The future of the German language in science

The German language served the scientific community for decades during the 20th century. The shift to the English language was considered by some as a loss of cultural identity. A view difficult to support, since not only Germany but also countries like Switzerland and Austria are part of the cultural heritage. The development of the impact factor, which is derived predominantly from Angle-American journals, has also contributed to this situation. This may be of concern, since it influences the scientific future of young scientists from German-speaking countries. At present, no exclusively German-language journal in obstetrics and gynecology is listed in the Index Medicus anymore. If this means that the German-language scientific journals are not needed for the transmission of scientific data, they may evolve as organs for postgraduation studies. Interest in postgraduate papers only recently became evident in academic circles. In American CVs a rubric of postgraduate studies is separately provided. These are highly esteemed. The need for such postgraduate journals will be established when postgraduate studies become mandatory also in German-speaking countries. A lack of postgraduate papers may be overcome by an impact factor for postgraduate studies to encourage young academics to write such papers. Until German-language postgraduate papers are submitted in larger numbers, the editors of German-language journals are referred to the Anglo-American literature where such articles are available. Since a scientific journal, even when there are large subscription numbers, requires advertisements of the pharmaceutical industry, there is a potential for a conflict of interest between physicians and advertisers. In general, it can be expected that the number of German-language journals will drastically decline. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.