Problems and solutions in translating an english article into vietnamese
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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
GR.41)U.4 TION 1'.41'ER
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS IN
TRANSLATING AN ENGLISH ARTICLE INTO
VIETNAMESE
II101000473
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ADVISER: MR. NGUYEN TRI L
STUDENT NUMBER: 0171428
CLASS: BA0101
HO CHI MINH CITY, JULY 2005
•
•
•
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND
INFORMA TION TECHNOLOGY
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS IN
TRANSLATING AN ENGLISH ARTICLE INTO
VIETNAMESE
ADVISER: MR. NGUYEN TRI L
STUDENT NUMBER: 0171428
CLASS: BA0101
HO CHI MINH CITY, JULY 2005
•
Dedicated to my Mother
and my Brother, Bui Qu6c Khanh.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude to The Board of Directors of Ho Chi
Minh City University of Foreign Language and Information Technology,
especially to the staff of the Department of Foreign Languages for the
chance to carry out this research paper.
I would like to send my sincere thank to Vice Dean Vii Qu6c Anh, M.A
who encouraged me to continue doing this study in the first time when I
had not enough confidence to do.
I am very grateful to Mr. Nguy~n Tri L<;1i,my adviser, for providing
background knowledge and giving me precious ideas as well as advice to
fulfill this paper.
I also thank my friends, Le Hi~n Thao, Nguy~n Tht Bich Nga and all
students of BAOlOl for always helping and supporting me during the time
I was carrying out this research paper.
ADVISER'S COMMENTS
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EXAMINER'S COMMENTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 3:Translation Theory
3.1.What is translation?
3.2.Transla tion Methods
3.2.1. Word- for- Word Translation
3.2.2. Literal Translati on
3.2.3. Faithful Translation
3.2.4. Semantic Translation
3.2.5. Adaptation .•.......:
3.2.6. Free Translation
3.2.7. Idiomatic Translation
3.2.8. Communicative Translation
1
2
4
5
5
6
6
7
8
9
10
10
11
11
Chapter 4: Elements of News Writing
13
Chapter 5: Problems and Solutions
5.1. Precision
5.1.1. Words
5.1.2. Humor
5.1.3. Sentence Structure
5.2. Clarity and Simplicity
5.3. Coherence
5.4. Metaphor
18
18
18
22
26
31
35
37
Chapter 6: Conclusion
45
Bibliography
46
ABSTRACT
Nowadays newspapers have become an indispensable demand in daily life of the
Vietnamese people. Moreover, they pay attention not only to domestic information
but also international information which mostly is translated summarily from
newspapers in English. Therefore, press translation is considered as a means to
bring the world's information or messages into Vietnam. Of course, a good
translation is completely equivalent to the original in the content as well as in the
form, but in reality, this is difficult to achieve because of the differences in the two
languages. In addition, press language has specific characteristics compared with
literary language.
The purpose of this study is to help students majoring in translation understand and
translate articles exactly according to press style. This paper was realized by
basing on the elements of good news writing, then analyzing articles in prestige
newspapers and pointing out the solutions for translating better.
However, books on translation theories are limited on the Vietnamese market, and
especially books on press translation have not been much concerned yet. The
researcher hopes that in the near future the Vietnamese scholars are going to do
research works on this field due to help students majoring in translation as well as
people enjoying newspapers in English improve their translation skills.
1
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Translation
takes
a crucial role in human's
life. Mutual communication
and
understanding are found important not only amongst people in the same nation, but
also amongst nations in the world today. However, the greatest obstacle we must
cope with is language differences.
"Mastering a second language can be a difficult
and painstaking process. Rules of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation,
idiomatic
expressions
language
and accents
fluency. "(Miller,
considered
Vietnam.
because
However,
there
of differences
a crucial
role in foreign
language
and used in most nations, as well as in
are difficulties
in English
-Vietnamese
in structures and cultures. Morever,
communication
are indispensable
play
in Duong Ngoc Dung, 2002) As we know, English is now
an international
international
language,
combined
translation
now together with
and integration via mass media, English newspapers
demands. Of course, between a foreign language and a native
there are some problems in translation
in general
and in translating
English newspaper in particular. For a press reader who wants to get information,
he can just skim and scan an article and grasp the key words. However, Truong
Quang Phu (2002: 7) points out " Skills of skimming and scanning are mechanical
ones which don't help English learners to understand English more".
