Phim hướng dẫn sử dụng đàn ông Informational, Transactional
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Translation has long been seen as a career-oriented discipline to accommodate various processes that do not strictly belong to the linguistic realm. Hence, this book looks at translation not only as a linguistic activity but also as a socio-cultural exchange. This coursebook is designed to meet the needs of students at Faculty of Foreign Languages, Banking University of HCMC. Its fundamental purpose aims to help students get access to some major concepts, principles, methods, and strategies to solve a number of issues in translation theories and practices. It is hoped that learners will find the course useful and practical. The material presented here borrows from Peter Newmark's “A Textbook of Translation” and Luu Van Tuan’s “An Introduction into Translation Theories”. It is meant to serve pedagogical purposes with careful citation and acknowledgements. For reasons of space and consistency, the term “translation” include both written translation and oral translation (the latter is commonly known as interpretation), although the overlaps make a clear distinction impossible (cf. Gile 2004). Good luck and best wishes! Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSLATION ..................................................................3 I. Definitions of “Translation”............................................................................................... 3 II. Scope of Translation – Science, art and skill ..................................................................... 4 III. Translation typology .......................................................................................................... 5 IV. Codes of ethics ................................................................................................................. 11 V. Translation principles ....................................................................................................... 12 VI. Requirements for a professional translator/interpreter..................................................... 13 VII. Further practice ................................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER 2: TRANSLATION THEORIES ...............................................................................15 I. Rationale for Translation studies ..................................................................................... 15 II. Descriptive translation studies (DTS) of Holmes ............................................................ 16 III. Historical background of Translation studies .................................................................. 19 IV. Early theories of translation studies ................................................................................. 25 V. Contemporary theories in translation studies ................................................................... 28 VI. Further practice ................................................................................................................ 37 CHAPTER 3: TRANSLATION UNITS, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES ............................40 I. Translation Units (UT) ..................................................................................................... 40 II. Translation methods by Newmark ................................................................................... 42 III. Translation techniques by Vinay and Darbelnet .............................................................. 48 IV. Further practice ................................................................................................................ 55 CHAPTER 4: EQUIVALENCE .....................................................................................................58 I. Untranslatability ............................................................................................................... 58 II. Gain and Loss................................................................................................................... 59 III. Equivalence ...................................................................................................................... 59 IV. Further practice ................................................................................................................ 67 1 CHAPTER 5: CULTURAL TERMS AND NON-EQUIVALENCE .........................................67 I. Cultural elements in translation ....................................................................................... 68 II. Non – equivalence at word-level ..................................................................................... 70 III. Suggested strategies for dealing with non-equivalence at word level ............................. 72 IV. Collocations and Non – equivalence above word-level ................................................... 74 V. Suggested strategies for translating idiomatic collocations ............................................. 76 VI. Further practice ................................................................................................................ 78 CHAPTER 6: TRANSLATION QUALITY ASSESSMENT ......................................................80 I. Views for “A good translation” ....................................................................................... 80 II. Main reasons for translation errors .................................................................................. 80 III. Approaches to evaluating a translation ............................................................................ 81 IV. House’s translation Quality Assessment Model .............................................................. 85 V. Steps of House’s translation Quality Assessment Model ................................................ 89 VI. Further practice ................................................................................................................ 91 2 CHAPTER 1: AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSLATION I. Definitions of “Translation” The English term “Translation”, first attested in around 1340, derives from the Latin word “translatus” which means “carried across” (Lewis, 2004, p.257). Translation, by dictionary definition, means turning one‘s own language into another language (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 1974). In the field of Linguistics, “Translation” has several meanings: It is a subject (môn dịch thuật). E.g.: I studied translation at university. It is a product (bản dịch). E.g.: They published the Arabic translation of the report. It is the process of producing the translation (dịch thuật). E.g.: translation service. In the field of Translation studies, there are different definitions: Translating consists of reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and, second in terms of style. (Nida & Tiber, 1969) Translation is the replacement of a text in the source language by a semantically and pragmatically equivalent text in the target language. (House, 1982) Translation is a craft consisting of the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement in one language by the same message and/or statement in another language. (Peter Newmark, 1998) Translation is to be understood as the process whereby a message expressed in a specific source language is linguistically transformed in order to be understood by readers of the target language. (Houbert, 1998) → As implied in the definitions above, translation in its overall meaning is basically a change of form to reproduce in the receptor language the closest natural meaning of the source language message. Only the form changes but the meaning stays the same. Moreover, translation not only involves understanding the general meaning of the communication but calls upon the ability to understand the pragmatic elements/culture of the communication as well. 3 Task 1: Work in groups and fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases given. source language, cultural barriers, communicate interculturally, target language, rendering, oral transfer, message receiver a. Translation is the process of conveying messages across linguistic and ............... (Ian Tudor, 1987) b. Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (.................................) by equivalent textual material in another language (.................................) (Catford, 2000)
(Newmark, 1998)
(Nguyễn Quốc Hùng, 2010) Scope of Translation – Science, art and skill First, translation means more than substitution of words in one language with those from another language. It is a scientific attempt to bring two cultures together since languages differ from each other not just in grammatical structure but also the way in which they conceptualize abstractions. The question of how to bridge these gaps is decided by the aim of the translators and the receivers, requiring scientific methodology to bring about the most productive outcomes. Second, translators
4 working knowledge of medicine. Therefore, terms and words have to be chosen carefully for both major and non-major receivers. To sum up, it can be said that translation is a combination of science, art, and skill. It is a science in the sense that it necessitates complete knowledge of the structure and make-up of the two languages concerned. It is an art since it requires artistic talent to reconstruct the original text in the form of a product that is presentable to the reader who is not supposed to be familiar with the original. It is also a skill because it entails the ability to smooth over any difficulty in the translation, and the ability to provide the translation of something that has no equal in the target language. As a result, translation plays a very important part in the formation and shaping of any literature or culture, being a window to the world, helping people to assimilate their sights and sounds while developing a culture of their own. III. Translation typology The process of translation between two different languages involves the changing of an original text (the source text or ST) in the original verbal language (the source language or SL) into a written text (the target text or TT) in a different verbal language (the target language or TL): Source text (ST) văn bản nguồn Target text (TT) văn bản đích Source language (SL) ngôn ngữ nguồn Target language (TL) ngôn ngữ đích E.g.: When a translator renders a book from English into Vietnamese, the SL is English and the TL is Vietnamese. - Source text-oriented translation (bản dịch thiên về bản gốc) means rendering the message that is as close as possible to that of the source text. It can be a “copy” of the original and it clearly reflects the structure, tone and linguistic structures of the source text. - Target text oriented translation (bản dịch thiên về người đọc/người nghe) means conveying the information contained by the source text to a target text so that is fully comprehensible to the readers/listeners. This might be altering the original structure, merging two sentences into a single one or even changing the style of the text. One goal of an empirical translation theory is to establish a comprehensive translation typology. There are many kinds of translation, some more typical and widespread than others, and we need a system of classification both for theoretical and practical purposes. Many scholars have different ways of classifications. Here are some prominent typology: 5 1. Jakobson’s semiotic classification In his essay “On Linguistic Aspects of Translation”, Jakobson (1896–1982) arrived at three forms of translation: 1. Intralingual translation / Rewording / Paraphrasing is the transference of verbal signs by means of other signs of the same language. It occurs when we produce a summary, rephrase or rewrite a text in the same language. E.g.: blockchain → a digital ledger that records transactions made in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency 2. Interlingual translation / Translation proper is the transference from one language into another linguistic code. This has been the traditional focus of translation studies. 3. Intersemiotic translation /Transmutation is the transference of meaning from a verbal to a non-verbal sign system. It occurs when a written text is translated into a different mode, such as music, film or painting. E.g.: The film Harry Potter was adapted from the same novel of J.K.Rowling. Task 2: Choose the correct answer for each question. 1. ………… is the translation within the same language A. Interlingual translation
2. Translation from one language to another is termed ……… A. Translation proper
3. ……… is the conversion of text from one script to another. A. Translation proper
4. The translation of ‘absolute monopoly” as “độc quyền tuyệt đối” is termed ………… A. Translation proper
5. The translation of “déjà vu” as “the strange feeling that in some way you have already experienced what is happening now, but in reality you haven’t” is termed ………… A. Translation proper
6 6. The translation of “tổng sản phẩm quốc nội” as “Gross Domestic Product (GDP)” is termed …….. A. Translation proper
7. The adaptation of the book “Lords of the Ring” into movie is termed ……………. A. Interlingual translation
8. Which of the following is an example of Transmutation? A. “Monetary policy” is translated as “chính sách tiền tệ”. B. “Accountability” is translated as “responsibility”. C. “Accountability” is translated as “trách nhiệm (giải trình)”. D. “x is more than y” is translated as “x > y”. 9. Which of the following is NOT an example of Transmutation? A. “ΔABC = ΔDEF” is translated as “triangle ABC is congruent to triangle DEF”. B. “∫f(x) dx” is translated as “a function whose derivative is f” C. “2 + 7 = 9” is translated as “two plus seven equals nine”. D. “A is a subset of B” means “A là tập hợp con của B”. 10. Which of the following is an example of Translation proper? A. “Spear phishing” is translated as “the fraudulent act of sending emails ostensibly from a different person's account in order to obtain confidential information”. B. “Fixed cost” is translated as “chi phí cố định” C. “Aesthetic” is translated as “relating to beauty or refined taste”. D. “f(x) = x/2” means “f of x equals x divided by 2”. 2. Binary classifications a) Semantic vs. Communicative translation - Semantic translation gives highest priority to the meaning and form of the original, and is appropriate to translations of source texts that have high status, such as religious texts, legal texts, and ministerial speeches. - Communicative translation is freer, and gives priority to the effectiveness of the message to be communicated. These are texts like advertisements, tourist brochures, product descriptions and instructions, manuals. 7 E.g.: I do myself the honor of calling her as soon as after my arrival in Hanoi. Semantic translation: Tôi cho phép mình vinh dự được thăm cô ấy ngay sau chuyến đáp đến Hà Nội. Communicative translation: Tôi ghé thăm nàng ngay khi tôi đến Hà Nội. Task 3: Decide if the following translations are Semantic or Communicative. 1. I would like to make a few comments. → Tôi muốn bình luận đôi câu. 2. I have just returned from a visit to my landlord → Tôi vừa mới trở về từ chuyến ghé thăm người chủ nhà của tôi. 3. I don’t want to talk to him whom I will be troubled with. → Mình chả muốn tôi chuyện với hắn đâu dây dưa rề rà lắm. 4. Vấn đề nầy không thể giải quyết được.→ This problem cannot be solved. Task 4: Translate these sentences semantically and communicatively. 1. Nhớ gửi thư cho mình nhé. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Hàng hóa nầy bán đắt như tôm tươi. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Oh my God! Oil price is rising again! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. One day you’ll find someone who doesn’t care about your past because they want to be your future. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… b) Covert vs. Overt translation (House) - Covert translation is a translation intended not to be recognized by target readers as translations. In other words, it is so natural that they do not seem distinguishable from nontranslated texts of the same kind in the target language. E.g.: The translations of advertisements and newspaper articles. - Overt translation is a translation intended to be recognized as translations, because it is more closely linked with the source culture. E.g.: The translations of political speeches, songs, poems. 8
Instrumental translation (dịch công cụ) is a translation which functions as an instrument of communication. It works independently of a source text, and is judged on how well it expresses its message. It is not to produce a maximally accurate representation of the original text. E.g.: The translation of a refrigerator manual, the translation of “Cinderalla” for children. - Documentary translation (dịch tư liệu) serves as a document of a source culture communication between the author and the source text recipient. Since the translated version can be used as a document or reference, it is required to be faithful to the original text. E.g.: business contract, certificate, Donald Trump’s speech. d) Written translation vs. Oral translation/Interpretation - Written translation: is a kind of translation in which a translator studies written material in the source language and reproduces it in written form in the target language. - Interpretation: is a kind of translation in which an interpreter listens to a spoken message in the source language and renders it orally in the target language. 3. Back translation It means translating a word, phrase, or sentence multiple times between two languages until both translations yield the same phrase. It has 3 steps: - Translate from Language 1 to Language 2 - Translate from Language 2 to Language 1 - Repeat until all discrepancies have been fixed 4. Machine translation Machine translation is a sub-field of computational linguistics that investigates the use of software to translate text or speech from one language to another. Task 5: Choose some appropriate translation types for each kind of documents. 1. Legal documents: ................................................................................................... 2. A recipe ................................................................................................... 3. Laptop manual ................................................................................................... 4. Brochures ................................................................................................... 5. Inauguration speech of Obama.................................................................................................. 9 Task 6: Match the words with the correct definitions. A. Intralingual translation
1. It is the transference of meaning from a verbal to a non-verbal sign system. 2. It is a translation intended not to be recognized by target readers as translations. 3. It is the transference of verbal signs by means of other signs of the same language. 4. It gives priority to the effectiveness of the message, focusing on factors such as readability and naturalness, and is appropriate to translations of “pragmatic” texts where the actual form of the original is not closely bound to its intended meaning. 5. It is the transference from one language into another or reinterpretation of the message in another linguistic code. 6. It functions as an instrument of communication, working independently of a source text, and is judged on how well it expresses its message. 7. It gives highest priority to the meaning and form of the original, and is appropriate to translations of source texts that have high status. 8. It is a translation intended to be recognized as translation, because it is more closely linked with the source culture. 9. It is a bit like reported speech, presenting itself as a report of something else. Task 7: Each word below depicts a characteristic of translation or interpretation. Put them into the correct column. fluency, write, dictionaries, speak, real-time, note-taking, business meeting, delayed, verbal, accuracy, highly aesthetic, time pressure, legal contract, refinement, microphone …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… 10 IV. 1. Codes of ethics Accuracy and completeness: Translators/Interpreters have to select the language that most accurately conveys the content and spirit of the clients’ message. They cannot not alter, make additions to, or omit anything that can influence the accuracy of the message. 2. Confidentiality: Translators/Interpreters shall respect their clients’ right to privacy and confidentiality. Confidential information shall not be disclosed without authorization. 3. Impartiality of non-egotism: Translators/Interpreters shall be impartial and unbiased, maintain professional detachment and refrain from inappropriate self-promotion. 4. No conflict of interest: Translators/Interpreters shall disclose any conflict of interest. 5. Professional development: Translators/Interpreters shall maintain and improve their skills and knowledge through professional training/education and interactions with colleagues and specialists in related fields. Translators/Interpreters will refrain from accepting assignments beyond their professional skills, language fluency, or level of training. Task 8: Find solutions for each following situation. a. You have provided a wrong translation of important information in a contract and this might cause disastrous consequences. What code of ethics is violated? ............................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................. b. You have just found out that today you have to interpret for your love rival in a big conference. You really don’t like him. Moreover, he is going with the girl you like. However, you still accept the assignment. What code of ethics is violated? ............................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................. c. Your employer wants you to translate part of the Qu’ran Holy Book. In fact, you have little knowledge and interest in Muslim. What code of ethics is violated? ............................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................. d. You have added some parts into the translation of a legal document and received some money for this action. What code of ethics is violated? ............................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................. 11 V. Translation principles An ideal translation should be: 1. Accurate (Tín): Reproducing as exactly as possible the meaning of the source text. 2. Beautiful (Nhã): Using natural forms in a way that is appropriate to the target language. 3. Communicative/Natural (Đạt): Expressing all aspects of source text in a way that is understandable to the intended audience. Task 9: Identify what principle is violated in the following translations. 1. Cấm người điều khiển các loại xe có mùi bia rượu. → It’s forbidden to drive car with alcoholic smell. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2. Sự thiếu vốn để tiến hành cạnh tranh dài hạn là nguyên nhân chủ yếu để dẫn đến sự sụp đổ của 80% số công ty. → Cash flow problem for long-term competition is the main cause for the shutdown of 80% of all companies. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3. Tuyên dương công trạng của Ủy ban Thường vụ Quốc Hội. (Article heading). → Recognition for achievements of National Assembly Standing Committee …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4. Người dân Huế vẫn giữ được phong cách tao nhã, vẻ dịu dàng và sự trầm lắng của đất thần kinh. → Hue native people still keep the refined manners, the gentleness and quietness of the crazy land. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5. Chúc quý khách thượng lộ bình an. => Wish you the upper road of peace! …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6. Justin Bieber re-stuck in a Nipplegate scandal (Article heading -Guardian). => Justine Bieber lại bị dính chấu vào một vụ xì căng đan lộ hàng. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7. It is estimated that profits will increase sharply next year. => Nó được ước tính rằng doanh thu sẽ tăng mạnh năm tới. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8. Cho trẻ em gặp khó khăn đặc biệt! => For extremely difficult children! …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12 VI. Requirements for a professional translator/interpreter 1. Knowledge competence Professional translators/interpreters must possess a wealth of general knowledge including: - Subject/Domain knowledge - Contextual/Situational knowledge - Cultural knowledge 2. Linguistic competence Linguistic proficiency means a fairly good command of the languages involved. Specifically, it means acute reading and hearing, large vocabulary, precision and flexibility of expression, etc. Constant exposure to different variety of English spoken and written texts is indisputably necessary. 3. Communication competence Interpreters and translators must be skillful in using the right register for a given situation, choosing the appropriate words to express different aspects of the same concepts, adopting suitable non-verbal languages (intonation pitches, gestures, ..), recognizing intentional and unintentional verbal language, as well as manipulating information mining, retrieval and management, etc. Task 10: Choose the best answer for each question. 1. A translator should master a wide knowledge of nutrition and diseases if he has to translate in a medical setting. What kind of criteria is it? A. Knowledge competence
2. A translator misused the word “Negro” to indicate the Black people. What criteria did he violate? A. Knowledge competence
3. An interpreter tries to add more information to the interpreting process, explaining what mitochondria or metabolism is to a group ordinary listeners. What is the requirement of his professional job and should he do it? A. Knowledge competence – he shouldn’t do it
5. Lý Lan translated Harry Potter by using extensively and beautifully a wide variety of Vietnamese synonyms to explain fantasy world, such as “Tử thần thực tử” for “the Death Eaters”. What criteria of translation did she master? A. Knowledge competence
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VII. Further practice Task 11: Find 2 examples for each translation issues. 1. Intralingual translation: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Intersemiotic translation: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Covert translation: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Overt translation: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. Instrumental translation: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Documentary translation: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Task 12: Read the statements and decide if they are TRUE or FALSE. 1. If you have a good knowledge of two languages, you can translate well. 2. Translators cannot be replaced by computers. 3. Translators just need good dictionaries or reference documents. 4. Translation and interpreting are totally different. 5. I know Portuguese and Finnish, so I can translate those languages well. 6. Translation has existed longer than interpretation. 7. Semantic translation means rendering the message that is as close as possible to that of the target text. 8. Translation means a change in form and meaning. 9. Translators/Interpreters don’t have to respect their clients’ right to privacy and confidentiality. 10. Criteria for a professional translator are knowledge competence and linguistic competence. 11. Translation is the process of conveying messages across linguistic barriers. 12. The adaptation of the book “Harry Potter” into movie is termed Translation proper. 13. Slogan is an example of covert translation. 14. Documentary translation attempts to produce on its readers an effect as closely as possible to that obtained on the readers of the original. 14 CHAPTER 2: TRANSLATION THEORIES I. Rationale for Translation studies The study of translation as an academic subject began in the second half of the twentieth century. In the English-speaking world, this discipline is now generally known as “translation studies”, thanks to the Dutch-based scholar James S. Holmes (1924–1986). There are four reasons explaining why translation studies has become more prominent. First, there has been a vast expansion in specialized translating and interpreting programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These programs are mainly oriented towards training future professional commercial translators and interpreters and serve as highly valued entry-level qualifications for the professions. Take the example of 2010, the keyword search “translation” revealed over twenty institutions offering a combined total of 143 MA programs. These may include MAs in applied translation studies, scientific and technical translation, conference and bilateral interpreting, audiovisual translation, sign interpretation, etc. Second, there have been various conferences, books and journals on translation in many languages. Longer-standing international translation studies journals such as Babel (the Netherlands) and Meta (Canada), The Translator (UK) in 1995, etc. can be accessed online freely. There are also various professional publications dedicated to the practice of translation. Third, the number of international publications has increased, so has the demand for general and analytical instruments such as anthologies, databases, encyclopedias, and handbooks. Their number is ever-growing. Among these are Translation Studies (Bassnett 1980), Contemporary Translation Theories (Gentzler, 2001), Introducing Translation Studies (Munday, 2008), etc. Fourth, international organizations have also prospered. In more recent years, translation studies scholars have banded together nationally and internationally in bodies such as the Canadian Association for Translation Studies (CATS, founded in Ottawa in 1987), the European Association for Studies in Screen Translation (ESIST, Cardiff, 1995), the American Translation and Interpreting Studies Association (ATISA, Kent, OH, 2002) and the International Association of Translation and Intercultural Studies. As a result, international conferences on a wide variety of themes are held in an increasing number of countries, leading to the development of translation studies. To sum up, from being a relatively quiet backwater in the early 1980s, translation studies has now become one of the most active and dynamic new areas of research encompassing an exciting mix of approaches. (Adapted from www.routledgetranslationstudiesportal.com) 15 II. Descriptive translation studies (DTS) of Holmes Holmes draws attention to the limitations imposed at the time for this translation studies, and puts forward an overall framework describing what translation studies covers. This framework was subsequently presented by the leading Israeli scholar Gideon Toury as in the Figure below. Figure 2-1: Holme’s map of Translation studies 1. The descriptive branch of “Pure” research in Holmes‘s map is known as Descriptive translation studies (DTS). It examines: (1) the product; (2) the function; and (3) the process. - Product-oriented DTS involves the description or analysis of a single ST–TT pair or a comparative analysis of several TTs of the same ST. These smaller-scale studies can build up into a larger body of translation analysis looking at a specific period, language or text/discourse type. Examples would be translation in the twenty-first century, in the English-Vietnamese language pair, or of scientific reports. - Function-oriented DTS means the description of the function of translations in the recipient sociocultural situations. For example, the study of the translation and reception of Shakespeare into European languages, or the subtitling of contemporary cartoon films into Arabic. Nowadays it would probably be called the sociology and historiography of translation. - Process-oriented DTS is concerned with the psychology of translation, i.e. what happens in the mind of a translator. Work from a cognitive perspective includes think-aloud protocols (where recordings are made of translators‘verbalization of the translation process as they translate). More recent research using new technologies such as eye-tracking shows how this area is now being more systematically analyzed. 