Abstract:

Emergency language services (ELS) has enjoyed unprecedented attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, existing studies have focused on making proposals for the construction of ELS mechanisms and the training of professionals. Few studies have explored practical ways to achieve this objective. We argue that the teaching of emergency language should be based on the following concepts: first, ELS should be extended to other fields such as maritime, aviation, customs, military and foreign affairs instead of being confined to health and medicine; second, the efficiency of ELS depends on emergency language teaching on a daily basis; third, emergency language teaching is the teaching of languages for specific purposes (LSP), rather than general language teaching. A person with a high language proficiency but without any specific knowledge in the given field could not be qualified for ELS. To conduct emergency language teaching, therefore, it is necessary to offer ELS programs in tertiary institutions. For example, English departments in the universities of maritime, aeronautics, customs, military, and foreign affairs might initiate such programs or provide related courses. The first step, however, is to change the dominant perception of the English major as liberal education.

Keywords: Emergency language services; emergency language teaching; mechanism and professional training; languages for specific purposes; interdisciplinary linguistics; English major

摘要：

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情期间,应急语言建设和服务的重要性被提高到了前所未有的高度。现有文献多集中在建立应急语言服务机制等建议上,对如何形成应急语言服务的长效机制、如何培养应急语言服务后备人才却很少有研究提出实质性的建议和措施。本文提出建设应急语言教学的观点,认为应急语言服务的应用范围应包括海事、航空、军事、外交等领域的突发事件,应急语言服务的基础是非应急时的常态化基础训练和教学,应急语言教学不是通用语言教学而是专门用途语言教学,没有专业知识、仅靠语言基本功是无济于事的。笔者提出,高校应设立“应急语言服务专业”,要在特色院校普遍设置该专业、开设相关课程,并要按学科和行业建立应急语言语料库。为了朝着这个方向努力,第一步便是要改变英语专业建设的理念。

关键词: 应急语言服务, 应急语言教学, 机制与人才培养, 专门用途语言, 语言学跨学科, 英语专业