Therefore, besides basic knowledge of English, professional translators as well as
English translation-major
students need to have knowledge of the characteristics of
English article writing so that problems and solutions in press translation can be
recognized. It is the main reason the researcher wants to do this paper.
2
There are a lot of research papers and writings on English-Vietnamese
translation
theory; however, different authors deal with different aspects and have their own
points. The focus of this paper is on translating an English article into Vietnamese.
The research opens with an introduction. The next chapter is literature review. In
chapter three, knowledge on translation theory is presented. Chapter four includes
some elements
Vietnamese
of good news writing. Problems in translation
of an English -
article, some solutions to the problems are in chapter five. The final
chapter is the conclusion.
3
Chapter 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
"Being one of the complicated
linguistic activities, before becoming a scientific
subject, translation is known as a writing translating process of a text from a source
language
to a target language"
McGuire
(1980: 13) said that "Translation
activity, as a mechanical
(S.S Killer,
1992: 80). In addition, Bassett &
has been perceived
rather than a "creative"
as a secondary
process, within the competence
of anyone with a basic grounding in a language other than their own, in short, as a
low status occupation. "
When dealing with translation of English newspape
states: Press English style is completely
different
Nguyen Van Phu (1999: 187)
from usual English style. In
recent years, English newspapers have been widely read in our country. Apart from
advertising
newspapers,
whose
style
newspapers,
printed in Vietnam or in foreign nations, cause some difficulties to
IS
word-for-word
translation,
other
readers who are not acquainted with quite short writing press. Nguyen Van Phu
(1999: 189) also emphasizes
that "Press language
always changes,
and often
develops new words, whose meanings, after for a long time, can be acceptable.
Because newspaper
glance at the article's
readers are often busy, and they just have enough time to
title and the first paragraph,
short and avoid using complicated and flowery style."
4
press language must be very
Chapter 3
TRANSLATION THEORY
3.l.What is translation?
Translation is to render the meaning of a text into another language in the way that
the author intended in his/ her text. Translation is often considered complicated and
artificial since we can't master a foreign language unless we live in that speech
community for a long period of time. When translating
transfer as many SL (source-language)
a text we often try to
words to the TL (target -language)
as
possible.
Newmark (1982: 7) defined it in a simple way "Translation is a craft consisting in
the attempt to replace a written message and/ or statement in one language by the
same message and/or statement in another language"
Ex 1: No child should face these kinds of dangers. Children deserve not only our
greatest protection, but our diligent and tireless efforts to defend their right to
safe and healthy childhood.
(Time, "Hidden hazards: the risks that children face", January 3, 2005: 1)
Khong mot tre em nao phai d6i m~t voi nhfi'ng hi~m ho~ nay. Tre em khong
chi xung dang dUQc sl,l'baa v~ t6t nha't rna con nhfi'ng n6 ll,l'chtt mlnh khong
nghi cua chUng ta d~ bao dam cho chung quy€n co mot tu6i thd yen blnh va
khoe m~nh.
Ex 2: The bird flu broke out in the North in December 2003, spread widely, and
lasted until April. The outbreak left US$ 2 million livestock culled, with total
damage costing VND 1.3 trillion (US$ 82 million). It also had a negative
impact on tourism and investment in the first half of the year.
(The Saigontimes, "Events that made 2004 different", January 1,2005:8)
5
Dich cum gia dm
da bung phat d mi~n Bac vao thang 12, nam 2003, Ian
rQng va keo dai cho de'n thang 4. SI! bung phat nay da lam cho 43,2 tri<%ugia
dm
bi thieu s6ng, voi t6ng sO' thi<%thC).ilen de'n 1,3 uc d6ng VN (tu'dng
du'dng 82 tri<%udol a My). £)i~u nay con dem IC).imQt anh hu'dng xa'u cho du
Ijch va d~u tu'trong sau thang d~u nam.
