Graduation Paper Supervisor Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M A MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING DUY TAN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ENGLISH GRADUATION THESIS LE THI KHANH NGOC AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUGGESTED TRANSLATIO.
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
In South Africa, the apartheid system enforced laws that marginalized the black majority, who made up 95% of the population, while the white minority, constituting only 5%, seized 87% of the land, including all major cities This led to the establishment of small, arid "homelands" designated for black South Africans, effectively restricting their movement and existence within the country.
Trevor Noah's remarkable journey from the era of Apartheid to becoming the host of The Daily Show started with a significant event: his birth Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, Trevor entered the world during a time when interracial relationships were illegal and could lead to a five-year prison sentence.
In "Born A Crime," Trevor Noah characterizes apartheid as "institutionalized racism," offering a poignant blend of alarming, sad, and humorous anecdotes that reflect his family's experiences in South Africa during this oppressive regime The book provides an insightful perspective on life under apartheid and the nation's tumultuous transition to a post-apartheid era in the 1990s Noah emphasizes the reality of racism, stating, “Racism exists and people are getting hurt Just because it’s not happening to you doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” highlighting the pervasive impact of these discriminatory laws on individuals and communities.
In colonial South Africa, black individuals were compelled to adopt European names for ease of pronunciation by white people At that time, many black South Africans had little understanding of Hitler, perceiving him primarily as a formidable figure who nearly led the Allies to defeat In a bid to project strength, some South Africans named their children "Hitler." This chapter recounts the story of Trevor's friend, who bore this controversial name, making chapter 15 particularly noteworthy.
Graduation Paper 2 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
Aims and Objectives
During my thesis journey at Duy Tan University, I have reflected on my personal growth and skills developed over the past four years, aided by the support and guidance of my teachers and friends This translated version aims to enhance readers' understanding of the original content and its intended meaning, while also addressing minor errors and shortcomings in my final translation.
Improving and applying theories, skills and techniques in translation.
Learning about foreign cultures and understanding main content of the original text.
Translating from original into Vietnamese version easily and naturally.
Analyzing difficult phrases, complex sentences and structures which easily make misunderstand for readers.
Scope of the Study
"Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood," written by Trevor Noah and published on November 5, 2016, by Spieg in the United States, has achieved 14 editions and is a New York Times Bestseller This humorous yet insightful book comprises eighteen personal stories that chronicle Noah's journey from a mischievous boy to a restless young man, navigating a world that never supported his existence Each chapter is enriched with fascinating facts, making it both entertaining and educational.
This book is divided into three parts, encompassing 18 chapters and a total of 304 pages I will be translating Chapter 15, titled "Hitler!", which consists of 4,800 words and explores the childhood experiences of the author, Trevor Noah, along with his close friends.
Graduation Paper 3 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
The text is chapter 15 from the book “Born A Crime” by Trevor Noah,published in 2016 I got this book by accessing to the web https://websach.com/born-a-crime/
Method of the Study
- Reading (scanning and skimming) the whole document to get the key points
- Reading the chapter to obtain details
- Translating the language and taking notes on complicated terminologies, phrases, and text structures
- Discussing vocabularies, phrases, and structures with the administrator, coworkers, and relatives, and linking to such terminologies, expressions, and structures on the Internet
- Finishing the text and presenting a proposed edition.
Graduation Paper 4 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Definition of Translation
There are many translation definitions Here are a few theories that are defined by some professors.
According to Foster (1958), translation is a cognitive process that involves converting the meaning of a linguistic discourse from one language to another This act entails transferring linguistic elements from the source language (SL) to their equivalents in the target language (TL) Essentially, translation facilitates the transfer of a text's content from the source language to the target language.
According to Ghazala (1995), translation is generally used to refer to all the process and methods used to convey the meaning of SL into TL.
Catford (1995) defines that translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL).
Types of Categories
Translation can be categorized based on various factors such as extent, levels, and rank While numerous methods exist for translation, my graduation paper focuses on a select few types.
According to Catford Translation Theory:
- Full translation is the entire text is submitted to the translation process. Every part of SL is replaced by TL text material
He is a good-looking guy.
Translated version: Anh ta trông cũng đẹp trai.
In the example above, it can clearly be recognized that the texts are fully translated, semantically and culturally
Graduation Paper 5 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
Partial translation involves leaving certain segments of the source language (SL) text untranslated, integrating them directly into the target language (TL) text This approach is often seen in literary translation, where specific SL terms may be considered 'untranslatable' or intentionally included to add 'local color' to the TL narrative.
I were born in Da Nang city.
Translated version: Tôi sinh ra tại thành phố Đà Nẵng.
