This volume offers an overview of new perspectives and ongoing developments in research on
Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) and specialised discourse. Traditionally investigated on
the basis of terminology and genre studies the area now also draws on such diverse fields as
sociolinguistics sociology psychology and communication studies. This widening range of
perspectives increases the need for insights into and knowledge about current developments in
research on LSP and specialised discourse. The chapters included here have been selected to
address this need. Based on papers presented at the XVII European LSP Symposium they reflect
its focus: aims and methods in current research on LSP and specialised discourse. Two chapters
present the research history of the area its current status and emergent issues. Nine
chapters exemplify methods currently applied new aims pursued or new aims supported by
innovative methods. The methods include discourse analysis use of specialist informants study
of multimedia texts sociological observation interviews etc. The aims vary from unveiling
politicians' linguistic representation of the 2008 financial meltdown over inclusion of visual
representations in LSP research to clarifying the limits of lay understanding of specialised
knowledge. In sum the volume offers the reader a holistic yet multi-faceted overview of
state-of-the-art research in this area.
