The article deals with approaches to the translation of the dialogic unity with a short interrogative sentence “Thou still hast been the father of good news.” “Have I, my lord?” from W.Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, carried out by Russian translators N.Polevoi, A.Kroneberg, M.Vronchenko, M.Zaguliaev (19 c.), B.Pasternak, M.Lozinskii, A.Radlova (20 c.), V.Ananyin, I.Peshkov (21 c.). To achieve equivalence of translation, the translators give the truncated question a different form, depending on their perception of the question as a phenomenon of English colloquial dialogue speech. If the question is treated as a clichéd combination, there are no repeated elements in the sentences of the dialogue unity: “Ты был всегда отцом благих известий.” “Да, государь мой?” If it is perceived as a structure, having a lexico-grammatical relationship to the starter cue sentence, the pronoun or verb is repeated: “Ты был всегда благих вестей творитель.” “Был, вот как?” If the truncated question reminds the translator a question tag, it is made like a tag: “Ты был всегда отцом благих вестей.” “Был, государь, не так ли?” The ways to achieve the adequacy of translation depend on the translator’s understanding of Shakespeare’s intention. If the initiating line is understood as a small talk, stylistically neutral Russian discourse markers-exclamations Не правда ли? Вы думаете так? Надеюсь! Так! are used to convey the truncated question, indicating an etiquette exchange of traditional courtesies. If the starter cue is understood as ironic, combinations Был, вот как? Кто, господин мой? are used, indicating the addressee’s tension, wariness.