3.2. Translation Methods:
3.2.1. Word-for-Word
Translation:
The source language word order is preserved
and the words translated singly by
their most common meanings, out of context.
Ex 1: Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for being no
longer in a position to give bad example.
La Rochefoucauld
Ngu'oi gia thich cho nhii'ng Wi khuyen t6t d~ tlf an ui chfnh mlnh VI nhan ra
khang con d bao lau trong vi tri phai noi gu'dng xa'u.
(Vuong Trung Hieu, 1993: 129)
Ex 2: When Pakistani judge ordered the death penalty for Ahmad Omar Saced
Sheikh in July 2002 for the murder of
militant
us journalist
Daniel Pearl, the Islamic
was defiant. In court Sheikh had his lawyer read a threat to
Pakistan's President. "Let's see who die first, me or Musharraf".
(Time, "Terror behind bars", May 5, 2004: 9)
Khi toa an Pakistan tuyen an tii' hlnh d6i voi Ahmad Omar Saced Sheikh vao
thang 4 nam 2002 VI tQi gie't mQt nha bao ngu'oi My Daniel Pearl, quan dQi
H6i Giao da ch6ng d6i. Trong phien toa Sheikh da d~ nghj 1u~t su' cua mlnh
dQc Wi de doC).de'n voi T6ng th6ng Pakistan: "£)~ r6i xem ai se che't tru'oc,
tai hay Musharraf".
6
The translator can use word-for-word translation both to understand the mechanism
of the source language and to construct a rough translation process for a difficult
text.
Ex 3: All worldly things may change with time, but the impression of the first love
will remain a vivid as ever.
Victor Hugo
Rough translation: Ta't ca mQi v~t tren the' gian co th€ thay d6i voi thai gian,
nhung nhung a'n tliQng ve'm6i tlnh dh se duy trl mai maio
Elaborated translation: Thai gian co th€ Him thay d6i canh v~t tren tnii da't, nhung
thai gian khong th€ xoa s(;lchdUQcda'u ve't clla m6i tlnh diiu trong tnii tim con s6ng
maio
Ex 4: Robbing life offriendship
(Vuong Trung Hieu, 1993:147)
is like robbing the world of the sun
Cicero
Rough translation: La'y cap cUQcs6ng tlnh b(;lnnhu la'y cap the' giOi m~t trai
Elaborated translation: CUQcdai ma't di tlnh b(;lnnhu the' gioi ma't di m~t trai
("Friendship ", 2001 :83)
3.2.2. Literal Translation
Literal
translation
is a broader
form
of translation,
each
SL word has a
corresponding TL word, but their primary meanings may differ.
Ex 1: The earliest recorded reference to the town was made in the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle of 656 and listed Wisbech as a small settlement not five miler from
the coast.
Trong bien nien sU'Anglo-Saxon v~lOnam 656 tham khao du'ljc ghi nh~n c6
xu'a nhilt v€ thi xa nay trong do ghi Wisbech la mQt ndi dinh cli nhO cach ba
bi~n khong de'n 5 d~m.
(Nguyen Thi Tuyet, 1995: 89)
7
Ex 2: Vietnam will lift visa requirements for citizens from Scandinavian countries to
help increase tourism, investment and business.
(International Herald Tribune, " Scandinavian tourists won't need visas", 2005: 22)
Vi~t Nam se bili mi~n thi thtfe do'i voi cong dan de'n tu cac quo'c gia thuQc
ban dao Scandinavi nh~m diiy ml;lnh du lich, d~u tu'va kinh doanh.
Single word metaphors extended plural word metaphors and proverbs illustrate a
second figurative semantic scale.
Ex 3: The tour is the first visit to the country by Jewish head of state.
