Translation and English as International Language in accessible tourism
What is it about?
This paper aims at exploring the potentials and limits of translation and English as International Language as tools of inclusion in accessible tourism. Accessible tourism can be defined as a form of tourism that enables people with access requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access, to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments. Full dimensions of inclusion and accessibility in tourism may be achieved not only by overcoming physical and architectural barriers, but also through a deeper understanding of the linguistic features, structural layout and textual contents employed in the promotion, supply and use of accessible tourism services and sites. As a matter of fact, even language can represent a sort of ‘intangible barrier’ in accessible tourism, particularly if the texts employed in the description, promotion and fruition of tourist sites and attractions fail to take into account important aspects of communicative accessibility.
Why is it important?
This research aims at identifying the main linguistic, translational and multimodal features characterising a series of accessible tourism texts in English and Italian, in order to show how translation and English as International Language may increase, or sometimes hinder, the actual level of accessibility and promotional aims of these texts, raise awareness on disability issues and, mostly, contribute effectively to the development of a more inclusive and egalitarian society.