INTRODUCTION
Rationale
English is a vital language for global communication, widely taught in schools, colleges, and universities With the rise of globalization, organizations across various countries are increasingly seeking knowledge of business correspondence As businesses evolve, the significance of mastering business letters has grown, making them essential for effective international interactions.
Business letters play a crucial role in mail order operations, facilitating the purchase of goods, collection of payments, resolution of complaints, and communication of instructions and business strategies Understanding the significance of these letters, Vietnamese students are diligently studying to effectively manage English business correspondence.
In today's global economy, companies are increasingly expanding their trade beyond national borders To maintain effective communication with international partners, writing business letters has become essential English is the preferred language for these communications, as it has gained prominence in the realm of global business.
Studying translation at Hung Vuong University's Faculty of Foreign Languages highlights the critical importance of business translation grounded in existing linguistic rules Linguistics plays a vital role in addressing cases where equivalents may not exist However, a comprehensive understanding of translation issues cannot rely solely on linguistic aspects; it must also incorporate professional foundations within the business domain Therefore, when translating business letters and related materials, it is essential to consider both linguistic perspectives and business categories for effective communication.
Translation, particularly of business letters, is a common career path for graduates in English linguistics Many find employment in companies that specialize in translating these documents However, they often face challenges such as difficulty in expression and sourcing materials, which can hinder their academic performance Effective translation of business letters demands not only a solid grasp of linguistic elements but also logical thinking to comprehend the nuances of business language As many students lack these skills, it is essential to identify the challenges they encounter and propose strategies to improve their translation capabilities.
Over the past four years, my friends and I have engaged in comprehensive English studies, focusing on both practical language skills and theoretical knowledge, including grammar and discourse analysis Our primary interest lies in English for Business, as it equips us with vital skills for writing memos, reports, and letters, which are particularly useful for future roles in import-export companies Consequently, I chose to conduct a study titled “A Study on Common Errors Committed by Fourth-Year English Students at Hung Vuong University in Translating Business Letters” for my graduation paper This research aims to serve as a valuable resource for students and professionals in business translation, particularly for fourth-year English linguistic students seeking to enhance their expertise in this field.
Previous studies
ShuLan (2012) conducted the research: “On the Text Conjunction and Its
Translation in English Business Letters” This paper studied on the definition, position and classification of conjunction According to the functional
The equivalence principle highlights the importance of prioritizing readers' reactions and expressing the source language in a way that resonates with the target audience This article discusses the role of conjunctions in business letters, emphasizing that translators must consider reader expectations, the intent of the source text, and the overall impact of the message Functional equivalence theory underscores translation as a cultural transfer and a communicative interaction, making it essential for translators to align the communicative function of the text with the responses of target readers Consequently, effective translation of conjunctions in business letters necessitates the integration of these elements to inform translation strategies.
XieYongqiu (2013) carried out the study: “A Brief Analysis on the
This article analyzes the essential translation skills needed for effective business correspondence It emphasizes that translators must focus on practical, accurate, and concise translations Key skills in translating words, sentences, and overall text of business letters are highlighted Importantly, translators must be aware of cultural differences between China and English-speaking countries, as understanding these nuances is crucial for accuracy The primary strategy for successful translation is to thoroughly comprehend the original letters while considering their cultural contexts and connotations from an intercultural perspective.
Another research was conducted by FU Qing-lian (2009): “Application of
This essay explores Nida's Theory of Equivalence, emphasizing its application in business translation It highlights how functional equivalence, as proposed by Nida, is effectively suited for translating Business English, achieving balance in meaning and style across word, sentence, and discourse levels Additionally, the essay presents practical methods and techniques to enhance translation quality, ensuring clarity and relevance in business communication.
4 be applied to maximizing equivalence in Business English translation
Huan Wang, Yuhang Bai and Jianhua Jiang (2013) carried out a study called:
This article presents a Business English E-C Translation Model grounded in Equivalence Theory The model aims to effectively integrate Equivalence Theory into the practice of Business English translation, specifically from English to Chinese It explores the application of this model across various levels, including lexical, syntactical, pragmatic, and stylistic, to achieve optimal equivalence in translation outcomes.
