TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION 3 1 1 Rationale 3 1 2 Aims of Study 3 1 3 Scope of the Study 3 1 4 Research Methods 4 DEVELOPMENT 5 2 1 Literature Review 5 2 1 1 Mood 5 a) Indicative Mood 5 b) Imperative Mood 5 c) Subjunctive Mood 6 2 1 2 Tense 8 2 1 2 1 Concept of tense 8 2 1 2 2 Types of tense 8 2 1 3 The English Conditional sentences 10 2 2 Findings and Discussions 12 2 2 1 The basic types of conditional sentences employed in the novel Jane Eyre and their Vietnamese equivalents 12 2 2 1 1 The.
TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2 Aims of Study 1.3 Scope of the Study .3 1.4 Research Methods .4 DEVELOPMENT 2.1 Literature Review 2.1.1 Mood a) Indicative Mood b) Imperative Mood .5 c) Subjunctive Mood 2.1.2 Tense .8 2.1.2.1 Concept of tense 2.1.2.2 Types of tense 2.1.3 The English Conditional sentences 10 2.2 Findings and Discussions 12 2.2.1 The basic types of conditional sentences employed in the novel "Jane Eyre" and their Vietnamese equivalents .12 2.2.1.1 The zero conditional sentences .12 2.2.1.2 The first conditional sentences 14 2.2.1.3 The second conditional sentences 17 2.2.1.4 The third conditional sentences 21 2.2.1.5 The mixed conditional sentences 23 2.2.2 The pragmatic functions of conditional sentences in the novel and its Vietnamese equivalent 25 2.2.3 Implications for translating conditional sentences in the novel 31 2.2.3.1 Some mistakes that learners often have in using English conditional sentences in the novel 31 2.2.3 The ways to help learners overcome difficulties in translating English conditional sentences in the novel .32 REFERENCES 38 APPENDICES 40 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale Over the past decades, English has become the most dominating language of the world and a great ladder for the process of integrating into regional and international economic and diplomatic development However, for many Vietnamese learners, grammar is considered as one of the biggest arduous issues in English, and one of the most difficult sentence construction to comprehend is conditional sentences Because English conditionals require producing grammatically correct conditional sentences while coordinating verb forms in both the “ if” and the result clauses Additionally, the fact that verb forms often not retain their normal temporal meaning makes it even more complex Therefore, in this study, I would like to set an examination for the structures and the usage of conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese in the novel “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte and its Vietnamese equivalents and then discuss as well as suggest some implications related to translating English conditional sentences to Vietnamese learners 1.2 Aims of Study In this research, results are expected to help Vietnamese learners to have: - The deeper insight of English conditionals; - Some methods to avoid possible deplorable mistakes in translating the conditional sentences 1.3 Scope of the Study Due to the limited amount of time, reference source and capability, I would like to focus only on “If” conditional sentences in the novel “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte and their Vietnamese equivalents 1.4 Research Methods The methods are used the most in this Study are consulting, collecting, classifying and synthetizing materials DEVELOPMENT 2.1 Literature Review Concepts that are mentioned in the theoretical background of interpreting include an overview of mood, tense and English conditional sentences 2.1.1 Mood 2.1.1.1 Concept of Mood According to E.M.Gordon and I.P.Krylova: “Mood is the form of the which shows the relation between the action expressed by the predicate verb and reality” V Vinogradov also expressed the same idea in another way: “Mood expresses the relation of the action to reality as stated by the speaker” 2.1.1.2 Types of Mood a) Indicative Mood According to llyish (1971), the use of the Indicative Mood shows that the speakers (or writers) present the action or real We can use indicative mood to give information (she likes going for walks every evening), to express opinions (I like the drinks of that coffee shop) to make promises (I will always be by your side) b) Imperative Mood The Imperative Mood is a verb form that gives a command including orders, requests, advice, instructions, and warnings We have the following different kinds of the imperative mood.: - In the second person without personal pronouns: Go to your room! - With reflexive pronouns: Give yourself a break - With a direct object: Hit the ball - Referring to third-person objects