16 2. As regards Partial theories of translation, there are some basic terms: - Medium-restricted DTS subdivide according to translation by medium. E.g.: automatic machine translation, computer-assisted translation, consecutive or simultaneous interpretation. - Area-restricted DTS are restricted to specific languages, groups of languages, or cultures. Language-restricted theories (e.g. for the Japanese-English pair) are closely related to work in contrastive linguistics and stylistics. - Rank-restricted DTS have been restricted to a level of the words or sentences. - Text-type restricted DTS look at discourse types and genres. E.g.: literary, business and technical translation. - Time-restricted DTS refer to theories and translations limited according to specific time frames and periods. E.g.: The history of translation in Vietnam. - Problem-restricted DTS refer to certain problems. E.g.: Non-equivalence between Vietnamese and English language. 3. The ”Applied‘ branch of Holmes‘s framework concerns applications to the practice of translation: - Translator training: teaching methods, testing techniques, curriculum design... - Translation aids: dictionaries, grammars, IT applications. - Translation criticism: the evaluation of translations, including the marking of student translations and the reviews of published translations. (Adapted from “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies” of James S. Holmes) 17 Task 1: Answer the following questions 1. Who was the first person that raised the notion of “Translation studies as a discipline”? ................................................................................................................................................................. 2. List three reasons which make Translation studies more prominent in the contemporary time. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 3. List 3 famous translation works from other languages into Vietnamese. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 4. List three translational categories of James Holmes’ theory. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 5. What are the three branches of Applied translation studies (DTS) in Holmes‘framework? Give 2 examples of each. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 6. What are the five branches of Partial theories of translation studies in Holmes‘framework? Give 2 examples of each. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 7. Which of the following is an advantage of Descriptive translation studies? A. It is systematic and allows different studies to be compared. B. It provides a replicable framework for research. C. It helps to evaluate the quality of a TT. D. It is used to assess the quality of a translation 18 III. Historical background of Translation studies 1. Ancient time Two of the first translation theorists were Cicero and Horace. Cicero was a Roman philosopher who translated Greek philosophical works into Latin. He was of the view that translations should capture the essence of the original (“sense for sense” rendition) rather than ‘word for word’ translation. The other major figure is Horace, the great Roman poet. He stated translation was a mean of enriching language and literature. He, like Cicero, did not believe in exact rendering of words into the other language. It should be remembered that most of the educated Romans knew Greek, so translation from Greek into Latin was for those who appreciated the beauty of Latin language. There was no need to translate word for word. It was enough if they were able to reproduce the spirit of the original SL work. It also worth noting that in this period a certain license in translation was acceptable. 2. The Medieval time As Christianity flourished, it became necessary to translate the Bible which was originally in Hebrew into other languages. For example, Wycliffe’s Bible was written in simple English so that it could be understood by ordinary people. William Tyndale was another figure who translated the Bible into Greek. These translations strengthened the English language and weakened the position of Latin as a superior language. In fact, the Bible translations were considered a defiance of the clergy who believed that the right to understand and interpret the Bible rested only with them. The clergy believed it was a sin to interfere with the word of God. Consequently, John Wycliffe was the person who had to face the extreme punishment of burning for his English translation of the Bible. Other translators were also persecuted by the church. Besides these religious exercises, secular translations helped in the formation and standardization of the English language. One major figure was King Alfred the Great of Wessex. Alfred is primarily remembered for upholding the pride of Anglo-Saxons and resisting the attacks of the invading Viking tribes. After consolidating his triumphs and establishing a stable kingdom, Alfred realized that his kingdom did not have much to boast about in terms of culture and literature. Therefore, he launched a project of translations of classical works into Old English. These translations had a specific mission – to educate ordinary people in morals and to familiarize them with the culture of other languages. Alfred himself was a translator, and the chief of his works were the Roman Christian philosopher Boethius’s Consolations of Philosophy and St. Augustine’s Soliloquies. These works acted like handbooks in moral philosophy, contributing to the evolution of English. They also instilled the pride of Englishness and the English language in his people. 19 On the whole, the translation at this time had to be faithful to the original and the message had to be accurate. Translations thus had moral and didactic purposes, as different from the classical times when it was seen as part of the study of rhetoric and aesthetics. 3. The sixteenth century - Elizabethan age The Elizabethan age played a significant role in the development of English. There were many sea voyages being undertaken to parts of the globe and translations from other languages into English became more popular. It should be noted that these translations were undertaken without much concern about fidelity to the original. The translations were mostly from another translation of the original, with the result that they were more of recreations of the original. One example is Sir Thomas North’s translation of Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (1579). North did not know Latin and translated Plutarch’s work from French. Plutarch was a Roman historian who had written biographies of famous Greek and Roman men. This translation became an important source book for Shakespeare when he wrote his historic plays like Julius Caesar. One of the first person to come up with a theoretical framework for translation was a Frenchman called Etienne Dolet. In 1540, he wrote a book called How to Translate Well from One Language into Another with 5 principles on which the translator should operate: 1. The translator should understand the SL text and be able to capture its sense 2. The translator should be competent in both the SL and TL 3. The translator should not be literal in translation 4. The translator should use common idiomatic language 5. The translator should reproduce the correct tone of the original by a careful use of words Dolet’s principles reveal a change in attitude to translation. He emphasizes that the translator should be able to capture the tone of the original text where the translator has to be sensitive to the cultural differences too. Dolet’s views on translation were considered to be valid by his contemporaries and are taken seriously by translation theorists today. 4. The seventeenth century The 17th century emphasised on order and reasoning. The major translators of this age are John Denham, Alexander Pope, and John Dryden. John Denham believed that the task of the translator was to extract the essence of the SL text and reproduce it with maximum effect in the TL. He believed that the translator could take a few liberties in the process. Alexander Pope asserted that translators had a moral duty to the readers, namely of conveying the spirit of the original texts. Thus, he believed that it is alright to add to a text if it does not harm its spirit. 20 However, the main figure in this time is John Dryden who was an influential critic and poet. He outlined three basic methods of translation: 1. Metaphrase: Word for word translation 2. Paraphrase: Sense for sense (figurative) translation 3. Imitation: This is like adaptation where the SL text is set aside and recreated in the TL Dryden personally preferred the paraphrase method which was the middle path between the other two. He also had a set of criteria to evaluate the skills of a translator/interpreter. The translator had a moral duty both to his/her original and also to the reader to capture the spirit of the SL text. We find the notion of the ‘master writer’ and ‘servant translator’ beginning to emerge at this time. 5. The eighteenth century The concept of translation as a painting and the translator as an imitator are more important in the 18th century, believing that a translator should be like a painter who depicted the original with loyalty. The 18th century also saw the first book on translation theory in English, Alexander Fraser Tytler’s The Principles of Translation published in 1741. He believed that the translator should capture “the soul and the body” of the original texts. By the 17th and 18th century translator/interpreter was expected to be an expert in the SL and its culture. Translation was seen as secondary and expected to convey the SL text fairly accurately. 6. The Romantic age - late eighteenth century The Romantic Age, in which Imagination became important in creativity, saw a change in attitudes to translation. Creativity was valued very much and translation that did not require that much of creativity was seen as a secondary activity that derived from the primary act of writing poetry. The poet Shelley was of this view. However, there was a lot of translation activity going on during this period. German authors like Goethe were translated into English and English writers like Walter Scott and Lord Byron were translated into French and Italian. In this context we should remember the German philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768– 1834) who was of the view that translations should use a language that retains the “foreignness” of the original so that readers could get a taste of the original work. Schleiermacher’s model is a much discussed one in translation theory today. 7. The early nineteenth century The early nineteenth century believed that the purpose of translation was to bring the readers close to the original, so the translators had to be completely faithful to the original and should not allow themselves to be carried away by personal interpretations. For example, Longfellow who 21 translated Dante’s Divine Comedy and Rubaiyaat said: “The business of a translator is to report what the author says, not to explain what he means; that is the work of the commentator”. Another example is William Morris, a poet. He believed that translations should capture all the peculiarities and ‘foreignness’ of the original and pass them on to the readers. His translations of Homer, therefore, are difficult to read because they attempted to convey the archaic nature of the texts that he was translating. But they were very highly regarded by critics and readers of that time. 8. The late nineteenth century (colonial time) to the present The spread of colonialism drew the world together and discovered unknown languages and literatures. There were two opposite viewpoints on translation — one thought that it was alright to take liberties and the other viewed that translators had to be faithful to the original work. On one hand, many translations had a lot of archaisms in it, sometimes the effect was very far from that of the original. For instance, the American poetic movement called Imagism drew inspiration from classical Chinese and Japanese poetry — an example being the American poet Ezra Pound. His work Cathay was a translation of Chinese poetry. Although these translations were like a ‘discovery’ of the east by the west, it often presented a distorted version of the original. The Japanese poetic form of ‘haiku’ was also the source for many Imagists who emphasized images rather than drawn out poetic language. On the other hands, there were many writers and translators who saw translation as a secondary activity for scientific and economic purposes to penetrate into the multidimensional world, which does not require much of creativity. These two viewpoints have still been in debate up to now, and the major concerns about the autonomy of the text and translators have still existed. Translation Studies as a discipline started emerging in the second half of the 20th century, when Catford’s book published in 1965 set the stage for translation studies as a discipline in England. Today Translation was no longer seen as a secondary activity but it is a discipline itself, drawing from various fields of study. It should also be noted that the theoretical framework of translation studies is connected to the practice of translation. The theory of translation studies is informed by the experiences of translation and this makes the area vibrant and alive. As for machine translation, efficient though they may be, computers can never really understand language in all its nuances and subtle variations. Languages are the living expressions of cultures, of social settings, traditions and the history of the peoples who speak them, a reflection of the characters and moods of the writers/speakers, their social backgrounds, and their intentions. Only the brain of a human translator is fit enough to fully grasp the multi-faceted manifestations of the combinations of these characteristics in a foreign tongue in the respective context and render them correctly. Hence, the use of machine translation is still limited to a certain extent. 22 Task 2: Choose the best answer for each question. 1. Who were the two outstanding representatives of translation in the Ancient Roman time? A. Cicero & Horace B. John Wycliffe & Cicero C. John Wycliffe & William Tyndale 2. What kind of translation was used in the Ancient Roman time? A. Sense-for-sense 3.
Which statement is CORRECT about translation at Ancient Roman time? A. They translated for aesthetic purpose only. B. They translated into Latin from Greek. C. Translators were highly appreciated. 4. In translation theory, what was the contribution of Cicero? A. He consolidated the word-for-word translation method popular in Ancient Rome. B. He translated the speeches of Greek orators in a word-for-word fashion. C. He translated the speeches of Greek orators through creative imitation. D. He strictly followed the word-for-word translation. 5. What kind of translation was mainly used for the Bible in the Medieval time? A. Sense-for-sense 6.
What happened to those who tried to translate the Bible in the Medieval time? A. They were respected by clergy. B. They were punished and burnt to death. C. They were free to do what they liked. 7. What is another name of the sixteenth century? A. The Medieval time 8.
What work was created in the Elizabethan age? A. Odyssey and Iliad B. Montaigne C. How to Translate Well from One Language into Another. 9. Who was the author of the “How to Translate Well from One Language into Another”? A. George Chapman 10.
Who raised the idea that a “translator should be able to capture the tone of the original text where the translator has to be sensitive to the cultural differences too”? A. Etienne Dolet
11. What CANNOT be assumed about the 17th century? A. This era emphasized on order and reason. B. The main figure of this time was Sir John Denham. C. John Dryden outlined three basic methods of translation 12. Which of the following is the most important point of Tytler’s “laws of translation”? A. Accuracy to the source text content B. Preservation of the author’s way of writing C. Naturalness of target language expression 13. What does it mean “paraphrase” by John Dryden? A. Word-for-word 14.
At what time did the notion of “foreignness” first appear? A. The early 18th century 16.
is translating an author word-by-word and line-by-line from one language to another. A. Metaphrase 15.
At what time emerged the idea that “a translator should be like a painter who depicted the original with loyalty”? A. the 17th century 17.
Which statement is CORRECT about the colonial time? A. There were two diametrically opposite viewpoints on translation. B. The translators had to be completely faithful to the original. C. The translation could not have any archaisms in it 18. What could be assumed about the Translation Studies today? A. How to translate a work literally or figuratively is still in debate. B. Many scholars still do not consider Translation Studies as a discipline. C. Translation should be considered as a secondary activity. 19. in translation is being faithful and accurate to the SL text. A. Distortion
20. Which statement is CORRECT about the translation studies in the 20th century? A. There is still a debate between faithfulness and creativity in translation B. Machine translation will soon substitute human beings. C. Translation is still considered as a secondary activity 24 IV. Early theories of translation studies 1. Formalism (Hình thức luận) Formalism refers to an early 20th-century literary movement in Russia whose theoreticians believed that a literary text has to be considered by itself based on its structural aspects of language and grammar without the preoccupations with the intrinsic meaning or deep structure of a text. They also subscribed to the concept of “defamiliarization” - which is the ability to make even the most ordinary things new by special use of language. They believed that the literary quality of a text is determined by the language it uses. Early translation theorists also believed in defamiliarization in that they did not take efforts to smoothen the translation by catering to TL readers. They also asserted that translators could arrive at the meaning of a text if they had a purpose clearly outlined. This theory appears naive and uninformed today, but it still is the guiding principle for most translators who believe that their task is to communicate meaning from one language to another and that it can be done, provided one understood what the “real” meaning of that text is. 2. Czech and Slovak influence Jirí Levý and Anton Popovic could be seen as two scholars who provided the link between the early and later phases of translation theory. Jirí Levý (1926 – 1967) was a Czech theorist who is primarily known for his work Literary Translation published in 1963. He was influenced by the principles of Russian Formalism, but he went beyond them. He believed that the translation should succeed in producing the same effect in its receptor language culture as the SL text had in its own. Language was seen as a code that followed certain rules. Levy's concept of translation involved not just superficial code-changing but also interpretation. However, his focus was more on surface structure of language like stylistic features than meaning. In his concept of translation, the literary components could be isolated and recoded in another language system. This by itself is not a problem in a monolingual situation, but this acquires another dimension in the context of translation. The meaning that is constituted by one language need not be the same when it is transcribed in another language. The translated text thus becomes unstable; it is not a unified work, but one that is full of tension and contradictions because the content is intertextually constructed. Popovic (1933 – 1984), a Slovak theorist, is known for the concept of “shifts” in translation theories. His perspective was more comprehensive in that he acknowledged the losses and gains that inhered in the translation process and analyzed the changes that occurred in the translated text. Popovic was of the view that shifts occur because of cultural and linguistic differences. The translators had to make compromises in translation to recapture something of the original in the translated text. These shifts have to be analyzed for they tell a lot about the SL text as well as the translator and the 25 process of translation. His theory, in addition to the focus on structural aspects, also had a cultural dimension to it. The drawback of the theories of Levý and Popovic was this emphasis on structure rather than content. These theories might work well with modernist texts in which language plays a major role, but they might be inadequate to deal with older texts where language and linguistic elements alone did not make a work of art. Moreover, the emphasis on form rather than content could lead the way to a complete dissociation of the text from its socio-cultural aspects and thus lead to its consideration as an autonomous entity without reference to an external reality. 3. André Lefevere Lefevere's Translating Poetry: Seven Strategies and a Blueprint published in 1975 showed a pragmatic approach to the issue of translation. He described seven different methods of translation: 1. Phonemic translation: It tries to reproduce the sound of the SL in the TL, simultaneously attempting to capture the sense. This is effective in translating onomatopoeic words but can often become very awkward as the meaning gets lost in the process. 2. Literal translation: Word-for-word translation that might distort the meaning as well as the stylistic aspects of the original. 3. Metrical translation: Translation in which there is an attempt at metrical reproduction. Like literal translation, concentrating on the metre might result in distortion of sense and the overall qualities of the text as a whole. 4. Poetry into prose: This can capture the sense, but the poetic qualities tend to get lost. 5. Rhymed translation: The translation tries to retain the rhyme scheme and metre of the original. This can end up in very clumsy translation that does no justice to the source text. 6. Blank verse translation: The restrictions imposed by metre can distort the text. But Lefevere also notes that this translation can achieve greater degree of accuracy. 7. Interpretation: Lefevere discusses versions and imitations under this head. Versions are those in which the substance of the SL text is retained and the form is changed. Imitation is that in which the translator produces a poem that is only marginally related to the SL text. Both are receptorfriendly texts but they acquire that quality at the expense of the original text. Lefevere preferred a translation that would impact the readers like the original with the SL readers. He believed that the translator's task ―is precisely to render the source text, the original author's interpretation of a given theme expressed in a number of variations, accessible to readers not familiar with these variations, by replacing the original author's variation with their equivalents in a different language, time place and tradition‖. 26 4. Susan Bassnett Susan Bassnett's Translation Studies published in 1980 demonstrates the reception of the early scholars of the field. The book was and still is one of the best introductory works on the topic. Bassnett seems to agree with two concepts of the early theorists: - There is no single correct way of translating a text - The translation has to be based on the comparison of the SL text's function or purpose in its own context and the receptor-language context Her approach is somewhat similar to the Russian Formalist concepts. She broadened the reader's concept about what a translation should be, but she essentially seemed to accept the Formalist idea of defamiliarization by which a translator could adopt ‗foreign' terms and usages to preserve the impact of the original. She is also one of the earliest theorists to have taken to the cultural turn in Translation Studies, along with Lefevere. 5. Evaluation of Early theories Despite differences in approach, all of them were of the view that the translated text must be studied with reference to the source text in terms of similarities and differences. They tried to come up with objective criteria to analyze the translation process. Their approach was a combination of the synchronic and diachronic approaches in that it studied the text in itself and also looked at the intertextual and socio-cultural aspects of the text. This demanded a lot of capability from the individual translator and led to the collaboration of effort that we see in the field of translation studies today. Scholars from various fields like linguistics, literature and socio-cultural theory are active in the effort to evolve a systematic approach to the field. From this phase onwards, translation theory is more focused on the process of translation and we see a host of disparate fields coming together. Before this phase, writings on translation were described as “intuitive” or they believed in the intuition of the translator to come up with an adequate translation. However, the emergence of scholars like Lefevere and Holmes demanded a more systematic approach to translation. The cultural aspect that has been factored into translation studies today can also be traced back to these early scholars. 27 V. Contemporary theories in translation studies 1. Linguistic approach According to linguistic approach, any translation should be considered from the point of view of its fundamental units; that is, the words, the syntactic structure and the sentences. Thus, scholars who are concerned with this approach try to translate from one language to the other in order to reproduce in the target language a message that is equivalent to that of the source text. One example is the work of Vinay and Dabel, who classified the translation techniques into 7 small subsets (see Chapter 3). The linguistic approach also introduced the notion of equivalence which sees the source text as what determines the nature of the target text. One major shortcoming of linguistic theory is that they do not pay much attention to the contribution of the context to the understanding of the whole message or text. Studies conducted within a linguistic-based approach to translation concentrated on the systematic relations between units of the language systems, but often abstracted from aspects of their contextual use. A chosen TLform may well be correct according to the rules of the language system, but this does not mean that the text appropriately fulfils its communicative function in the TL situation and culture. E.g.: Thằng bé trông “thấy ghét” chưa kìa! → How damned the baby looks! (not appropriate in terms of cultural context) 2. The hermeneutic approach Hermeneutics can be defined as the science and methodology of interpreting texts. The hermeneutic approach is mainly based on the work of George Steiner, who believes that any human communication is a translation. In his book entitled “After Babel” (1975), Steiner explains that translation is not a science but an “exact art”. He stated that a true translator should be capable of becoming a writer in order to capture what the author of the original text “means to say.” The writer may be an editor and that he may have used sources so that he could integrate subjectivity, corporeality and creativity during the translation process. As a result, it can create an ideal translational practice which focuses on translating meanings, not words. George Steiner suggested three things should be taken. First, translators must take into account the writer's purpose as well as the culture. Secondly, one must consider the narrator in the writing who is usually different from the writer. Sometimes he is a real person, sometimes fictional. One must determine his purpose in speaking and his cultural milieu, taking into consideration the fact that he may be omnipresent and omniscient. One must also take into consideration the narratee within the story and how he hears. One must reckon with the person or persons to whom the writing is addressed; the reader, not always the same as the one to whom the writing is addressed; and later readers. Thirdly, 28 one must consider the setting of writing, the genre (whether poetry, narrative, prophecy, etc.), the figures of speech; the devices used, and, finally, the plot. In conclusion, modern ideas on hermeneutics hold that that understanding and interpreting the meaning of a source text involves actually three factors: the author, the text (or speech) and the receptor. A proper understanding of these three factors is the first and foremost step of any translation and must all be counted in so that meaning is best determined and a perfect piece of translation is produced. 3. The sociolinguistic approach and Gideon Toury’s theory a) The sociolinguistic approach According to the sociolinguistic approach, the social context defines what is and is not translatable, and what is or is not acceptable through selection, filtering and even censorship. Scholars who favour this approach focus on setting up prototypes of genres, trying to identify parallel texts across languages and cultures by doing a systematic comparison of genres in both the source culture and the target culture (Schaeffner, 2001). This enables translators to adapt the text to the conventions of the target culture. Thus, scholars believe that a translation goes beyond language to cultural considerations. This approach is associated with the School of Tel Aviv and figures such as Annie Brisset and Guideon Toury. E.g.: Năm 1750, ông được thăng chức Thượng Thư Bộ Lại. → In 1750, he was promoted to be Thuong Thu Bo Lai – equal to the position of a Minister of Home Affairs. b) Gideon Toury’s theory Toury believed that translations were somewhere in the middle between two opposing poles – that of complete equivalence or correspondence with the source text, and of complete acceptability in the target language. He maintained that no translation can ever be completely acceptable in a receptor culture as it will have many new elements that cannot easily be assimilated. The converse is also true that no translation can ever be completely true to the source language as it will be governed by different cultural norms. c) Toury's Concept of Translation Norms Norms can defined as a system of interrelated factors including linguistic-cultural- historical rules that determine translation products. These norms derive from both the source language and target language perspectives. Toury focused on the actual relationships between the source text and the translation. According to him, there will be a set of multiple norms in any society at a particular period in time. This means that there might be some different translations of the same text in different time periods in the same culture. 29
- Preliminary norms are those which influence the translation strategy, for example: those factors that govern the choice of text types; the directness of translation, to what extent the audience of the target language can tolerate. These are the preliminary norms in the process of translation, and lie outside the personal preference of the translator. - Initial norms are the personal decisions that translators have to make with respect to translation strategy. For instance, should translators remain close to the source text or should they be more loyal to the target language? - Operational norms are those rules directing the decisions made during the act of translation. This is influenced by the position occupied by the translated text in the target culture.
