Implications of English as a Lingua Franca for Translation and Interpreting: Current and Future Directions

Abstract

The unprecedented spread of English as a lingua franca (ELF) and the growing dominance of English in international communication have had increasingly important implications for the translation and interpreting (T&I) industry. Despite the role and importance of ELF for T&I, this issue has attracted relatively little attention within the field of translation studies (TS). This literature review paper aimed to present a synthesis of participant-based research that focuses on the implications and repercussions of ELF for T&I. To this end, five databases were systematically searched for relevant research that was published in English or Turkish in peer-reviewed journals or edited collections or produced as a master’s or doctoral thesis between 2000 and 2021. As a result of the search, seven studies were included in the review based on the predetermined criteria for inclusion. Surprisingly, the search yielded no research written by Turkish scholars on the issue, except for a few brief mentions. An outstanding common thread that runs through all the studies reviewed here and other relevant studies is the call for an ELF-oriented pedagogy to increase trainee translators’ and interpreters’ awareness and knowledge of ELF and prepare them for the changing working conditions, needs, and demands of the professional market. As repeatedly emphasised in earlier studies, this literature review paper has once again reaffirmed the need for further research, particularly empirical research, on the implications of ELF for all forms and aspects of T&I.