INTRODUCTION
Rationale
As a student at Duy Tan University's English Faculty, I have many opportunities to have a thorough understanding of all types of translation, and
The growing demand for interpretation and translation, especially in the tourism industry, highlights the need for skilled translators It is essential for these professionals to possess not only translation expertise but also a deep understanding of the underlying reasons for their translation choices.
In our exploration of "Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter (Chapter 2)," we aimed to understand the significance of groupthink in the workplace While modern business leaders advocate for collaboration and teamwork, the reality is that group decision-making can be challenging and often leads to poor and sluggish outcomes This raises critical questions about why group decision-making frequently falters and what strategies both groups and leaders can implement to enhance their decision-making processes.
In his newly released book, *Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter*, Harvard Law professor Cass Sunstein explores the common pitfalls of group decision-making and offers innovative strategies for enhancing collective problem-solving As a co-author of *Nudge* and the Harvard Business Review article “Making Dumb Groups Smarter,” Sunstein provides valuable insights into improving group intelligence and overcoming the limitations of groupthink.
In a dynamic Harvard Business Review webinar, Sunstein discusses key insights from his latest book, offering strategies and lessons aimed at helping leaders navigate the challenges of group decision-making while ensuring improved outcomes.
Aims and Objectives
Over the past four years, my graduation paper has reflected my personal growth and abilities, thanks to the invaluable support and guidance from my teachers and friends at Duy Tan University.
This graduation paper aims to enhance a translator's essential skills, minimize common translation mistakes, and foster a deeper understanding of cultural nuances Furthermore, this research will provide valuable experience in the field of translation.
Following the completion of my graduation paper, I set the following goals for myself:
Improving my translation abilities by incorporating appropriate words and structures into any phrase
Summarizing what I've learned in the past
Translating the words in a natural and fluid manner Removing language barriers to help Vietnamese people understand the content of this book
Analyzing difficult and complex vocabulary, phrases, or structures that can easily lead to reader misunderstandings
Scope of the Study
The text that I selected to translate is “Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter” by Cass R Sunstein and Reid Hastie,
In 2015, a graduation paper was translated from its original version, providing an analysis of a proposed translation of the book The paper also identifies common challenges that students encounter in the translation process and concludes with essential solutions to address these difficulties.
"Wiser" is a guide designed to enhance our understanding of effective group and team decision-making Improving these skills is essential, as collaboration is key to progress and success Successful teams are fundamental to achieving goals, while poor group dynamics often contribute to numerous failure stories in various contexts.
In the graduation thesis, I chose to translate Chapter 2 of the book " Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter" The translation is approximately 3900 words long
The text is divided into a lot of small titles and it is organized as follows: Title one: Garbage In? A Brief Guided Tour
Title three: Why More Garbage?
In their book "Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter," authors Cass R Sunstein and Reid Hastie explore strategies to enhance group decision-making The insights from this 2015 publication emphasize overcoming groupthink to foster smarter collective outcomes This valuable resource was obtained from the Phan Thanh branch of Duy Tan University library.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Definition
Translation can be defined in several ways According to Merriam-Webster, it is the process of shifting from one form to another, effectively converting text into one's own or another language Hornby (1975) emphasizes that translation involves conveying the meaning of spoken or written content in a different language Meanwhile, the Cambridge Dictionary describes translation as the action of converting words from one language to another while maintaining the same sense.
However, experts describe translation in very different ways; here are some examples:
1 J.C Catford (in A Linguistic Theory of Translation, 1965) defines translation as the replacement of verbatim material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL)
2 Peter Newmark (in A Textbook of Translation, 1988) also states that translation is the process of conveying the meaning of a text into another language in the manner intended by the author.
3 Eugene Nida and Charles R Taber (in Choliludin,2006) describe that translating entails duplicating the closest natural equivalent of a source language message in the receptor language, first in terms of meaning and then in terms of style.
4 Ian Tudor (in Duff, 1989) explains that translation is the process of transmitting messages across linguistic and cultural obstacles.
5 Isadore Pinhhuck (in Suryawinata and Hariyanto, 2003) states that translation is a process of seeking a TL equivalent for an SL expression.
