Vietnamese english translation of hotel amenity lists errors and solutions

BINH DUONG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE THU DAU MOT UNIVERSITY NGUYỄN THỊ LINH HƯƠNG VIETNAMESE-ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF HOTEL AMENITY LISTS: ERRORS AND SOLUTIONS MAJOR: ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAJOR CODE: 22 02 01 MASTER THESIS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE BINH DUONG PROVINCE – 2022 BINH DUONG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE THU DAU MOT UNIVERSITY NGUYỄN THỊ LINH HƯƠNG VIETNAMESE-ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF HOTEL AMENITY LISTS: ERRORS AND SOLUTIONS MAJOR: ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAJOR CODE: 22 02 01 MASTER THESIS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUPERVIOR: PH.D NGUYỄN THỊ NGUYỆT ÁNH BINH DUONG PROVINCE– 2022 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution Binh Duong, April 2022 Nguyen Thi Linh Huong i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Ph.D Nguyen Thi Nguyet Anh for her guidance and encouragement during my study I’m very grateful for being accepted as her student in this subject and I really appreciate all her help and suggestions on various drafts of this thesis Without her valuable advice and support, this research could not have been completed on schedule I would also like to express my full appreciation to all receptionists as well as hotel managers at Vung Tau city who helped me so much in my data collection Besides, I want to use this opportunity to express my deepest thanks to all 10 translators for having cooperated in analyzing, categorizing errors, and recommending solutions If it hadn’t been for their help, I wouldn’t have finished my thesis with great success Additionally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my dear friends for their help and warm encouragement throughout my hard times carrying out my study Without them, I could not have overcome such times and concentrated on my study Finally, I am greatly indebted to my family, especially my loving parents for their continuous support during my study Their love and encouragement helped me overcome the difficult times during my study I could not have been able to complete this project without their intense devotion Binh Duong, April 2022 Nguyen Thi Linh Huong ii ABSTRACT English is considered an international language as well as the tourism language which is used to provide information about tourist services, promote tourist attractions, and instruct travelers in tourist areas However, many Vietnamese–English hotel amenities lists are found with errors, which causes misunderstanding and confusion about tourist services Therefore, accurate translation is essential to meet the tourists’ need for understanding hotel accommodation services 24 four-and five- hotel amenity lists were collected and processed into a bilingual Vietnamese and English parallel corpus 10 experience translators were asked to find translation errors, analyze causes and then give solutions for each translation error After studying, the author learned that the translation errors in hotel amenity lists are mainly due to the negative influence of the mother tongue, the lack of grammatical knowledge as well as word-for-word translation method In addition, the study also aims to provide suggestions as a useful reference to help improve the quality of translation in general and the translation of hotel amenity lists in particular iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS No Codes SL Name of codes Source language TL Target language ST Suggested translation E1 Linguistic error E2 Translational error E1.1 The use of articles E1.2 Capitalization E1.3 Parts of speech E1.4 Preposition 10 E1.5 Tense 11 E1.6 Spelling 12 E1.7 Subject-verb agreement 13 E1.8 Singular-plural forms 14 E1.9 Punctuation 15 E1.10 Lexical choice 16 E2.1 Pragmatic error 17 E2.2 Addition 18 E2.3 Omissions of some parts of the source text 19 E2.4 Inaccurate rendition of individual lexical choice 20 E2.5 Distorted meaning of the source text iv LIST OF TABLES Table Newmark’s diagram of translation methods Table The hybrid model of error types 19 Table The basic information about the participants 39 Table The frequency of all the translation errors 43 Table The frequency of all the linguistic errors 44 Table The frequency of all the translational errors 61 v LIST OF CHARTS Chart 4.1 The percentage of the causes of parts of speech errors 47 Chart 4.2 The percentage of the causes of spelling errors 49 Chart 4.3 The percentage of the solutions to spelling errors 49 Chart 4.4 The percentage of the causes of lexical choice errors 51 Chart 4.5 The percentage of the solutions of lexical choice errors 52 Chart 4.6 The percentage of the causes of singular-plural noun errors 53 Chart 4.7 The percentage of the causes of the use of article errors 56 Chart 4.8 The percentage of the solutions of the use of article errors 57 Chart 4.9 The percentage of the causes of preposition error 58 Chart 4.10 The percentage of the solutions of preposition errors 59 Chart 4.11 The percentage of the causes of punctuation errors 60 Chart 4.12 The percentage of the solutions of punctuation errors 61 Chart 4.13 The percentage of the solutions of pragmatic errors 63 Chart 4.14 The percentage of the solutions of pragmatic errors 64 Chart 4.15 The percentage of the solutions of addition errors 65 vi TABLE OF CONTENT STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS iv LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF CHARTS vi CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the study 1.2 Aims of the study 1.3 Research questions 1.4 Scope of the study 1.5 Significance of the study 1.6 Structure of the study CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Definition of terms 2.1.1 Hotel amenities 2.1.2 Translation 2.1.3 Vietnamese- English translation 2.2 Translation methods 2.2.1 Newmark’s translation methods 2.2.2 Vinay and Darbelnet’s translation methods 11 2.3 Translation errors 16 2.3.1 Errors 16 vii 2.3.2 Translation errors 16 2.3.3 Categories of translation errors 17 2.3.4 Common errors in Vietnamese-English translation 18 2.4 The causes of errors in Vietnamese-English translation 29 2.4.1 Negative influence of mother tongue 29 2.4.2 Lack of motivation 30 2.4.3 Lack of concentration 31 2.4.4 Misuse of dictionary 31 2.4.5 Poor language competence 32 2.5 Review of previous studies 33 2.5.1 The previous study carried out in foreign countries 33 2.5.2 Previous studies carried out in Vietnam 35 CHAPTER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 38 3.1 Research design 38 3.2 Population and sample 38 3.2.1 Population 38 3.2.2 Population size 38 3.2.3 Sample 40 3.2.4 Sample size 40 3.3 Research instruments 40 3.3.1 Hotel amenity list 40 3.3.2 Error analysis table 40 3.4 Data collection 41 3.4.1 Hotel amenity lists 41 3.4.2 Error analysis table 