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- It perceives language as the offshoot of a host of socio-cultural factors and hence rooted in the everyday world of reality, rather than in an ideal speaker community. - It can be verbally creative as its focus is on actually spoken language; it is not bound by reductive rules of language. - It does not conceive of language as a rigid system with clear cut boundaries and a well established meaning underlying it. It acknowledges the malleability of language and the indeterminacy of meaning. - It takes into account the interdisciplinary nature of codes, which tends to expand the boundaries of translation activity.
and polishes it according to his tastes. The result is a text that is doctored to avoid the inherent ambiguities and instabilities of all literary works. In other words, Nida provides an excellent model for translation for a manipulative purpose (like the translation of the Bible) but that his theory fails to become a science. 5. The literary approach and polysystem theory In the 1970s, the literary approach to translation theory emerged, partly as a response to the linguistic theories. According to the literary approach, a translation should not be considered a linguistic endeavor but a literary one. Language has an “energy”: this is manifested through words, which are the result of experiencing a culture. This change is what gives translation strength and ultimately, meaning: this is what the translation-writer should translate. Key elements of this new literary approach are the writings of the Manipulation School; systems theories; and Gideon Toury’s Descriptive translation studies (DTS), which tries to identify laws in translation. At the Leuven Conference in 1976, Even-Zohar presented a paper entitled “The Position of Translated Literature in the Literary Polysystem” where he considers the position of translated literature within the literary, cultural and historical contexts of the target culture. He does not advocate the study of individual translations but rather views the body of translated works as a system working within and reacting to a literary system, which, in turn, is working within and reacting to the historical, social and cultural systems of the particular target audience. Therefore, the notion of polysystem emerged. a) Polysystem theory (thuyết đa hệ thống) This theory views translations from a more comprehensive perspective by locating them within the context of the literature and of the receptor language. System in this context means a total combination of all literary traditions, genres, social conventions, prejudices, and even a literary work, etc. A literary work is not studied in isolation but as part of a literary system (social, cultural, literary and historical framework), and a translated literature which is being imported to a country can influence the native writings. b) The position of translation and its influence on receptor culture The literature of every country consists of “original” writings and “translated” writing. Each of these kinds can occupy the central position (primary position) or peripheral one (secondary position) in the literary system of a country. Moreover, different literatures and genres, including translated and non-translated works, compete for dominance. Therefore, translated literature not only is as an integral system within any literary system, but as a most active system within it. 32 - The primary position There are three situations in which translated literature would maintain a primary position: (a) When an emerging literature from a relatively new culture adopts translations from more established literatures in order to fill the gaps within its own system, due to it being unable to instantly create a wide range of text types and genres. Translated literature introduces features and techniques that did not previously exist, such as new poetic structures. (b) When a smaller nation is dominated by the culture of a larger nation, it may rely on imported literature from the dominant culture in order to keep its literary system dynamic, as well as being possibly the only source available for the creation of new genres. For example, the influence of Tang poetry (Thơ Đường luật) on Vietnamese poetic system. (c) When there are turning points in literary history, such as when established forms lose popularity or when there is no existing model. This could conceivably be the role that Harry Potter occupies in Chinese Mandarin. In the first two cases translations play an important part because the language/literature is inadequate to express a wide range of experiences in the contemporary world. Translations can also bring in a whole new set of literary genres that are nonexistent in the literature of that language. EvenZohar believed that this is true of translations into a language like Hebrew. Here translated works were not only sources of new ideas, but also the works to which the creative writers in that language looked up to. - The secondary position This case happens when translation occupies a secondary position in strong literary traditions like English or French. In such situations, there has already existed norms and translations tend to follow them rather than set a pattern of their own. This is because the receptor culture is strong enough to have well-developed traditions of literature and would not welcome new norms. The translation will thus adjust to the receptor culture and not vice versa. In short, translations that occupy primary position will try to retain the flavor of the original and will emphasize their faithfulness to the original. Translations that are considered secondary, on the other hand, will be eager to please the receptor culture and cannot afford to be like the original. It will have to be “smoothed over” by making it more like the receptor culture. As a result, they will not be faithful to the original. c) Contributions of Polysystem theory Polysystem theory is important because it moves translation away from the traditional ST-TT linguistic comparisons of shift and equivalence towards the viewing of translation in a social, cultural 33 and historical context. There is also a change from the study of individual texts as a systemic approach which tries to uncover the universal laws and principles that govern translation. It is also quite significant because it can be applied to other systems besides strictly literary systems (e.g. television programming and politics). d) Shortcomings of Polysystem theory Polysystem theory has been criticised on a number of issues: - The universal laws are too abstract, and little thought has been given to limitations placed on translation and texts. - Translating literature generally occupies a role of secondary importance in the target culture because “it downplays their creative and formative aspect” (Hermans, 1999, p.154). Translated literature also remains a separate entity within the target culture. - It doesn’t provide concrete evidence, doesn’t venture into specifics, or offer functioning examples. No mention is made of the concept of overt and covert translations. 6. The functionalist approach and Skopos theory a) The functionalist approach The second half of the 20th century witnessed some paradigm shift in translation studies, especially with the publication in German of Katharina Reiss and Hans Vermeer’s Foundation for a General Theory of Translation and Justa Holz-Manttari’s Translatorial Action: Theory and Method, both in 1984. These works set the pace for what is later known as functionalist approach to translation, which sees translation as “a communicative action carried out by an expert in intercultural communication (the translator), playing the role of a text producer and aiming at some communicative purpose” (Nord, 2001, p.151). Quite a good number of translation scholars subscribe to functionalism like Vermeer (1978); Reiss and Vermeer (1984); Nord (1997), etc. Functionalists believe that a text can be intended for a variety of functions, and the function of a text in the target culture determines the method of translation. According to Jakobson (1960), there are four basic textual functions: (a) Referential function (i.e. reference to objects and phenomena of the world). Some subfunctions: informative function (object: e.g. a traffic accident), metalinguistic function (object: e.g. a particular use of language), instructive function (object: e.g. the correct way of handling a washing machine), teaching function (object: e.g. Geography) etc. (b) Expressive function (i.e. expression of the sender's attitude or feelings towards the objects and phenomena). Some subfunctions: emotive function (expression of feelings, e.g. in interjections), evaluative function (.g. in a political commentary). 34 (c) Appellative function (i.e. appealing to the recipients’ experience, feelings, knowledge, sensitivity etc. in order to induce them to react in a specific way). Some subfunctions: illustrative function (intended reaction: recognition of something known), persuasive function (intended reaction: adopt the sender's viewpoint), imperative function (intended reaction: do what the sender is asking for), pedagogical function (intended reaction: learn certain forms of behaviour), advertising function (intended reaction: buy the product). (d) Phatic function (i.e. establishing, maintaining or finishing social contact). Some subfunctions: salutational function, “small talk” function, “peg” function (e.g. text introductions). The essence of the functionalist concept of translation which was first brought forward by Hans Vermeer in 1978 under the label of “Skopstheorie”. b) Shortcomings of functionalist approach The functionalist approach has received a lot of criticisms, especially from scholars of the linguistic-based approaches. Critics of Skopos theory argue that not all target texts based on a source text can be called translations, that Skopos theory makes no distinction between a real translation and adaptation or non-translation. One other controversy surrounding functionalism is the myriad of terminologies introduced and used differently. Indeed many of these criticisms still go on to this day. However, despite the various controversies surrounding the development and thrust of functionalist approaches, their contributions to the study of translation are remarkable. c) Contributions of functionalist approach One major contribution of this approach is that it addresses the “eternal dilemmas of free vs faithful translations, dynamic vs formal equivalence, good translators vs slavish translators, and so on”. Thus, a translation may be free of faithful depending on its purposes. Translators no longer have to go back to the source text to solve translational problems, rather they base their translation on the function of the text in the target culture. Functionalist approach also liberates translation from theories that impose linguistic rules upon every translational decision. Theorists recognise that the translation process involves more than languages involved and requires the consideration of extra-textual and extra-linguistic factors. They look forward to the function of the text in the target culture as the major determining factor for how the translation is done. Thus, they introduced the cultural dimension to translation studies. Functionalist approaches are also flexible and general enough to account for a wide range of translational situations (i.e. cultures, subject domains, text types and genres). Interestingly, the consideration of extra-textual factors in the translational process accentuates the multidisciplinary nature of translation studies. A text does not have a stable intrinsic meaning, but that meaning is 35 affected by the subjective translator as well as by the cultural, historical, ideological and historical circumstances surrounding the production of the text. In short, functional approach bridges the gap between theory and the practice of translation, as it suggests practical ways of dealing with translational problems (see Chapter 4 and 5). d) Skopos theory Skopos is the Greek word for "aim" or "purpose" and was introduced by Hans J. Vermeer. According to Skopos theory, any translational action is intentional and purposeful. Translators must know what they are doing, what the effect of a text created will be in the target culture and how much the effect will differ from that of the source text. It then follows that the translation should be produced to suit the purpose for which it is needed in the target culture. . Three rules of the Skopos theory 1. The purposeful rule It means translating in a way that enables the translation to function in the situation in which it is used and with the people who want to use it and precisely in the way they want it to function. E.g: BMW" was an acronym for Bayerishe Motoren Werke (the German famous auto company's name). It has no meaning but shows the place where the car come from. However, the translation of it into Chinese language is, "宝马" (băo mă), which "宝" means "precious" and "马" means “horse”. The reason for this translation is that it can reach the purpose of arousing the customers' association of the swift horse and implies this kind of cars can go a long way with a high speed, thus facilitating the revenues of BMW. 2. The coherence rule This rule emphasizes that the translation must be adequately coherent to allow the intended users to comprehend it. What the translator can do, and what he should do, is to produce a text that is at least likely to be meaningful to target-culture receivers. E.g.: "Safeguard", a brand for soap and bathing lotion, means security and guardian. It is transliterated as "舒肤佳". Here "舒" means "comfort", "肤" means "skin" and "佳³" means "good quality". So this translation will leave the impression on people that this soap or lotion with good quality can bring comfort to the skin. Furthermore, Chinese people will have a basic conception about what kind of product it is and understand it very well when they first saw the translation. 3. The fidelity rule The fidelity rule stresses that some relationship must remain between the target-text and source-text once the overriding principle of Skopos and the rule of coherence have been satisfied. 36 E.g.: "Crown"(the trademark of a car) is translated literally into Chinese "皇 冠” whether it is in English or in Chinese. "Crown" and "皇 冠 "both represent the superior social status. The Chinese version can well express that the car is in good condition, the style is grand and the quality is firstrate. It is faithful to its original meaning of the brand which is and will undoubtedly be accepted by the consumers in China just the same as in the original country. 4. Contributions of Skopos theory Skopos theory considers translation as a complicated interactive behavior. According to the specific translation requirements such as the writer's intended aims and expectations as well as interactive needs of readers, etc. translators/interpreters can determine any tactics, and does not have to care about the equality of translated text to the original text, for which would weaken the interactive functions in the environment of target language. Therefore, with the guide of translation purposes, the translators/interpreters can consider the relative factors comprehensively and then decide the most suitable methods and strategies. "Translators can take any appropriate tactics in order to achieve different goals" (Yin Xiaohong, 2006:171). In short, this is a theory that could be applicable to the translation of every text since not only the linguistic aspect, but also the cultural ones would be taken into account. VI. Further practice Task 3: Answer the following questions. 1. How many prominent theories of the Early Translation Studies are there? …………………….. 2. Are the Early Translation Studies theorists mainly in favor of source text-oriented or target textoriented translation? ....................................................................................................................... 3. What is INCORRECT about the Formalism theory? A. It appeared in the early 20th century B. A literary text has to be based on its structural aspects of language and grammar. C. They believed in the concept of “defamiliarization”. D. It is naive since it cannot communicate meaning from one language to another. 4. Who are the Czech and Slovak theorists of the Early Translation Studies? A. Jirí Levý and Anton Popovic
5. What is CORRECT about Czech influence? A. Translation cannot produce the same effect in its receptor language culture as the SL text had in its own. 37
8. What are the three kinds of translation norms in Toury‘s concepts? Do you agree with his concepts of norms? Why? ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 9. What are the 4 kinds of perspectives of Nida‘s theory? What are his contributions to Translation Studies? ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Task 4: Answer the following questions. 1. Whats does “Skopos” mean? What are the three rules of the Skopos theory? ................................................................................................................................................................. 2. When Procter and Gamble (P&G) introduced its shampoo Rejoice (which means “happy and relaxed”) in the Hong Kong market in the 80s, it adopted the Chinese name 飄柔 (which means "soft and smooth”). What rule of the Skopos theory was it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 3. Liberty is the trademark of one vehicle product. In China, it is translated into "自由车" which means “freedom”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 4. Coca-Cola is the trademark of a beverage company. In China, it is translated into “可口可乐 (kě kǒu kě lè)” which means “Tasty Fun”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 5. Nike is the trademark of a footwear company. In China, it is translated into “耐克 (nài kè)” which means “Enduring and Persevering”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 6. Microsoft is the trademark of a computer company. In China, it is translated into “微软 (Wēiruǎn)” which means “Wei= small, ruǎn = soft”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 7. Mercedez is the trademark of a car company. In China, it is translated into “奔驰 - Bēnchí” which means “Dashing Speed” or “Running fast”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 8. Boeing” as “波音” (Bo Yin), “Sony” as “索尼” (Suo Ni), “Adidas” as “阿迪达斯” (A Di Da Si), “Motorala” as “摩 托 罗 拉” (Mo Tuo Luo La). These words are just copied from the corporation’ names or are coined words. What rule of the Skopos theory are they followed. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 9. “Pepsi”, and its Chinese name is “Bai Shi Ke Le”, which means “make you happy in all matters”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 10. “Shifu” is translated into Vietnamese as ‘sư phụ”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 11. “Sushi” is translated into Vietnamese as ‘cơm cuộn”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 12. “Takoyaki (Tako: octopus, yaki: fried)” is translated into Vietnamese as ‘bánh bạch tuộc chiên”. What rule of the Skopos theory is it followed? ................................................................................................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER 3: TRANSLATION UNITS, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES I. Translation Units Translation units can be classified as follows: 1. At the level of morpheme: project+s → những dự án, fluent+ly → một cách lưu loát. 2. At the word level: cat → mèo, tree → cây 3. At the phrase level: by the way → tiện thể, foot-and-mouth disease → bệnh tay chân miệng 4. At the clause level: It is worth noting that ... → Đáng chú ý là … 5. At the sentence level: E.g.:
6. At text level: when a word translated depends on near/narrow context: E.g.: Translation of poetry Xin thầy thứ lỗi cho con trai tôi. Tôi sẽ răn dạy cháu cẩn thận hơn. → Please forgive my little child. I will make him behave properly. 7. At intertextual level: Extralinguistic factors often require from the translators/interpreters either general or specialized knowledge without which an adequate translation is impossible. In certain cases this group of independencies determines the introduction into the text of loan translations. E.g. The White House in Russia – Nhà trắng ở Nga (translator has to add more information such as: nhà riêng dành cho gia đình Thủ tướng ở Nga, khác với Nhà Trắng ở Mỹ) Task 1: Identify the meaning of the underlined morphemes in Vietnamese. 1 multicultural 6 oversupply 2 cybersafety 7 hypermarket 3 impossible 8 ultraviolet 4 nationalize 9 macroeconomics 5 pre-war 10 misunderstand 40 Task 2: Decide at which level the following translation units were utilized. 1. business cycle → chu kỳ kinh doanh ................................................ 2. Yours faithfully → Trân trọng ................................................ 3. cánh đồng bất tận → Floating lives ................................................ 4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon → Ngọa hổ tàng long ................................................ 5. kinh tế thị trường → market economy ................................................ 6. corner the market→ lũng đoạn thị trường ................................................ 7. Man propses, God disposes → Mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên. ............................................... 8. Oh, Sugar! → Chết tiệt! ................................................ 9. As far as I am concerned → Theo ý tôi ................................................ 10. You reap what you sow → Gieo gió gặt bão. ................................................ 11. Thằng bé trông “thấy ghét” chưa! → How cutie the boy is! ................................................ 12. The best friend a man has in a world may turn against him and become his enemy. → Người bạn tốt nhất mà con người có thể có được trên thế giới này có thể một ngày nào đó hóa ra là kẻ thù chống lại chúng ta. . ................................................ Task 3: Translate the following titles and decide at which level the following translation units were utilized. 1. Lọ Lem: …………………………………………………………. 2. Chiếc lá cuối cùng: …………………………………………………………. 3. Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh: …………………………………………………………. 4. Không phải dạng vừa đâu: …………………………………………………………. 5. Tây Du Ký: …………………………………………………………. 6. Ashes of Love: …………………………………………………………. 7. Hạt giống tâm hồn: …………………………………………………………. 8. Bí mật tư duy triệu phú: …………………………………………………………. 9. Đắc nhân tâm: …………………………………………………………. 10. Chiến tranh tiền tệ: …………………………………………………………. 11. The Journey of Flower: …………………………………………………………. 12. Three Kingdoms: …………………………………………………………. 13. The Tale of Kieu: …………………………………………………………. 41 II. Translation methods by Newmark 1. Word-for-word translation (dịch từ đối từ): The source language word order is preserved and the words are translated by their common meanings out of context (không quan tâm ngữ cảnh). This kind of method is mainly used for difficult texts such as legal documents, contracts, or business agreements. E.g.: golden lion → Kim sư, facebook → mặt sách He is a boy. → Anh ấy là một cậu bé. Task 4: Translate the following sentences word by word. 1. the rate of malnutrition in children. ………………………………………………… 2. He was chosen to be the CEO of the company. ………………………………………………… 3. Buy very cheap and sell very dear. ………………………………………………… 4. About 80% of the vehicles built in the UK are exported. ……………………………………………...………………………………………………………….. 5. Mọi người đều khát khao hòa bình và hạnh phúc. ……………………………………………….. 6. Gian khó không thể khiến anh ta bỏ cuộc. ………………………………………………… 7. Kẻ giàu thường khinh khi người nghèo. ………………………………………………… 8. Hút thuốc lá thì rất có hại cho sức khỏe. ………………………………………………… 2. Literal translation (dịch nguyên văn): The source language grammatical constructions are converted to their target language equivalent but the lexical words are translated out of context. Literal translations follow very closely the grammatical and lexical forms of the source text language E.g.: He is a big liar → Anh ta là một kẻ nói dối lớn. He looked up at the Milky Way. Anh ấy nhìn lên vào con đường màu sữa. Task 5: Translate the following phrases/ sentences with the Literal translation. 1. floating exchange rate. …………………………………………………. 2. Business Registration Certificate. …………………………………………………. 3. Investment portfolio management .………………………………………………… 4. socialist-oriented market economy .………………………………………………… 5. Nhiều doanh nghiệp niêm yết biến mất đầu năm nay. ……………………………………………...…………………………………………………………... 6. Two nations cooperate on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs. ……………………………………………...…………………………………………………………... 42 3. Faithful translation (dịch trung thành): A faithful translation requires a faithful precision in meaning and grammar structure of the original. However, we can also transmit the source language text into the target language more flexibly basing on its contextual meaning (có tính đến ngữ cảnh hay tình huống của câu nói). E.g.: They were as much alike as two balls of cotton. → Hai anh em giống nhau như 2 trái banh vải Task 6: Translate the following sentences faithfully. 1. Yes, Your Majesty! I will do anything to please you! (a lady talks to the King). ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Mom said to my father, “Darling! The baby’s coming!” ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. “Anh đến Việt Nam để biến những ước mơ hoang dại nhất của anh thành sự thật”. (Để Mai tính) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. “Bitch! How dare you betray me?” Tong Giang said to his wife Diem Ba Tich. (The Water Margin). ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Adaptation (dịch phóng tác): Adaptation has a property of lending the ideas of the original to create a new text used by a new language more than to be faithful to the original. The creation in adaptation is completely objective in content as well as form. This method is used mainly for plays and poems in which the text is converted to the target language culture while the characters, themes, and plots are preserved. E.g.: “Ngọn cỏ gió đùa” by Ho Bieu Chanh and “The Miserables” by Victor Hugo. “The Tale of Kieu” by Nguyen Du and “Kim Van Kieu” by Qingxin Cairen. 不怨天，不尤人，下學而上躂。→ Bất oán thiên, bất vưu nhân, hạ học nhi thượng đạt. (Không oán trời, không trách đất, phàm làm người nên hiểu số mệnh) → Come to terms with your written fate (hàm ý là phải tự biết chấp nhận số phận đã dành sẵn cho mình). Có khi nào trên đường đời tấp lập/ Ta vô tình đi vội bước qua nhau. → Someone you pass on the street may already be the love of your life. (Từ Huy) Quốc gia hưng vong, thất phu hữu trách. → Even the humble citizen must share responsibility in the prosperity or decadence of his country. 43 Task 7: Find the original Vietnamese saying from these Adaptation translations. 1. Those who get up late never become rich Those who are drunk day and night never stand in high social position. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2. The father’s beneficences are as great as a giant mountain And the mother’s are as infinite as water flowing from a source. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3. As unsalted fish is soon rotten, So the disobedient child will be spoiled ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4. Building a nine-story stupa Bears no comparison to helping an unfortunate person. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5. As immense as sky and ocean, are the cares given by parents to their children But the latter count every care they give their parents. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6. Wealth earned by work is safe at home That earned by gambling stays in the yard Ephemeral acquisitions lie outdoors. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7. After a hundred years, the stone stele will be worn out, After a thousand years, the verbal tradition will still be alive. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 44 5. Free translation (dịch tự do): Free translation focuses on the content of the target text rather than the form, which means that the same content is expressed in the target text but with very different grammatical structures. It is used in translating slogan, prose, lyrics, etc. In free translation, the linguistic structure of the source language is ignored, and equivalence is found based upon the meaning it conveys. The disadvantage of this type is that translating is too casual to understand the original because of its freedom E.g.:
