Analysis of Typical Mistakes Made by Russian-Speaking Students while Interpreting the English Noun Thing

This article examines how translating the broad semantics noun "thing" affects the understanding of sentences or text fragments. Due to its general meaning and various functions, "thing" can pose challenges in conveying the intended message. The study investigates common mistakes made by Russian-speaking students during a translation experiment involving 130 students pursuing degrees in two different fields of study. Comparing translations made by students of economics and students of linguistics, the research identifies and categorizes the students’ typical mistakes both according to the English language proficiency and according to each field of study. The most frequent mistake among all students is ignoring the context and connections within the text, leading to misinterpretation. Also, the study reveals the main reasons that most likely lead to typical mistakes in each of the groups. The findings of this research can contribute to the development of translation theory and practice, as well as improving teaching methods for grasping the nouns with broad meanings across different types of discourse.