Traduzione allo specchio: elementi contrastivi nell’aula universitaria di lingua inglese

While traditional language classes and Translation Studies have often been kept separate within the (Italian) University system, this paper advocates a dynamic relation between linguistic description, language teaching and translation training. A series of topics will be discussed including the use of students’ own language in class, varieties of English with specific reference to the use of English as a Lingua Franca, the most crucial skills that students should be developing in order to become competent translators. Particular emphasis however is focused on the role of contrastive analysis as a tool for introducing both linguistic and cultural content. It is also seen as an effective methodology for integrating the theoretical and pragmatic aspects of the discipline. To this end, a number of models is analysed including intertexual adaptation in the visual arts, interlingual translation from English into Italian and the study of multiple translations of the same source text.