of the main verb: Let them eat cake - As an affirmative imperative (also called positive imperative form): Go for it! - As a negative imperative (also called a negative command): Do not touch the cookies! - Expressing wishes: Let's go Tigers! - In future tense: You will behave yourself, young lady The imperative mood takes the second person form of a verb (both secondperson singular and second-person plural) and appears in the present tense c) Subjunctive Mood In contrast to the Indicative Mood, the Subjunctive usually refers to nonfactual or hypothetical situations There are two types of subjective - the present Subjunctive and the past Subjunctive - The present Subjunctive: Examples: It is vital that they be stopped at once In the sentence above, the dependent clause (that…) expresses a desire; therefore, the mood should be Subjunctive Therefore, the verb should be be stopped rather than are stopped - The past Subjunctive: Examples: If your father were alive he would help you Summary Chart 2.1: Classification of Mood Indicative Mood MOOD Imperative Mood The present Subjunctive Subjunctive Mood The past Subjunctive 2.1.2 Tense a) Concept of tense According to Hockett (1967:235) states that tense is a grammatical category that is used to show different locations of an event in time Lyons (1968:149) adds that tense has to with time relations as expressed by systematic grammatical contrasts Crystal (1985: 352) postulates that tense is a category used in the grammatical description of verb referring primarily to the way the grammar marks the time at which the action denoted by the verb took place Finally, Comrie (1986: 26) gives a wider scope to the definition of tense, regarding it as the grammaticalization of location in time Considering the comprehensive quality of Comrie's definition, the researcher believes that it is the most appropriate among all the other definitions b) Types of tense - Present tenses Comrie (1988:37) states that the present moment is a location fixed in the time line Thus, the present tense is the location of the situation at that point Yet, this seems somehow a controversial argument since situations that coincide with the present moment are rare However, such rare situations occur Comrie gives an example with a performative verb: I promise to pay you ten pounds Comrie (Ibid.: 38) adds that one of the most interesting characteristics of the present tense is that it can be used to refer to situations that occupy a much longer period of time than the present moment, including the present moment Example: The Earth goes around the Sun - Past tenses The past tense is used when the happening state, action or event is related to a definite time in the past, a point that may be called ' then '.The past tense is the marked member of the opposition past/ present, as Fowler (1974:42) suggests that tense in English has only two values from a formal point of view, i.e., [ ± past ] avoiding the use of ' present ' in tense opposition A sentence is either marked ( + past ) or unmarked ( - past ) - Futurity Stone (1976:36) states that simple futurity denotes an action with reference to future time or future intention It is distinguished by means of two main markers, viz shall and will whose function is either to give the meaning of pure futurity or to express determination or promise The problem arises, according to Hornby (1977:45) in indicating future activities aside from other notions like likelihood , willingness, and so on Daoud (1988:1) who considers tense as a semantic category whose main function is to express the concept of time in its three dimensions, i.e., past, present and future Taking this definition into consideration, Daoud (Ibid.) argues that “future tense” should be treated as an integral part of the English tensesystem though most linguists reject the use of “future tense” since the inflectional morphology of the English verb does not include any affix that could be regarded as an explicit marker of future tense 2.1.3 The English Conditional sentences 2.1.3.1 Definition of conditional sentences Randolph Quirk in “university grammar of English” (1972) suggested an idea: “Conditional clauses state the dependence of one circumstance or set of circumstances on another” Collin Cobuilt (1990) in “English grammar” also pointed out: “Sentences containing conditional clauses are sometimes called conditional sentences” and as for him conditional clauses begin with “if” or with conjunctions having similar meaning like “unless” 2.1.3.2 Different classifications of conditional clauses In short, types of Conditional Sentences can be summed