ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP
ABSTRACT
ABBREVIATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.RATIONALE
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
During the past 4 years, I had reached valuable experience and knowledge in translation field. All the things that I have collected and trained from the teachers' lectures are shown in this graduation paper.
Translating this chapter 3 titled "A Governess at Thornfield" from the Book "Jane Eyre" will help people realize in life, there are loves that come easily,there are loves where lovers always walk on flower-strewn streets. And there are also loves that are long journeys to find happiness.
Moreover, through this graduation paper, I have the opportunity to practice and improve my translation skills to apply it better in other areas in the future.
After finishing my graduation paper, I can better understand the desire for happiness, overcome many difficulties to find it of women and especially the human warmth of the 19th century. Also, I can thoroughly understand the translation theory and enhance my translation skills through contacting with complex sentence structures and vocabulary that I have never seen in the learning process.
3. SCOPE OF STUDY
The book has 5 chapters. Because of time limitation, I decide to translate and analyze chapter 3-part 7,8,9 "A Thornfield" from the Book "Jane Eyre" which was written by Charlotte Bronte.
This part mainly focuses on a long journey to find happiness of a poor girl, without beauty, without possessions. The only inheritance is only a kind heart, rich in love and uprightness and frankness.
I decided on chapter 3 - part 7,8,9 "A Governess at Thornfield. The translated text has about 4,038 words.
The book “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte is divided into 5 chapters:
Chapter I : A child at Gateshead
Chapter II : A girl at Lowood
Chapter III : A Governess at Thornfield
Chapter IV : A woman at Moor House
Chapter V : A wife at Ferndean Manor
The text is in the book “Jane Eyre” is a novel by Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855), published by Smith, Elder & Company of London, 1847, under the pseudonym Currer Bell.
4. METHOD OF THE STUDY
In order to meet the aims and objectives of this graduation paper, I have used a number of methods based on various sources:
First, Using reference books and internet materials can provide me with a great source of information and help me gain a deep understanding of the natural sciences.
Secondly, referring to the findings of research from researchers around the world helps me build the theoretical foundation and list the difficulties in the translation process.
Thirdly, the method of analyzing vocabulary and sentence structure difficulties based on theoretical background helps me find out suggestions to give readers the best translation version.
5. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1. DEFINITIONS OF TRANSLATION
Some researchers in the world have given many different views on translation definition as follows:
According to Catford , “Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by equivalent textual material in another language (target language).” [1]
Nord said: “Translation is the production of a functional target text maintaining a relationship with a given source text that is specified according to the intended or demanded function of the target text.” [2]
Nida and Taber describes translation as “Translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closet natural equivalent of the source language message, first in term of meaning and secondly in term of style.” [3]
Peter Newmark said: “Translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text.” [4]
Bell said: “Translation is the expression in another language (or the target language) of what has been expressed in another, source language, preserving semantic and stylistic equivalences”. [5]
Through the above ideas, I can express an opinion on the translation definition as follows:
Translation is the process of changing of the words written or spoken in one language (the source) into the words in another language (the target) that have the same meaning to convey original intent of messages of the author across linguistic, cultural and regional differences between source and target languages.
2. METHODS, PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF TRANSLATION
2.1. Methods of Translation
Beside six types of catigories in the “Translation Theory” text book of Mr. Nguyen Manh Quang [6]. There are also eight methods, six principles of translation, and some rules of translation that I can apply in the translation process.
2.1.1. Word-for-Word Translation
This is often demonstrated as interlinear translation with the TL immediately below the SL words. The SL word order is preserved, and the words are translated singly by their most common meanings, out of context. Cultural words are translated literally. The main use of word-for-word translation is either to understand the mechanics of the SL or to construct a difficult text as a pre translation process.
Example: She is beautiful and smart.
→ Cô ấy thì xinh đẹp và thông minh.
2.1.2. Literal Translation
The SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivalents, but the lexical words are again translated singly out of context. As a pre-translation process, this indicates the problem to be solved.
Example: He has a dark face.
→ Anh ấy có khuôn mặt tối tăm.
2.1.3. Faithful Translation
A faithful translation attempts to reproduce the precise contextual meaning of the original meaning within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures. It “transfers” cultural words and preserves the degree of grammatical and lexical "abnormality" in the translation. It attempts to be completely faithful to the intensions and the text realization of the SL writer.
Example: He was a fast as a kangaroo.
→ Anh ấy nhanh như một con kangaroo.
2.1.4. Semantic Translation
This method must pay more attention to the aesthetic value (that is, the beautiful and natural sound) of the SL text, compromising on “meaning” where appropriate so that no assonance, word-play or repetition jars in the finished version. Furthermore, it may translate less important cultural words by culturally neutral third or functional terms but not by cultural equivalents and it may make other small concession to the readership.
Example: I take the medicine twice a day.
→ Tôi uông thuốc hai lần một ngày.
2.1.5. Adaptation
This is the “freest” form of translation, used mainly for plays (comedies) and poetry. The themes, characters, plots are usually preserved, the SL culture is converted to the TL one, and the text is rewritten.
2.1.6. Free Translation
This method reproduces the matter without the manner, or the content without the form of the original. Usually, it is a paraphrase much longer than the original a so-called “intra-lingual translation”, often prolix, pretentious and seemingly non-translated at all.
Example: Have a good time!
→ Chúc vui vẻ!