Nguyen Trong Dan's 1997 research, titled “A Study on Some Difficulties of Translating Business Correspondence,” explores the challenges and solutions in translating business letters The paper outlines essential theories regarding the features of English business letters, including their layout, content, language, and grammar, while highlighting common translation errors and proposing strategies to address them It primarily focuses on the difficulties of translating from Vietnamese to English, suggesting that future research should involve professional translators and emphasize the importance of proficiency in Vietnamese, as it significantly impacts translation quality Additionally, the study acknowledges that the data collected was insufficient, indicating a need for further research to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges in translating business correspondence and identifying effective solutions.
Do Minh Hoang (2012) carried out the study: “The study of the characteristics of business English and functional theories on its translation”
This paper focuses on the characteristics of Business English and the essential translation skills required for effective communication It highlights the significance of Business English in the global market and provides a concise overview of functional theories related to its translation.
This article discusses translation methods, highlighting key considerations during the translation process It presents various cross-cultural translation scenarios, providing valuable insights The paper emphasizes the relevance of functional theories in translating business English, asserting that these theories enhance the effectiveness of business translations By offering a systematic analysis from a functional perspective, it introduces two specific principles and several strategies for business translation practice This framework aims to establish comprehensive guidelines for business English translation, benefiting professionals in business English teaching and those entering the field.
Duong Thuy Trang and Tran Van Tuan (2011) conducted the research: “A
This article reviews key aspects of Business English translation, focusing on its content, characteristics, and effective translation strategies Aimed at professionals and enthusiasts in the field, it serves to enhance translation skills and improve overall performance in Business English translation tasks.
In 2017, Ha Anh Tu conducted a study on the common errors made by fourth-year English linguistics students at Hung Vuong University when translating legal documents from Vietnamese to English The research aimed to identify these linguistic errors, explore their underlying causes, and propose effective solutions to improve translation accuracy.
Research gap
Despite numerous studies, there has been a lack of research focused on errors in translating business letters Therefore, this study aims to identify these errors and assist students in understanding their mistakes and the underlying causes.
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this research is to:
1) Find out common errors committed by the fourth-year English students in translating business letters into English
2) Suggest some ways to reduce the errors
Research questions
What are the common errors in terms of linguistics committed by the fourth-year English students in translating business letters?
Setting
The study conducted at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho province.
The significance of the research
This study aims to enhance the understanding of business letters translation for researchers, teachers, and students By contributing to effective teaching and learning practices, it seeks to improve students' translation skills, minimize linguistic errors, and assist educators in identifying the best approaches for teaching this subject Additionally, the research will uncover common mistakes made by students during the translation process and propose methods to strengthen their business letter translation abilities.
The scope of the research
This study focuses on common errors in terms of linguistics committed by 30 students in K12 English Pedagogy at Hung Vuong University in translating business letters from Vietnamese into English
Design of the research
The study consists of three main parts: Introduction, Development and Conclusion
This section provides a comprehensive overview of the research rationale, outlining the study's purpose and context within existing literature It highlights previous research findings that inform the current investigation, presents the central research question, and defines the scope of the study Additionally, the research method employed is described, along with the significance of the study, emphasizing its contribution to the field.
DEVELOPMENT
LITERATURE REVIEW
This part presents theoretical background of translation, translation studies, translation methods, translation errors, business letters translation and its significance, types and characteristics.
METHODOLOGY
Research questions, participants, methods of the study, instruments, data collection and data analysis are discussed in this chapter
Chapter 3: Research findings and discussion
This chapter presents major research findings and discussion in details
This part summarizes the major findings of the study, lists limitations, its implications as well as mentions some suggestions for future study and presents conclusion
PART II: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter explores the definition of translation, the field of translation studies, and its associated theories, while also providing a concise overview of the historical development and objectives of translation studies as an academic discipline.
Translation is defined as the skill of comprehending the source text and accurately conveying it in the target language, utilizing appropriate register, background knowledge, and language resources to meet the intended purpose (Kelly, 2005) This process positions the translator as a mediator between two languages and cultures, facilitating the transfer from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL) Furthermore, translation has been a fundamental concern throughout the history and theories of language learning, with its roots tracing back to oral traditions.