Chuye'n di la cUQc vie'ng thiim d~u tien de'n deft nu'oc nay cua mQt qu6e
tnidng Do Thai.
Ex 4: I triedfor a moment to see the situation through her eyes.
Toi da: thii' mQt lh co' nhln nMn tlnh huo'ng theo each nhln ella co tao
(Deignan, 1998: 6)
Ex 5: Man proposes, God disposes.
Mu'u sl! t~i nMn, thanh sl! t~i thien.
(Nguyen Dinh Hung, 2002: 817)
Ex 6: Time is money.
Thai gian la vang.
Literal
translation
is considered
(Le Dinh Bich & Tram Quynh Dan, 1986:90)
to be the basic translation step, both III
communicative and semantic translation, in that translation starts from there.
3.2.3. Faithful Translation
A faithful
translation
requires
a faithful
precIsIOn III meaning
and grammar
structure of the original. However, we can also transmit the source language text
into the target language one more flexibly basing on its contextual meaning.
8
Ex 1: Fed's trying to lose a few pounds. He goes jogging for an hour every evening
but when he comes home he eats like a horse.
(Seidl & McMovdie, 1988: 239)
Fed dang c6 giam vai pound. M6i dem anh ta chl;ly bo khoang mot tie'ng
nhu'ng khi v~ nha anh ta an nhu' traul h6.
Ex 2: They have been collecting and arranging idiomatic expressions of all types
since 1959, and the first fruit of their labor was published by aU? in October
30.
(Nguyen Thi Tuyet, 1995:132)
K€ til nam 1959 hQ da khong ngung su'u t~p va slip xe'p thanh ngu cac 10l;li
va hom 30/10
oup da
cho xuftt ban th3nh qua lao dQng dftu tien cua hQ
Ex 3: Scientists are racing to turn pigs into organ donors. The effort could bring
huge benefits but it also carries huge risks
(2003, )
Cac nha khoa hQc dang ch~y dua trong vi~c bie'n heo trd thanh nhung v~t
cong hie'n cac bo ph~n huu cd. c6 g~ng nay co th€ mang de'n nhung hi~u
qua rftt IOn nhu'ng cling khong it fiJi roo
3.2.4. Semantic Translation
Newmark
(1982: 22) says that "... semantic
translating
where
the translator
attempts, within the base syntactic and semantic constraints of the TL, to reproduce
the precise contextual meaning of the author". Therefore,
the semantic translation
is more flexible than faithful translation, admits the creative exception and allows
for the translator's intuitive concession with the original.
Ex 1: Beauty is the first present Nature gives to women and the first it takes away
Mere
S~c dyp la t~ng phfi'm rna t~o hoa ban cho ngu'oi dan ba, rna cling la thU d.h
tien rna tl;lOhoa cu'dp
m.
(Vuong Trung Hieu, 1993:86)
9
Ex 2: Even if that happens. cyber cafes are confident they will stay in business
TMm chI ne'u di~u d6 xay ra thl cafe net v~n tl! tin trt;1 vung trong kinh
doanh
3.2.5. Adaptation
Dung Vu (2004) points out: "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". So, adaptation is the freest form of translation. It issued mainly for plays
and poetry ...
Ex 1: Its white houses with their steeply pitched roof of red tile are spread over a
hillside where clumps sturdy Spanish chestnuts mark out the slighter dips in
terrain.
(Stendal, 1991:3)
Nhii'ng ngoi nha mau tri.ing voi mlii ng6i do tu'di du'Qc lQp thing dung Ci day
trai dai de'n t?n chan d6i ndi c6 nhii'ng cay de nau gi6ng Tay Ban Nha cung
cap dang m9c Ian ra khi.ip ndi.
Ex 2: Someone you pass on the street may already be the love of your life.
C6 khi nao tren du'ong doi ta'p n?p
Ta vo tlnh di vQi bu'oc qua nhau
TuHuy
3.2.6. Free Translation
Free translation means the translation isn't close to the original, but the translator
just transmits meanings of the SL in her/his own words. So, the advantage is that
the text in TLsound
more natural.