Types of Categories
There are many types of translation Types of categories of translation may be defined in terms of extent, levels, and ranks of translation.
Understanding different translation categories is essential for effective translation, as they help clarify the various methods used By applying these techniques in my translation work, I aimed to minimize errors and prevent misunderstandings throughout the process.
Almost all translators confront two dilemmas when it comes to translating: converting everything or leaving something untranslated
According to J.C Catford, translation is classified into two types: full and partial
(i)In a full translation, the entire text is submitted to the translation process: the TL content replaces all of the SL material.
A partial translation retains specific elements from the source language (SL) by incorporating them into the target language (TL) without translation This practice is common in literary translation, where certain SL terms are considered "untranslatable" or are used intentionally to add "local color" to the TL.
House prices have increased significantly this year.
Translated version: Giá nhà đã tăng mạnh trong năm nay.
Phở là một món ăn truyền thống của Việt Nam.
In English translation version, we have: Pho is the traditional food of Vietnam.
The term "Pho" is retained in translations as it holds cultural significance that lacks an equivalent in English.
In addition to the two primary forms of translation, there are two other types that share similar characteristics, presenting unique challenges for translators These challenges arise from the varying levels of language employed in the translation process.
"Total translation" typically refers to a translation process where all layers of the source language (SL) text are transformed into the target language (TL) expression However, the term "total" can be misleading, as it implies a complete replacement that does not necessarily occur at every level of meaning.
Catford defines "total" translation as the process of substituting the source language (SL) grammar and vocabulary with equivalent target language (TL) grammar and vocabulary This process also involves replacing SL phonology and graphology with their TL counterparts However, it is important to note that such replacements are not typically made at the phonological and graphological level, resulting in a lack of translation at that dimension.
Total translation refers to the process of substituting the grammar and vocabulary of the source language (SL) with equivalent structures and terms from the target language (TL) This process also involves the replacement of SL phonology and graphology with the corresponding, albeit non-equivalent, phonological and graphical elements of the TL.
Restricted translation involves substituting source language (SL) text with equivalent target language (TL) text at a single level, such as phonological, graphological, grammatical, or lexical This approach focuses on translating only one aspect of the original material, ensuring that the essence of the content is preserved within that specific framework.
Have you ever been to Da Nang?
Bạn đã từng đến Đà Nẵng chưa?
The first time I came to New York, I felt very nervous.
Lần đầu đến Niu-Ooc, tôi thấy rất hoảng sợ.
In this example, the word “New York” cannot be transferred from English into Vietnamese, it is just replaced with an equivalent at only one level (phonological level).
According to Mr Nguyen Manh Quang, M.A, the primary point in this translation is that SL phonology is replaced with equivalent TL phonology, however, there are few other significant alterations.
Mr Nguyen Manh Quang, M.A claims that in graphological translation,
SL graphology is replaced with the comparable target one with no other important replacements.
The process is intricate, involving both phonological translation and the correlation between phonology and graphology Initially, the graphological units of the source language are substituted with their corresponding phonological units.
TL graphological units are replaced with equivalent TL graphological units.
2.2.6 Free, Literal, and Word-for-word Translation
A "free" translation offers boundless interpretation, while a "word-for-word" translation adheres strictly to the original text Literal translation occupies a middle ground, beginning with a "word-for-word" approach but adapting to the target language's grammar, resulting in a translation that may focus on groups or clauses.
Example: There is a book in the bag Có một quyển sách ở trong cặp.
Methods and Principles
Interlinear translation typically features the target language (TL) positioned directly beneath the source language (SL) words In this approach, the original word order of the SL is preserved, and each word is translated using its most common meaning.
The literal translation of cultural terms involves a word-for-word approach, which is often employed to understand the structure of the source language or to create a complex text as a preliminary step in the translation process.
Example: - Under the weather Dưới thời tiết (?)
- Practice makes perfect Thực hành khiến cho hoàn hảo (?)
