Teaching translation techniques based on fantasy literature

The paper discusses teaching translation techniques analysis to university students. This aspect is traditionally included into translation and interpretation training curriculum. Translators’ professional skills include identifying translation techniques while comparing original texts and their translations, the ability to explain their usage and to prove the reason for translating techniques usage in their own translations. At the same time some difficulties may appear, particularly due to low motivation of students. To raise students’ motivation and interest the fantasy works are suggested to be used as a source of translation techniques used to convey words with no particular equivalents. There are a lot of occasional words (or nonce words) in the fantasy texts and the same translating techniques as for the scientific and technical texts are used to convey them. This makes it possible to use fantasy texts and their translations as the examples for teaching analysis of the translating techniques used to convey words without any particular equivalents. The paper offers the exercises for identifying and analyzing translating techniques, composed on the basis of the novel by J.K. Rowling “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and its translation into Russian. Drawing on the survey of students’ opinions, it has been concluded that including such exercises into translation training courses can be effective. This paper is aimed at translation trainers at universities and institutions of additional education, students, professional translators and everyone interested in the translating issues.