up as in the tables below: TYPE IF CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE Types of English Conditional Sentences and their basic syntactic features: conditional - Real, possible (Now/always) Simple Present Simple Present Am, is, are//Verb Simple Present Am, is, are//Verb Present Continuous Am, is, are//Verb Simple Past Verb-ing Simple Past Was, were//V2/ed Was, were//V2/ed 1st conditional – Simple Present Simple Future Ability in present, future Example 2nd conditional – Am, is, are//Verb Will be/ verb bare If you don’t want to go, we’ll stay home Simple Past Unreal in present,future Example rd conditional – Was, were//V2/ed Would + be/V bare If I won a lottery, I would buy a big house Past Perfect Unreal in past Had+ V3/ed Had+ V3/ed Example If you had tole me about the meeting, I would not have missed it Types of Mixed English Conditional Sentences 2-3 Was, were//V2/ed wouldn't + past participle contrasting an imagined or real event in the past with the present result of that Example 3-2 If I were the God, human being would not have been created past perfect describing ongoing If had + V3/ed would + infinitive circumstances in relation to a previous past event Example If we had not met each other, there would be no sorrow 2.2 Findings and Discussions 2.2.1 The basic types of conditional sentences employed in the novel "Jane Eyre" and their Vietnamese equivalents 2.2.1.1 The zero conditional sentences They division includes statements, facts, habits, rules, general truths a) Factual conditional A conditional sentence expressing an implication: “If I go to India, I go to premature death”.[p.358] (Nếu ta Ấn Độ, ta đến chết non yếu) ->Jane doesn’t love St John, in such case, she is not happy to be with him 10 or antagonist acts- first Jane was sure that she was glad to leave; second the author underlines that Jane can never get away until she is a woman “If she could only get out of the way for a month or two, till all was over” [p.207] (Thật tuyệt, khỏi chốn độ hai tháng, chuyện xong xuôi) -> In this case the “if clause” which actually express an impossible action referring to the future, the adverb “ a month or two” being a mark of future tense, comes first though the “result clause” and requires a comma - Vietnamese equivalents Like the first type conditional sentences, the semantic translation is also quite popular In this case, conditional clauses can be translated as “nếu, như, giả sử, ví thử, giá thử, giá”, and main clauses are translated as “sẽ”, “thì”, “liệu” 2.2.1.4 The third conditional sentences “And Eliza would have sold the hair off her head if she could have made a handsome profit thereby” [p.23] (Có lẽ Eliza bán tóc đầu thấy có lợi.) -> In these sentence there is no comma as the main clause is placed firstly but there is a conjunction which relates this clause with the previous one and shows the difference between two facts “If she had held it open a little longer, I believe I should have begged a piece of bread; for I was now brought low.” [p.289] (Giá bà ta để ngỏ cửa lâu chút nữa, hỏi xin mẩu bánh, nhân cách xuống rồi) -> She was so hungry and tired and no time to search for it, so she regretted about this fact 14 “If she had been in great pain one would have excused it, but she only wanted to bring us all here” [p.12] (Nếu đau yếu mà kêu nhẽ, đằng cốt làm để bắt phải lại đây) -> This sentence suggests a criticism of Jane, who was shouting because the housekeeper thinks she was pretending - Vietnamese equivalents In English, the third type conditional sentences can be used with “must/should/might… + have + past participle” and in Vietnamese, they can be translated as “chắc hẳn là, có lẽ, có lẽ nếu, giá, giả sử…” 2.2.1.5 The mixed conditional sentences - Past + present mixed conditional “If ever I did a good deed in my life - if ever I thought a good thought - if ever I prayed a sincere and blameless prayer - if ever I wished a righteous, I am rewarded now” [p.394] (Nếu đời em, có làm việc tốt, có em có ý nghĩ tốt, có em cầu nguyện cách thành khẩn, mà khơng có đáng trách, có em biết ước mơ đắn, em thưởng công.) → This sentence denotes a not regret of Jane related to what she did in the past, which gives her a reward of living with Mr Rochester in present moment “now” - Present + past mixed conditional “if there had Perhaps it would have been better” [p.379] → Không, chết có lẽ lại → This sentence express a hypothetical situation related to the past it would be better – if Mr Rochestor died, but it is also a counterfactual action as in fact he did not die in that fire 15 - Vietnamese equivalents The mixed conditional