Access to Medical Information and the Role of English Language in an Algerian Selected Community : Media and Modes of Exchange Among the Paediatricians

Abstract

The fundamental concern of this thesis is the plethora of systemic difficulties facing the Algerian nation with a study of one particular issue, most neglected, that of language. The thesis explores language use and makes an in-depth study of one Algerian community in order to diagnose the consequences of current policy and to suggest steps to remedy the endemic problems. The thesis addresses the issue of language as power in Algeria, which stems from three historical contexts: the colonial dominance of French, the revolutionary choice of Arabic and the globalisation of English as ‘lingua franca’. It reviews the question of 'lingua franca' in the development of the nation. The group studied is the medical faculty of the university in Constantine, which may stand as a microcosm for the macrocosm of the whole of the Algerian research community. This group has a complex linguistic repertoire, including varying levels of competence in the three competing lingua francas present in Algeria. The choice of the Algerian scientific community as a focus of the study stemmed from its particular position as a group which needs to acquire the language which permits it to enter the ‘International Research community’. The language needed, at present, is English. Research on the ability of the particular group chosen to access English medium knowledge and participate in international English medium academic circles may aid to assess the impact of English use as a world lingua franca on the Algerian scientific community as a whole. The utility of this research will stem from the insights it gives to the needs of this specific Algerian community of 'medical doctors' as they acquire English to help them to overcome the linguistic barrier to international communication. They need to develop English as a tool, both efficiently and effectively. Many countries, especially developing ones like Algeria, cannot afford the cost of inefficiency in language use, so some interest has arisen in the issue of effectiveness and efficiency in language acquisition and use...