Generation next → Sự lựa chọn của thế hệ trẻ (Pepsi) Tide in, dirt out → Tide, thách thức mọi vết bẩn (Tide) Good food, good life → Cho bé yêu ngày càng lớn giỏi (Nestle) Task 8: Translate the following slogans, using the method of Free translation. 1. Duy nhất đậu nành. Riêng dành cho bạn – VinaSoy ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Không ngừng vươn xa - Vinaphone ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Mãi mãi tinh thần khởi nghiệp - VinGroup ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Vươn cao Việt Nam - Vinamilk ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Idiomatic translation (dịch thành ngữ): This method is concerned with communicating the meaning of the source text by using the natural grammatical and lexical idioms of the target language. The source text might or might not use the idioms, and the idioms in the target text might have the same form or different form with those in the source text. Therefore, this method can somehow distort the nuances of the source message. E.g.:
45 Task 9: Translate the following phrases with the method of Idiomatic translation. 1. Đi bán muối/ ngoẻo/ đi chầu ông bà : ………………………………………………………… 2. Dễ như ăn cháo : ………………………………………………………… 3. Trắng như tuyết : ………………………………………………………… 4. 24/7: ………………………………………………………… 5. Bite the bullet: ………………………………………………………… 6. With age comes wisdom: ………………………………………………………… 7. Father scratches child’s back: ………………………………………………………… 8. A honey tongue a heart of gall: ………………………………………………………… 7. Semantic translation (dịch ngữ nghĩa): This method takes into account the aesthetic value of the source texts. It, within the base syntactic and semantic constraints of the target language, attempts to reproduce the precise contextual meaning of the author. E.g.: Beauty is the first present Nature gives to women and the first take away. → Sắc đẹp là tặng phẩm mà Tạo hóa ban cho người đàn bà, cũng là thứ đầu tiên mà Tạo hóa cướp đi. Task 10: You are required to translate for a Chinese fantasy movie (phim tiên hiệp). Use the Semantic translation to translate these terms into Vietnamese. 1. Endless Energy …………………………………………………. 2. Spiritual energy …………………………………………………. 3. Eternal Life …………………………………………………. 4. Medicinal drugs …………………………………………………. 5. Against the Gods …………………………………………………. 6. Sky Crasher …………………………………………………. 7. This is the land where the strong make the rules and the weak have to obey. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8. Communicative translation (dịch giao tiếp): This method renders the exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both content and language are readily acceptable and comprehension to the readers. E.g.: Her face is all her fortune → Con ấy chỉ được mỗi cái xinh. 46 Task 11: Adopt the communicative approach and translate the following sentences. 1. Guests are reminded that no visitors are permitted in the room after 10 p.m. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. This is a place of worship. Silence is requested during services. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Xin hỏi Toa let ở đâu ạ? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. Lấy chồng nghèo thì cạp đất mà ăn à? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Task 12: Match the translation methods and its corresponding examples. A. Tôi đã thử một lần cố nhìn nhận tình huống theo cách nhìn của cô ta → 1. Word-for-word translation 2. Literal translation 3. Faithful translation 4. Semantic translation 5. Adaptation 6. Free translation 7. Idiomatic translation 8. Communicative translation I tried for a moment to see the situation through her eyes. (Deignan) B. One man’s meat is another man’s poison → Đám cưới nhà ta, đám ma nhà người. C. Đứa nào muốn đụng tới cô ấy thì bước qua xác tao đã → Whoever wants to hurt her shall first go over my corpse. D. All worldly things may change with time, but the impression of the first love will remain a vivid as ever. → Tất cả mọi vật trên thế gian có thể thay đổi với thời gian, nhưng ấn tượng về mối tình đầu sẽ tồn tại mãi mãi. E. Thà một phút huy hoàng rồi chợt tối/ Còn hơn buồn le lói suốt trăm năm → It would rather the victorious brightness in an only moment than the centenary twinkle. F. Nó vừa ăn cướp vừa la làng → He carries fire in one hand and water in the other. G. Ngồi đầu cầu nước trong như lọc/Đường bên cầu cỏ mọc còn non → Below the bridge runs the current pure and clear/And there the grass grows soft, by the bridge. H. Thôi thì hết hờn ghen và giận dỗi/ Được giận hờn sung sướng biết bao nhiêu (Xuân Diệu) → Well, it’s all with jealousies and sulks/What fun to be in the sulk. (Vương Trung Hiếu) 47 III. Translation techniques by Vinay and Darbelnet 1. Direct translation (dịch trực tiếp) There are 3 subsets:
Mix loans Loan blends ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. Task 14: Which language does each set of borrowing words come from? Malay, Arabic. Japanese, Korean, German, Russian, French, Chinese, Italian, Hebrew. 1. karaoke, bonsai, haiku, sushi, karate: 2. pizza, latte, cappuccino, bravo, diva, solo: 3. biscuit, vaccine, baguette, taxi, sandal, ragout, ballet: 4. Alzheimer, diesel, hamster, waltz: 5. cotton, zero, artichoke, coffee, safari, sofa: 6. dim sum, taichi, kungfu, tofu, danmei, shuai ge: 7. Taekwondo, soju, Hanbok, kimchi: 8. mammoth, vodka, balalaika, taiga, Soviet: 9. sarong, kaya, gong: 48
panda → gấu trúc Task 15: Translate the following words/ phrases into Vietnamese with the technique of Calque. 1. Adam's apple: ……………… 2. Braille: ……………… 3. Caesararian birth: ……………… 4. Faustian bargain: ……………… 5. Murphy's law: ……………… 6. Force Majeure: ……………… 7. quota: ……………… 8. Forget-me-not: ……………… 9. Pyrrhic victory: ……………… 10. economies of scale: ………………
science-fiction → khoa học viễn tưởng, white-collar worker → công nhân cổ cồn trắng user-friendly → thân thiện với người dùng (dễ sử dụng) Common collocations, names of organizations, components of chemical compounds are usually translated based on this technique. Task 16: Provide the original words of each following acronyms in economics and translate them into Vietnamese. English versions 1 NAV 2 GDP 3 FDI 5 IMF 6 CPU 7 8 MLM EU 9 EBIT 10 EPS 11 FIFO Net asset value 49 Vietnamese translated versions
tomorrow (từ đơn) → ngày mai (từ ghép) high-handedly (từ ghép) → kiêu (từ đơn) 50
………………………………………………………… 2. ledger → sổ cái ………………………………………………………… 3. It is estimated that → Ước tính rằng… ………………………………………………………… 4. Loan shark → người cho vay nặng lãi ………………………………………………………… 5. Due to his failure to come, … → Vì anh ấy không thể đến, … ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Kathy không tin vào người môi giới chứng khoán đó. → Kathy had no faith in that stockbroker. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. Kiếm việc làm mới ở tuổi 40 rất khó. → It’s so difficult to find a new job at the age of 40. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8. Nếu nó cứ lười biếng như thế mãi, thì về sau chắc sẽ phải khổ suốt đời. → His life will be miserable if he continues to be lazy like this. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 51
52 the Red Army → Task 19: Put the words into the correct columns with appropriate Modulation technique. bear cheque → séc vô danh, head office → trụ sở chính, pie chart → biểu đồ tròn, graveyard market → thị trường xuống giá, golden hello → tiền thưởng đầu quân, clicks-and-mortar company → công ty kinh doanh qua Internet, brain drain → chảy máu chất xám, sunrise industry → ngành công nghiệp đang lên, industrial relations → mối quan hệ giữa chủ và thợ, unwritten contract → hợp đồng miệng, entertainment cost → chi phí tiếp khách, non-manual worker → lao động trí thức, widow-and-orphan stock → cổ phiếu giá trị cao, bare contract → hợp đồng không đền bù. …………………………………………………………… 1. Concrete → Abstract: …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… 2. Abtract → Concrete: …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… 3. One part → Another part: …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… 4. Negation of not A → A: …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… 5. A → Negation of not A: …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… 6. One Metaphor → Non- Metaphor …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………… 53
The first saying when someone picks up the telephone is “Hello” in English, but should be translated into “Wei” in Chinese or “A lô” in Vietnamese. Task 20: Find a Vietnamese equivalence for the word “followers” in each context: 1. Religion in general: ……………… 2. Buddhism: ……………… 3. Christianity: ……………… 4. Islam: ……………… 5. Politics: ……………… 6. Police: ……………… 7. Love (slang): ……………… 8. Facebooker: ………………
Madame Bovary → Phan Kim Liên, A plain Jane → Chung Vô Diệm, Thị Nở Hạ Long cách Thủ đô Hà Nội 160 km. → Halong city is 160km from Hanoi (about 3.5 hours driving). Nền kinh tế nước ta đã có những bước tiến vượt bậc trong những năm qua. →Vietnamese economy has had great achievements in recent years. Task 21: Translate the following sentences with Adaptation technique. 1. Despite his looks, he’s said to be something of a Don Juan. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. I don’t want our love will be like Romeo and Juliet. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Người Sài Gòn cũng lắm kẻ mơ làm Lục Vân Tiên giữa đời thường. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Giá vàng hiện nay khoảng 35 triệu đồng/lượng. (tael). ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. Xin lỗi tao đi không được chồng tao có máu Hoạn Thư ghê lắm. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 54 6. The two houses are 110 yards apart. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. After a tunnel of 6.5 miles long, you will get to the other side of the mountain. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8. She announced she is 20-weeks pregnant. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… IV. Further practice Task 22: Choose the best anwer for each question. 1. Which of the following is an example of Calque? A. “panic selling” is translated as “bán tháo”. B. “gig job” is translated as “công việc thời vụ”. C. “painted skin” is translated as “họa bì” D. “flea market” is translated as “chợ trời” 2. The translation of “bogus company” as “công ty ma” is an example of ______. A. Adaptation
3. Which techniques are used in the translation of “Shakepeare in love” as “Shakespeare đang yêu”? A. Calque and Literal translation
4. Which type of modulation is used in the translation of “sleepwalking” as “mộng du”? A. Concrete → Abstract
5. Which translation technique is used in the translation of “in the black” as “làm ăn có lời”? 6. 7.
Which technique is used in the translation of “quality assurance” as “kiểm định chất lượng”? A. Calque
“Nó lấy tôi vì tiền → He married me to get my money” is an example of ______. A. Calque
8. “Monkey King” translated as “Tôn Ngộ Không” is an example of ______. A. Calque
9. “Teenage rebellion” translated as Tuổi nổi loạn” is an example of ______. A. Calque
10. “Gió đông translated as spring wind” is an example of ______. A. Calque
11. “No guide, no realization translated as Không thầy đố mày làm nên” is an example of ______. A. Faithful translation
12. Which type of modultation is used in the translation of “bogus company” as “công ty ma”? A. Metaphor → Non-metaphor
13. What type of modulation is used in the translation of “goosebump” as “nổi da gà”? A. Abstract → Concrete
14. The term “xài bạc lớn” translated as “swear/ use foul language” is analyzed in terms of ______. A. Textual level B. Intertextual level
Task 23: Correct the mistakes in the following statements. 1. “What on earth is it?” should be analyzed at phrase level. 2. The term “Đạo tam cang” should be translated in terms of phrase level. 3. The translation of “As far as I am concerned” should be analysed at the phrase level. 4. The translation of “Sailor Moon” as “Thủy thủ mặt trăng” should be analysed at the phrase level. 5. The translation of “Mạnh phi giá đáo” as “Mengfi comes across” is analysed at the sentence level. 6. The translation of “nipplegate scandal” as “xì căng đan lộ hàng” includes the technique of Calque and Modulation. 7. “Loan market” translated as “thị trường vốn vay” is an example of Calque. 8. “Painted skin” translated as “Họa bì” is an example of Modulation. 9. The technique of Equivalence is used in the translation of “head tax” as “thuế thân”. 10. The relationship between “The Tale of Kieu” by Nguyen Du and “Kim Van Kieu” by Qingxin Cairen could be seen as an example of Modulation. 11. The translation of “Generation next” (Pepsi’ slogan) as “Sự lựa chọn của thế hệ trẻ” adopted the Communicative translation method. 12. The translation of “Wall Street” should be adopted by the technique of Mix loan. 13. “Mannequin” is normally rendered into Vietnamese with the technique of Loan blend. 14. The translation of “COD” (Cash on Delivery) as “Thanh toán khi giao hàng” is an example of Literal translation. 56 15. The translation of “Upon his arriving home” as “Khi anh ấy về đến nhà” adopted the technique of Optional Transposition. 16. The translation of “pinkeye” as “bệnh đau mắt đỏ” adopted the Modulation technique from One color to Metaphor. 17. The translation of “brain drain” as “chảy máu chất xám” adopted the Modulation technique from A part → The whole. 18. The translation of “fainting” as “bất tỉnh” adopted the Modulation technique from Metaphor → Negation of not A. 19. The translation technique called Calque involves changing one word class with another without changing the meaning of the message. 20. Borrowing is a special kind of translation technique whereby a language borrows an expression form from another, then the translator translates literally each of its elements. 21. The translation of “dimsum bond” as “trái phiếu dimsum” includes the technique of Calque and Literal Translation. 57 CHAPTER 4: EQUIVALENCE I. Untranslatability (Bất khả dịch) Problems in translation also occur because of fundamental differences between two language systems that differ in their very basic sense. This situation is called untranslatability. There are two types of untranslatability: 1. Linguistic untranslatability: occurs when there are no grammatical or syntactic equivalents in the TL. E.g.: Trời tối rồi, mình về đi heng? Học xong tụi mình tụi mình đi ăn chè nhá! 2. Cultural untransalatability: occurs when there are cultural differences. E.g.: meraki: to do something with soul, creativity and love, to put all your soul into your work trái tho, thánh chửi, du miên, ngôn tình, đa đoan Gigil (Fillipino): The urge to pinch or squeeze something that is unbearably cute Task 1: Answer the following questions. 1. Give 2 examples of linguistic untranslatability: …………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Give 2 examples of cultural untranslatability: ……………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Task 2: These English words are untranslatebale in some languages. Work in groups and find the Vietnamese equivalence if possible. 1. ahedonia → the inability to gain pleasure from normally pleasurable experiences 2. amfisbitophobia → someone who does not like to argue, non-confrontational, peace-loving 3. forelsket → the feeling of falling in love 4. leptosome → a person with a slender, thin, or frail body 5. sapiosexual → attracted to intelligence or the human mind 6. torpe → a man who is in love with a lady, but cannot admit his feelings or approach her 7. zoilist → A rude or dishonest person that enjoys finding faults in others 8. singletasker → someone who excels at one task at a time 9. boregasm → the peak/ climax of boredom and disinterest 10. déjàbrew → a slow remembering of something we did while we were drunk 11. mantrum → a childish raged displayed by a grown man when he does not get what he wants 12. tidsoptimist → a person who is always late because they think they have more time than they do 58 II. Gain and Loss (Được và Mất/ Thêm và Bớt)
a shoe → một chiếc giầy, Red River Civilisation → nền văn minh sông Hồng He wanted neither wine nor juice. → Anh ấy chẳng muốn uống rượu hay nước hoa quả gì cả.
khu vực kinh tế tư nhân → private sector bad debt in the real estate market → nợ xấu bất động sản 2 kinds of Loss: - Inevitable Loss: Due to the divergent systems of the two languages, the translator cannot establish equivalence and therefore resorts to compensatory strategies. - Avertable Loss: it attributes to translator’s failure to find appropriate equivalence. Reasons for Gain and Loss: - Due to lexical and semantic differences - Due to grammatical and syntactic differences - Due to stylistic differences - Due to the incompetence of the translator. III. Equivalence 1. Definition of equivalence Equivalence is the relationship between the SL and the TL that allows the TT to be considered as a translation of the ST. If a specific linguistic unit in one language carries the same intended meaning / message encoded in a specific linguistic medium in another, then these two units are considered to be equivalent. The domain of equivalents covers linguistic units such as morphemes, words, phrases, clauses, idioms and proverbs. Therefore, finding equivalents is the most problematic stage of translation. It is worth mentioning, however, that translators could not always find one-to-one categorically or structurally equivalent units in the two languages, that is, sometimes two different linguistic units in different languages carry the same function 59 2. Classifications of Equivalence a) Quantity-based approach of Munday (2001) (Tương đương dựa trên số lượng các phần tương đương) One-to-one equivalence: A single expression in TL is equivalent to a single expression in SL. E.g.: Information Technology → công nghệ thông tin One-to-many equivalence: More than one TL expressions are equivalent to a single SL expression. E.g.: Nuôi → to breed, to feed, to raise, to keep, to support Bamboo → Tre, Nứa, Tróc, Mai, Vâu Many- to-one equivalence: there is more than one expression in the source language but there is a single expression in target language which is equivalence to them. E.g.: gạo, lúa → rice One-to-part-of-one equivalence: A TL expression covers part of a concept designated by a single SL expression. E.g.: “Bush’ in Australian English implies faraway area where few people arrive, but in Vietnamese it is translated into “thảo nguyên” which is just one part equivalence of “bush”. Nil equivalence: no TL expression is equivalent to a single SL expression → loaned/borrowed equivalents should be used. E.g.: Modem → Mô đem, Phở → pho, ¸o dài → aodai Task 3: Find 3 equivalents for each word 1. Công ty: ................................................................................................................ 2. Xử lí: ............................................................................................................... 3. Hàng hóa: ................................................................................................................ 4. Yêu cầu: ................................................................................................................ 5. Cung cấp: ................................................................................................................ 6. Subject: ................................................................................................................ 7. Target: ............................................................................................................... 8. Mistake: ................................................................................................................ 9. Appreciate: ............................................................................................................... 10. Challenge: ................................................................................................................ 60 Task 4: Fill in the table with correct words English term Business-related meaning Common meaning 1. …………………….. Hối phiếu, lệnh rút tiền Bản thảo, nháp 2. Securities …………………….. An ninh 3. Agreement …………………….. Sự đồng ý 4. …………………….. Tín dụng Sự tin cậy 5. Collection …………………….. Sưu tập 6. Quotation …………………….. trích dẫn 7. Honor Nhận thanh toán (chi phiếu) …………………….. 8. …………………….. Tiền lãi Sự quan tâm 9. Offer …………………….. Đề nghị 10. Policy …………………….. Chính sách 11. Term Điều khoản …………………….. 12. Promotion …………………….. Lên chức, thăng tiến
Denotative equivalence (Tương đương biểu vật): the SL and the TL words refer to the same thing in the real world. E.g: rabbit, 兔子 (tù zi) con thỏ Connotative equivalence (Tương đương biểu cảm): this type of equivalence provides additional values besides denotative value and is achieved by the translator’s choice of synonymous words or expressions. E.g.: die → chết (neutral), pass away → đi xa, qua đời (formal) 61 kick the bucket → bán muối, toi đời, đi chầu ông bà (slang) the poor → người nghèo (neutral), the underprivileged (euphemism)→ người cơ nhỡ, những mảnh đời bất hạnh Text-normative equivalence (Tương đương qui chuẩn của văn bản): The SL and the TL words are used in the same or similar context in their respective languages. E.g.: Dear Anne, → Anne thân mến! Yours sincerely, → Kính thư! Pragmatic equivalence (tương đương ngữ dụng): the SL and TL words have the same effect on their respective readers. E.g.: Children go to school every morning. → Mỗi buổi sáng trẻ em thi nhau tới trường. Formal equivalence (Tương đương hình thức): This type produces an analogy of form in the translation by their exploiting formal possibilities of TL, or creating new forms in TL. E.g.: Children go to school every morning. → Trẻ em đi học mỗi buổi sáng. Task 5: Match the words in Column A with their euphemisms in column B. A B 1. tell lies
2. poor/developing
3. trash cleaner
4. dump
5. lobby or bribe
6. slum
7. old person
8. fire/dismiss
9. cancer
10. the poor
11. blind
12. stupid
13. unemployed
14. secondhand/used
62 Task 6: Find the Textual equivalence of the following phrases/sentences in a formal letter. 1. Kính gửi: ……………………………………………. 2. Mong nhận được thư hồi âm của ông sớm. ……………………………………………. 3. Xin đính kèm theo thư là … ……………………………………………. 4. Trân trọng. ……………………………………………. 5. Xin vui lòng liên hệ số điện thoại … ……………………………………………. 6. Tôi rất vui được thông báo với bạn rằng … ……………………………………………. 7. Chúng tôi rất tiếc phải thông báo rằng… ……………………………………………. 8. Xin chân thành cảm ơn đã đọc thư này. ……………………………………………. Task 7: Find the Textual equivalence of the following signs. 1. Không phận sự miễn vào: …………… 5. Không dẫm lên cỏ: …………… 2. Bị hư: …………… 6. Cấm xả rác: …………… 3. Coi chừng chó dữ: …………… 7. Mất giấy tờ: …………… 4. Lối thoát hiểm: …………… 8. Xin đừng làm phiền: …………… Task 8: Find the Pragmatic equivalence of the following situations. 1. When you meet your old friend: ……………………………………………. 2. When everybody drinks beer: ……………………………………………. 3. When you want everyone to smile for photographing: ……………………………………… 4. When someone is sneezing: ……………………………………………. 5. When you want to pay the money. …………………………………………….
Equivalence at word level: means that the translator should pay attention to a number of factors when considering a single word, such as number, gender and tense. Equivalence above the word level: appears in collocation, idioms and fixed expressions. Grammatical equivalence: deals with thediversity of grammatical categories. Textual equivalence: deals with thematic and information structures, focuses on cohesion externalized by substitution and ellipsis, and mergingsyntacticstructures by conjunctions, ... Pragmatic equivalence: deals with coherence, implicature or the process of interpretation and translation strategies. It implies how texts are used in communicative situations that involve variables such as writers, readers, and cultural context. 63
Formal equivalence (tương đương hình thức) is achieved when the SL and TL words have the closest possible match of form and content. Formal equivalence attempts to translate the words lietrally. E.g.: Oh my god → Lạy chúa tôi, ôi chúa tôi! Dynamic equivalence (tương đương động): is achieved when the SL and TL words have the same effect on their effective readers. In other words, translators attempt to convey the meaning in the way that has the same influence on the target audience as it does on the source language. E.g.: Oh my God → Ôi giời ơi, ôi mẹ ơi! (miền Bắc); Ôi thần linh ơi! (Ấn Độ) e) Lexical equivalence: (Tương đương về ngữ vựng) Complete equivalence/Absolute equivalence: Complete correspondence of lexical units of two languages can rarely be found. As a rule they belong to the following lexical groups: - proper names and geographical denominations: - scientific and technical terms (with the exception of terminological polysemy). E.g.: artificial intelligence → trí tuệ nhân tạo (trí tuệ: intelligence; nhân tạo: artificial) body language → ngôn ngữ hình thể (language: ngôn ngữ, body: hình thể) nanny state → nhà nước bảo mẫu (nanny: bảo mẫu, state: nhà nước) brand-new-in-the-box → mới toanh trong thùng (brand-new: mới toanh, in-the-box: trong thùng) Partial equivalence: means that the equivalent used in translation is not an absolute counterpart to the original expression. E.g.: online → trực tuyến (tuyến: line, “trực’ is not equivalent to “on”) highminded → cao thượng (high: cao, minded: not equivalent to “thượng”) Shadow Cabinet →Nội các đối lập (Cabinet: Nội các, shadow; not equivalent to “đối lập”) collateral damage → thiệt hại ngoài dự kiến (damage: thiệt hại, collateral: tài sản thế chấp/vật bảo lãnh, not equivalent to “ngoải dự kiến”) Inclusion equivalence: means a term merges into another. E.g.: heavy-hearted → lỏng nặng trĩu (heavy: nặng trĩu, lòng: includes “heart”) sự cố trang phục (sự cố lộ hàng) → wardrobe malfunction (malfunction: sự cố, wardrobe: includes “trang phục”) business transfer → sang tiệm (transfer: sang/ chuyển đổi, business: includes “tiệm/shop”) Nil equivalence/Non-equivalence: no part of the translation is equivalent to the source text. E.g.: spring roll → chả giò, Secretary of State → Ngoại trưởng Mỹ, capital goods → tư liệu sản xuất centerlink → cơ quan phúc lợi xã hội (Úc), bottom line → điểm mấu chốt 64 Task 9: Choose the best answer for each question. 1. The translation of “off-balance sheet transaction” as “giao dịch ngoài báo cáo tài chính” is an example of .