2.1.7. Idiomatic Translation
This produces the “message” of the original again but tends to distort the nuances of meaning by preferring colloquialisms and idioms where these do not exist in the original.
Example: Add fuel to the fire.
→ Thêm dầu vào lửa.
2.1.8. Communicative Translation
This method attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both content and language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readership. This translation is rather often news on radio or in newspapers. Sometimes communicative and semantic translation may coincide with each other.
Example: Don’t drink and drive.
→ Đã uống rượu bia thì không lái xe.
2.2. Principles of Translation
Although this is not a theoretical work, students may follow some guidelineson how to help themselves to evaluate their own work. Below are some general principles which are relevant to all translation.
The translation should reflect accurately the meaning of original text. Nothing should be arbitrarily added or moved, though occasionally part of the meaning can be “transpose”.
The order of words and ideas in the translation should match that in the original as closely as possible. This is particularly in the form and order of words. When in doubt, underline in the original text the words on which the main stress falls. In English, emphasis or main stress can be obtained through inversion of word order and using different structures such as: “No sooner...than”, “It is/was... that(who)...”, "Only by...”, etc.
Example: No sooner had he graduated than was he was on his way to America.
→ Ngay sau khi anh ấy tốt nghiệp, anh ấy đến Mỹ.
Languages often differ greatly in, their levels of formality in a given context (say, in a business letter). To resolve these differences, the translator must distinguish between formal and fixed expressions.
Would any expression in the original sound too formal/ informal, cold/ warm, personal / impersonal if translated literally?
What is the intension of the writer or speaker? (to persuade/ dissuade apologize, criticize?). Does it come through in the translation?
Example: I’m sorry.
It’s my fault.
I own you an apology.
→ All of them have the same meaning: “xin loi”.
2.2.4. Source Language Infulence
One of the most frequent criticisms of translation is that “It’s doesn’t sound natural”. This is because the translator’s thoughts and choice of words are too strongly moulded by the original text. A good way of shaking off the SL influence is to set text aside and translate a new sentence aloud from memory. This will suggest natural patterns of thought in the first language (TL), which may not come in mind when the eyes are fixed on the SL text.
Example:
Idiomatic expressions are notoriously untranslatable. These include similes, metaphors, proverbs, sayings, jargons, slangs, colloquialisms and phrasal verbs. If the expressions cannot be directly translated, try any of the following.
a. Retain the original word, in inverted commas
Example: “Jazz” music.
→ Nhạc jazz.
b. Retain the original expression, with a literal explanation in brackets.
Example: Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn.
→ The good inner nature is always more important than the beauty of the outer flashiness.
c. Use a close equivalent
Example: Họa vô đơn chí.
→ It never rains but it pours.
d. Use a non-idiomatic or plain prose translation
Example: Get off the ground.
→ Khởi đầu suôn sẻ.
The not change the style of the original. But translator in general should if the text is sloppily written or full of tedious repetitions, the translator may, for the reader's sake, correct the defects.
Example: Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold.
→ Đừng đuổi theo quyền lực mà đánh mất đạo đức, cũng như trí tuệ đem đến cho bạn hạnh phúc chứ không phải là tiền bạc và vật chất.
2.3. Rules of Translation
English sentences can be arranged and classical into seven patterns follows:
S + V ( Ex: I’m cooking )
S +V + A ( Ex: The lamp is on the table )
S + V+ O ( Ex: I love English )
S +V + C ( Ex: He is a policeman )
S + V + O + A ( Ex: I met you at the railway station )
S + V + O + O ( Ex: John gave his wife a gift )
S + V + O + C ( Ex: The company appointed him clerk.
“Proximity” means “nearness” in English.
Rule: When modifying any item of language, the MODIFIER must be placed closely to that item even though the modifier is a single word, a phrase (P_group/V_ing (ed) group/Inf_group), or a clause.
Example: “Only he can speak English in class.”
→ Chỉ có anh ấy có thể nói tiếng Anh trong lớp.
“He can speak only English in class.”
→ Anh ấy chỉ có thể nói tiếng Anh trong lớp.
In English, mistakes caused by incorrectly placing the position of modifies are called misplaced modifies.
Rule: The speech elements of the same grammatical function must be performed in an only similar structural form.
Similar structural form may be a single word, a P_group, V_ing/ed group, Inf-group, or an S-group (clause).
More specifically, when sentence elements have the same grammatical function, a Noun must be parallel to Noun an Adjective parallel to an Adjective.
CHAPTER 3: SUGGESTED TRANSLATION
CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS
Translation plays an important role in our profession. It is a bridge that conveys messages from one language to another in a professional communication activity. In addition, translation also helps us enhance international understanding as well as cultural and social awareness. However, in the text, I met many vocabulary and sentence structures that confused me and encountered many difficulties in the translation process. Therefore, I will now analyze those vocabulary and structure in depth to propose the most suitable translation versions for the context of the text.
1. VOCABULARY
2. PHRASAL VERBS
3. STRUCTURES
3.1. Compound Sentences
3.2. Complex Sentences
2.2.1. Complex Sentences with Relative Clause
2.2.2. Complex Sentences with Adverbial Clause
2.2.3. Complex Sentences with Noun Clause
3.3. Compound-Complex Sentences
3.4. Sentences in Passive Voice
3.5. Sentence with Dummy Subject
CHAPTER 5: DIFFICULTIES AND SOLUTIONS
1. DIFFICULTIES
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
1. Summary of Finding
2. Suggestions
REFERENCES