The SFL Glass Ceiling in French Linguistic Circles: Exploring the Translation Window

While systemic functional linguistics (SFL) has made considerable headway in numerous linguistic circles around the world and across multiple languages, it has not encountered the same enthusiasm in French academic linguistic circles. The current study addresses this issue by examining the potential barriers and challenges facing SFL in France, particularly the question of knowledge circulation and translating SFL research into French. The study explores these challenges through the lenses of a small translation project that serves to identify and further illuminate some of the linguistic and cultural factors contributing to this glass ceiling. Results indicate that lexis is not necessarily the most important issue among translators, although it can include notable areas of concern. Phraseology, however, poses a noteworthy problem given its role in the general construction of the text and its larger units of meaning. The results also show that specialized terminology and inter- and intra-translation variations are areas of concern, particularly in the translation of academic discourse.