WORDPLAY AS A TRANSLATION PROBLEM

. Purpose is to study the ways of achieving maximum comic impact when transferring wordplay into a target language. Methodology and Approach. The author has conducted a detailed analysis of techniques for recreat-ing wordplay by using language units from Chekhov's play „The Bear“. This has been achieved by means of the method of contextual analysis and the comparative method. Results. Distinctive qualities of Chekhov's literary style in terms of humorous content are occasional phraseological units and occasional lexemes. In translating, the highest priority is assigned to the form provided that comic impact is preserved. Theoretical and/or Practical implications lie in the further development of translation analysis tech-nology and in using the proposed translational decisions in practical translational activities.