Rethinking Sustainability Research in Translation and Interpreting Studies in the Roaring 2020s

Abstract

This article examines sustainability in the language industry, particularly in the light of recent advancements in generative AI. It critically analyses how the rise of generative AI has exacerbated existing challenges across three key dimensions (economic, psychological and ecological). The analysis shows that there is a relatively narrow focus on unsustainable practices within current discourse. Instead of providing professionals with the tools to navigate change, much of the debate is characterised by either narratives of decline or uncritical optimism, both of which contribute to the disempowerment of language professionals. The article concludes by advocating for a re-evaluation of professional values and calling on researchers and practitioners to pursue a more engaged, activist-oriented approach to building practices that prioritise sustainability. It points out that sustainability is not merely an engaging research theme or a sectoral trend. It is, or ought to be, a strategic imperative in academic discourse.