Industrial Language Service Research: A Review

Abstract

Industrial language service, an emerging field within language service studies, refers to linguistic support that integrates with and permeates various industries. A comprehensive review of existing literature reveals that current research primarily concentrates on four key sectors: medical care, tourism, governmental affairs, and transportation. These studies predominantly employ questionnaires and interviews as their main research instruments, with a particular focus on dominant languages and language usage patterns. To advance this field, future research should prioritize four strategic directions: first, addressing the linguistic needs of disadvantaged groups; second, expanding the scope of study to include minority languages, regional dialects, disability communication systems (e.g., sign languages and Braille), and non-verbal communication; third, developing dedicated corpora for industrial language services; and fourth, broadening research perspectives to encompass legal frameworks, community engagement, technological innovation, and digital inclusion. This multidimensional approach will significantly enhance our understanding and application of industrial language services across various sectors.