The Department of Translation and Translation Theory dates back to 1995. The need for its establishment was caused by the constantly increasing number of students interested in the in-depth study of foreign languages and their use in professional life. It has been graduating specialists in the area of translation Studies since 2006, and since 2012 the students have been completing the Bachelor’s degree programme “Linguistics: Translation Studies and Practice” and since 2015 Master’s degree programme “Linguistics: Translation Studies and Practice”.

Learning is mainly practice-oriented, so that the students undergo academic and on-the-job trainings in the Government of the Penza Region and in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as at state and commercial enterprises within and across the Penza Region. This gives students the opportunity to examine the peculiarities and features of working a translator or an interpreter, to gain first-hand experience in written translation, oral communication and interpretation and to broaden their intellectual horizons.

One of the first in the Russian Federation, the department received the permission to train students in the lifelong learning programme “Translator in the area of professional communication”. The curriculum is structured in a way that it allows students and graduates in various study fields (linguistic and non-linguistic, e.g. law, economy, medicine, engineering) to master the profession of a translator, as well as to significantly improve their foreign language proficiency. In 2022, the new lifelong learning programme “Specialist in translation” was opened for students, who have received or receiving language education.

The department places a special emphasis on encouraging student research in the area of linguistics. Annually, about 30 students participate in the national and international conferences, workshops and forums. They regularly take part as volunteers, translators and interpreters in conferences, congresses and other sport, cultural and social events organised in the Penza Region and in the Russian Federation.

The research priorities are given to language theory, translation practice and intercultural communication. The teaching staff examine translation didactics, social linguistics, culture studies and many other areas. The department organizes the all-Russian conference “Issues of modern linguistics and methods of teaching foreign languages” and the scientific seminar “Theory and practice of translation”.

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Bachelor

45.03.02 Linguistics: Translation Studies and Practice

Master

45.04.01 Linguistics: Translation Studies and Practice

RESEARCH

Research topics

•    Functional semantics of language units
•    Phonosemantics
•    Text pragmatics
•    Verbal manipulation
•    Teaching translation
•    Translator’s personality
•    Languages and cultures
•    IT in teaching foreign languages
•    Business communication

Collaboration

Penza Classical Gymnasium no. 1
Ministry of Education of the Penza Region
Translators Union of Russia
Department for Foreign Affairs and Interregional Relations, Government of the Penza Region
Committee for Sport and Physical Training of the Penza Region
Lanzhou University (the People’s Republic of China)

CONTACTS

Dr. Lyudmila Ratushnaya
Candidate of Linguistics Sciences, Associate Professor
Head of the Department of Translation and Translation Theory

37 Lermontova Street, building 11, office 492
Tel: +7 (8412) 20-28-89
E-mail: perevod@pnzgu.ru
Web-page of the Department of Translation and Translation Theory (in Russian)