In the translated text, the term 'Da Nang' is preserved, as it represents the unique name of a city that does not have an equivalent in the English dictionary Thus, it is essential to retain 'Da Nang' in the translation to maintain its identity.
In the opinion of Catford,
- Total translation: is replacement of SL grammar and lexis with consequential replacement of SL phonology/graphology by (non-equivalent) TL phonology/graphology
He kept looking at the baby, and Mama asked him to hold his little sister while she went to get a diaper.
Translated version: Cậu luôn nhìn em bé, và rồi mẹ nhờ cậu giữ cô em gái bé nhỏ một lúc để mẹ đi lấy tã cho em.
Restricted translation involves substituting source language (SL) text with equivalent target language (TL) text at a single level This type of translation focuses on one specific aspect, such as phonology, graphology, grammar, or vocabulary, ensuring that the essence of the original message is maintained while adapting it to the target language.
In America, they eat what they can, and they can what they can’t
Translated version: Ở Mỹ, họ ăn những gì ăn được và đóng hộp những gì họ không ăn được.
Graduation Paper 6 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
Phonological translation involves substituting the source language's (SL) phonology with the corresponding phonology of the target language (TL), without any additional changes Any grammatical or lexical alterations that occur are incidental and result solely from the phonological translation process.
Example: Singapore → Sing-ga-po
In graphological translation SL graphology is replaced by equivalent TL graphology, with no other replacements, except, again, accidental changes of grammar and lexis.
Example: Australia → Ốt-trây-li-a
Based on Cambridge Dictionary, transliteration means that the act or process of writing words using a different alphabet
2.2.6 Free, Literal and Word-for-word Translation
A "free" translation allows for flexibility and creativity, while "word-for-word translation" emphasizes a precise, direct correspondence between words in different languages Both "literal translation" and "word-for-word translation" refer to this exact method, where each word is translated directly to its equivalent, ensuring that the original meaning is preserved.
Example: I got my eye on you
Tôi có mắt của tôi trên bạn → Word-for-word translation.
Mắt tôi trên người bạn → Literal translation.
Tôi đang nhìn bạn → Free translation.
Methods, Principles and Rules of Translation
According to Peter Newmark translation theory, there are eight types of translation.
Graduation Paper 7 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
Interlinear translation typically features the target language (TL) placed beneath the source language (SL) words, maintaining the original word order Each SL word is translated individually using its most common meaning, often without context, while cultural terms are translated literally This method serves primarily to grasp the mechanics of the source language or as a preliminary step in the translation process.
Example: Love you to the moon and back.
Translated version: Yêu anh đến mặt trăng và phía sau.
In the process of translation, SL grammatical constructions are transformed into their closest TL equivalents, while individual lexical words are translated in isolation, without considering their context This approach highlights the challenges that need to be addressed prior to the actual translation.
Example: He is deaf to all her device.
Translated version: Anh ta lơ đi hết tất cả lời khuyên của cô ấy.
The article aims to accurately convey the original context while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language It ensures the transfer of cultural terms and maintains a balance between grammatical and lexical variations from the source language norms The focus is on remaining fully faithful to the author's intentions and the realization of the text in the source language.
Example: Mary has done well.
Translated version: Mary đã làm rất tốt
Semantic translation prioritizes the aesthetic qualities of the source language text, allowing for compromises on literal meaning to preserve elements like assonance, wordplay, and repetition Unlike faithful translation, which adheres strictly to the original text, semantic translation offers greater flexibility and makes minimal concessions to the target audience's cultural context.
Graduation Paper 8 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
Example: Right in the Hanoi, Hoan Kiem is an enchanting of body of water, a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, nằm ở trung tâm thủ đô, nổi bật như một ốc đảo yên bình giữa sự nhộn nhịp của thành phố.
This translation style is the most flexible, primarily employed for plays, comedies, and poetry It retains the original themes, characters, and plots while adapting the source language culture to the target language culture, resulting in a rewritten text.
Translated version: Người truyền kí ức (tên tiểu thuyết)
It 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
Translated version: Cấm đỗ xe.
This translation captures the essence of the original content while neglecting its stylistic elements, resulting in a lengthy paraphrase that resembles an 'intralingual translation.' Often verbose and overly elaborate, it fails to qualify as a true translation.
Example: Today it’s raining cats and dogs
Translated version: Hôm nay mưa tầm tã
This translation reproduces the ‘message’ of the original but tend to distort nuances of meaning by preferring colloquialisms and idioms where these do not exist in the original.
Translated version: Mất cơ hội.
