ENGLISH FOR MIDWIFERY PURPOSES (EMP): A LITERATURE REVIEW OF ITS CONCEPT, POSITION IN ESP, VOCABULARY, AND LANGUAGE SKILLS

Abstract

English is increasingly needed by midwifery students and midwives, both to access international evidence and guidelines and to care for women and families who do not speak the local language. However, English for Midwifery Purposes (EMP) has received far less attention in the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) literature than English for medicine or nursing. This article aims to describe the concept of EMP, locate it within established ESP classifications, map the vocabulary it involves, and identify the language skills it requires. The study is a narrative literature review of foundational ESP works, vocabulary research, and international midwifery documents published by the International Confederation of Midwives and the World Health Organization; the sources were analysed thematically. The review shows that EMP can be defined as a needs-based branch of ESP characterised by its learners, purposes, midwifery content, specific language, and woman-centred communication. Within ESP, it belongs to English for Science and Technology and, more narrowly, to English for Medical Purposes, where it functions as English for Academic Purposes for students and English for Occupational Purposes for practising midwives; it is a narrow-angle course. Its vocabulary follows the continuum of maternity care and combines high-frequency, academic, technical and sub-technical words, Latin and Greek word elements, technical–lay pairs, and abbreviations. All four skills are required, with speaking and listening at the centre of practice. These findings imply that EMP courses should begin with needs analysis, be organised around the stages of maternity care, and use authentic texts, role-play and simulation.