Abstract:

The paper investigates the didactic methods aimed at trilingualism development as part of professional training programs for translators and interpreters. The relevance of the addressed topic lies in the obvious need to develop and implement effective methods and techniques of teaching the first and second foreign languages in the process of training translators and interpreters paying close attention to relations with foreign languages and the native language. In this regard, at we are observing the massive transformations of the existent approach: the mono- and bilingual approach has been replaced by a multilingual one, specifically, trilingualism as one of its forms. Thus, the phenomenon of interference when studying foreign languages is being redefined, as for a relatively long period of time interference determined the didactic vector in the process of teaching foreign languages. It led to understanding that completely new and different approaches to the professional training of interpreters and translators were highly required, which assumes a certain level of flexibility within the educational process. The didactic potential of trilingualism can be analysed through the case-study of the master's programme ‘Translation Theory, Cross-cultural and Cross-lingual Communication’, which has been implemented at the Higher School of Foreign Languages and Translation Studies since 2014. It is based on a number of such didactic principles, as the key role of the ‘mother tongue – Russian – English’ trilingual model, where Russian acts as an intermediary language assisting in developing translation competences; and the ‘language learning through translation training’ principle as a fundamental idea that involves methods of teaching grammatical, lexical and stylistic aspects of translation as part of language training, not vice versa. The translatological component of training will, in our opinion, ensure the high level of future translators’ professional competences and skills required in the ever-changing world.

Keywords:

Trilingualism, translation, interpretation, professional training, innovative approach, translatological trilingualism, foreign languages, native language.