effort required to conduct scientific activities in English between researchers from different countries and, thus, different linguistic and economic backgrounds. Our survey demonstrates that non-native English speakers, especially early in their careers, spend more effort than native English speakers in conducting scientific activities, from reading and writing papers and preparing presentations in English, to disseminating research in multiple languages. Language barriers can also cause them not to attend, or give oral presentations at, international conferences conducted in English. We urge scientific communities to recognise and tackle these disadvantages to release the untapped potential of non-native English speakers in science. This study also proposes potential solutions that can be implemented today by individuals, institutions, journals, funders, and conferences. Please see the Supporting information files (S2–S6 Text

 

[jutfrank]

Thanks, probus.

All it says there is that non-native speakers "spend more effort" than native speakers, whatever that means. I presume they're saying that it takes more time to read and write research papers.

 

[kttlt]

Whenever I think about this topic I recall Joseph Conrad, a 19th century polish author who, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, is "regarded as one of the greatest English novelists", even though he allegedly did not speak English fluently until his twenties. He was, of course, an extraordinary individual of remarkable talent but still, his example is a strong evidence that there are hardly limits in language acquisition.

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