Graduation Paper 9 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
The translation should reflect accurately the meaning of the original text. Nothing should be arbitrarily added or removed, though occasionally part of the meaning can be transposed
In translation, maintaining the original order of words and ideas is crucial, especially for legal documents such as contracts and guarantees However, variations in language structure may necessitate adjustments in word form and order To clarify the primary focus of the text, it's advisable to underline key terms in the original document when uncertainties arise.
Languages vary significantly in formality, particularly in contexts like business letters To navigate these differences effectively, translators need to identify formal or fixed expressions versus personal expressions, as the latter reflects the tone set by the writer or speaker.
A common criticism of translation is its lack of naturalness, often due to the translator's heavy reliance on the original text To overcome this, translators can benefit from setting the source material aside and translating a few sentences aloud from memory This practice encourages the use of natural thought patterns in the target language, which might not emerge when focused solely on the original text.
Idiomatic expressions are challenging to translate directly, encompassing similes, metaphors, proverbs, sayings, jargon, slang, colloquialisms, and phrasal verbs in English When faced with untranslatable expressions, one effective strategy is to keep the original term in inverted commas.
Graduation Paper 10 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A b retain the original expression, with a literal explanation in brackets. c use a close equivalent. d use a non-idiomatic or plain prose translation.
The golden rule is: if the idiom does not work in the L1, do not force it into the translation.
A translator must preserve the original style of the text; however, if the writing is poorly crafted or contains excessive repetition, it is acceptable for the translator to make corrections to enhance readability for the audience.
When modifying any item of language, the modifier must be placed closest to that item even though the modifier is a single word, a phrase or clause.
Only Mary bought her hat with 10$.
=> Chỉ có Mary mua mũ với giá 10$.
Mary only bought her hat with 10$
=> Mary mua được cái mũ chỉ với giá 10$.
Mary bought her only hat with 10$
=> Mary mua cái mũ duy nhất của cô ta giá 10$.
The speech element of the same grammatical function must be performed in an only similar structure form
Similar structural form may be a single word, a P-group, V-ing/ed group, Inf- group, or a 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
In my free time, I often watching films, listening to music or drawing.
Graduation Paper 11 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
* The Rule of Conjunctions of Coordinating Form
The rule of parallelism is strictly used when we are expressing a series of similar ideas in which we have to use conjunctions “AND” and “OR”.
2 Sue likes to go to the movie, hearing chamber music, and play.
* The Rule and Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are those such as BOTH…AND, EITHER…OR, NEITHER…NOR, NOT ONLY…BUT ALSO, etc.
1 We’ll have both the chocolate and the passion mousse.
2 I want either the chocolate or the passion mousse.
3 You want neither the chocolate nor the passion mousse?
Graduation Paper 12 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
SUGGESTED TRANSLATION
[P1] When I was in grade nine, three
Chinese kids transferred to Sandringham:
Bolo, Bruce Lee, and John were the only Chinese students among a thousand pupils at their school Bolo earned his nickname due to his resemblance to Bolo Yeung, a character from a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie.
Bloodsport Bruce Lee’s name really was
Bruce Lee, which made our lives Here was this Chinese guy, quiet, goodlooking, in great shape, and his name was Bruce Lee.
We were like, This is magic Thank you,
Jesus, for bringing us Bruce Lee John was just John, which was weird because of the other two
[P2] I got to know Bolo because he was one of my tuck-shop clients Bolo’s parents were professional pirates They pirated videogames and sold them at flea markets.
BẢN ÁN DA MÀU HITLER!
Năm lớp chín, ba đứa trẻ Trung Quốc, Bolo, Bruce Lee và John, đã chuyển đến trường Sandringham, nơi chỉ có họ là học sinh Trung Quốc trong tổng số một nghìn học sinh Bolo được đặt tên vì vẻ ngoài giống Bolo Yeung, diễn viên nổi tiếng trong bộ phim Bloodsport Trong khi đó, Bruce Lee, với vẻ ngoài trầm lặng và hấp dẫn, mang tên của huyền thoại võ thuật Lý Tiểu Long, tạo nên một ấn tượng mạnh mẽ cho cuộc sống của họ.
Tạ ơn Chúa vì đã đưa Lý Tiểu Long vào cuộc sống của chúng tôi Nhờ hai người bạn đó, John đã trở thành cậu bé kỳ quặc nhất, nhưng cuối cùng, John vẫn chỉ là John.
Tôi biết Bolo qua việc cậu thường xuyên đến tiệm đồ ăn vặt của tôi Bolo có cha mẹ là những tay buôn lậu chuyên nghiệp, họ chuyên in lậu các trò chơi điện tử.
