Why you should consider publishing in French

Publishing scientific articles is a critical aspect of the research dissemination process. While English has become the predominant language in scientific communication, you may be wondering why anyone would publish in French but there are compelling reasons to consider publishing your articles in French. This choice can open various doors, let's explore them together.

Increasing your international discoverability

French is one of the most widely spoken language in the world along with Mandarin, English, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic. Countries like France, Belgium, Canada, and various African nations have a robust research base that communicates primarily in French. One of the primary advantages of publishing in French is the increased accessibility for a significant portion of the scientific community. By publishing in French, you are not only reaching a wider audience but also making yourself be known to Francophone communities all around the world.

Showing your commitment to inclusiveness

Inclusiveness is a hot topics in the French-speaking world today more than ever before. Since French is a Latin language with genders, the debates surrounding the issue have given way to a collective consensus that is helping to make academic French a more inclusive language, despite the absence of official directives from the Académie Française. This just goes to show the extent to which the French language is not just a means of scientific communication, but also a powerful tool in the fight for a more inclusive world.

Enhancing your impact

By publishing your scientific articles in French, you are enhancing the impact of your research, as more researchers and students can comprehend and build upon your work, allowing you to stand out from the English-speaking crowds and take advantage of unexpected opportunities. Publishing in French allows you to generate fruitful interactions and meaningful relationships with different French-speaking scientific communities who prefer to read in their native language. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that France was a pioneer in Open Access and a key player in facilitating the transition to Open Access.

Supporting linguistic pluralism in scientific circles

Publishing in French also plays an instrumental role in fostering the intellectual heritage of the Francophone scientific community. Many groundbreaking studies and innovative ideas have emerged from this group. By choosing to publish in French, you are supporting the continuity and growth of scientific discourse in these communities. Furthermore, you contribute to a diverse scientific ecosystem that values multilingual contributions, ultimately enriching the global scientific dialogue. In short, contributing to Francophone science and knowledge supports the idea of linguistic pluralism of the scientific community as a whole.

In conclusion, while English remains a critical language in the global research landscape, there are significant advantages to consider publishing your scientific articles in French. The potential to enhance accessibility, amplify your research's impact, show your commitment to inclusiveness and contribute to the Francophone academic community are not to be overlooked. Embracing multilingualism in scientific publishing not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the overall framework of global scientific collaboration. More than a simple opportunity, it is also a statement.

For further reading and to extend this issue to other languages, The Conversation explores this topic using the example of Spanish in this article: https://theconversation.com/english-dominates-scientific-research-heres-how-we-can-fix-it-and-why-it-matters-226198?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=bylinelinkedinbutton written by Elea Giménez Toledo.

***Disclaimer: Although this content is produced by a human being, the author has enlisted the help of machine translation to make some sentences of this text more pleasant to read for an English-speaking readership.