IDEAL INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

This study investigated how proficiency in English influences the ability to understand microbiological concepts related to food security and how effectively these concepts can be communicated to others. The study focused on the linguistic challenges faced by educators, students, and public health officials when conveying scientific concepts related to microbiology and food safety in English. The theoretical framework of the study is anchored on the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), proposed by Halliday (1985). The study analyses how the ideational, interpersonal, and textual meta-functions of English influence the comprehension and communication of microbiological knowledge. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaires from 300 participants from Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) including educators, students, and public health officials. Statistical tool used for calculation was a simple mean. The findings indicate that while English serves as a critical medium for disseminating scientific information, it poses significant challenges due to the complexity of scientific vocabulary and grammatical structures. Respondents highlighted difficulties in understanding microbiological terms such as pathogens, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and botulinum toxin, bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas), yeast, and mold, microorganisms that cause food borne illnesses, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Listeria monocytogenes and contamination which often impede effective communication. Additionally, public health campaigns and educational materials were found to be more effective when they incorporated simplified language, visual aids, and culturally relevant content. The study also reveals a need for greater integration of Englishlanguage education with scientific literacy, particularly in the context of microbiology and food safety. Based on these findings, the study recommends simplifying scientific texts, enhancing public health campaigns through visual storytelling, and developing bilingual or multilingual resources to support diverse audiences. Furthermore, it suggests policy reforms that prioritise language proficiency alongside scientific literacy to address food insecurity more effectively in Imo State. This study contributes to the understanding of how language impacts public health education and provides actionable insights for improving the communication of complex scientific concepts in English, with the aim of enhancing public awareness and mitigating food insecurity in Imo State.

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