This paper is a suggested translation of chapter 6 from the report “Climate Action and Support Trends” by United Nations Secretariat.. 1.1.1.1 Full vs Partial Translation1.1.1.2 Total vs
Aims and Objectives
Scope of the Study
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
DEFINITION
Translation is the cognitive process of conveying the meaning of a given linguistic discourse from one language into another It entails transferring linguistic units from one language into their equivalent counterparts in another language In essence, translation bridges the gap between different languages, enabling the communication and understanding of diverse cultural perspectives.
The theory of translation is concerned with a certain type of relation between languages and is consequently a branch of Comparative Linguistic Translation equivalences can be set up and translations performed between any pair of languages or dialects – “related” or “unrelated” and with any kind of spatial, temporal, social or other relationship between them Some professor defined it as follows
According to Foster [3], “translation is an act through which the content of a text is transferred from the SL into the TL.”
Toward Peter Newmark [4], he though that “translation is process of transferring a message from this language into another language in the way the author intended the text.”
According to Alan Duff, translation involves conveying the message of the source language (SL) into the receptor language while maintaining its original meaning and style This entails finding the closest natural equivalent in the receptor language, thereby ensuring that the translated text accurately reflects the intent and expression of the original.
In the intervening time, J C Catford [1] said “that translation is a replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL).”
Types of categories of translation may be defined in terms of extent, levels, rank of translation
As stated by J C Catford (1965:20) there are eight methods of translation,namely full vs partial translation, total vs restricted translation, phonological translation, graphological translation and free, literal, and word- for- word translation However, my graduation paper used some types among of them.
This distinction base on extent of SL text.
According to Catford [1], he believed that “in a full translation, the entire text is submitted to the translation process, that is very part of the SL is replaced by the TL material.”
Example: I will go to Thailand in next year.
Tôi sẽ đi Thái Lan vào năm tới.
Cited by Catford [1] as “In a partial translation, some part or parts of the SL are left untranslated: they are simply transferred to and incorporated in the TL.” Example: What a beautiful sunglasses you have!
Cặp kính mát trông thật đẹp!
This notions base on level of language.
Total Translation may best define by Catford [1] as: “replacement of SL grammar and lexis by equivalent TL grammar and lexis with consequential replacement of SL phonology/graphology by (non-equivalent) TL phonology/graphology.”
Không gì là không thể
According to Catford [1], “restricted translation is replacement of SL material by equivalent TL at only one level That is translation perfomed only at the phonological or at the graphonogical level, or at one of the two levels of grammar and lexis.”
In this translation, phonological is “restricted translation in which the SL phonology of a text is replaced with equivalent TL one, but there are hardly other important replacements.”
Example: Indonesia In-đô-nê-xia
According to Nguyen Manh Quang [5], in graphological translation, “SL graphology is replaced with equivalent target one without other considerable replacements.”
This is a complex process involving phonological translation with the addition of phonology- graphology correlation at both ends of the process, i.e in source and TL First, SL graphological units are replace with corresponding SL phonological units are replaced with corresponding TL graphological units. Example: Carbon dioxide carbon dioxit
1.1.1.6 Free, Literal, and Word-for-word Translation
Translation methods range from "free" to "word-for-word" to "literal." "Free" translations are unrestricted, while "word-for-word" translations adhere to the exact wording "Literal" translations fall between these extremes, initially resembling "word-for-word" translations but adapting to the grammar of the target language, potentially altering words and structures As a result, "literal" translations may align groups or clauses, resulting in group-group or clause-clause equivalents.
Example: This programe is sponsored by Vinamilk.
Chương trình này do hãng Vinamilk tài trợ (Literal)
Example: That guy is as poor as a church mouse.
Anh ta nghèo như con chuột ở nhà thờ (Word-for-word)
Anh ta nghèo rớt mồng tơi (Free Translation)
METHODS AND PRINCIPLES OF TRANSLATION
There are eight methodologies translation Peter Newmark [4] lists the following translation methods, which essentially fall along a cline of focus, one extreme being total focus on the source text/language and the other extreme being total focus on the target text/language When translating, we not just use one method of translation; it should be use flexibly each other.
This is often demonstrated as interlinear translating with the TL immediately below the SL words “The SL word order is preserved, and the words are translated by their most common meanings, out of context Cultural words are translated litterally The main use of word-for-word translation is either to understand the mechanics of the SL or to construct a difficult text as a pre-translation process”, said Peter Newmark [4].
Example: Anna was presented by her best friend.
Anna được nhận quà bởi bạn thân của cô ấy.
“The SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivaents but the lexical items are again translated out of context As pre- translation process, it indicates problems to be solved”, explained by Peter Newmark [4].
Example: This flower was planted few weeks ago.
Bông hoa này được trồng vài tuần trước.
