Mapping Multimodality in Translation Studies: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review examines recent developments in how multimodality has been conceptualised and investigated within translation studies, based on 113 articles identified through a search of 14 selected translation journals published between 2019 and 2024. Four main research foci were identified: modal transformation across media, spatial and multisensory contexts, audiovisual and accessibility‐oriented practices, and interpreting as multimodal mediation. These strands indicate that multimodality in translation studies has expanded beyond audiovisual translation (AVT) and contributed to a reconceptualisation of translation as a situated, embodied, and experiential practice. Methodologically, qualitative studies remain dominant in the dataset, whereas quantitative and mixed‐methods designs are less common and concentrated in particular research domains. The reviewed studies also draw mainly on two theoretical orientations: SFL‐informed social semiotic approaches and intersemiotic translation and resemiotisation. The relationships and analytical boundaries between these orientations are not always clearly defined, which may hinder cross‐study comparison and further empirical research. On this basis, this review identifies three priorities: (a) developing shared multimodal corpora; (b) expanding the use of mixed‐methods and data‐driven designs where appropriate; and (c) establishing an integrated analytical framework that accounts for modal, transformational, and contextual dimensions. Emerging trends in AI‐assisted workflows, multimodal quality assessment and translator and interpreter training underscore the need for methodological and conceptual integration in the field.