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1. Introduction
Although translation has played a prominent role in human life， it is argued that the emergence of English as a Lingua Franca（ELF） has weakened translation’s status. In this essay， I will argue that ELF has diminished the need for translation in terms of human communication， yet it is no threat for translation in some other aspects such as written literature. In order to demonstrate this argument， I will first analyse the spread of ELF. Then I will examine the benefits of ELF as a communication tool and the innate weaknesses of translation. Finally， the need for translation in certain areas will be looked at.
2. The spread of ELF
In defining ELF， House （2003） quoted： it is a language showing full linguistic and functional range （Kachru， 1997） and serving as a ‘contact language between persons who share neither a common native tongue nor a common national culture， and for whom English is the chosen foreign language of communication’ （Firth， 1996）.
Due to the military might， political imperialism and economic supremacy of Britain and America in history and at present， English， as the language behind these two countries， has become a global language or a lingua franca. According to Pennycook （1998， p.148） who excerpted from an editorial in The Sunday Times （UK）， two billion people around the globe chose English as their second language. Combined with 350 million native speakers in the United States， Britain and the Commonwealth， the number is huge. He （1998， p.148） also noticed from an article in U.S News
Although translation has played a prominent role in human life， it is argued that the emergence of English as a Lingua Franca（ELF） has weakened translation’s status. In this essay， I will argue that ELF has diminished the need for translation in terms of human communication， yet it is no threat for translation in some other aspects such as written literature. In order to demonstrate this argument， I will first analyse the spread of ELF. Then I will examine the benefits of ELF as a communication tool and the innate weaknesses of translation. Finally， the need for translation in certain areas will be looked at.
2. The spread of ELF
In defining ELF， House （2003） quoted： it is a language showing full linguistic and functional range （Kachru， 1997） and serving as a ‘contact language between persons who share neither a common native tongue nor a common national culture， and for whom English is the chosen foreign language of communication’ （Firth， 1996）.
Due to the military might， political imperialism and economic supremacy of Britain and America in history and at present， English， as the language behind these two countries， has become a global language or a lingua franca. According to Pennycook （1998， p.148） who excerpted from an editorial in The Sunday Times （UK）， two billion people around the globe chose English as their second language. Combined with 350 million native speakers in the United States， Britain and the Commonwealth， the number is huge. He （1998， p.148） also noticed from an article in U.S News