2. The translation of “greenhouse effect” as “hiệu ứng nhà kính” is an example of A. Complete equivalence
. 3. The translation of “cash on delivery” as “thanh toán khi giao hàng” is an example of A. Complete equivalence
4. The translation of “purchasing order” as “đơn đặt hàng” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
. . 5. The translation of “sustainable development” as ‘phát triển bền vững” is an example of A. Complete equivalence
. 6. The translation of “intellectual approach” as “phương pháp tư duy” is an example of A. Complete equivalence
7. The translation of “goose stepping” as “đi duyệt binh” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
. 8. The translation of “para-professional” as “bán chuyên nghiệp” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
9. The translation of “chargeback” as ‘công nợ tính lại” is an example of A. Complete equivalence
10. The translation of “sweetbread”as “lá lách” is an example of A. Complete equivalence
. . . 11. The translation of “special economic zone” as “đặc khu kinh tế” is an example of 65 . .
12. The translation of “social securities” as “an sinh xã hội” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
. 13. The translation of “on-us transaction” as “giao dịch nội mạng” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
14. The translation of “snakefish” as “cá lóc” is an instance of . .
15. The translation of “netizen” as “cư dân mạng” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
. 16. The translation of “tulip mania” as “cơn sớt hoa tulip/uất kim hương” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
. 17. The translation of “economic bubble” as “bong bóng kinh tế” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
. 18. The translation of “lý thuyết không chế” as “capture theory” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
19. The translation of “proxy war” as “chiến tranh ủy nhiệm” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
20. The translation of “black swan theory” as “thuyết thiên nga đen” is an instance of A. Complete equivalence
66 . . . IV. Further practice Task 10: Match the correct type of equivalence in A comlumn with its definitionin B column: A B 1. Denotative equivalence 2. Connotative equivalence 3. Formal equivalence 4. Text-normative
equivalence
5. Dynamic equivalence
67 CHAPTER 5: CULTURAL TERMS AND NON-EQUIVALENCE I. Cultural elements in translation According to Newmark (1998), there are 7 kinds of cultural elements: 1. Ecology: includes words about flora, fauna, plains, hills, etc. E.g.: ruộng bậc thang → terraced field, lúa nước → wet rice, gió mùa đông bắc → northeast monsoon, gió mậu dịch → trade wind, gió Lào → Foehn wind, hoa bỉ ngạn → Mandala, etc. 2. Material culture: includes material words about food, clothes, houses, towns, transport, etc. E.g.: nón lá → conical hat, nhà rông → communal house, nhà sàn → stilt house, Tháp Chàm → Temple of Champa, thuyền ba lá → sampal, áo tứ thân → four-panel dress, etc. 3. Social and lifestyle culture: includes words about work, leisure and arts. E.g.: dân ca quan họ → quan họ folksong, crop rotation → luân canh. 4. Organizational and hierarchical culture: includes words about politics, administration, history, international relations and religions. E.g.: thời kì quá độ → transitional phase, giai cấp vô sản → proletariat, nghiệp/nghiệp lực (Phật giáo) → Karma, luân hồi → transmigration of souls/round of rebirths, Niết Bàn → Nirvana, etc. 5. Norms, values, and customs: include underlying beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors within a group of people. E.g.: individualism → chủ nghĩa cá nhân, sính ngoại →xenophilia. 6. Non-verbal language: includes all behaviors, customs, attributes, objects, body language and habits that supplement words to communicate messages with social meaning. E.g.: In business negotiation, when Japanese says “Yes”, it means “I understand in English what you say but it doesn’t mean I agree with you or accept your offer”. 7. Proper nouns: Proper nouns are divided into 5 categories: - Proper names. E.g.: Cinderella, Ramadan, Uncle Sam, … - Historical institutional terms. E.g.: triều Nguyễn → Nguyen Dynasty, Phong trào Cần Vương → Can Vương (Aid the King) movement, Mặt trận giải phóng miền Nam → Southern Vietnam National Liberation Front … - International institutional terms. E.g.: WHO, EU, … - National institutional terms. E.g.: Socialist Republic of Vietnam → Nước Cộng hoà XHCN Việt Nam, Đoàn thanh niên Cộng sản Hồ Chí Minh → Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. - Cultural terms. E.g.: nhã nhạc cung đình Huế → Hue Royal court music. 68 Task 1: Find the English equivalents of the following cultural terms. 1. Pacific Rim: ………………………… 2. Indochina Peninsula:………………………… 3. Paracel Islands: ………………………… 4. Spratly Islands: 5. Vesak: ………………………… 6. Politburo member: ………………………… 7. áp thấp nhiệt đới: ………………………… 8. đất phù sa: ………………………… 9. rét nàng Bân: ………………………… 10. cơm lam: ………………………… 11. vĩ tuyến thứ 17: …………………………. 12. cầu khỉ: ………………………… ………………………… Task 2: Answer the following questions. 1. List 5 Vietnamese traditional musical instruments: ………………………………………………... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2. List 5 Vietnamese traditional types/forms of folksongs:..…………………………………………... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3. List 5 Vietnamese heritage sites and 4 intangible cultural heritages:.……………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4. List 5 Buddhist terms: …………………………………………....................................................... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Task 3: Match the following public celebrations in Vietnam with their dates. 1. Vietnam Women's Day
2. Piety Day
3. Ancestral Anniversary
4. Buddha's Birthday = Vesak
5. Kitchen Guardians’ Day E. 23/12 (Lunar) 6. Midyear Festival F. 27/07 7. Reunification Day
8. Vietnamese Family’s Day
9. Lantern Festival I. 15/01 (Lunar) 10. Mid-Autumn Festival J. 05/05 (Lunar) 11. Qingming Festival = Tomb Sweeping Festival
12. Vietnamese War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day L. 69 03/03 (Lunar) II. Non – equivalence at word-level Non-equivalence means that the target language has no direct equivalent for a word which occurs in the source text, and the translator cannot find a suitable equivalent in the target language. 1. The source-language word expresses a concept which is unknown in the target culture. E.g.: đạo Dừa, bún thang; điệu xàng xê, giày Gia Định, balaclava, muckup day, Guy Fawkes Night, Continental breakfast, … 2. The source language word expresses a concept which is known in the target culture but there is no equivalent. E.g.: nói thách, câu thần tĩnh mộ khang, quý phi, New Year's resolution, drag racing, meat pie, drag queen, fair go, de facto partner, MICE tour, milk-porridge … 3. The SL word is semantically complex: it expresses a series of actions or concepts. E.g.: tuẫn tiết → commit suicide to express fidelity to the dead husband bán cái → to shift responsibility to someone else. Brexit → Việc Anh rút khỏi Liên minh EU replevin → trả lại tài sản bị tịch biên nhầm. platform capitalism → mô hình kinh doanh dựa trên nền tảng công nghệ 4. The source and target languages make different distinctions in meaning E.g.: Kê cao gối: Vietnamese traditional pillow is hard while Western pillow is soft. “quota”: English: a fixed, limited amount or number that is officially allowed Vietnamese: commercial limit of import or export (hạn ngạch) “shuai ge”: Chinese: it means “handsome”. Vietnamese: it conveys the meaning of a man with 5 qualities: handsome, rich, romantic, faithful, and intelligent (soái ca) 5. The target language lacks a superordinate The target language may have specific words (hyponyms) but no general word (superordinate). E.g.: English doesn’t have the general word for “đàn”, depending on the kind of animal to use different words such as: đàn quạ → a murder of crows, đàn chó → a pack of dog. Vietnamese doesn’t have the general word for “rice’’. It is translated as “mạ, lúa, thóc, gạo, cơm, cốm, bỏng”, depending on the context. 70 6. The target language lacks a specific term (hyponyms) E . g . : English has no equivalent for the specific terms of “cô, dì, thím, mợ, bác gái”. English has no equivalent for the specific terms of “chùa, tịnh xá, thiền viện, tịnh thất, am”. 7. Differences in physical or interpersonal perspective Physical perspective: concerns the location of the things or people of the context with others. E.g.: Vietnamese: “come/go” are translated as “đi” without differnces in meaning English: + come: means getting closer the speaker. + go: means getting away from the speaker.
English: “to give”- present voluntarily and without expecting compensation Vietnamese: biếu, tặng, cống, nạp, đưa, cho… 8. Differences in expressive meaning: There may be a target-language word which has the same propositional meaning as the source-language word, but it has a different expressive meaning. E.g.: “sexy”: Engish: it means attractive and has positive, complementary meaning (praise) Vietnamese: it means wearing erotically (khiêu gợi) and has negative meaning. 9. Differences in form: Certain suffixes and prefixes have no direct equivalents in other languages. E.g.: Affixes such as washateria, carpeteria, journalese, and translationese are difficult to translate. 10. The use of loan words in the source text E.g.: “au fait, chic, déjà vu, tweet” are often used for their prestige value, but they are difficult to translate into Vietnamese. “sơn hào, hải vị” are 2 loan words from Chinese and English has no equivalents. 11. Influences of temporal, geographical, and social elements E.g.: Temporal: “Thiên thư” (in the poem “Nam quốc sơn hà”) should be translated as Holy scroll or Heaven’s scroll because papermaking was traced to China about AD 105. Geographical: “Quốc Hội” is translated as “Parliament” in English political system, as “National Assembly” in Vietnamese context, and as “Congress” in the US system. Social: “rượu” is translated as ‘alcohol” for the formal/neutral situation and “booze” as a colloquialism for the non-upper class. 71 III. Suggested strategies for dealing with non-equivalence at word level 1. Using a more general word: This strategy uses a more general word (superordinate) to replace the more specific one. It’s the commonest strategiesfor dealing many types of non-equivalence. E.g.: “moped, scooter, motorcycle, and bike” are translated as “xe máy”. 2. Using a more neutral word/ less expressive word: This strategy is particularly useful to translate an expressive word. E.g.: The word “sexy” should be transferred as “quyến rũ” in Vietnamese since it is more neutral and not likely to convey adisapproving meaning as “gợi tình”. 3. Transference (Using a loan word with/without clarification). The words remain unchanged from the source language to the target language with/without explanation in brackets. E.g.: Banh canh Trang Bang (a thick Vietnamese noodle made in the southeastern Vietnamese town of Trang Bang, served with boiled pork, tapioca noodles, and local herbs) Open day (Ngày nhà trường mở cửa giới thiệu sinh hoạt, tiện nghi cơ sở vật chất cho công chúng vào tham quan, hay có thể dịch ngắn gọn hơn là "Ngày giới thiệu trường”) Ramadan (tháng ăn chay Ramadan của người Hồi giáo) The Dong Son culture (a Bronze Age culture in ancient Vietnam centred at the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam from 1000 BC until the first century AD) 4. Paraphrase/Literal translation with or without clarification: E.g.: integrated resort → khu nghỉ dưởng phức hợp đa chức năng Phong trào 3 khoan → three-delay movement (a movement arising in the 1960s encouraged people to delay finding lovers, getting married and having babies so that everybody could spend all their time and efforts on the revolution and unification of Vietnam) Chơi hụi → “Hui” scheme/ Chit funds/ tontine – a scheme for raising capital and saving money the baby boom generation. → thế hệ baby boom (cơn sốt đẻ con sau Thế chiến II) 5. Adaptation/ Cultural substitution: E.g.: South China Sea → Biển Đông My father is Hatam Taaei → Cha tôi là một nhà hảo tâm/ Mạnh Thường Quân hay làm từ thiện (in the Persian culture, Hatam Taaei - the name of a very generous man in Iranian stories - is a symbol of generosity for good causes) Doubting Thomas → Đa nghi Tào Tháo; Achilles’ heel → Điểm yếu, nhược điểm trí mạng. 6. Illustration: This is a useful option if the word which lacks an equivalent in the TL refers to a physical entity which can be illustrated. 7. Ommission 72 Task 4: Use appropriate strategies to translate the following terms. 1. Tam tòng tứ đức: 2. Rượu hoàng hoa: 3. Động phòng hoa chúc: 4. Vàng mã: 5. Cháu đích tôn: 6. Nhà thờ tổ: 7. Long mạch: 8. Đầy tháng: 9. Xông đất: 10. Anh em cột chèo: 11. Lễ trừ tịch: Task 5: These words are translated differently based on the geographical condition. Translate them into British and American English. BRITISH ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH 1. Quốc hội ………………………………… ………………………………… 2. Thang máy ………………………………… ………………………………… 3. ĐTDĐ ………………………………… ………………………………… 4. Quần tây ………………………………… ………………………………… 5. Thùng rác ………………………………… ………………………………… 6. Kí túc xá ………………………………… ………………………………… 7. Trạm đổ xăng ………………………………… ………………………………… 8. Rạp chiếu phim ………………………………… ………………………………… 9. Mùa thu ………………………………… ………………………………… 10. Đường cao tốc ………………………………… ………………………………… 11. Hộ chung cư ………………………………… ………………………………… 12. Bánh quy ………………………………… ………………………………… 13. Bãi đậu xe ………………………………… ………………………………… 14. Vỉa hè ………………………………… ………………………………… 15. Ngã tư ………………………………… ………………………………… 73 Task 6: Translate the following superordinates/hyponyms. 1. nải (chuối), chùm (nho), bó (hoa): → ………………. 2. đàn (sói) → ………………, đàn (ong) → ………………, đàn (kiến) → ……………, đàn (cừu) → ………………, đàn (ngựa) → …………………, đàn (chim) → ……………, đàn (sư tử) → ………………, đàn (cá) → ……………… 3. nhóm (sinh viên) → ………………, nhóm (lính) → ………………, nhóm (chuyên gia) → ………………, nhóm (toán cảnh sát) → ……………… 4. wear (pants) → ………………, wear (a dress) → ………………, wear (a handbag) → ………………, wear (perfume) → ………………, wear (lipstick) → ………………, wear (makeup) → ………………, wear (a hat) → ………………, wear (a headscarf) → ………………. 5. lose (a game) → ………………, lose (face) → ………………, lose (way) → ………………, lose (weight) → ………………, lose (the war) → ………………, lose (love) → ………………. 6. (thuốc) giả → ………………………………, (răng) giả → ………………………………, (kết hôn) giả → ………………………………, (tiền) giả → ………………………………, (nữ trang) giả → ………………………………, (tranh) giả → ………………………………,, (giấy tờ) giả → ………………………………, (tên) giả → ………………………………, (vàng) giả → ………………………………, (chân tay) giả → ………………………………. IV. Collocations and Non – equivalence above word-level 1. Collocations “Collocations” are combinations of words that frequently go together and sound "right" to native English speakers whereas other combinations sound "wrong" and unnatural. E.g.: Natural English: the fast train, fast food, a quick shower, a quick meal, biological mother. Unnatural English: the quick train, quick food, a fast shower, a fast meal, intestinal mother. Categories for collocations
.......................... 2. the dog runs: .......................... 3. the tap runs: .......................... 4. the nose runs: .......................... 5. the vine runs: .......................... 6. black horse: .......................... 7. black dog: .......................... 8. black cat: .......................... 9. black ink: .......................... 10. black hair: .......................... 11. black buffalo: .......................... 12. black trousers: .......................... 13. instant coffee: .......................... 14. instant success: .......................... 15. instant scratchies: .......................... 16. heavy drinker .......................... 17. heavy crop: .......................... 18. heavy fate: .......................... 19. strong tea: .......................... 20. wash hair: .......................... 21. deliver a baby: .......................... 22. beat shyness: .......................... Task 8: Find the equivalent proverbs in Vietnamese. 1. Out of sight, out of mind. ................................................. 2. A leopard never changes its spots. ................................................. 3. The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill. ................................................. 4. Birds of a feather flock together. ................................................. 5. Beauty is only skin-deep. ................................................. 6. Half a loaf is better than none. ................................................. 7. Jack of all trades is the master of none. ................................................. 8. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. ................................................. 9. To err is human. ................................................. 10. Gratitude is the sign of noblesouls. ................................................. 11. Every cloud has a silver lining. ................................................. 12. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. ................................................. 13. He that knows nothing doubts nothing ................................................. 14. A miss is as good as a mile. ................................................. 15. Man proposes, God disposes. ................................................. 75 Task 9: Translate the following sentences into English, using the proverbs above. 1. Cậu nên kiên nhẫn. Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Đừng tính cua trong lỗ, đã chắc gì có người mua hàng của cậu. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Tôi nghĩ anh quá lời rồi, đã là con người thì có ai toàn diện đâu/nhân vô thập toàn mà. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Theo chị, em không nên học cùng một lúc hai ba trường như thế. Cái gì cũng biết thì sẽ chẳng biết đến nơi đến chốn đâu. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. Đừng đắn đo nhiều quá, mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên mà. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Thất bại trong kinh doanh là chuyện thường tình. Tôi tin nhất định sau cơn mưa trời sẽ sáng. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Non – equivalence above word-level a) There are no exact equivalents in the target language E.g.: nợ sách đèn, Nhất dạ phu thê bách dạ ân, giấc mộng hoàng lương,… b) There are differences in the contexts of use E.g.: cháy nhà ra mặt chuột (do biến động xảy ra mà lộ cái xấu vốn có, không che đậy giấu giếm được nữa, nhưng tính xấu là gì thì không nói) → rats desert a sinking ship (người xấu khi hữu sự thì bỏ chạy lo lấy mình, không màng ở lại giúp đỡ người khác, tính xấu đó là tính ích kỉ, chỉ biết lo lấy mình, khi gặp nạn bỏ người khác sống chết mặc bay) c) The collocations carry both denotative and connotative meaning E.g.: Mary, a 9-year old girl in England was found positive with HIV, and he family and the school decided to "to send Mary to Coventry” (a town in the northernwest of London). The collocations "to send someone to Coventry” in this situation has both literal and connotative meaning, i.e.: (1) She was sent to the Coventry town; (2) She was abandoned. V. Suggested strategies for translating idiomatic collocations
He is a big cheese! → Anh ấy là một nhân vật cỡ bự/ người có quyền lực. Anh ta vẫn cái tính thỏ đế như thường lệ. → He is still as cowardly as ever. 76 The youngest daughter is the apple of her mother’s eye. → Cô gái út là cục cưng của bà mẹ. Ta về ta tắm ao ta, dù trong dù đục ao nhà vẫn hơn. → East or West, home is best. b) Using an idiom with similar meaning in the target language E.g.: Talk of the devil! I was just telling everyone about your promotion. → Thiêng thật (vừa nhắc Tào Tháo là Tào Tháo có mặt)! Tôi mới kể cho mọi người việc anh được thăng chức đấy. Her voice was like melting honey. → Giọng cô ả ngọt như mía lùi. I was made the scapegoat, but it was another person who made the loss. → Mình là người giơ đầu chịu báng chứ người gây thiệt hại là người khác kia. His life hangs on the thread. → Đời hắn như chỉ mành treo chuông.
Chưa bao giờ tôi buồn đến vậy! → I got so down-hearted!
