Introduction

This introduction explores the most important key concepts and theoretical frameworks in intralingual translation and the political and ideological issues surrounding the topic. It presents the six sections in the handbook which each investigate intralingual translation from a different angle and offer specific case studies: A diachronic perspective that includes modernizing classical texts and children’s literature; the role of language varieties and ideology in intralingual translation; a diaphasic perspective that includes translating into Easy and Plain Language for various audiences; rewriting and editing which considers both as forms of intralingual translation; intralingual translation as a tool in education and especially second language acquisition; and finally new expanding professional fields that feature intralingual translation such as simultaneous Easy Language interpreting, or live subtitling or Easy English for podcasts.