# Linguistic bias and the hidden costs of science lost in translation

## TL;DR

The paper discusses how the dominance of English in science creates barriers for non-native speakers, affecting their visibility and opportunities.

## Contribution

The paper introduces the concept of linguistic bias in science and its impact on equity and progress.

## Key findings

- Non-native English speakers face hurdles in research dissemination and professional visibility.
- Linguistic bias shapes scientific discourse and sustains professional hierarchies.

## Abstract

English has become the global language of science, but this dominance has a cost. Researchers who are not native English speakers face invisible hurdles: efforts to learn and use a second language, obstacles to research dissemination, and diminished professional visibility. These barriers do more than prevent access to opportunities. They cement unfair assumptions about scientific competence and preferentially amplify voices that are proficient, or perceived to be proficient, in the dominant language, shaping scientific discourse in narrow and exclusive ways. This editorial explores how linguistic bias sustains professional hierarchies and restricts scientific progress. It also highlights our journal’s initiatives to overcome language-based barriers in publishing and foster equitable participation in scientific exchange.