Abstract:

The emergence of market economy, the process of globalisation, international cultural and political interactions and technological innovations have brought about the continually growing need for professional translators and interpreters.

The professionalism of interpreters is determined by the level of their competences, both individual (resistance to stress, the focus on success, total concentration, excellent memory, immediate reaction), and professional - communicative and translation/interpretation competences. Communicative competence of a highly qualified interpreter implies the acquisition of the foreign and native languages at level C2 of the Common European Framework. Along with the communicative competence of an interpreter noteworthy importance belongs to the foreign phonetic and phonological competency, which implies not only the knowledge and skills to reproduce phonemes and allophones, a phonetic unity of words, but also the ability to transmit the most detailed distinctions of meaning by using intonation and logical stress.

It is essential for “would-be” linguists-interpreters to communicate effectively in both the source and the target language. In any language, but especially in the English language, incorrect pronunciation and intonation leads to misunderstanding of key messages.

Taking this into account, the Division of Translation Studies and World Cultural Heritage of the Kazan Federal University (Russia) offers the bachelor’s degree programme “Linguistics” with such fields of professional activities as: Language Education, Translation, Consultative and Communicative Activity, Informational and Linguistic Research. The article describes the academic disciplines: a compulsory module Practical Course in English Phonetics and an elective course New Trends in English Phonetics, which are available to the first year students. The aim of the modules is to develop phonetic and phonological skills in English for future linguists-interpreters.

The objective of the study is to present an overall view of the methods and techniques used in pronunciation and intonation practice, such as pronunciation instruction, breathing practice, articulation exercises, repetition, shadowing and reproduction techniques. Furthermore, students also develop high level interpreting skills in English with the Sanako study 1200 software which allows them to work more independently.

The results of the research are discussed with the help of qualitative analysis and empirical observations. Moreover, the authors indicate the most problematic areas faced by Russian students while mastering English Phonetics and Phonology.

This study concludes that a complex of mentioned above methods and techniques in improving phonetic and phonological skills which can be obtained in a carefully structured sequence of learning stages with the help of qualified instructors are of great benefit.

Keywords:

Pronunciation skills, prosodic skills, repetition technique, shadowing technique, reproduction technique, Sanako study 1200 software.