sentences are often translated semantically and in Vietnamese, they can be translated as “nếu…thì bây giờ”, “giá thử….thì” 2.2.2 The pragmatic functions of conditional sentences in the novel and its Vietnamese equivalent According to speech acts, conditional sentences belong to illocutionary acts Illocutionary acts include such as stating, requesting, questioning, promising, apologizing, appointing,ect So, here we translated conditional sentences not basing on their literal meanings, but basing on the writer’s intention The tendency of translation is sometimes semantic and sometimes communicative As Threatening Conditional sentences are often used to imply threat when we wish to raise the politeness of utterance and reduce the level of threatening Examples: “Tell her she shall be put in the stocks if she does not take herself off” (p 168) (Bảo cho mụ biết khơng xéo người ta bỏ tù mụ đấy.) “Richard, it will be at peril of your life if you speak to her…” (p.184) (Richard, anh nói câu tức nguy hiểm đến tính mạng anh đấy.) All the above conditional sentences are translated as threat and we can infer that from fragmatic function of the sentences The way of translation is communicative In Vietnamese the words “thề, thề rằng” or “đe dọa, dọa ” are used to make the meaning of the sentences clearer As Advising 16 “If I were mademoiselle, I would never consent to go with you.” (p.235) (Nếu cháu mà cơ, cháu chẳng lịng với ông) “And if I were in your place I should dislike her; I should resist her.”(p.46) (Nhưng tơi mà địa vị chị tơi căm ghét cô ấy, chống cự lại.) In English, with this pragmatic function, imperative form or “should” is often used in the main clause, the conditional clause contains “If I were you, ” or auxiliary “should” Similarly, in Vietnamese, we can use “khuyên, nên, hãy, …” The tendency for communicative translation is applied As Warning To make a conditional sentence a warning, situational information is expected to presuppose that it is not clear that the hearer knows the event will occur, the speaker does not think the event will occur and the event will not have a beneficial effect Examples: “For if you stay longer, you will perhaps irritate me afresh by some mistrustful scruple.”(p.343) (Vì anh lại lâu nữa, anh làm tơi bực nghi ngại đó.) In English, to express warning, people often use “if you take my advice, ; If my experience is anything to go by, you should (not) , Similarly, in Vietnamese, we can use “ cảnh báo anh, theo kinh nghiệm tôi, tơi báo trước, tơi nói trước, ” The tendency for communicative translation is applied As Criticizing When using conditional sentences to criticize other people, the speaker also includes his complaint Example: 17 “If she had held it open a little longer, I believe I should have begged a piece of bread; for I was now brought low.” (p.289) (Giá bà ta để ngỏ cửa lâu chút nữa, tơi hỏi xin mẩu bánh, nhân cách xuống rồi.) When criticizing other people, conditional clauses in this function are counterfactual and in Vietnamese, we can use “giá mà, khơng, thực ” In most examples investigated above, the tendency for semantic translation is applied As Requesting To make a polite more polite, conditional sentences should be used and the main clause is often seen in the form of question in simple present or with a modal verbs and we often use “If I want…/ I want to…/ If you can…/ can I do… what can I do…” Example: “If you can, repeat them sincerely.” (p.343) (Hãy nhắc lại, anh có thể, nhắc lại thành thực đi.) “If you can get ready, Miss, I should like to take you back with me early tomorrow morning.” (p.195) (Nếu sẵn sàng muốn sáng sớm mai đưa cô thể.) The conditional sentences in these samples are translated with the help of “yêu cầu, muốn, có thể, nhé, nhé, hãy, chứ” to raise the politeness of request In most examples investigated above, the tendency for semantic translation is applied As Suggesting 18 Similar to requesting, conditional sentences should be used to make suggestions and the main clause is often seen in the form of a question in simple present or with a modal verb and we often use “If you like, …” Examples: “…you, I am persuaded, can suit me if you will.” (p.116) (Cịn cơ, tơi tin thích hợp với tơi, cô muốn.) “I will be your curate , if you like, but never your wife.” (p.366) (Tôi làm trợ lý anh, anh muốn, không vợ anh.) The conditional sentences in these samples are translated with the help of “nhé, có không, nhé, hãy, không” to raise the politeness of suggestion As Regretting Conditional sentences can be used to express a regret And to express a regret, we often use the third type conditional sentences