“A faithful translation attempts to reproduce the precise contextual meaning of the original meaning within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures It
“transfers” cultural words and preserves the degree of grammatical and lexical
“abnormality” in the translation It attempts to be completely faithful to intentions and the text realization of the SL writer”, according to Newmark [4].
Example: He was a tall as a giraffe
Anh ấy cao như một con hươu cao cổ
“This method must pay more attention to aesthetic value (that is, the beautiful and natural sound) of the SL text, compromising on “meaning” where appreciate so that no assonance, word-play or repetition jars in the finished version Furthermore, it may translate less important cultural words by culturally neutral third or functional terms but not by cultural equivalents and it may make other small concessions to the relationship.”, cited by Newmark [4].
Example: There is a fierce dog in the house.
This is the freest form of translation, used mainly for plays (comdies) and poetry The themes, characters, plots are usually preversed, the SL culture is coverted to TL one and the text is rewritten by Newmark [4]
Gái tơ mà lấy chồng già
“This method reproduces the matter without the manner, or the content without the form of the original Usually, it is a paraphrase much longer the the original, a so-called “intra-lingual translation”, often prolix, pretentious, and seemingly non-translated at all”, according to Peter Newmark [4]
This notion may best defined by Peter Newmark [4] as: “This produces the
Translating a text accurately involves preserving its intended message while maintaining its original nuances However, colloquialisms and idioms, when introduced during translation, can distort the meaning by substituting them for words or phrases not present in the original language This can lead to a loss of the text's intended meaning.
Mưu sự tại nhân, hành sự tại thiên
Communicative and semantic translation aim to convey the intended meaning of a text effectively Communicative translation prioritizes readability and comprehension for the target audience, ensuring that the translated text is easily accessible and understandable Semantic translation, on the other hand, focuses on preserving the original meaning as precisely as possible, considering the cultural and linguistic context While communicative and semantic translation methods may sometimes overlap, they both serve the purpose of translating content accurately and effectively.
Example: If you want to be successful, you should take risk sometimes, Nếu muốn thành công, đừng ngại mạo hiểm.
Below are some general principles which are relevant to all translation.
The translation should reflect accurately the meaning of original text.Nothing should be arbitrarily added or moved, though accasionally part of meaning can be “transpose”.
Example: If I were you, I would say sorry
Tôi sẽ nói xin lỗi nếu tôi là bạn.
The oder of words and ideas in the translation should match that in the original as closely as possible This is particularly in the form and order of words In English, emphasis or main stress can be obtained through inversion of word and using different structures.
Example: She works not only quickly but also efficiently.
Cô ấy không chỉ làm việc nhanh mà còn hiệu quả nữa.
Languages often differ greatly in their levels of formality in a given context
To resolve these differences, the translator must distinguish between formal and fixed expression.
Example: Ladies and Gentlemen, smoking is not allowed here!
Các quý ông, quý bà vui lòng không hút thuốc ở đây!
That the translation does not sound natural is one of the most common problems because the translator’s thoughts and choice of words are too strongly moulded by original text The translator had better set the text aside and translate a few sentences aloud from memory to get the natural patterns.
Idiomatic expressions including similes, metaphors, proverbs and saying, jargon, slang and colloquialisms and phrasal verbs are often untranslatable. Example: James has a few skeletons in his cupboard and is terrified that he will be found out.
James có vài bí mật đen tối (xì căng đan bí mật) và anh sợ hãi rằng ngày nào đó sẽ bị phát hiện
It will be better if the translator does not change the style of the original But if it is needed, for example because the text is full of repetitions or mistakes in writing, the translator may change it.
Example: How nice the weather is!
Thời tiết mới đẹp làm sao!
To produce high-quality translated texts, translators must possess a comprehensive understanding of translation theories These theories encompass not only categories, methods, and principles but also the practical rules that govern the translation process According to Nguyen Manh Quang's "Translation Theory" [5], these rules provide guidance for the accurate and effective rendering of source texts into target texts.
Every complete sentence contains two parts: a subject and a pedicate. The subject is what (or whom) the sentence is about, while predicate tells something about the subject.
Ex: Alex gave John a book
Ex: Alex made John sad
Ex: Alex put the bag down.
“Proximity” means “Nearness” in English When modifying any item of language, the Modifier must be placed closely to that item even though the Modifier is a single word, a phrase (P-group/ V-ing(ed) group/ Inf-group), or a clause.
Example: John only punched Peter in the face.
Note: In English, mistakes caused by incorrectly placing the position of modifies are called misplaced modifies.
The speech elements of the same grammatical function must be performed in an only similar structural 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. Example: Anna likes shopping, dacing, travelling.
1.2.3.4The 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”.
Example: My sister sings and dances beautifully.
1.2.3.5The Rule and Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are those such as BOTH…AND, EITHER…OR, NEITHER…NOR, NOT ONLY…BUT ALSO, etc…
Example: She is both intelligent and beautiful.
Hieu is not only intelligent, but also very handsome.