In the pre-translation process, grammatical structures from the source language are converted to their nearest equivalents in the target language, while individual lexical items are translated in isolation, often lacking context This approach highlights the challenges that need to be addressed before the actual translation can occur.
Anh ta đang gặp chuyện buồn.
- The government was still young and weak.
Chính phủ lúc bấy giờ vẫn còn trẻ và yếu.
An accurate translation aims to faithfully convey the specific contextual meaning of the original text while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language (TL) It maintains the original's grammatical and lexical nuances and effectively transfers cultural terms The translation strives to remain true to the intentions and textual expression of the source language (SL) writer.
Example: - Money makes the mare go
Đồng tiền khiến cho con lừa cái đi (?)
Semantic translation prioritizes the aesthetic qualities of the source text, such as its beauty and natural sound, while allowing for flexibility in meaning to maintain a smooth reading experience It may use culturally neutral terms for less significant cultural references instead of direct equivalents Unlike faithful translation, which adheres strictly to the original text, semantic translation embraces creative exceptions and acknowledges the translator's intuitive understanding of the source material.
Example: We hope you will enjoy your staying with us
Chúng tôi hi vọng bạn sẽ có một kì nghỉ tuyệt vời tại khách sạn này.
The free translation method is primarily utilized for plays and poetry, allowing for a more creative approach This technique involves rewriting the text to align with the cultural nuances of the target language while preserving the original characters, themes, and plot.
- Saint thánh VN: Bụt, tiên
- It's all greek to me Hoàn toàn xa lạ, ko biết
- “The woman in charge of the accounts department is an absolute dragon!” Người đàn bà phụ trách phòng kế toán là một bà chằn đích thị!
This translation method yields a text that lacks the original's style and formatting, often resulting in a lengthy paraphrase known as "intra-lingual translation." Such translations tend to be verbose and pompous, making them seem almost untouched by the translation process.
Shall we go for a blow? Chúng ta đi đạo mát/ hóng gió nhé?
Have a good trip Chúc thượng lộ bình an!
It reproduces the message of the original but tends to distort the subtleties of meaning by favorring colloquialisms and idioms that do not exist in the original.
As rich as Rockerfeller? Giàu như Thạch Sùng.
All that glitters is not gold Chớ thấy sáng mà ngỡ là vàng.
The boy wants to go and see Mr John Cậu bé muốn đi vệ sinh
To sell like hot cakes Bán đắt như tôm tươi.
He was as quiet as a mouse Anh ta im như thóc
This method aims to convey the precise contextual meaning of the original text, ensuring that both the content and language are easily understood by the audience It is commonly employed in informative formats, such as news broadcasts or newspaper articles Notably, communicative and semantic translation can coexist in certain contexts.
Lái xe khi bạn không tỉnh táo là rất nguy hiểm.
No awareness is dangerous for driving.
He was denied the door
Anh ấy đến nhưng không được tiếp.
While this article is not a theoretical guide, students can benefit from certain guidelines to assess their own translation work The following general principles apply universally to all translation efforts.
The original text's meaning must be fully reflected in the translation. Nothing should be arbitrarily added or moved; however, part of the meaning can be transferred on occasion
Example: The government has decided to give the green light to the plan.
Chính phủ đã quyết định bật đèn xanh cho kế hoạch này.
The translation should closely mirror the original text's sequence of words and sentences, particularly regarding word form and arrangement It's important to emphasize key terms from the original when uncertain In English, altering word order and employing various patterns can effectively convey emphasis or strong stress.
Example: Had she not eaten this cake, she wouldn’t have had a stomachache.
Nếu cô ấy không ăn chiếc bánh ấy thì cô ấy sẽ không bị đau bụng
In a given setting, languages often differ greatly in terms of formality. The translator must distinguish between formal and fixed expressions in order to resolve these disparities.
Example: Standing room only Phòng chỉ còn chỗ để đứng
Idiomatic expressions are infamous for being difficult to translate. Similes, metaphors, proverbs, sayings, jargons, slangs, colloquialisms, and phrasal verbs are only a few examples.
+ Retain the original word, in inverted commas:
+ Retain the original expression, with a literal explanation in brackets.