VI. Further practice Task 11: Find 2 examples for each translation issues. 1. Non-equivalence of Vietnamese words with concepts that are unknown in Western culture: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Non-equivalence of Vietnamese words expressing concepts which are known in the target culture but there are no equivalent: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese ecology and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese organizational and hierarchical structures and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese food and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese social and lifestyle culture and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese traditional musical instruments and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese traditional types of folksongs and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese clothes and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese houses and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 78 11. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese intangible cultural heritages and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12. Cultural-specific terms for Western modern words and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese movements and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese political organizations and their translated versions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Task 13: Correct the mistakes in the following statements. 1. Nirvana (Niết bàn), Karma (nghiệp lực), or Sutra (Kinh Phật) belong to terms of Material culture. 2. Terms of Material culture include words about work, leisure and arts which are specific to a group of community or a country. 3. Terms of Ecology include words about food, clothes, houses, towns, and transport which are specific to a group of community or a country. 4. “Quốc hội Việt Nam” is translated as “Vietnam’s Parliament”. 5. “Con gái rượu” is a medium-strength collocation. 6. Peter Newmark divided Proper nouns into 7 categories as part of the cultural-specific items. 7. Social and lifestyle culture includes all behaviors, attributes, objects, body language and habits that supplement words to communicate messages with social meaning. 79 CHAPTER 6: TRANSLATION QUALITY ASSESSMENT I. Views for “A good translation” Massoud (1988) sets criteria for a good translation as follows: - A good translation is easily understood. - A good translation is fluent and smooth. - A good translation is idiomatic. - A good translation conveys, to some extent, the literary subtleties of the original. - A good translation distinguishes between the metaphorical and the literal. - A good translation reconstructs the cultural/historical context of the original. - A good translation makes explicit what is implicit in abbreviations, and in allusions to sayings, songs, and nursery rhymes. - A good translation will convey, as much as possible, the meaning of the original text. II. Reasons for translation errors 1. Incompetence in the source language “Men seeking spiritual wholeness came to the Temple to visit priestesses – or hierodules – with whom they made love” (The Da Vinci Code, p. 411) → “... những người đàn ông tìm kiếm sự trọn vẹn về tinh thần đến Đền thờ để viếng thăm những thầy tư tế hoặc người hầu trong đền cùng với người mà họ yêu...” (Mật mã Da Vinci, trang 373) 2. Incompetence in the target language E.g.: He asked: “Are you from the US?” Sophie shook her head: “No. Paris’”. → Ông ta hỏi, “Cô đến từ nước Mĩ phải không?” Sophie lắc đầu: ‘Không. Từ Paris’”. (A better translation should be: “Cô là người Mỹ phải không?”, “Không, tôi là dân Paris”) 3. Lack of domain knowledge E.g.: Secretary of State.→ Thư kí nhà nước (The correct translation should be “Ngoại trưởng Mỹ) a culture of cholera germs → văn hóa/một nhóm vi trùng bệnh tả (The correct translation should be “việc nuôi cấy vi trùng bệnh tả”) Crowd work → công việc đám động (The correct translation should be “việc làm tập thể trực tuyến”) 80 Task 1: What kind of reason was violated in each translation? 1. He has a big family to support. → Anh ta có một gia đình lớn để nuôi dưỡng. (A better translation should be “Anh ta phải nuôi nhiều miệng ăn”) 2. The King of Romania → Đức vua nước La mã (The correct translation is “Đức vua Rumani”) 3.心地很好 (xin di hen hao) → tâm địa rất tốt (A better translation should be “bản tính rất tốt”) 4. She had a terrible experience with this customer. → Cô ta có một kinh nghiệm kinh khủng với vị khách hàng này. (A better translation should be “Cô ta đã gặp một ca khó nhằn với vị khách này”) 5. 卫生部 (wei sheng (vệ sinh) bu (bộ)) → Bộ vệ sinh (The correct translation is “Bộ Y tế”) 6. President of Vietnam → Tổng thống Việt Nam (The correct translation is “Chủ tịch nước Việt Nam”) 7. Way to go! → Đi theo lối này! (The correct translation is “Hay quá!”) 8. Book of Poetry → Sách về thi ca (The correct translation is “Kinh thi”) 9. He is doing porridge for fraudulent. → Anh ta đang nấu cháo để lừa đảo. (The correct translation is “Gã đang ở tù vì tội lừa đảo”) 10. The transition from the Tran to the Le Dynasty itself was considered a historic turn from a regime of feudal land with serfs to a regime of relations betweeen landlord and serfs. → Chính sự chuyển đổi từ nhà Trần sang nhà Lê được coi là bước ngoặt lịch sử từ chế độ phong kiến với nông nô sang chế độ quan hệ giữa chủ đất và nông nô (The correct translation is “Ngay như quá trình chuyển đổi từ thời Trần sang thời Lê được xem là một bước ngoặt từ điền trang thái ấp với chế độ nông nô sang quan hệ địa chủ tá điền”). III. Approaches to evaluating a translation 1. Mentalist Views This approach includes subjective and intuitive evaluations of a translation such as ‘how good or how bad a normal person finds a translation’. In the majority of cases, these judgements are based on simple impressions and feelings, and as such they are prone to lead to global, undifferentiated valuations like the following: ‘The translation doesn’t capture the spirit of the original’, ‘The tone of the original is somehow lost in the translation’, or, more positively, ‘This translation is as good as or even better than the original.’ Often such vague and common-place statements about the quality of a translation are linked to the translator, whose personality is supposed to be similar to that of the author and the potential reader. Most mentalist approaches to translation evaluation emphasize the belief that the quality of a translation depends largely on the translator’s subjective decisions, which in turn are based on his experience. 81 An example of mentalist view could be found in the grading rubrics developed by American Translators Association (ATA, 2013) with four following levels: Strong: Translated text conveys meaning fully and accurately as specified by Translation Instructions. Acceptable: Translated text conveys meaning well enough to be useful to intended reader; occasional mistranslations, omissions or additions may slightly obscure meaning. Deficient: Translated text does not convey meaning well enough to be useful to the intended reader; mistranslations, omissions or additions may obscure meaning. Minimal: Translated text would be nearly useless to intended reader; frequent and/or serious mistranslations, omissions or additions obscure or change meaning. 2. Response-based Approaches a) Behavioristic View This approach was influenced is associated with Nida (1964) whose concern centered on a systematic approach to translation. Three criteria suggested by Nida (1964, p. 182) for assessing quality of a translation are: (1) general efficiency of the communication process; (2) comprehension of intent; and (3) equivalence of response. The most important criterion is the third one, which is closely to Nida‘s well-known basic principle of Dynamic Equivalence of a translation. This implies that how receptors respond to the translation text must be equivalent to the manner in which the receptors of the source text respond to the source text. Later, Nida and Taber (1969, p.173) suggested three similar criteria: (1) the correctness with which the receptors understand the message of the original, (2) the ease of comprehension and (1) the involvement a person experiences as a result of the adequacy of the form of the translation. As opposed to mentalist approach to translation evaluation, the behaviorist view aims at a more “scientific” way of evaluating translations by dismissing the mental actions. Within this approach, several imaginative tests were suggested, such as reading aloud techniques, and various cloze and rating tasks, all of which took observable responses to a translation as measuring its quality. These behavioural tests used broad criteria such as ‘intelligibility’ and ‘informativeness’, and they were based on the belief that a ‘good’ translation is one leading to ‘equivalence of response’. However, these tests ultimately failed because they were unable to capture such a complex phenomenon as the “quality of a translation.” Further, the source text is largely ignored in all these methods, which means that nothing can be said about the relationship between original and translation, nor about whether a translation is in fact a translation and not another secondary text derived via a different textual operation. 82
particular culture in which the translation must operate. However, this approach fails to provide criteria for judging the merits and weaknesses of a particular translation assignments. For example, the questions of “Why is a translation good or bad?” or “How should a person judge a translation?” is left unanswered. b) Post-modernist and Deconstructionist Thinking . This approach tries to examine critically translation practices from a psycho-philosophical and socio-political stance in an attempt to unmask unequal power relations, injustices and different kinds of manipulations in the textual material. First, one needs to engage in a micro-perspective, i.e. conduct detailed, theoretically informed analyses of the linguistic forms and their functions in the texts. Then, they adopt a critical stance from the macroperspective and emphasis is placed on which texts are chosen for translation and why, and how and why an original text is distorted in favour of powerful ideologies, reflecting certain group and individual interests. Other scholars in the field of post-colonialism and post-modernism (cf. e.g. Robinson 1997) are interested in how the translation of texts can be seen as a sociopolitical act, and how interventions in acts of translation can contribute to a more ethical practice in producing and reading translations. The critical stance taken in this approach and its emphasis on the socio-cultural context in which any act of translation takes place often abstracts from or passes over the fact that translation is also an act of linguistic transfer. Deconstructionist and post-structural approaches can be characterized as throwing into question basic concepts in translation such as ‘meaning’, and other basic notions involving language, texts and communication that have so far been taken tacitly for granted. These approaches also look at how texts, when examined closely, undermine supposedly fixed assumptions and reveal internal contradictions. One of the leading figures of the deconstruction movement is Jacques Derrida (1985), whose term différance is supposed to indicate that meaning is always unstable, processual, deferred, and lacking any stable linguistic identity. In Derrida’s opinion, for instance, a commentary is also a translation. With respect to the three criteria (relationship between original and translation, between the texts and human agents, and delimitation of translation and other textual operations), the postmodernist approaches are most relevant in their attempts to find answers to the first, and also to the second. However, no answers are sought for the question of when a text is a translation, and when a text belongs to a different textual operation. 84
IV. House’s translation Quality Assessment Model The assessment model (House 1997) is based on Hallidayan systemic-functional theory, but also draws eclectically on Prague school ideas, speech act theory, pragmatics, discourse analysis and corpus-based distinctions between spoken and written language. It provides for the analysis and comparison of an original and its translation on three different levels: the levels of Language/Text, Register (Field, Mode and Tenor) and Genre. 85 House states that translation quality assessment has two steps: + An analysis of source text in term of semantic, stylistic, functional and pragmatic qualities + A comparison between the source text and target text The analytic model is displayed in Figure 1: a) Function - Ideational function: reveals a speaker's or writer's experience of the world and how they conceive of the external world together with a revelation of the inner feelings, beliefs, attitude, etc. - Interpersonal function: is used to establish, maintain and signal relationship between people. - Expressive function: is the function through which speakers signal information about their opinions, prejudices, past experiences and so forth. - Textual function: is used for creating written and spoken texts. b) Field - Subject Matter: It can be a Novel, Poem, Play,… . - Social Action: It can be Specialized, General, Popular, … . c) Tenor: refers to the nature of the participants and their relationship such as social power, distance and emotional change. - Writer's or Translator's Provenance and Stance: temporal, geographical, social provenance + intellectual, emotional or affective stance 86 - Social Role Relationship: Symmetrical (means the text contains features indicating solidarity and equality between addresser and addressees); and Asymmetrical (means the text contains features indicating authority relationship between addresser and addressees). - Social Attitude: includes five styles of formality: frozen, formal, consultative, casual and intimate. d) Mode: reflects the medium of the interactive process of language. - Medium/Channel: Simple if it is written to be read + Complex if it is written to be heard. - Participation: is Simple if it means monologue or Complex if it means addressing a large community; e) Errors - Covert errors: those which result from a mismatch of one situational dimension with a similar one in TT - Overt errors: those which result from a non-dimensional mismatch. Such errors can be divided into seven categories of: E.g.: “Not translated” error “Where the hell were you?” Johnny asked. → Johnny hỏi: “Mày đi mà đâu giờ này về?” E.g.: “Slight change in meaning” error: Loss of connotative meanings, Loss of formality The discretionary spending of U.S. households had become excessive – setting the stage for America’s most severe consumer – led recession. → Sự chi tiêu vô tội vạ của Mỹ đã trở nên quá mức, tạo tiền đề cho một cuộc suy thoái do tiêu dùng trầm trọng nhất lịch sử nước Mỹ. (not formal) E.g.: “Significant change in meaning” error He was a failure in the stock market.→ Ông ấy là một thất bại trong thị trường chứng khoán. Andre Vernet, according to official records, was a model citizen. → Andre Vernet, được bổ sung vào hồ sơ chính thức, là một công dân hiện đại. (The correct translation is: Theo như hồ sơ chính quyền, Andre Vernet là một công dân kiểu mẫu). He knew how to have a good time. → Anh ấy biết thế nào để sống không màng thế tục. Ðặt tên cậu ấm là gì nào? → How shall we call the blessed boy? (Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần – “Vừa nhắm mắt vừa mở cửa sổ) E.g.: “Distortion of meaning” error A U.S judge has rejected Apple's plea to ban sales of Samsung's smartphones that violate its patents.→ Một thẩm phán Hoa Kỳ vừa bác bỏ yêu cầu của Apple và cấm Samsung bán mặt hàng điện thoại thông minh với cáo buộc vi phạm bản quyền. It's time to cut red tape. → Phải chăng đã đến lúc chúng ta phải chống lại thói quan liêu? 87 .E.g.: “Breach of the SL system” error A mite of a little woman with blood thinned by California zephyrs was hardly fair game for the red fisted, short-breathed old duffer. → Người con gái nhỏ vốn đã mất máu vì những gió Tây ở California thì lẽ ra không đáng cho một kẻ bất tài già nua bận tâm đến. (“những gió Tây” is a breach of the TL since it should have the classifier “đợt” or “cơn” between the article “những” and the head noun “gió tây”) The young man who is helping my father is my new secretary. → Nguời thanh niên mà giúp ba tôi là thư ký mới của tôi. E.g.: “Creative translation” error It was estimated that the inflation rate could be kept at around 4%.→ Các chuyên gia kinh tế hàng đầu tại Việt Nam uớc tính tỷ lệ lạm phát có thể được giữ ở mức khoảng 4%. Cheating is common in schools in remote rural areas in India where seats in college courses are few but competition is fierce. (The Washington post) → Hiện tượng gian lận trong thi cử đã và đang diễn ra một cách phổ biến, thậm chí như một “trào lưu” không thể kiểm soát tại các vùng nông thôn Ân Độ, nơi học sinh rất đông nhưng số lượng tuyển sinh tại các trường đại học lại quá ít dẫn đến tỷ lệ chọi rất khắc nghiệt. (Dân trí) E.g.: Cultural filtering Sonny was about six feet, and his crop of bushy, curly hair made him look much taller. → Sonny cỡ thước tám nhưng nhờ mớ tóc quăn dày cộm trông cao hơn nhiều. Task 2: Identify the type of overt errors in the following translation. 1. Cultural differences affecting transactions: From the Western perspective. → Khác biệt văn hóa ảnh hưởng đến kinh doanh: Nhìn từ quan điểm phương Tây. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2. When Vietnamese people negotiate a deal with business people from a Western culture, basic issues of cultural miscomprehension still remain → Khi người Việt đàm phán với các thương nhân đến từ phương Tây thì hiểu lầm do khác biệt văn hóa vẫn tồn tại. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3. Simple concepts can have different connotations. → Một khái niệm đơn giản cũng có thể hiểu theo nhiều nghĩa khác nhau. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 88 4. Việt Nam cần đa dạng hóa quan hệ đối ngoại của mình. → It is said that Vietnam needs to diversify its foreign relations. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5. Given the Obama Administration’s foreign policy woes, this issue is likely to be stuck on the back burner. → Nếu xét những rắc rối mà chính sách ngoại giao của chính quyền Obama gặp phải thì vấn đề này chắc chắn sẽ bị tạm gác sang một bên trong một thời gian nữa. (Newsweek 8/2011) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6. Social media criticism went into overdrive this week after authorities started cutting down some 500 of the 6,700 trees as it considered dangerous in the leafy metropolis often dubbed the “Paris of Asia”. (Reuters) → Các phương tiện truyền thông xã hội đã đi vào chỉ trích khi chính quyền bắt tay chặt đốn 500 trong tổng số 6.700 cây xanh trong thành phố được mệnh là “Paris của châu Á”. (ANTG) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. V. Steps of House’s translation Quality Assessment Model House’s model undergoes the following steps: 1. Doing a register analysis to get the source text profile 2. Describing source text genre realized in register 3. Giving a statement of function to the source text related with ideational and interpersonal meaning 4. Treating the target text in the same way as the source text was treated above 5. Comparing the two text profiles to produce a statement of “in-equivalence” which is categoried according to the genre and the situational dimension of the genre and register. The errors found are categorized into “covertly erroneous errors” and “covert erroneous errors” 6. Providing a statement of quality with reference to the translation result 7. Categorizing the translation result into two kinds: overt translation and covert translation E.g.: the example below is the endeavor to apply House’s TQA model to discern two types of errors - “covertly erroneous errors” and “covert erroneous errors”- in the English translation of the short poem “Nam quốc sơn hà” of Ly Thuong Kiet. 1. Nam quốc sơn hà Nam đế cư (Over the Southern Land reigns the Southern Emperor Tiệt nhiên định phận tại Thiên thư As it stands destined forever in the Heaven’s Scroll Như hà nghịch lỗ lai xâm phạm If the barbarians sinfully dare to trespass Nhữ đẳng hành khan thủ bại hư. Thou shall, without pity, be succumbed in dishonor) (Lý Thường Kiệt) (Huỳnh Sanh Thông) 89 Source text profile: Target text profile: - Field: Subject matter: short poem - Field: Subject matter: short poem Social action: Specific and popular Social action: Specific and popular - Tenor: Writer's Provenance and Stance - Tenor: Translator's Provenance and Stance Social Role Relationship: Asymmetrical Social Role Relationship: Asymmetrical Social Attitude: Formal Social Attitude: Formal - Mode: Medium: Complex - Mode: Medium: Complex Participation: Complex Participation: Complex Social Attitude: Formal Social Attitude: Formal - Genre: short poem - Genre: short poem - Function: Ideational - Function: Ideational A covertly erroneous discerned here is the mismatch between the Writer's Provenance and Stance and the Translator's Provenance and Stance Certain examples of overt errors are: “Not translated” error type Nam quốc sơn hà Nam đế cư. → Over the Southern Land reigns the Southern Emperor. (the phrase “sơn hà” is overlooked) Slight change in meaning Nam quốc sơn hà Nam đế cư. → Over the Southern Land reigns the Southern Emperor. (“Southern Land” refers a slight change compared with “Nam quốc (Southern country)) Significant change in meaning Như hà nghịch lỗ lai xâm phạm. → If the barbarians sinfully dare to trespass. (“nghịch lỗ” is quite diferent from “sinfully dare”, but they both refers to the an action that goes against the destined rule of the God) Distortion in meaning .Nam quốc sơn hà Nam đế cư → Over the Southern Land reigns the Southern Emperor (There is no semnatic rendezvous between “cư (live)” and “reign”) “Creative translation” error Nhữ đẳng hành khan thủ bại hư. → Thou shall, without pity, be succumbed in dishonor. Cultural filtering Tiệt nhiên định phận tại Thiên Thư. → As it stands destined forever in the Heaven’s Scroll. (during the ancient time the book was made of bamboo, therefore “Scroll” was a better translation) 90 VI. Further practice Task 3: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following English translation. Lạy trời mưa xuống Pray Heaven let it rain Lấy nước tôi uống To give us water to drink Lấy ruộng tôi cày To fertilize our rice fields, Cho đầy nồi cơm. And so to fill our rice pots. (Nursery rhymes) (Translated by Dương Đình Khuê) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: ………………… Target text profile: - Field: Social action: …………………... - - Tenor: ………………………………… Subject matter: …………………... Social action: …………………….. - Tenor: ……………………………………. Social Role Relationship: ……………… Social Role Relationship: ……………….. Social Attitude: ………………………… Social Attitude: …………………………... Mode: Medium: ………………………. - Mode: Medium: …………………………. Participation: ………………….. Participation: …………………….. Social Attitude: …………………. Social Attitude: …………………… - Genre: ………………………………… - Genre: …………………………………… - Function: ……………………………… - Function: …………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 91 Task 4: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following English translation. Đánh cho để dài tóc, (Fight for the rights to grow our hair long Đánh cho để đen răng, (Fight for the rights to dye our teeth black Đánh cho nó chích luân bất phản, (Fight so they never dare to challenge us Đánh cho nó phiến giáp bất hoàn. (Fight until their armors turn to dust Đánh cho sử tri Nam quốc anh (Fight to teach them a lesson, enshrined in our history, hùng chi hữu chủ! that the heroes of the South shall always reign supreme!) (Nguyễn Huệ) (https://freedomforvietnam.