The Use of English Language In Research; The Good And The Bad

Abstract

The study probed the good and the bad of the use of English language in research. It also determined whether academics (lecturers) and postgraduate students experience pressure to publish research papers in English, and if they support the use of English in research. Purposive sample was used to gather data from 800 participants comprising 400 academics (lecturers), and 400 postgraduate students from 8 out of the 16 regions of Ghana. It found among other things that 57% of the respondents as the majority said that they have experienced pressure to publish research papers in English before, while 43% of them being the minority confirmed that they have never experienced pressure to publish research papers in English before. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among other things that researchers should be allowed to publish in languages that they are fully competent in.