======= Date Modified 24 19 2010 15:19:19 =======
======= Date Modified 24 17 2010 15:17:05 =======
I need some advice on how to simplify English for non-native speakers - and since English is my mother tongue I am a bit lost with where to begin.

I am sending a postdoc application for an international postdoc at a small university in a small European country. I do not speak their language - but I have a reasonablysound knowledge of their neighbours mutually -intelligible language - anyway, because the panel will not have English as their first language I have been asked to simplify my project proposal. I would guess this means shorter sentences to make it easier to read, and using a thesaurus to weed out words that can be replaced with those more likely to be known by non-natives?

Where to start? Perhaps any forumites who speak English as a second language could advise on what used to confuse them at a point when they *knew* English but didn't use it often....

I find their request a bit strange. If they are advertising the job for an English-speaker who cannot speak their own language, it suggests that the job entails good use of English.

English is my second language, but I'd feel offended if someone simplified academic content for me. But then again perhaps their request is only for the selection process to be inclusive to their scholars and you won't have to dumb-down everything you'll be producing throughout this postdoc.

Anyway, to help you with your question, yes, shorter sentences would be a good start. Also try not to use too many passive sentences. Singular first person pronoun is ok, but try to balance it out so it doesn't sound too self-centered or inpolite. Also, try to use the usual academic conjunctions rather than your own creative style to convey things to avoid misunderstandings.

Good luck (up)

ah and I remember how double negatives used to confuse me :-). So I'd avoid using them in order to stress on positive through negative, especially on a critical argument.

I (as well not an English native speaker) find the request as well a bit strange. I dont know if you necessarily need to shorten the sentences. That possibly depends on the country. I heard that scientific papers written in English by English native speakers are easier to read than written by German native speakers as Germans like to write long and complicated sentences. I had already some chances to realise this fact.
I would guess that it is possibly more words that are less common used by non-natives which make the text easier. But to find us those it is possibly best to find a non-native speaker being a bit familiar in your area (dont know yours at the moment) who reads your project proposal and points out for you unfamiliar words.

Thanks for the advice! Yes, I think I have been asked this because it will go through a selection panel of both admin and academic staff with different levels of English. The professor I have been in contact with and would work with has no problems with English, he told me to simplify only to make it easily understood by all the panelists.

I will set to changing the sentence structure and changing some of the vocab and then see if it is accessible enough..

Thanks all.

Hi Chris,

English is not my first language. I think academic writing is sometimes challenging, as it can consist of long sentences and contain a lot of complicated words, not often used in everyday life. Perhaps you could write your text like it would be "spoken English", that is as if you were having an conversation and wanted to explain to the other what your project is about. Imagine yourself lecturing to novices and the language you would use. Maybe the vocabulary of a midstream newspaper could also function as your guide.

Obviously I understand that some issues are complex and as such not easy to simplify.
:-)

I think you are unnecessarily taking this action/concern. It is not your job to interpret. I guess any EU university will have enough resources to interpret any language in the world, bearing in mind that english is an international language.:-s