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: ………………… Target text profile: - Field: Social action: …………………... - - Tenor: ………………………………… Subject matter: …………………... Social action: …………………….. - Tenor: ……………………………………. Social Role Relationship: ……………… Social Role Relationship: ……………….. Social Attitude: ………………………… Social Attitude: …………………………... Mode: Medium: ………………………. - Mode: Medium: …………………………. Participation: ………………….. Participation: …………………….. Social Attitude: …………………. Social Attitude: …………………… - Genre: ………………………………… - Function: ……………………………… - Genre: …………………………………… - Function: ……………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 92 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 93 Task 5: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following translation. Người phụ trách thiết kế của hãng Kia, ông Peter Schreyer, đã được bổ nhiệm làm tân lãnh đạo thiết kế cho tập đoàn Hyundai Motor. Ông Schreyer, người trước đây từng làm việc cho các hãng Audi và Volkswagen, sẽ sắp xếp các hoạt động thiết kế và tìm kiếm sự kết hợp giữa hai thương hiệu xe hơi của Hàn Quốc. Ba tuần trước, nhà thiết kế người Đức này đã được bổ nhiệm làm chủ tịch người nước ngoài đầu tiên của Kia. Quan chức lãnh đạo của Hyundai, Yang Woong-Chul, cho hay động thái này mang tính bắt buộc để đảm bảo khả năng cạnh tranh lâu dài và giúp nâng cao giá trị thương hiệu. Kia's design Peter Schreyer has been appointed as the new chief designer for the well-known Hyundai Motor Group. Schreyer, who previously worked for Audi and Volkswagen from 2002 to 2008, will change the design operation and seek synergy between the two Korean brands which he is working for. Three weeks ago, the German was named Kia's leading foreign president. Hyundai's Woong-Chul Yang said the move was compulsory to secure long-term competitiveness and to help maintain their brand value. (Source: BBC Tiếng Việt) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: ………………… Target text profile: - Field: Social action: …………………... - - Tenor: ………………………………… Subject matter: …………………... Social action: …………………….. - Tenor: ……………………………………. Social Role Relationship: ……………… Social Role Relationship: ……………….. Social Attitude: ………………………… Social Attitude: …………………………... Mode: Medium: ………………………. - Mode: Medium: …………………………. Participation: ………………….. Participation: …………………….. Social Attitude: …………………. Social Attitude: …………………… - Genre: ………………………………… - Genre: …………………………………… - Function: ……………………………… - Function: …………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 94 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 95 Task 6: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following translation. Hãng hãng không giá rẻ Easyjet thông báo rằng Chủ tịch hãng này, Mike Rake, sẽ từ chức vào mùa hè. Động thái này diễn ra sau một cuộc chiến kéo dài giữa Easyjet và người sáng lập của nó, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, xung quanh việc mở rộng quy mô của hãng. Đầu tuần này, Stelios giảm cổ phần của ông trong Easyjet và đe dọa sẽ bán cổ phần mà ông nắm giữ, nếu công ty đặt hàng thêm máy bay. Low-price airline Easyjet has announced that its chairman, Mr. Mike Rake, will quit his job this summer. The move follows a long battle between the company and one of its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, over the airline's expansion in Asia. Earlier this week, Stelios sold his stake in Easyjet and threatened to sell more of his shares if the firm placed an order for more jet planes. (Source: BBC Tiếng Việt) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: ………………… Target text profile: - Field: Social action: …………………... - - Tenor: ………………………………… Subject matter: …………………... Social action: …………………….. - Tenor: ……………………………………. Social Role Relationship: ……………… Social Role Relationship: ……………….. Social Attitude: ………………………… Social Attitude: …………………………... Mode: Medium: ………………………. - Mode: Medium: …………………………. Participation: ………………….. Participation: …………………….. Social Attitude: …………………. Social Attitude: …………………… - Genre: ………………………………… - Genre: …………………………………… - Function: ……………………………… - Function: …………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 96 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 97 REFERENCES Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. New York: Routledge. Bassnett, S. (2002). Translation Studies (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge Bell, Roger T. (1994). Translation and Translating: Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge. Catford, J. C. (2000). A Linguistic Theory of Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Even-Zohar, I. (2004). The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem. In Lawrence Venuti (Ed.). The Translation Studies Reader. (pp. 199-204). New York: Routledge. Gentzler, E. (2001). Contemporary Translation Theories (2nd ed.). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Fenton, S. (1995). Lectures on Interpreting and Translating. Hanoi University of Foreign Languages and Commonwealth Office. Halliday, M. A. K. (1985/1994). An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London, Melbourne and Auckland: Edward Arnold. Hatim, B. & Munday, J. (2004). Translation: An Advanced Resource Book. New York: Routledge. Holmes, J. (2004). The Name and Nature of Translation Studies. In Lawrence Venuti (Ed.). The Translation Studies Reader. (pp. 180-192). New York: Routledge. House, J. (1997/2011). Translation Quality Assessment: A Model Revisited. Tübingen: Gunter Narr. Lưu Trọng Tuấn. (2012). An Introduction into Translation Studies. HCMC: Vietnam National University - HCMC Publishing House. Munday, Jeremy. (2008). Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. Newmark, P. (1998). A Textbook of Translation. Singapore: Prentice Hall. Nord, C. (2005). Text Analysis in Translation: Theory, Methodology, and Didactic Application of a Model for Translation-oriented Text Analysis (2nd ed.) Amsterdam: Rodopi. Nida, E. A. & Charles Taber, R. (1969). The Theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: Brill. Pym, A. (2010). Exploring Translation Theories. New York: Routledge. 98 Reiss, K. (1977/1989). Text-types, Translation-types, and Translation Assessment. In Andrew Chesterman (Ed.). Readings in Translation Theory (pp. 105-115). Helsinki: Finn Lectura. Shuttleworth, M. & M. Cowie. (1997). Dictionary of Translation Studies. Manchester: St. Jerome. Toury, G. (1995). Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Venuti, L. (2008). The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation. New York: Routledge. Vinay, J. P & Darbelnet, J. (1958/ 1995). A Methodology for Translation. In L. Venuti (Ed.), The Translation Studies Reader (pp. 84-93). London: Routledge. Webster’s New Dictionary of Synonyms. (1984). Merriam-Webster Inc. Publishers. Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. 99 SUGGESTED ANSWERS 100 CHAPTER 1: AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSLATION Task 1: Work in groups and fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases given. a. cultural barriers
1. C 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. C 6. A 7. B 8. D 9. D 10. B Task 3: Decide if the following translations are semantic or communicative. 1. Communicative translation 2. Semantic translation 3. Communicative translation 4. Semantic tr anslation Task 4: Translate these sentences semantically and communicatively. 1. Nhớ gửi thư cho mình nhé. Semantic translation: Remember to send me a letter. Communicative translation: Drop me a line! 2. Hàng hóa nầy bán đắt như tôm tươi. Semantic translation: This product is sold as much as fresh shrimps.. Communicative translation: This product is selling like hot cakes. 3. Oh my God! Oil price is rising again! Semantic translation: Trời ơi, giá xăng đầu lại tăng nữa rồi! Communicative translation: Trời ạ. Xăng lại tăng giá nữa! 4. One day you’ll find someone who doesn’t care about your past because they want to be your future. Semantic translation: Một ngày nào đó bạn sẽ tìm thấy một người nào đó không quan tâm quá khứ của bạn bởi vì họ muốn là tương lai của bạn. Communicative translation: Rồi sẽ có một ngày em sẽ tìm được người chẳng màng đến quá khứ của em mà chỉ mong muốn được sánh bước bên em trong suôt cuộc đời. 101 Task 5: Choose some appropriate translation types for each kind of documents. 1. Legal documents: Semantic translation, Documentary translation, Overt translation, Written translation 2. A recipe: Communicative translation, Instrumental translation, Overt translation, Written translation 3. Laptop manual: Communicative translation, Instrumental translation, Overt translation, Written translation 4. Brochures: Communicative translation, Covert translation, Instrumental translation, Written translation 5. Inauguration speech of Obama: Semantic translation, Oral translation, Documentary translation, Overt translation Task 6: Match the words with the correct definitions. 1. Intersemiotic translation 6. Instrumental translation 2. Covert translation 7. Semantic translation 3. Intralingual translation 8. Overt translation 4. Communicative translation 9. Documentary translation 5. Interlingual translation Task 7: Each word below depicts a characteristic of translation or interpretation. Put them into the correct column. write, dictionaries, accuracy, highly aesthetic, legal contract, refinement, fluency, speak, real-time, note-taking, business meeting, delayed, verbal, time pressure, microphone Task 8: Find solutions for each following situation. a. Accuracy and completeness b. No conflict of interest... c. Professional development d. Accuracy and completeness, No conflict of interest 102 Task 9: Identify what principle is violated in the following translations. 1. Accurate. 5. Communicative! 2. Accurate. 6. Beautiful 3. Accurate. 7. Beautiful 4. Accurate/ Communicative. 8. Accurate Task 10: Choose the best answer for each question. 1. A 2. B. ` 3. B 4. C 5. B Task 11: Find 2 examples for each translation issues. 1. Intralingual translation: - blockchain → a digital ledger that records transactions made in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. - déjà vu → the strange feeling that in some way you have already experienced what is happening now, but in reality you haven’t 2. Intersemiotic translation: - The film Harry Potter was adapted from the same novel of J.K.Rowling -“x is more than y” → “x > y” 3. Covert translation: - The translations of advertisements - The translations of newspaper articles 4. Overt translation: - The translations of political speeches - The translations of poems 5. Instrumental translation: - The translation of a refrigerator manual - The translation of a aptop manual 6. Documentary translation: - The translation of a business contract - The translation of a certificate Task 12: Read the statements and decide if they are TRUE or FALSE. 1. False 4. True 2. True 5. False 3. False 6. False 103 7. True 11. False 8. False 12. False 9. False 13. True 10. False 14. False CHAPTER 2: TRANSLATION THEORIES Task 1: Answer the following questions 1. James S. Holmes 2. a vast expansion in specialized translating and interpreting programs, a boom in conferences, books and journals on translation, the increasing the demand for general and analytical instruments, a prosper in international organizations 3. Journey to the West, the Bible, Les Miserables, etc. 4. Product-oriented DTS, Function-oriented DTS, Process-oriented DTS 5. Translator training: teaching methods, testing techniques, curriculum design... Translation aids: dictionaries, grammars, IT applications. Translation criticism: the marking of student translations and the reviews of published translations 6. Product-oriented DTS, Function-oriented DTS, Process-oriented DTS 7. Medium-restricted DTS: automatic machine translation, computer-assisted translation, consecutive or simultaneous interpretation. Area-restricted DTS: specific languages, groups of languages, cultures, contrastive linguistics and stylistics. Rank-restricted DTS: the level of the words or sentences. Text-type restricted DTS: literary, business and technical translation. Time-restricted DTS: The history of translation in Vietnam, history of interpretation all over the world Problem-restricted DTS: Non-equivalence between Vietnamese and English language, Adaptation between Vietnamese and Chinese language 8. B Task 2: Choose the best answer for each question. 1. A 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. C 6. B 7. C 8. B 9. C 10. A 11. B 12. B 13. B 14. C 15. B 16. B 17. A 18. A 19. B 20. A 104 Task 3: Answer the following questions. 1. 4 2. source text-oriented 3. D 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. Phonemic translation, Literal translation, Metrical translation, Poetry into prose, Rhymed translation, Blank verse translation, Interpretation. 8. Preliminary norms, Initial norms, Operational norms. 9. Philological Perspective, Linguistic Perspective, Communicative Perspective, Sociosemiotic perspective. He helped to focus attention on the socio-cultural contexts of language and literary texts. His concepts of formal and dynamic equivalence remain useful and relevant even today. Nida provides an excellent model for translation for a manipulative purpose (like the translation of the Bible). Task 4: Answer the following questions. 1. Skopos means purpose. 3 rules include purposeful rule, coherence rule, and fidelity rule. 2. purposeful rule 8. fidelity rule 3. fidelity rule 9. purposeful rule 4. coherence rule 10. fidelity rule 5. coherence rule 11. coherence rule 6. fidelity rule 12. fidelity rule 7. coherence rule CHAPTER 3: TRANSLATION UNITS, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES 1 multicultural 6 oversupply 2 cybersafety mạng (máy tính) 7 hypermarket 3 impossible không/ bất/phi/vô 8 ultraviolet 4 nationalize hóa 9 macroeconomics 5 pre-war tiền 10 misunderstand đa 105 quá/vượt siêu cực vĩ nhầm/ sai Task 2: Decide at which level the following translation units were utilized. 1. business cycle → chu kỳ kinh doanh: word level 2. Yours faithfully → Trân trọng: text level 3. cánh đồng bất tận → floating lives: text level 4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon → Ngọa hổ tàng long : word level 5. kinh tế thị trường → market economy: word level 6. corner the market→ lũng đoạn thị trường: phrase level 7. Man propses, God disposes → Mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên: sentence level 8. Oh, Sugar! → Chết tiệt!: intertextual level 9. As far as I am concerned → Theo ý tôi: clause level 10. You reap what you sow → Gieo gió gặt bão: sentence level 11. Thằng bé trông “thấy ghét” chưa! → How cutie the boy is!: intertextual level 12. The best friend a man has in a world may turn against him and become his enemy. → Người bạn tốt nhất mà con người có thể có được trên thế giới này có thể một ngày nào đó hóa ra là kẻ thù chống lại chúng ta: text level Task 3: Translate the following titles and decide at which level the following translation units were utilized. 1. Lọ Lem: Cinderella: Text level 2. Chiếc lá cuối cùng: The last leaf: word level 3. Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh: I see yellow flowers in the green grass: word level 4. Không phải dạng vừa đâu: I’m really quite something: sentence level. 5. Tây Du Ký: Journey to the West: word level 6. Ashes of Love: Hương mật tựa khói sương: Intertexttual level 7. Hạt giống tâm hồn: Chicken soup for the souls: Intertexttual level 8. Bí mật tư duy triệu phú: Secrets of the Millionnaire Mind: word level 9. Đắc nhân tâm: How to Win Friends and Influence People: Text level 10. Chiến tranh tiền tệ: Currency wars: word level 11. The Journey of Flower: Hoa thiên cốt: text level 12. Three Kingdoms: tam quốc chí: word level 13. The Tale of Kieu: Truyện Kiều: word level Task 4: Translate the following sentences word by word. 106 1. the rate of malnutrition in children: tỉ lệ suy dinh dưỡng ở trẻ em 2. He was chosen to be the CEO of the company: Anh ấy được chọn làm chủ tịch công ty 3. Buy very cheap and sell very dear: Mua rất rẻ và bán rất đắt 4. About 80% of the vehicles built in the UK are exported: Khoảng 80% xe cộ sản xuất tại Anh được xuất khẩu. 5. Mọi người đều khát khao hòa bình và hạnh phúc: Everyone desires peace and happiness. 6. Gian khó không thể khiến anh ta bỏ cuộc: Hardship can't make him give up/surrender. 7. Kẻ giàu thường khinh khi người nghèo.: The rich often despise the poor. 8. Hút thuốc lá thì rất có hại cho sức khỏe.: Smoking is very harmful to health Task 5: Translate the following phrases/ sentences with the Literal translation. 1. floating exchange rate. tỷ giá hối đoái thả nổi 2. Business Registration Certificate. Giấy chứng nhận đăng ký kinh doanh 3. Investment portfolio management Quản lý danh mục đầu tư 4. socialist-oriented market economy nền kinh tế thị trường định hướng XHCN 5. Nhiều doanh nghiệp niêm yết biến mất đầu năm nay.: Many listed businesses disappeared earlier this year. 6. Two nations cooperate on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs.: Hai quốc gia hợp tác trên cơ sở tôn trọng sự độc lập, chủ quyền, toàn vẹn lãnh thổ và không can thiệp vào các vấn đề nội bộ của nhau. Task 6: Translate the following sentences faithfully. 1. Yes, Your Majesty! I will do anything to please you! (a lady talks to the King). Muôn tâu bệ hạ! Thần/ Thiếp sẽ làm bất cứ điều gì để làm hài lòng Người/Ngài! 2. Mom said to my father, “Darling! The baby’s coming!” Mẹ nói với bố: Anh ơi/ Ông xã! Đứa bé/Con nó sắp ra rồi! 3. “Anh đến Việt Nam để biến những ước mơ hoang dại nhất của anh thành sự thật”. (Để Mai tính) I come to Vietnam to make my wildest dreams come true 4. “Bitch! How dare you betray me?” Tong Giang said to his wife Diem Ba Tich. (The Water Margin). “Tiện nhân! Sao ngươi/mi dám phản bội ta?” 107 Task 7: Find the original Vietnamese saying from these Adaptation translations. 1. Giàu đâu những kẻ ngủ trưa/ Sang đâu những kẻ say sưa tối ngày. 2. Công cha như núi Thái Sơn. Nghĩa mẹ như nước trong nguồn chảy ra. 3. Cá không ăn muối cá ươn, con cãi cha mẹ trăm đường con hư. 4. Dù xây chín bậc phù đồ, không bằng làm phúc cứu cho một người. 5. Cha mẹ nuôi con biển hồ lai láng. Con nuôi cha mẹ tính tháng tính ngày. 6. Của làm ra để trên gác, của cờ bạc để ngoài sân, của phù vân để ngoài ngõ. 7. Trăm năm bia đá cũng mòn, ngàn năm bia miệng vẫn còn trơ trơ. Task 8: Translate the following slogans, using the method of Free translation. 1. Duy nhất đậu nành. Riêng dành cho bạn – VinaSoy Soymilk specially for you! 2. Không ngừng vươn xa - Vinaphone Expand all the time! 3. Mãi mãi tinh thần khởi nghiệp - VinGroup Forever Entrepreneurial Spirit 4. Vươn cao Việt Nam - Vinamilk Growing and developing Vietnam Task 9: Translate the following phrases with the method of Idiomatic translation. 1. kick the bucket 2. a piece of cake 3. as white as cucumber 4. to be broke 5. round the clock 6. nếm mật nằm gai, ngậm đắng nuốt cay 7. trốn tránh trách nhiệm, ném đá giấu tay 8. gừng càng già càng cay 9. Mẹ hát con khen hay. 10. Khẩu phật tâm xà, miệng nam mô bụng bồ dao găm. 108 Task 10: You are required to translate for a Chinese fantasy movie (phim tiên hiệp). Use the Semantic translation to translate these terms into Vietnamese. 1. Endless Energy Vô Lượng Huyền công. 2. Spiritual energy Linh lực 3. Eternal Life Vĩnh Sinh 4. Medicinal drugs đan dược 5. Against the Gods Nghịch thiên 6. Sky Crasher Phá thiên khung 7. This is the land where the strong make the rules and the weak have to obey: Đây lá nơi mà yếu nhân vi nhục, cường giả vi tôn. Task 11: Adopt the communicative approach and translate the following sentences. 1. Guests are reminded that no visitors are permitted in the room after 10 p.m. Quý khách vui lòng không tiếp khách trong phòng sau 10 giờ đêm 2. This is a place of worship. Silence is requested during services. Nơi tôn nghiêm. Xin vui lòng giữ yên lặng. 4. Xin hỏi Toa let ở đâu ạ? Excuse me, where can I wash my hands, please? 5. Lấy chồng nghèo thì cạp đất mà ăn à? How can I live with such a poor husband? Task 12: Match the translation methods and its corresponding examples. 1. D 5. E 2. A 6. F 3. C 7. B 4. G 8. H Task 13: Decide what type of direct borrowing technique is normally used in each following situation when they are translated into Vietnamese modern language. Pure loanwords Mix loans 109 Loan blends bill, marketing, MC, hotgirl, spa, cheque, canteen, tennis, massage, sushi, canteen, Black Friday, logistics, Bolero. dollar, bulloong, Internet banking, ozone layer, mannequin, massage, garage, tennis, Wall Street, Dow Jones index, scandal, zombie beefsteak, enterprise, domino effect, sushi bond, Task 14: Which language does each set of borrowing words come from? 1. Japanese 5. Arabic 2. Italian 6. Chinese 3. French 7. Korean 4. German 8. Russian 9. Malay Task 15: Translate the following words/ phrases into Vietnamese with the technique of Calque. 1. Adam's apple: yết hầu, trái khế 2. Braille: chữ nổi Braille 3. Caesararian birth: sinh mổ 4. Faustian bargain: 5. Murphy's law: định luật bánh bơ 6. Force Majeure: Trường hợp bất khả kháng 7. quota: hạn ngạch 8. Forget-me-not: hoa lưu ly 9. Pyrrhic victory: chiến thắng cay đắng 10. economies of scale: Lợi thế kinh tế nhờ quy mô thỏa ước với quỷ, áp phe Task 16: Provide the original words of each following acronyms in economics and translate them into Vietnamese. English versions Vietnamese translated versions Net asset value giá trị tài sản ròng 1 NAV 2 GDP Gross Domestic Products Tổng sản phẩm quốc nội 3 FDI Foreign Direct Investment Đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài 5 IMF International Monetary Fund Quỹ tiền tệ quốc tế 6 CPU Cost Per Unit Đơn giá 7 MLM Multi-Level Marketing Kinh doanh đa cấp/ Kinh doanh theo mạng 8 EU European Union Liên minh châu Âu 9 EBIT Earnings before interest and taxes Lợi nhuận trước thuế và lãi 10 EPS Earnings per share Tỉ suất lợi nhuận trên cổ phần 11 FIFO First in First out Nhập trước xuất trước 110 Task 17: Translate the following phrases into Vietnamese, using the literal translation. 1. private land ownership: quyền sở hữu tư nhân về ruộng đất 2. to improve social welfare for the disadvantaged: cải thiện phúc lợi xã hội cho người có hoàn cảnh khó khăn 3. a bill to normalize the trade relation with VN: dự luật bình thường hóa quan hệ thương mại với VN 4. those who laid down for the country’s independence: những người nằm xuống vì sự độc lập của đất nước 5. planning in a phased manner: quy hoạch cuốn chiếu 6. on the basis of mutual belief and respect: trên cơ sở tin tưởng và tôn trọng lẫn nhau Task 18: Identify the sub-types of Transposition technique in the following statements. 1. self-financed → tài chính độc lập Simple word → Complex word/ phrase: 2. ledger → sổ cái Simple word → Complex word/ phrase: 3. It is estimated that → Ước tính rằng… Clause → Verb 4. Loan shark → người cho vay nặng lãi ………………………………………………………… 5. Due to his failure to come, … → Vì anh ấy không thể đến, … Phrase → Clause 6. Kathy không tin vào người môi giới chứng khoán đó. → Kathy had no faith in that stockbroker. Verb → Noun 7. Kiếm việc làm mới ở tuổi 40 rất khó. → It’s so difficult to find a new job at the age of 40.: Changing the position of some elements in the sentence 8. Nếu nó cứ lười biếng như thế mãi, thì về sau chắc sẽ phải khổ suốt đời. → His life will be miserable if he continues to be lazy like this: Changing the position of some elements in the sentence Task 19: Put the words into the correct columns with appropriate Modulation technique. bear cheque → séc vô danh, clicks-and-mortar company → công ty 1. Concrete → Abstract: kinh doanh qua Internet entertainment cost → chi phí tiếp khách, industrial relations → mối 2. Abtract → Concrete: quan hệ giữa chủ và thợ pie chart → biểu đồ tròn, brain drain → chảy máu chất xám, 3. One part → Another part: non-manual worker → lao động trí thức, unwritten contract → hợp 4. Negation of not A → A: đồng miệng 111 bare contract → hợp đồng không đền bù 5. A → Negation of not A: golden hello → tiền thưởng đầu quân, widow-and-orphan stock → 6. One Metaphor → Non cổ phiếu giá trị cao, graveyard market → thị trường xuống giá, head Metaphor office → trụ sở chính, sunrise industry → ngành công nghiệp đang lên, Task 20: Find a Vietnamese equivalence for the word “followers” in each context: 1. Religion in general: tín đồ 2. Buddhism: Phật tử 3. Christianity: con chiên 4. Islam: tín đồ Hồi giáo 5. Politics: Đảng viên 6. Police: kẻ bám đuôi vệ tinh, người theo đuổi 8. Facebooker: 7. Love (slang): followers/ người theo dõi Task 21: Translate the following sentences with Adaptation technique. 1. Despite his looks, he’s said to be something of a Don Juan. → Sở Khanh 2. I don’t want our love will be like Romeo and Juliet. → Lan và Điệp 3. Người Sài Gòn cũng lắm kẻ mơ làm Lục Vân Tiên giữa đời thường. → Superman 4. Giá vàng hiện nay khoảng 35 triệu đồng/lượng. (tael) → 1800 USD/ounce 5. Xin lỗi tao đi không được chồng tao có máu Hoạn Thư ghê lắm. → Othello 6. The two houses are 110 yards apart. → 100 mét 7. After a tunnel of 6.5 miles long, you will get to the other side of the mountain. → 10 km 8. She announced she is 20-weeks pregnant. → 5 tháng Task 22: Choose the best anwer for each question. 1. C 8. B 2. 9. B C 3. D 10. D 4. C 11. D 5. C 12. C 6. C 13. D 7. C 14. B Task 23: Correct the mistakes in the following statements. 1. sentence level 3. clause level 2. Intertextual level 4. word level. 112 5. word level 14. Calque. 6. Borrowing and Modulation. 15. Obligatory Transposition 7. literal translation 16. One colour to Another color 8. Calque 17. The whole → A part 9. Modulation 18. A → Negation of not A 10. Adaptation 19. Transposition 11. Free translation method 20. Calque. 12. Loan blend 21. Borrowing and Literal Translation 13. Pure loanword. CHAPTER 4: EQUIVALENCE Task 1: Answer the following questions. 1. Give 2 examples of linguistic untranslatability: heng, nhá, hỉ, mừ, … 2. Give 2 examples of cultural untranslatability: trái tho, thánh chửi, Task 2: These English words are untranslatebale in some languages. Work in groups and find the Vietnamese equivalence if possible. 