Example: Rừng vàng biển bạc prosperous wealth
Example: muộn còn hơn không Better late than never
+ Use a non-idiomatic or plan prose translation:
Example: A bit over the top hơi quá
The original's style should not be altered The translator, on the other hand, may correct errors in the text if it is sloppily written or repetitive.
-Let’s love our human felious! Hãy biết thương, biết yêu lấy đồng loại của mình.
- “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Thật là vinh hạnh khi được gặp bạn.
A frequent issue in translation is the unnatural flow of the text, often due to the translator's rigid adherence to the original wording To achieve a more natural style, it is beneficial for translators to set the manuscript aside and verbally interpret key phrases from memory.
Example: I had breakfast before! Tôi đã có bữa sáng trước đó!
Context in Translating
Context is the one which occurs before (or) after a word, a phrase or even along utterance or text.
The context often helps in understanding the particular meaning of the word, phrase, etc.
The context may also be the broader social situation in which a linguistic item is used.
In translation, the context is understood as the “WHAT”, “WHERE” and
“TO WHOM” of our communication.
SUGGESTED TRANSLATION
While a Nobel Prize may not be awarded for proving that humans make mistakes, recent decades have seen significant contributions from behavioral scientists who have worked extensively to identify the specific ways and circumstances under which people err.
And in fact, at least five Nobel Prizes in Economics have been won by scientists associated with behavioral economics; the winners include
Akerlof in 2001, Daniel Kahneman in
The real advances can be found in efforts to specify exactly why and when human beings go wrong-in
Chương 2: Lỗi khuếch đạiTrong những thập kỷ gần đây, các nhà khoa học hành vi đã tiến hành nhiều nghiên cứu nhằm chỉ ra những sai lầm mà con người thường mắc phải Mặc dù không ai nhận giải Nobel cho việc chứng minh những lỗi này, nhưng các nhà khoa học đã đạt được ít nhất 5 giải Nobel Kinh tế, trong đó có Daniel McFadden vào năm 2000 và George Akerlof.
2001, Daniel Kahneman năm 2002, Thomas Schelling năm 2005 và Robert Shiller năm 2013.
(Đ2) Nguyên nhân do đâu? Đó là một chuyến du lịch được hướng dẫn ngắn ngày
Significant advancements have been made in understanding the mechanisms that cause individuals to make errors Research indicates that people often rely on heuristics, or mental shortcuts, which can result in predictable mistakes Additionally, identifiable biases contribute to systematic errors in judgment Both heuristics and biases are linked to cognitive processes known as System, highlighting the complexity of human decision-making.
Our focus is on the intuitive and automatic systems that operate with minimal effort, particularly in the context of group behavior We aim to highlight the heuristics and biases that significantly influence group dynamics, especially within the realms of business and government.
Human beings err because they use the availability heuristic to answer difficult questions about probability.
Xác suất xảy ra các sự kiện như tấn công khủng bố, bão, tắc đường, tai nạn từ nhà máy điện hạt nhân hay bệnh lây truyền qua đường tình dục thường được xác định dựa trên cảm tính và phỏng đoán, dẫn đến những sai sót có thể đoán trước Con người thường chịu ảnh hưởng của những thành kiến rõ ràng, tạo ra những lỗi hệ thống trong quá trình ra quyết định Cả cảm tính và thành kiến đều liên quan đến hành động của Hệ thống số một, hoạt động tự động mà không cần nỗ lực Chúng tôi tập trung vào hành vi của nhóm và tổ chức trong các chuyến tham quan có hướng dẫn viên, nhấn mạnh rằng kinh nghiệm và thành kiến có ảnh hưởng sâu sắc đến hoạt động của các nhóm, đặc biệt trong lĩnh vực kinh doanh và chính phủ.
People often make mistakes because they rely on their existing experiences to answer challenging probability questions For instance, they may question the likelihood of a specific product or reform succeeding, or whether a new film or television show will fail or capture a large audience.
(P4) When people use the availability heuristic, they answer a question of probability by asking whether examples come readily to mind.
