The imaginary invalid. Conference interpreters and E nglish as a lingua franca

The critical attitude of conference interpreters towards E nglish as a L ingua F ranca ( ELF ) has so far been downplayed by ELF researchers. This paper aims at detailing the experience of professional conference interpreters in interpreter‐mediated ELF communication and argues that ELF research has a stake in looking into their complaints because this may produce a better understanding of a number of aspects of mediated and unmediated ELF communication. Interpreter experience may thus contribute to achieving a more comprehensive and balanced description of ELF .