1. ahedonia → lãnh cảm 2. amfisbitophobia → thảo mai 3. forelsket → say nắng 4. leptosome → ma củi, người 2 mặt, con mình dây 5. sapiosexual → ái trí 6. torpe → người nhát gái 7. zoilist → thánh soi 8. singletasker → người chỉ làm được từng việc một 9. boregasm → chán chường cực hạn 10. déjàbrew → dần dà nhớ lại việc làm khi say xỉn 11. mantrum → nằm lăn ăn vạ 12. tidsoptimist → người xài giờ dây thun Task 3: Find 3 equivalents for each word 1. Công ty: firm, enterprise, corporation, company, business, consortium, association 2. Xử lí: solve, handle, deal with, address, tackle 113 3. Hàng hóa: goods, merchandise, ware, stock, commodity, product, article, cargo 4. Yêu cầu: request, ask, desire, posit, call for, demand 5. Cung cấp: provide, supply, accommodate, cater 6. Subject: môn học, đối tượng, chủ thể, vấn đề, bắt buộc 7. Target: mục tiêu, đối tượng, đích nhắm 8. Mistake: sai sót, sai lầm, phạm lỗi, lầm lẫn. 9. Appreciate: đánh giá, biết ơn, cảm kích, nhan thức rõ. 10. Challenge: thách thức, khó khăn, thử thách, đương đầu, phản tố. Task 4: Fill in the table with correct words English term Business-related meaning Common meaning 1. Draft Hối phiếu, lệnh rút tiền Bản thảo, nháp 2. Securities chứng khoán An ninh 3. Agreement hợp đồng, hiệp ước Sự đồng ý 4. Trust Tín dụng Sự tin cậy 5. Collection Thu hộ, đòi nợ thuê Sưu tập 6. Quotation bảng báo giá trích dẫn 7. Honor Nhận thanh toán (chi phiếu) danh dự 8. Interest Tiền lãi Sự quan tâm 9. Offer Chào giá Đề nghị 10. Policy Hợp đồng bảo hiểm Chính sách 11. Term Điều khoản khóa học, giai đoạn 12. Promotion Hàng khuyến mãi Lên chức, thăng tiến Task 5: Match the words in Column A with their euphemisms in column B. 1. E 2. A 3. L 4. B 5. C 6. G 7. I 8. F 9. M 10. H 11. D 12. J 13. N 14. K 114 Task 6: Find the Textual equivalence of the following phrases/sentences in a formal letter. 1. Kính gửi: Dear Sir/Madam 2. Mong nhận được thư hồi âm của ông sớm. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon 3. Xin đính kèm theo thư là … Please find hereby the attached … 4. Trân trọng. Repectfullly 5. Xin vui lòng liên hệ số điện thoại … Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on … 6. Tôi rất vui được thông báo với bạn rằng … Please be informed that … 7. Chúng tôi rất tiếc phải thông báo rằng… We regret to inform you that... 8. Xin chân thành cảm ơn đã đọc thư này. Thank you very much for your time and consideration Task 7: Find the Textual equivalence of the following signs. 1. Không phận sự miễn vào: Authorised only! 5. Không dẫm lên cỏ: Keep off the grass! 2. Bị hư: Out of order! 6. Cấm xả rác: No littering! 3. Coi chừng chó dữ: Beware of dogs! 7. Mất giấy tờ: Lost! 4. Lối thoát hiểm: Fire exit! 8. Xin đừng làm phiền: Silence, please!/ No disturbing Task 8: Find the Pragmatic equivalence of the following situations. 1. When you meet your old friend: Long time no see! = Đã lâu không gặp. 2. When everybody drinks beer: Bottom up! = Trăm phần trăm, Cheers = Dzô! 3. When you want everyone to smile for photographing: Say cheese! = Cười lên nào! 4. When someone is sneezing: Bless you! = Mong bạn mau khỏe! 5. When you want to pay the money. My treat! = Để tôi trả Task 9: Choose the best anwer for each question. 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. B 5. A 6. B 7. D 8. A 9. D 10. D 11. A 12. A 13. C 14. C 15. A 16. A 17. A 18. B 19. A 20. A Task 10: Match the correct type of equivalence in A comlumn with its definitionin B column: 1. C 2. A 3. B 4. D 115 5. E Task 12: Correct the mistakes in the following statements. 1. Nil equivalence 6. Pragmatic equivalence 2. Complete equivalence. 7. Complete equivalence 3. Inclusion equivalence 8. Partial equivalence: 4. Connotative equivalence. 9. Nil equivalence. 5. Denotative equivalence. 10. Complete equivalence. CHAPTER 5: CULTURAL TERMS AND NON-EQUIVALENCE Task 1: Find the English equivalents of the following cultural terms. 1. Pacific Rim: Vành đai Thái Bình Dương 2. Indochina Peninsula: Bán đảo Đông Dương 3. Paracel Islands: Quần đảo Hoàng Sa 4. Spratly Islands: 5. Vesak: lễ Phật đản 6. Politburo member: Ủy viên Bộ chính trị 7. áp thấp nhiệt đới: tropical depression 8. đất phù sa: alluvial soil 10. cơm lam: bamboo-tube rice 12. cầu khỉ: foot bridge, rope bridge 9. rét nàng Bân: the cold in the third lunar month 11. vĩ tuyến thứ 17: the 17th parallel Quần đảo Trường Sa Task 2: Answer the following questions. 1. List 5 Vietnamese traditional musical instruments: Đàn đáy, đàn tranh, đàn nhị, đàn bầu, đàn tơ rưng, khèn 2. List 5 Vietnamese traditional types/forms of folksongs: hát ru (lullaby), hò (chanty) , quan họ folksong, trong quan folksong, xoan folksong, ví giặm folksong, Hue royal court music, bài chòi folksong, hát xẩm folksong, chầu văn folksong, and ca trù folksong. 3. List 5 Vietnamese heritage sites and 4 intangible cultural heritages: Heritage sites” Hoi an Ancient Town, Imperial City of Hue, My son Holy land, Phong Nha cave, and Ha Long Bay. Intangible cultural heritages: Hue Court music, Ca tru, Quan Ho, and Space of gong culture. 4. List 5 Buddhist terms: hereafter (n) : kiếp sau, secular (a) : thế tục, ignorant (a) : ngu dốt, bị vô minh che đậy, attendant (n) : thị giả, salvation (n) : sự giải thoát, altar : bàn thờ, enlightenment (n) : sự giác ngộ, Four Noble Truths : Tứ diệu đế, meditation (n) : thiền định, Nirvana (n) : Niết bàn, Noble Eightfold Path : Bát chánh đạo, wheel of the Law : bánh xe Chánh pháp, Bodhi Tree: cây Bồ đề, The 116 Brotherhood: giáo hội, Pass on the good tidings: Hoằng dương phật pháp, Law of Cause and Effect: Luật nhân quả, Heart Sutra = bát nhã tâm kinh, Sutra: Kinh, Amitabha = A Di Đà Phật, Avalokiteshvara = Quán thế âm Bồ Tát, Bodhisattva = bồ tát, 12 links = 12 nhân duyên, Taking refuge in the Three Jewels = Quy y tam bảo (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), cyclic existence = luân hồi, disciple = đệ tử, discourse = bài pháp, … Task 3: Match the following public celebrations in Vietnam with their dates. 1. C 2. B
4. A 5. E 6. J 7. H 8. G 9. I 10. K 11. L 12. F Task 4: Use appropriate strategies to translate the following terms. 1. Tam tòng tứ đức: three subordinations and four virtues 2. Rượu hoàng hoa: farewell wine 3. Động phòng hoa chúc: consummation 4. Vàng mã: joss paper 5. Cháu đích tôn: first paternal grandson/ the chosen heir by default the eldest son of one's eldest son, entrusted with the responsibility of perpetuating the family lineage. 6. Nhà thờ tổ: lineage hall / clan ancestral house/ house of cult 7. Long mạch: good layer of earth (supposed to have a decisive influence on a man"s fate), geomantic vein of fortune 8. Đầy tháng: Full moon celebration 9. Xông đất: first-footer, first caller, be the first New Year"s caller, to first foot 10. Anh em cột chèo: brothers-in-law 11. Lễ trừ tịch: Lunar New year’s Eve Task 5: These words are translated differently based on the geographical condition. Translate them into British and American English. BRITISH ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH Parliament Congress lift elevator mobile phone cellphone 4. Quần tây trousers pants 5. Thùng rác trash bin recycle bin, garbage bin 6. Kí túc xá Hall of Residence Dormitory 1. Quốc hội 2. Thang máy 3. ĐTDĐ 117 7. Trạm đổ xăng filling station petrol station 8. Rạp chiếu phim cinema the picture 9. Mùa thu autumn fall 10. Đường cao tốc highway express way 11. Hộ chung cư apartment flat 12. Bánh quy biscuit cookies 13. Bãi đậu xe parking lot car park 14. Vỉa hè pavement sidewalk 15. Ngã tư crosssroad junction Task 6: Translate the following superordinates/hyponyms. 1. nải (chuối), chùm (nho), bó (hoa): → bunch 2. đàn (sói) → pack, đàn (ong) → swamp, đàn (kiến) → army, đàn (cừu) → flock, đàn (ngựa) → stud, đàn (chim) → flock, đàn (sư tử) → pride, đàn (cá) → school 3. nhóm (sinh viên) → group, nhóm (lính) → army/troop, nhóm (chuyên gia) → team, nhóm (toán cảnh sát) → patrol 4. wear (pants) → mặc, wear (a dress) → mang/mặc, wear (a handbag) → đeo, wear (perfume) → xức, wear (lipstick) → tô/thoa/trét, wear (makeup) → trang điểm, wear (a hat) → đội, , wear (a headscarf) → choàng. 5. lose (a game) → thua, lose (face) → mất, lose (way) → lạc, lose (weight) → giảm/sụt, lose (the war) → thua, lose (love) thất (tình), lose (a game) → ……………… 6. (thuốc) giả → fake pharmaceutical products, (răng) giả → false teeth, (kết hôn) giả → bogus/sham/fake marriage, (tiền) giả → counterfeit notes, (nữ trang) giả → imitation jewellery, (tranh) giả → reproduction painting,, (giấy tờ) giả → forged papers, (tên) giả → assumed/false name, (vàng) giả → replica gold nugget, (chân tay) giả → artificial/prosthetic limbs Task 8: Translate into Vietnamese with correct collocations. 1. the horse runs: ngựa phi 2. the dog runs: .chó rượt/chó đuổi 3. the tap runs: .vòi nước rỉ 4. the nose runs: mũi nhảy/mũi rỉ 5. the vine runs: dây bò 6. black horse: .ngựa ô 7. black dog: chó mực 8. black cat: mèo mun 9. black ink: mực tàu 10. black hair: tóc huyền 11. black buffalo: trâu mốc 12. black trousers: quần lĩnh 118 13. instant coffee: cà phê hòa tan 14. instant success: thành công tức thời 15. instant scratchies: vé cào trúng thưởng 16. heavy drinker sâu rượu 17. heavy crop: mùa mảng bội thu 18. heavy fate: số phận hẩm hiu/ 19. strong tea: trà đậm. 20. wash hair: gội đầu. 21. deliver a baby: sinh con 22. beat shyness: chữa thẹn long đong Task 9: Find the equivalent proverbs in Vietnamese. 1. Out of sight, out of mind. Xa mặt cách lòng 2. A leopard never changes its spots. Giang sơn dễ đổi, bản tính khó dời/ Ngựa quen đường cũ 3. The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill. Đứng núi này trông núi nọ 4. Birds of a feather flock together. Ngưu tầm ngưu mã tầm mã/ Đồng thanh tương ứng, đồng khí tương cầu 5. Beauty is only skin-deep. Tót gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn 6. Half a loaf is better than none. Có còn hơn không 7. Jack of all trades is the master of none Một nghề thì sống, đống nghề thì chết/ Một nghề cho chin còn hơn chin nghề/ Bá nghệ tri vị chi bá láp 8. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Có chí thì nên/ Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim 9. To err is human Nhân vô thập toàn 10. Gratitude is the sign of noble souls Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây 11. Every cloud has a silver lining Hết cơn bĩ cực tới hồi thái lai/ Sau cơn mưa trời lại sáng 12. One drop of poison infects the whole of wine Con sâu làm sầu nồi canh 13. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched Chưa đỗ ông nghè đã đe hàng tổng, / Nói trước bước không qua. 14. He that knows nothing doubts nothing : Điếc không sợ súng 15. A miss is as good as a mile Sai một li đi một dặm 16. Man proposes, God disposes Mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên Task 10: Translate the following sentences into English, using the proverbs above. 1. You should be patient. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 119 2. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. What if no one buys your products? 3. Tôi nghĩ anh quá lời rồi, đã là con người thì có ai toàn diện đâu/nhân vô thập toàn mà. You are overestimating me! To err is human! 4. You should not study at two schools at the same time because Jack of all trades is the master of none. 5. Đừng đắn đo nhiều quá, mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên mà. Don’t think too much. Man proposes, God disposes. 6. Failure in business is common. I believe every cloud has a silver lining. Task 11: Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese with appropriate techniques. 1. Anh ta ngủ say như chết 2. Người đàn ông Bonita gặp trong bữa tiệc rất tốt bụng, nhưng tiếc là anh ta không không phải gu của cô ấy. 3. James và John khác nhau trời vực. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Tôi chúa ghét những kẻ ăn thùng uống vại/ ăn như hạm. Task 11: Find 2 examples for each translation issues. 1. Non-equivalence of Vietnamese words with concepts that are unknown in Western culture: đạo Dừa, bún thang 2. Non-equivalence of Vietnamese words expressing concepts which are known in the target culture but there are no equivalent: nói thách, câu thần tĩnh mộ khang 3. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese ecology and their translated versions: ruộng bậc thang → terraced field, lúa nước → wet rice 4. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese organizational and hierarchical structures and their translated versions: thời kì quá độ → transitional phase, giai cấp vô sản → proletariat … 5. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese food and their translated versions: bánh chưng → Chung cake/ square sticky rice cake; phở → Pho 6. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese social and lifestyle culture and their translated versions: dân ca quan họ → quan họ folksong, 2. crop rotation → luân canh 7. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese traditional musical instruments and their translated versions: Đàn cò – Vietnamese one-string guitar, Đàn tranh – Vietnamese 16-string zither 8. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese traditional types of folksongs and their translated versions: dân ca quan họ → quan họ folksong, hát ví giặm → Vi Giam folksong 120 9. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese clothes and their translated versions: áo dài → Aodai, áo tứ thân → four-panel dress 10. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese houses and their translated versions: nhà rông → communal house, nhà sàn → stilt house 11. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese intangible cultural heritages and their translated versions: hát ca trù → Ca tru singing, Không gian văn hóa cồng chiêng → Space of gong culture 12. Cultural-specific terms for Western modern words and their translated versions: Individualism → chủ nghĩa cá nhân, xenopholia → sự sính ngoại. 13. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese movements and their translated versions: Phong Trào Đông Du → Dong Du (Eastern Study) movement Phong trào Cần Vương → Can Vương (Aid the King) movement 14. Cultural-specific terms for Vietnamese political organizations and their translated versions: Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam → Communist Party of Vietnam Đoàn thanh niên Cộng sản Hồ Chí Minh → Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Task 12: Correct the mistakes in the following statements. 1. Organizational and hierarchical culture. 2. Social and lifestyle culture. 3. …. of Material culture. 4. “Quốc hội Việt Nam” is translated as “Vietnam’s National Assembly”. 5. fixed collocation 6. Peter Newmark divided Proper nouns into 5 categories as part of the cultural-specific items. 7. Non-verbal language. CHAPTER 6: TRANSLATION QUALITY ASSESSMENT Task 1: What kind of reason was violated in each translation? 1. Incompetence in the target language 2. Incompetence in the source language 3. Incompetence in the target language 4. Incompetence in the target language 5. Lack of domain knowledge 6. Lack of domain knowledge 7. Incompetence in the source language 121 8. Lack of domain knowledge 9. Incompetence in the source language 10. Incompetence in the target language Task 2: Identify the type of overt errors in the following translation. 1. “Slight change in meaning” error 2. “Not translated” error 3. “Not translated” error, “Slight change in meaning” error: Loss of connotative meanings, Loss of formality, “Significant change in meaning” error 4. “Not translated” error 5. “Breach of the SL system” error, “Creative translation” error 6. Cultural filtering Task 3: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following English translation. Lạy trời mưa xuống Pray Heaven let it rain Lấy nước tôi uống To give us water to drink Lấy ruộng tôi cày To fertilize our rice fields, Cho đầy nồi cơm. And so to fill our rice pots. (Nursery rhymes) (Translated by Dương Đình Khuê) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: rhyme Target text profile: - Field: Social action: popular - - - Tenor: Writer's Provenance and Stance Subject matter: rhyme Social action: popular - Tenor: Translator's Provenance and Stance Social Role Relationship: Symmetrical Social Role Relationship: Asymmetrical Social Attitude: Informal Social Attitude: Informal Mode: Medium: Complex - Mode: Medium: Complex Participation: Simple Participation: Simple Social Attitude: Informal Social Attitude: Informal Genre: rhym/ short poem - Genre: rhym/ short poem - Function: Ideational - Function: Ideational A covertly erroneous discerned here is the mismatch between the Writer's Provenance and Stance and the Translator's Provenance and Stance Certain examples of overt errors are: “Not translated” error type Lạy trời mưa xuống. → Pray Heaven let it rain. (the word “xuống” is overlooked) 122 Slight change in meaning Lấy nước tôi uống. → To give us water to drink. (“us” refers a slight change compared with “tôi (I)) Significant change in meaning Lấy ruộng tôi cày. → To fertilize our rice fields. (“cày” is quite diferent from “fertilize”) “Creative translation” error Cho đầy nồi cơm. → And so to fill our rice pots. Task 4: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following English translation. Đánh cho để dài tóc, (Fight for the rights to grow our hair long Đánh cho để đen răng, (Fight for the rights to dye our teeth black Đánh cho nó chích luân bất phản, (Fight so they never dare to challenge us Đánh cho nó phiến giáp bất hoàn. (Fight until their armors turn to dust Đánh cho sử tri Nam quốc anh (Fight to teach them a lesson, enshrined in our history, hùng chi hữu chủ! that the heroes of the South shall always reign supreme!) (Nguyễn Huệ) (https://freedomforvietnam.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: proclamation Target text profile: - Field: Social action: Specialized - - Tenor: Writer's Provenance and Stance Subject matter: proclamation Social action: Specialized - Tenor: Translator's Provenance and Stance Social Role Relationship: Asymmetrical Social Role Relationship: Asymmetrical Social Attitude: formal and requesting Social Attitude: formal and requesting Mode: Medium: Complex - Mode: Medium: Simple Participation: Complex Participation: Complex Social Attitude: formal and requesting - Genre: formal, archaic - Function: Interpersonal and Expressive Social Attitude: formal and requesting - Genre: formal, archaic - Function: Interpersonal and Expressive A covertly erroneous discerned here is the mismatch between the Writer's Provenance and Stance and the Translator's Provenance and Stance, and the mismatch between Mode of Complex and Simple Certain examples of overt errors are: “Not translated” error type 123 Đánh cho sử tri Nam quốc anh hùng chi hữu chủ! → Fight to teach them a lesson, enshrined in our history, that the heroes of the South shall always reign supreme! Slight change in meaning Đánh cho để dài tóc. → Fight for the rights to grow our hair long. Significant change in meaning Đánh cho nó phiến giáp bất hoàn. → Fight until their armors turn to dust. “Creative translation” error Đánh cho để dài tóc. → Fight for the rights to grow our hair long. Đánh cho sử tri Nam quốc anh hùng chi hữu chủ! → Fight to teach them a lesson, enshrined in our history, that the heroes of the South shall always reign supreme! Cultural filtering Đánh cho để đen răng. → Fight for the rights to dye our teeth black. Task 5: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following translation. Người phụ trách thiết kế của hãng Kia, ông Peter Schreyer, đã được bổ nhiệm làm tân lãnh đạo thiết kế cho tập đoàn Hyundai Motor. Ông Schreyer, người trước đây từng làm việc cho các hãng Audi và Volkswagen, sẽ sắp xếp các hoạt động thiết kế và tìm kiếm sự kết hợp giữa hai thương hiệu xe hơi của Hàn Quốc. Ba tuần trước, nhà thiết kế người Đức này đã được bổ nhiệm làm chủ tịch người nước ngoài đầu tiên của Kia. Quan chức lãnh đạo của Hyundai, Yang Woong-Chul, cho hay động thái này mang tính bắt buộc để đảm bảo khả năng cạnh tranh lâu dài và giúp nâng cao giá trị thương hiệu. Kia's design Peter Schreyer has been appointed as the new chief designer for the well-known Hyundai Motor Group. Schreyer, who previously worked for Audi and Volkswagen from 2002 to 2008, will change the design operation and seek synergy between the two Korean brands which he is working for. Three weeks ago, the German was named Kia's leading foreign president. Hyundai's Woong-Chul Yang said the move was compulsory to secure long-term competitiveness and to help maintain their brand value. (Source: BBC Tiếng Việt) Source text profile: - - Mode: Medium: Simple Field: Subject matter: short article Participation: Complex Social action: Specialized - Social Attitude: Neutral and Formal Tenor: Writer's Provenance and Stance - Genre: journalistic article Social Role Relationship: Symmetrical - Function: Ideational Social Attitude: formal Target text profile: 124 - Field: Subject matter: short article - Mode: Medium: Simple Social action: Specialized - Participation: Complex Tenor: Translator's Provenance and Stance Social Attitude: Neutral and Formal Social Role Relationship: Symmetrical - Genre: journalistic article Social Attitude: formal - Function: Ideational A covertly erroneous discerned here is the mismatch between the Writer's Provenance and Stance and the Translator's Provenance and Stance Certain examples of overt errors are: “Not translated” error type Người phụ trách thiết kế của hãng Kia, ông Peter Schreyer, → Kia's design Peter Schreyer … Quan chức lãnh đạo của Hyundai, Yang Woong-Chul, cho hay → Hyundai's Woong-Chul Yang said … Slight change in meaning Ba tuần trước, nhà thiết kế người Đức này đã được bổ nhiệm làm chủ tịch người nước ngoài đầu tiên của Kia. → Three weeks ago, the German was named Kia's leading foreign president Significant change in meaning Ông Schreyer, người trước đây từng làm việc cho các hãng Audi và Volkswagen, sẽ sắp xếp các hoạt động thiết kế → Schreyer, who previously worked for Audi and Volkswagen from 2002 to 2008, will change the design operation Distortion in meaning giúp nâng cao giá trị thương hiệu → to help maintain their brand value. “Creative translation” error … được bổ nhiệm làm tân lãnh đạo thiết kế cho tập đoàn Hyundai Motor. → … as the new chief designer for the well-known Hyundai Motor Group. Ông Schreyer, người trước đây từng làm việc cho các hãng Audi và Volkswagen, … → Schreyer, who previously worked for Audi and Volkswagen from 2002 to 2008, Task 6: Using House’s TQA model, appraise the quality of the following translation. Hãng hãng không giá rẻ Easyjet thông báo rằng Chủ tịch hãng này, Mike Rake, sẽ từ chức vào mùa hè. Động thái này diễn ra sau một cuộc chiến kéo dài giữa Easyjet và người sáng lập của nó, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, xung quanh việc mở rộng quy mô của hãng. Đầu tuần này, Stelios giảm cổ phần của ông trong Easyjet và đe dọa sẽ bán cổ phần mà ông nắm giữ, nếu công ty đặt hàng thêm máy bay. 125 Low-price airline Easyjet has announced that its chairman, Mr. Mike Rake, will quit his job this summer. The move follows a long battle between the company and one of its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, over the airline's expansion in Asia. Earlier this week, Stelios sold his stake in Easyjet and threatened to sell more of his shares if the firm placed an order for more jet planes. (Source: BBC Tiếng Việt) Source text profile: - Field: Subject matter: short article Target text profile: - Field: Social action: Specialized - - Tenor: Writer's Provenance and Stance Subject matter: short article Social action: Specialized - Tenor: Translator's Provenance and Stance Social Role Relationship: Symmetrical Social Role Relationship: Symmetrical Social Attitude: formal Social Attitude: formal Mode: Medium: Simple - Mode: Medium: Simple Participation: Complex Participation: Complex Social Attitude: Neutral and Formal Social Attitude: Neutral and Formal - Genre: journalistic article - Genre: journalistic article - Function: Ideational - Function: Ideational A covertly erroneous discerned here is the mismatch between the Writer's Provenance and Stance and the Translator's Provenance and Stance Certain examples of overt errors are: “Not translated” error type Động thái này diễn ra sau một cuộc chiến kéo dài …→ The move follows a long battle … Slight change in meaning Hãng hãng không giá rẻ Easyjet thông báo rằng Chủ tịch hãng này, Mike Rake, sẽ từ chức vào mùa hè. → Low-price airline Easyjet has announced that its chairman, Mr. Mike Rake, will quit his job this summer. Significant change in meaning Đầu tuần này, Stelios giảm cổ phần của ông trong Easyjet. → Earlier this week, Stelios sold his stake in Easyjet … “Creative translation” error Động thái này diễn ra sau một cuộc chiến kéo dài giữa Easyjet và người sáng lập của nó, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, xung quanh việc mở rộng quy mô của hãng. → The move follows a long battle between the company and one of its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, over the airline's expansion in Asia. |