“interpretation” Then translation extended to written texts
Historically, translation was not widely discussed, as language was viewed merely as a collection of words with direct equivalents in other languages (David Marsh, 2013).
Effective translation starts with identifying the work's genre, which guides the translator in selecting appropriate vocabulary and conveying nuanced meanings In literary translation, it is essential to understand the language, culture, history, and customs depicted in the original text Ultimately, a successful translation reflects a deep knowledge of both the source and target languages and their respective cultures.
Regarding the possibility of translation, there were two opinions that have always contrasted and that were still present nowadays:
On the other hand, the development of the activity of translation in Renaissance period, together with its interest in antiquity, renders evident the
Translating text presents several practical challenges, primarily due to the need to maintain local color while immersing readers in a different culture and time period These complexities confront translators with unique problems that are often difficult to resolve Theoretically, these challenges suggest that achieving a perfect translation may be an unattainable goal.
Catford (1965) defined translation as the process of replacing textual material in one language with equivalent material in another language This perspective is echoed by Hartman and Stork (1972), who stated that translation involves substituting a representation of a text in one language with a representation of an equivalent text in a second language Both definitions highlight the significance of equivalence in the translation process from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL).
Translation involves conveying the meaning of a source language (SL) into a target language (TL) while maintaining both semantic and stylistic equivalence, as noted by Bell (1991) Hatim and Mason (1990) emphasize that translation is a communicative process situated within a social context These perspectives highlight the necessity for translators to possess advanced language skills in at least two languages to ensure effective translation.
Translation has historically been linked to the transliteration of literary works between languages, raising the enduring question of whether translation is a science or an art In the realm of artistic texts, translation can be viewed as an art form grounded in scientific principles, with linguistic interpretations frequently informing the practical experiences of translators.
Defining translation is complex, as it encompasses the general subject area, the translated texts, and the act of translating itself This intricate process involves converting content from one language to another, highlighting the multifaceted nature of translation as both a product and a dynamic activity.
Translation is the process of transforming a message from the source language (SL) into the target language (TL), ensuring that the core meaning and qualities of the original text (ST) are preserved This involves conveying the same message in a different verbal language while maintaining fidelity to the original content.
Recent research indicates that each language uniquely reflects and organizes the surrounding reality, leading to distinct interpretations of the external world Consequently, the way languages categorize and characterize experiences results in differing representations of objective reality, meaning that two languages may present contrasting views of the same world.
Lexemes serve as "labels" for objects, phenomena, qualities, and actions, suggesting that translation may be perceived as merely swapping these labels Ferdinand de Saussure argues that some view language fundamentally as a nomenclature, which is essentially a list of terms corresponding to various entities.
Martinet says that: “learning a language doesn't mean to assign new
“labels” on some known objects, but to analyze the object of linguistic communication” (Saussure, 1998)
The idea that every language has it was own way of analyzing the facts from the surrounding world presents a serious theoretical objection against the possibility of performing a translation
Languages vary not only in vocabulary and grammatical structure but also in how they organize semantic content Consequently, speakers of different languages perceive and present information in distinct ways.
Comparing the lexical elements of two languages, one can observe only a partial coincidence between them: the semantic entities of words coincide only partially These factors make translation even difficult
Ferdinand de Saussure noted that while translation has rapidly evolved in our country, translation theory is still in its infancy It is crucial to distinguish between translation and translation theory, the latter being a specialized scientific discipline The primary goal of translation theory is to outline the fundamental rules governing the conversion of one language into another, establish the relationship between the original text and its translation, and generalize specific cases for practical application By highlighting the diverse possibilities within language, translation theory aids practitioners in selecting the most appropriate means for each unique context.
Language is not merely a system for classifying universal concepts, which would make translation straightforward and second language acquisition simpler According to Culler (1976), languages do not function as mere nomenclatures; instead, they uniquely articulate and organize the world, leading to significant differences in concepts across languages This disparity poses a major challenge in translation, as the greater the gap between the source language (SL) and the target language (TL), the more difficult it becomes to convey the intended message accurately.