41 3.5 Data treatment 41 viii Pragmatic translation errors E L1 ST E L2 ST L3 E ST L4 E ST L5 E L7 L8 L9 E& ST L10 L11 L12 L13 L14 L15 L16 L17 L18 L19 P2 P3 P6 P7 none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses none none shooting glasses cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath none none shooting glasses cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath cup lid cover none none none none none none none none none none none none none none milk bath shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none shower gel none none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel E none none none none none none none none none none ST none E ST none none shooting glasses ST L6 P1 none none none none none none none none Welcome to Intertour hotel Welcome you to Intertour hotel E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E P4 P5 142 P8 P9 P10 L20 L21 L22 L23 L24 CAUSE SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser - apply word for word translation method - avoid word for word translation none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser - the translator’s failure to solve problems that are related to the latent message in the source text - convey the meaning of the original none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser apply word for word translation method none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser apply word for word translation method - avoid word for word translation - avoid word for word translation none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser 143 none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser apply word for word translation method none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser apply word for word translation method - avoid word for word translation - avoid word for word translation none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser - the translator’s failure to solve problems that are related to the latent message in the source text - convey the meaning of the original none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser apply word for word translation method - avoid word for word translation none none none none none none none none none milk clean face cleanser - the translator’s failure to solve problems that are related to the latent message in the source text - convey the meaning of the original TENSE L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST L6 E P1 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P2 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were liable P3 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P4 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P5 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P6 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P7 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P8 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P9 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were P10 none none none none none none none none none none Guests were liable for any for any damages liable for any liable for any liable for any liable for any liable for any liable for any liable for any liable for any damages to hotel to hotel facilities damages to damages to damages to damages to damages to damages to damages to damages to hotel facilities hotel facilities hotel facilities hotel facilities hotel facilities hotel facilities hotel facilities hotel facilities facilities ST Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable Guests are liable for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages for any damages to hotel to hotel facilities to hotel to hotel to hotel to hotel to hotel to hotel to hotel to hotel facilities facilities facilities facilities facilities facilities facilities facilities facilities E& ST L7 E ST L8 L9 L10 L11 L12 L13 L14 L15 L16 E none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none ST none none none none none none none none none none E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none 144 L17 L18 L19 L20 L21 L22 L23 L24 CAUSE SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge 145 none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge Subject-verb agreement L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 E& ST L10 L11 L12 P1 E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST L14 L15 L16 L17 L18 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 E none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none ST none none none none none none none none none none E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none Our hotel have laundry services Our hotel has laundry services none none none none none none none none none none none none E ST L13 P2 E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none none none 146 L19 L20 L21 L22 L23 L24 CAUSE SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge 147 none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge none none none none none none none none none none none none - lack of grammatical knowledge - Improve grammatical knowledge mission L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 L10 E& ST L11 L12 L13 P1 E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 E none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none ST none none none none none none none none none none E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none You are kindly requested not to move the furniture from one place to another You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none ST L17 P4 none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none E L16 P3 none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none L14 L15 P2 none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none E ST E ST E You are kindly requested not to move the furniture and equipment from one place to another none none none none none none none none none none none 148 L18 L19 L20 L21 L22 L23 L24 CAUSE SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none -insufficient knowledge of English vocabulary - the influence of the source text and the SL check the meaning before submitting none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none insufficient knowledge of English vocabulary none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none insufficient knowledge of English vocabulary none none none none none none none none none none none none none none none - the influence of the source text and the SL understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL -understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL - check the meaning before submitting check the meaning before submitting understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL check the meaning before submitting - check the meaning before submitting -understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL understand the context of the written text overall before translating from SL to TL 149