ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: EVOLUTION, PEDAGOGICAL FOUNDATIONS, AND CONTEMPORARY DIRECTIONS

Abstract

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has evolved from a pragmatic response to global communication demands into a sophisticated field of applied linguistics integrating discourse analysis, corpus linguistics, and pedagogy. This article examines its theoretical underpinnings, and analyzes contemporary trends shaping its practice, including technological innovation, intercultural communication, and needs-driven curriculum design. Drawing upon recent empirical studies (2020–2025), the paper emphasizes how ESP remains a vital and adaptive discipline that aligns English language instruction with the communicative demands of specialized professional and academic fields.