Veronica A. Razumovskaya

Relevance. The article is addressed to the changes taking place in the subject fi eld of translation, and the main prerequisites for the emergence of Ethnic Translation Studies as a new branch of the science of translation. The obvious ethnic vector of the 21st century humanities, due to the intensity and peculiarities of ethnic processes at the global and regional levels, and the urgent tasks of preserving the cultural diversity of the modern world dictate the need to develop a categorical apparatus and an appropriate methodology for ethnic texts (which traditionally contain cultural information and the memory of ethnoses) translation.

Aim. The paper considers the ethnological and Translation Studies foundations of the theory, practice, methodology and didactics of ethnic translation, which will ensure the training of an erudite translator, i. e. a successful mediator in cross-cultural communication at the global and local levels alike.

Methods. The identification of the prerequisites and foundations of Ethnic Translation studies is based on a general scientific hermeneutic approach. The experience of translating Siberian ethnic texts is considered from descriptive and prescriptive perspectives, thus making it possible to follow a universal methodological and heuristic principle of complementarity and accompanied by methods of scientific literature analysis, comparison, observation, as well as the case method.

Results. The translation history and examples of ethnic texts belonging to representative types of Siberian ethnic literature (the Yakut epic Olancho and Evenki fairy tales) allows us to consider ethnic translation as an important way of decoding and transmitting cultural information and memory functioning in the cultures of indigenous peoples; a way of preserving the cultural identity of indigenous Siberian ethnoses (primarily small-numbered ones); a tool for revitalizing and preserving unique languages and cultures in the modern world.

Conclusions. Ethnic Translation Studies as an integrative scientific discipline is designed to solve ethnological, cultural, philological and translation problems in modern humanities, which meets the challenges facing mankind.