On the contrary,
10
the disadvantage
is that
translating is too casual to understand the original because of its freedom (Dung
Vu, 2004, ).
Ex 1: ...ngZf(fi ta thuang trich trong di san mrlt ph6n tI! san g9i lil dill hudng hoG.
hoi;ic ruqng kYo giao cho ngum tqc trzlling hoi;ic ngum chi trzlling girl dllo
tI! t6 tien
i'J
ti
nhiz thu hq hoi;icnhiz thu chi
... people often deduct from the inheritance of a part of estate which is called
"cultural
estate"
or "anniversary
land". The land is entrance upon the
head of the extended family or the head of the branch of the family. The
latter keeps it in order to care for the ancestor cult, performed in the cult
home of the extended family and in that of the family branch.
(Vo Liem An, 1997: 237)
3.2.7. Idiomatic Translation
Idiomatic translation is used for colloquialism and idioms whose literalism is
thetranslation by which the translator doesn't transfer the literalism of the original,
uses the translation of colloquialism and idioms.
Exl: A sow is no matchfor a goose.
Bfia m6c obi chOi mam son.
Ex2:
Every little helps.
Ki€n tha lau ofiy to~
(Nguyen Dinh Hung, 2002: 114)
3.2.8. Communicative
Translation
Communication translation allows the translator to transmit the SL into the TL by
readily acceptable and comprehensible ways to the readership. "But even here the
translator still has to respect and work on the form of the source language text as
the only material basis for his work" (Petter Newmark, 1982: 39).
11
Ex!:
ThOi dii hit Mm ghen
va him
d6i
DUfJcgit7n hiJn sung suong biit bao nhieu.
Xuan Dieu
Well, it's all with jealousies and sulks
What fun to be in the sulks
Ex2:
(Vuong Trung Hieu, 1993: 145)
The dreamlike landscape Quy Nhon coast city, not only brings you the first
auspice of the trip but also remind you of the sweet poems of Vietnamese
famous poets such as Xuan Dieu, Han Mac Tu.
Khung canh thd rnQng ella ph6 bi~n Quy Nhdn khong nhii'ng dern l~i eho ta
rnQt a'n tUQng t6t Hinh dfiu tien ella ehuye'n di rna eon gQi nho nhii'ng ang thd
ng9t ngao ella nhii'ng nM thd n6i tie'ng Vi~t Narn nhu Xuan Di~u, Han M~e
Tlt.
(Vo Liern An, 1997: 115)
12
Chapter 4
ELEMENTS OF NEWS WRITING
4.1. Precision
News writing is very practical and clear. It pays attention to the quality of the
transmission
more than the effect of the style. However,
precision that are the first requirements.
it's the coherence and
(Jean, Martin and Lagardette, 2003: 51)
4.1.1. Words
Words should be used precisely. They should mean exactly what you intend them
to mean. You should never use "uninterested"
when you mean "disinterested".
Nor should you use "allude" for "refer", "endeavor"
for "try", "few" for "less".
(Brooks et all, 1992:78)
For instance, if you write "an antique shop", readers will think the shop is ancient,
old. So, in order to describe a shop selling antique we will say "an antique shop".
The problem, here, is form of speech of "antique" is adjective as well as noun.
Another kind of words we are possible to use imprecisely
is to have the same
origin but differ prefix or suffix.
Ex:
disinterested_ uninterested
imaginary _ imaginative
childlike
childish
There are words whose meanings are familiar but they can't be interchangeable.
Ex:
stubborn -obstinate
brigand-bandit
admission-admittance
4.1.2. Humor
"The writer informs and entertains. Reading about the beginning of the day is like
sitting quietly at the side and watching it. The writer's
13
sense of humor adds
something to the scene that we might not even see." (Brooks et all, 1992: 79).
Specially, humor in title of an article plays an important part in attracting readers'
attention. In addition, Jean, Martin and Lagardette (2003: 131) said: Idioms, film's
title, familiar or updated quotations are abundant source of which we should take
advantage to renew structures considered standard.