Graduation Paper 13 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
As the son of pirates, Bolo did the same thing—he started selling bootleg
In school, kids would entrust their PlayStation consoles to him, and he would return them days later equipped with a chip that allowed access to pirated games, which he sold to them Bolo formed a friendship with Andrew, a white classmate who also engaged in piracy by trading bootleg CDs.
Andrew was two grades above me and a real computer geek; he even had a CD writer at home, back when nobody had CD writers
[P3] One day on my tuck-shop rounds, I overheard Andrew and Bolo complaining about the black kids at school They’d realized that they could take Andrew’s and
Bolo's merchandise often involves a promise of delayed payment, which Andrew and Bolo hesitate to follow up on due to their fears I intervened in their discussion, suggesting that their frustration was misplaced, as the stereotype of black people lacking money leads to attempts to acquire more for less I offered to assist by acting as a middleman; they could provide me with the goods, and I would handle the sales, even in underground markets, similar to what Bolo, as the son of a trader, has done.
Cậu ta bắt đầu kiếm tiền bằng cách bán trò chơi điện tử trong trường học, mua lại máy chơi của bạn học và bán lại kèm thẻ nhớ chứa các trò chơi bất hợp pháp Bolo kết thân với Andrew, một tay bán băng đĩa người da trắng, hơn cậu hai tuổi và là lập trình viên thực thụ Andrew sở hữu một đầu ghi đĩa CD, điều mà không phải ai cũng có vào thời điểm đó.
Một lần, tôi nghe thấy Andrew và Bolo phàn nàn về những học sinh da đen tại trường, khi họ nhận ra rằng những đứa trẻ này có thể mua sản phẩm của họ.
Andrew và Bolo đã quyết định không cho đám trẻ da đen vay tiền nữa vì họ cảm thấy mệt mỏi với những lần xin xóa nợ Trong cuộc trò chuyện, tôi khuyên họ nên thông cảm hơn với hoàn cảnh khó khăn của người da đen và đề xuất bán đồ với giá rẻ hơn Tôi sẵn sàng làm trung gian, giúp họ bán hàng và thu tiền, để giảm bớt gánh nặng cho họ.
Graduation Paper 14 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A
I’ll handle getting the money In return, you give me a cut of the sale.” They liked the idea right away, and we became partners.
As the tuck-shop operator, I leveraged my established network to maximize profits from selling CDs and video games This income allowed me to upgrade my computer with additional components and memory.
Andrew the computer geek showed me how to do it, where to buy the cheapest parts, how to assemble them, how to repair them.
He demonstrated the operations of his business, including how to download music and source rewritable CDs in bulk The only missing piece for me was a CD writer, which was the most expensive component, costing nearly as much as the entire computer itself at that time.
[P5] I worked as a middleman for Bolo and
Andrew for a year Then Bolo left school; the rumor was that his parents got arrested.
I began working for Andrew, but as he was preparing to graduate, he chose to leave the game He shared his decision with me, and we quickly embraced the idea of becoming business partners.
Công việc bán thức ăn vặt đã giúp tôi xây dựng một mạng lưới vững chắc, từ đó tôi có thể khai thác để tăng thu nhập Nhờ số tiền tiết kiệm từ việc bán đĩa CD và trò chơi điện tử, tôi đã nâng cấp máy tính của mình với các bộ phận mới và nhiều bộ nhớ hơn Andrew, một lập trình viên máy tính, đã hướng dẫn tôi cách mua linh kiện giá rẻ, lắp đặt và sửa chữa Anh cũng chia sẻ kinh nghiệm về cách vận hành kinh doanh và tải nhạc từ nguồn chứa đĩa CD Tuy nhiên, tôi vẫn còn thiếu một đầu ghi đĩa CD, phần đắt nhất với giá 2000 rand, tương đương với chi phí của toàn bộ máy tính.
Một năm sau khi tôi bắt đầu làm trung gian cho Bolo và Andrew, Bolo đã rời khỏi trường học với tin đồn rằng cha mẹ cậu bị bắt Kể từ đó, tôi tiếp tục làm việc cho Andrew, nhưng khi tôi gần đạt được thành công, anh ấy đã quyết định từ bỏ trò chơi điện tử.
In my graduation paper, supervised by Nguyen Thi Bao Yen, M.A, I reflect on the significance of loyalty and support in my journey A mentor, acknowledging my dedication, gifted me his CD writer, symbolizing the trust and partnership we shared This gesture is particularly meaningful in a context where access to technology, such as computers, was limited for black individuals, highlighting the importance of community and resource sharing in overcoming barriers.