Example: “He would very well if he had fewer cakes and sweetmeats sent him from home.” ( p.5) (Giá nhà gửi bánh kẹo cho bơn bớt chút, khỏe mạnh đấy) In fact, the regretting feeling of the speaker is expressed through the semantic implication of modal perfect “ would have + past participle” Example: “I should, if I had deliberated, have replied to this question by something conventionally vague and polite” (p.114) 19 (Nếu tơi có thời gian suy nghĩ, có lẽ tơi trả lời câu nói ước lệ xã giao lễ phép, đằng bất thần nên buột mồm không kịp suy nghĩ.) Moreover, we can use “if only” to express a regret In Vietnamese it means “giá mà, tiếc rằng, tiếc là” In short, all the conditional sentences in the novel were analyzed basing on the writer’s intension, not basing on their literal meaning Therefore, the tendency of translation is sometimes semantic and sometimes communicative Pragmatic functions of conditional sentences can be sum up as in the tables below: Pragmatic functions Threatening Conditional sentences and its Vietnamese equivalents If you…., you will… Advising Thề/thề rằng/đe dọa/dọa If I were….I would/should… Warning Khuyên/nên/hãy,… If you…, you not… If you take my advice, you should… Criticizing Tôi cảnh báo anh/ tơi báo trước/ tơi nói trước,… If I had (not) + P2, I would have + P2 If I had (not) + P2, I would + V Requesting Giá mà, khơng / Nếu thực If I want…/I want to… If you can…/ What can I do…? Suggesting Nếu muốn…/ nhé…/ nhé…/hãy… If you like… Regretting Nhé…/ nhé…/ hãy… If/If only + S had (not) + P2, S + would have +P2 20 Giá mà If I may say so…/ If you not mind…/ 2.2.3 Implications for translating conditional sentences in the novel 2.2.3.1 Some mistakes that learners often have in using English conditional sentences in the novel Frequently, when coming across a conditional sentence, learners pay much attention to the syntactic features , for instance, how tenses are used in the clauses Besides, some link words such as “if” and “unless” are paid much attention to while other link words explicitly expressing condition are ignored Learners often translate word by word without noticing pragmatic functions and without putting it in real contexts Therefore, a big hole in learners’ translating knowledge can be found The followings are examples related to mistakes that learners often have + Difficulties in translating different types of English conditional sentences into Vietnamese + Difficulties in understanding pragmatic functions of English conditional sentences 2.2.3 The ways to help learners overcome difficulties in translating English conditional sentences in the novel a) Contribute sufficient knowledge of types of English conditional sentences and their Vietnamese equivalents for learners Almost learners completely master the syntactic features of English conditional sentences They can recognize and use tenses in conditional sentences accurately Learners should be supplied with adequate knowledge of 21 each type and Vietnamese words with specific meanings to help create good translation - With zero conditional sentences Learners need to add “ khi, nếu, thật hiển nhiên là, ” to translate things which are always true, such as scientific facts and general truths as follows: “I can live alone if self-respect and circumstances require me to so.” (p 176) (Ta sống đơn, lịng tự trọng hồn cảnh địi hỏi vậy.) - With the first type conditional sentences Learners should know which link words should be used to express the things happening in the present or in the future “if” can be translated as “ Nếu, ngộ nhỡ, nhỡ mà, may ” and “unless” means “ trừ khi”, “ as long as” “hễ là, miễn là”, Example: “If you dread them they'll dislike you.” (p 32) (Nếu cô sợ họ, họ ghét cô) In translating the first type conditional sentences, learners need to pay much attention to condition and result to choose suitable Vietnamese link words - With the second type conditional sentences “If” can be translated “Nếu, giả sử”, “ if only ” “giá mà, giá như”, “ giả sử” “ giả sử ” In translation, these words are used to express unreal things in the present or in the future Therefore, learners should pay much attention to these words Example: “He would very well if he had fewer cakes and sweetmeats sent him from home.” (p 5) (Giá nhà gửi bánh kẹo cho bơn bớt chút, khỏe mạnh đấy) 22 - With the third and mixed type conditional sentences In order to emphasize unreal things in the past , “chắc hẳn là, lẽ nên, có lẽ ” are added in Vietnamese English translation to denote the coherence and flexibility Examples: “And Eliza would have sold the hair off her head if she could have made a handsome profit thereby.” (p 23) (Có lẽ Eliza bán tóc đầu thấy có lợi.) “If the man who had but one little ewe lamb that was dear to him as a daughter, that ate of his bread and drank of his cup, and lay in his bosom, had by some mistake slaughtered it at the shambles, he would not have rued his bloody blunder more than I now rue mine.”