MEANS OF MEDICAL TERMS TRANSLATION WHILE TEACHING NEW VOCABULARY AT THE PRACTICAL COURSE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE (WITHIN THE TOPIC “MEDICINE”) FOR FUTURE PHILOLOGISTS

Abstract

The article explores effective means of translating medical terminology within the practical English language course for future philologists. It highlights the importance of mastering medical vocabulary as a crucial aspect of professional communication, particularly in translation, interpretation, and cross-cultural interaction in healthcare contexts. Medical terminology poses significant linguistic challenges due to its Latin and Greek origins, polysemy, and contextual specificity. The paper identifies and analyses four main translation methods – literal, calque, descriptive, and transliteration – emphasizing their pedagogical relevance. Choice of strategy correlated strongly with term type: internationalisms and wellestablished borrowings tended to be rendered literally or by established equivalents, multiword lexicalized items often appeared as calques, and highly culture- or system-specific items required descriptive paraphrase. Proper names and Latin anatomical terms frequently received transliterations. It also presents practical strategies for teaching medical terms through contextual learning, comparative analysis, terminological games, and translation practice. Each method is illustrated with examples that foster linguistic accuracy, cross-linguistic awareness, and communicative competence. The integration of translation techniques with communicative activities enhances students’ ability to comprehend and correctly apply specialized terminology in professional and academic settings. Ultimately, the study concludes that teaching medical vocabulary through translation is not only a linguistic exercise but an essential component of professional English training. This integrated approach supports the formation of analytical, cultural, and communicative skills necessary for future philologists to effectively engage with medical discourse in international contexts. Future research should expand to larger cohorts and diverse linguistic backgrounds, conduct longitudinal studies to assess retention, and explore digital corpus tools for translation training.