Analysis of Studies on Interpreter’s Role on International Journals by Citespace (2000-2022)

Interpreters play important roles in international communication, and the international research on interpreter’s role has a history of over 50 years. This study use Citespace tool to analyse the data of Web of Science from 2000 to 2022 in order to understand the status quo and trend of research. It is found that such research saw a general trend of increase in fluctuation and there seems to be lack of cooperative research with much room for future cooperation between different research institutions. Current research can be categorized into conference interpreting, medical interpreting, court interpreting, prison interpreting, community interpreting, sign language interpreting, telephone interpreting, etc. It can also be classified into professional and non-professional interpreting, self-perspective and others ’ perspective, interpreting practice, interpreting quality, interpreting history, professional and inter professional education, etc. Future research could further the traditional domains and integrate the research with other domains of interpreting studies and that of other sectors. It could be further combined with sociological theories, adopt more diversified research methods, take a broader view in terms of interpreter’s working environment, and combine more closely with technology.