People often mistakenly believe that more words on a random printed page end with "ing" than with "n" in the second-to-last position, due to the ease of recalling "ing" words This misconception highlights how memory influences perceptions of risk, leading individuals to be particularly aware of threats like crime, earthquakes, and environmental disasters because such examples are readily available in their minds Additionally, this cognitive bias raises questions about the likelihood of specific events, such as terrorist attacks, hurricanes, traffic accidents, nuclear plant incidents, or sexually transmitted diseases, and the potential success of particular products or new films and TV shows in capturing audience attention.
Khi con người sử dụng phương pháp phỏng đoán tính khả dụng, họ thường trả lời các câu hỏi xác suất dựa trên những ví dụ dễ nhớ Một ví dụ điển hình là việc mọi người thường nghĩ rằng trên một trang in, nhiều từ sẽ kết thúc bằng đuôi "ing" hơn là bằng chữ "n" ở vị trí kế cuối, mặc dù nhận định này không chính xác Những phát hiện này phản ánh cách mà cá nhân và xã hội phản ứng với các rủi ro, đặc biệt là trong trường hợp liên quan đến nguy cơ tội phạm.
(P5) In business and government, people often respond to yesterday's famous failure (or celebrated success).
If a particular strategy or approach turned out disastrously, it will be very much in mind, and today’s decision will be made in light of that disaster.
No politician wants to be responsible for "another Vietnam" or to be
Foreign policy often relies on analogies, which can be an unreliable method of decision-making For instance, a company that recently experienced a failure may shy away from pursuing new initiatives that resemble the previous flop, despite the potential success of the new idea This tendency is similar to how people recall natural disasters and environmental crises, as these examples are easily memorable and can influence future actions.
Trong mối quan hệ giữa doanh nghiệp và chính phủ, chúng ta thường đối mặt với những sai lầm của quá khứ và những thành tựu đã đạt được Nếu một phương pháp hay chiến lược cụ thể không thành công, thì những bài học từ những thất bại này cần được xem xét kỹ lưỡng Quyết định ngày hôm nay sẽ được hình thành từ những sai lầm trước đó Không một nhà chính trị nào muốn gánh vác trách nhiệm cho một quốc gia khác ngoài Việt Nam, hay trở thành một chính trị gia giống như ông Neville Chamberlain.
Chính sách đối ngoại có thể dựa vào các phép loại suy có sẵn, tuy không phải là phương pháp tệ nhất nhưng lại thiếu độ tin cậy Nếu một công ty liên tục không đứng vững trên thị trường gần đây, điều này có thể dẫn đến việc công ty tránh xa những đổi mới có vẻ không chắc chắn Việc dựa vào các phép loại suy có thể dẫn đến những quyết định sai lầm, thậm chí còn tồi tệ hơn so với việc thực hiện một phân tích thống kê cẩn thận.
(P7) This heuristic also explains some of the sources of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, and disability.
When female employees leave their jobs to care for their families, it often highlights the prevalence of sex discrimination in the workplace Companies must be cautious, as relying on the availability heuristic in employment-related decisions can lead to significant errors and reinforce these biases.
Effective decision-making hinges on a comprehensive evaluation of performance records rather than fleeting impressions or biases based on past successes or failures Michael Lewis's bestseller, "Moneyball," illustrates the potential of innovative approaches in this realm Relying solely on existing experiences can lead individuals astray, which is far more detrimental than employing thorough statistical analysis.
Phương pháp này chứng minh những nguyên nhân phân biệt đối xử dựa trên chủng tộc, giới tính, tuổi tác và người tàn tật Khi có suy nghĩ tiêu cực về nữ nhân viên nghỉ việc để chăm sóc gia đình, nguy cơ phân biệt giới tính càng cao Bất kỳ quyết định nào của công ty liên quan đến việc làm đều có thể dẫn đến sai lầm do tính khả dụng của kinh nghiệm.
Accurate decision-making relies on comprehensive performance records rather than fleeting impressions or whether a candidate recalls a past success or failure A case study highlights that statistical analysis significantly outperforms personal impressions in assessing baseball talent, a principle that extends to evaluating talent across various fields.