(p 263) (Giả thử người có cừu non, coi thân thiết gái mình, cho ăn miếng bánh mình, cho uống vào cốc mình, cho nằm lịng mình, mà lầm lẫn đó, lại đập chết lị sát sinh, người khơng thể hối tiếc lỗi lầm đẫm máu tơi được.) In summary, in the above examples, depending on types of conditional sentences, learners should choose suitable link words to add to their sentences in order to produce good translation Usually, “ thì, giá mà, miễn là, ” are used to translate b) Supplying learners with adequate knowledge of pragmatic functions Learners should be supplied with adequate knowledge of pragmatic functions At different levels, the teachers should pay attention to supplying suitable 23 knowledge Pragmatic function of conditional clauses should be introduced appropriately through models Examples: “What we tell you is for your good.’ added Bessie, in no harsh voice, “you should try to be useful ad pleasant, then, perhaps, you would have a home here; but if you become passionate and rude, Missis will send you away, I am sure” (p 8) → In this example, the word “sure” are used to express threat “ ‘I will think what you like, sir: I am content to be only your nurse, if you think it better.’ ‘But you cannot always be my nurse, Janet: you are young-you must marry one day.’ ‘I don’t care about being married.’ ‘You should care, Janet: if I were what I once was, I would try to make you care’ ” (p 386) → In this example , the words “if I were” are used to express regretting Therefore, learners should be supplied with adequate knowledge of pragmatic functions At different levels, the teachers should pay attention to supplying suitable knowledge The most useful way is teaching through necessary contexts in which a conditional is used It helps learners understand what the conditionals refer to so that they can understand if they are dealing with a threaten, a regret, a wish, or a suggestion Furthermore, they should also pay much attention to linking words Choosing the right link words will help learners convey their thoughts successfully 24 CONCLUSION In summary, this study has the following strong aims: - Examining conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese through the novel “Jane Eyre” - Helping Vietnamese students master this effective structure to have a better insight into conditional sentences and ways to face the difficulties in using it Therefore, this thesis has discussed these consequent main issues and findings: - There are different classifications of conditional sentences One distinction is between those that are considered basic in English - 0, 1st, 2nd,3rd types, and those that denote an unusual mix of tenses-mixed conditionals Another distinction between conditionals that are considered factual or predictive, and those that are considered counterfactual or speculative (referring to a situation that did not or does not really exist), there are conditional sentences which require a specific paradigm of formation and other ones that involve a variety of modals Basing on pragmatic functions, conditional sentences were also used to express threatening, advising, warning, criticizing, requesting, suggesting and regretting - There are many conditional sentences appeared in the novel “Jane Eyre” and the most frequent type from the basic approach of conditional clauses is the second one The author’s predilection for it, could serve the fact that this novel in its state refers to a double faced essence - the reality and fiction Moreover, on the pragmatic functions of conditionals, it has been noted in the study that context fills the gap between linguistic meaning and what has been said in an 25 ... Therefore, in this study, I would like to set an examination for the structures and the usage of conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese in the novel “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte and. .. requesting, suggesting and regretting - There are many conditional sentences appeared in the novel “Jane Eyre” and the most frequent type from the basic approach of conditional clauses is the second... counterfactual action as in fact he did not die in that fire 15 - Vietnamese equivalents The mixed conditional sentences are often translated semantically and in Vietnamese, they can be translated as “nếu…thì