For instance, the article "Catch
February
finance
me if you can" of Newsweek
14, 2002. The article wrote about Manoun Darkazamli
for
terrorists
administration
carrying
out the
attack
9/11.
was printed on
who supported
However,
the
Bush's
has not found out enough evidence to charge him. The title of the
article has the same name of a humorous film of Hollywood made in the previous
time. It also told about a difficult chasing between the U.S police and a subtle
criminal.
4.1.3. Sentence
Precision
structure
means using the correct sentence
structure to communicate
explicitly
what you mean (Brooks et all, 1992:79). The following sentences are technically
correct but imprecise:
Ex:
Anthrax is rarely contagious, and the exposures to bacteria have been well
contained.
(Time, March 25, 2001: 24)
Because
anthrax is rarely contagious, the exposures to bacteria have been well
contained.
Ex:
They'll walk from there to the Sistine Chapel, they will take an oath to observe
all of the election's rules.
(USAToday,2005:9A)
They'll walk from there to the Sistine Chapel, where they will take an oath to
observe all of the election's rules.
14
4.2. Clarity
When writing an article, we have different
ways to express
our information,
however; press readers often haven't a lot of time to read the whole of article, they
sometimes read the title and the introduction of the article. So, a journalist needs
how to make hisl her article simple, clear in writing and the title of this article must
transmit the main information.
Press style above all makes most readers understand quickly information meaning
by pointing out the key information immediately.
(Jean, Martin and Lagardette,
2003:32)
Ex: Whose 9/11 Is It?
Surely 9/11 must be the worst possible thing for Bush to use in his campaign! No
link between aC Qaeda and Iraq has been proved, and no weapons of mass
destruction have been found. Iraq is in terrible shape because of the war, and the
Madrid attacks show that the terrorists' resolve has strengthened. How could the
issue of9/11 boost Bush's re_ election prospects?
(Time, "Whose 9/11 is it", June 20,2004: 6)
4.3. Coherence
A good writing also uses coherence
thought to the next. Coherence
direction. Coherence
to lead the reader imperceptibly
from one
assures the reader that the writer has a sense of
is a bridge. It can be a word, a phrase, a sentence,
or a
paragraph. (Brooks et all, 1992: 86)
Ex:
BAGHDAD-Two car bombs exploded outside an Iraqi government office in the
capital, Thursday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 36.
15
Al-Queda in Iraq, a group headed by Jordanian militant Abu Musab aC
Zarquawi, claimed responsibility for the attack.
(USAToday, "Twin car bombing kill 18, wound 36 in central Baghdad ", April
15,2005:2A)
The word "the attack" is a demonstrative
adjective. Its use is subtle, but its impact
is dramatic. If you write "an attack", you aren't linking the reader to the event
already mentioned. If you write "the attack", you are more specific.
The linkages, "the ", "this ", "that", "these ", "those ", help you achieve coherence,
the logical connection of ideas. The linkages transfer you from one sentence to the
next, from one paragraph to the next.
4.4. Analogies
Good writers also know how to use another
literary
device
called analogy.
Analogies permit writers to shows similarities and contrasts. "A simile is a figure in
which a comparison is stated explicitly" (Delahunty & Garvey, 1989: 307). Similes
show similarities by using the word "like" or "as ".
Ex:
He is as timid as a mouse
She is beautiful like aflower
Or describing a long distance runner, a writer used this simile: "Her legs, so
rubbery they wobbled like jelly, shook and then surrendered"
"Metaphor
is the first cousin of the simile "(Brooks et all, 1992: 91). Metaphor
often appears
in literary
style, however;
comparison to help increase picturesqueness
from press readers.
many journalists
use this figure of
of their article and attract attention
"A metaphor induces the hearer (or reader) to view a thing,
state of affairs, or whatever,
as being like something else, by applying to the
former linguistic expression which are more normally employed in reference to the
latter." (Delahunty & Garvey, 1989:41)
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