Наука и проблема единого языка/ Science and the Problem of One Language

According to sources, English is not just becoming, but has already become, the primary international language of modern science. This process began after World War I and accelerated significantly after World War II, when English became the dominant language of higher education and scientific publications. Key aspects of this process include: • Statistical dominance: The share of scientific papers on chemistry in English increased from 43% in 1961 to 82% in 2000. In the Science Citation Index (SCI), the largest bibliometric database, approximately 90% of all articles are published in English. • Differences by discipline: Dominance is most noticeable in the natural sciences, where English use exceeds 80%. In the humanities and social sciences, this figure is lower, ranging from 20% to 50%. • Reasons for expansion: The spread of English is associated not only with its intrinsic properties but also with socioeconomic factors, such as the economic well-being and political influence of English-speaking countries (the "cratic dimension"). • Impact on careers: Publication in prestigious international journals, which are overwhelmingly English-language, has become a prerequisite for career advancement for scientists worldwide. This is forcing national scientific communities to switch to English, sometimes leading to the loss of scientific registers in other languages.