Translation Studies (TS), which is an interdisciplinary subject of study, often draw on findings and theories of other related disciplines in order to develop and formalize its own methods. Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), as an appliable linguistics, has a great deal to offer to the area of TS. This article discusses the relationship between SFL and TS via an investigation of major applications of SFL in TS in the past decades and their influences on TS from linguistic shifts to social accountability. First, we revisit some of the major works by translation scholars who have brought in relevant linguistic theories to construct some methodological models for investigating translation issues. Then we identify some of the influences/results from previous research work, such as diachronic changes in research themes and focuses from linguistic shift to context of situation, context of culture, the translator’s attitudes and then to the creation of knowledge in social practice. Next, the paper highlights some of the major contributions of appliable linguistics to TS and their implications for future studies. It is hoped that this will help to enhance researchers’ interests in adopting the discourse analysis approaches to TS.