When individuals from different countries come together aboard the International Space Station, a natural question arises: which language do they speak?
The answer is both. The primary working languages on the ISS are Russian and English, and each crew member is proficient in both at least at a functional level.
In practice, however, the situation is even more interesting.
Due to continuous interaction in a confined environment, astronauts develop a unique hybrid language often referred to as “Runglish.” This is a dynamic blend of Russian and English in which vocabulary, structures, and even intonation may intertwine within a single sentence. It emerges organically as a way to enhance mutual understanding with minimal effort.
Why does this happen?
• Crew members spend months together;As a result, not only a shared language develops, but also a shared communicative space. Astronauts learn to account for each other’s habits, reactions, and even “sensitive areas” in order to maintain both comfort and communication efficiency.
Notably, the language barrier aboard the ISS is virtually nonexistent. Communication relies not only on words, but also on professional context, trust, and continuous collaboration. This serves as a compelling example of how language adapts to circumstances — and how people are able to find a common code, even in space.
We have had the pleasure of working with Elena and her team at Lingvista for the past 2+ years on projects including written translation, consecutive and simultaneous interpretation from English to Russian...
