Khóa luận tốt nghiệp: Cultural factors affecting translation versions of slang from english to vietnamese of third-year and fourth-year business english students at national economics university

NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITYFACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGESDEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ENGLISH

DOAN MINH HAU

CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING TRANSLATION VERSIONS OFSLANG FROM ENGLISH TO VIETNAMESE OF THIRD-YEAR AND

FOURTH-YEAR BUSINESS ENGLISH STUDENTS AT NATIONALECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITYFACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGESDEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ENGLISH

DOAN MINH HAU

CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING TRANSLATION VERSIONS OFSLANG FROM ENGLISH TO VIETNAMESE OF THIRD-YEAR AND

FOURTH-YEAR BUSINESS ENGLISH STUDENTS AT NATIONALECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

Hanoi, April, 2023

On the basis of the above-mentioned constraints, there are a number of proposalsfor advancing the study The researchers anticipate that it will serve as a guidepostfor subsequent researchers who are likely to broaden and improve this work.

To begin with, future researchers can broaden the scope of the study by collectingadditional data from universities located in various regions of Vietnam Instead offocusing solely on economics universities, the research should also be conducted

in institutions specializing in marketing, art, culture, and technology, amongothers The findings would be more accurate and dependable if the institutionexpanded its scope.

The next point that must be mentioned is the preparedness Before proceeding, thestudy must be planned and organized beforehand In this study, a number of issueswith preparedness as a dependent variable in this body of research, as well as otherissues that may affect the generalizability of the results, must be taken into account.In addition, in order to avoid being overly reliant on the direct interview approach

and questionnaires, the research would be conducted using methods such asobservation, online interviews, case studies, and tests.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This study seeks to uncover a number of significant challenges that third- andfourth-year students at National Economics University encounter regularly when

translating English slang into Vietnamese The objectives of this study are to

identify the cultural factors that influence translations of slang, to investigate thedifficulties students frequently encounter when translating slang, and to provide anumber of practical approaches culled from reputable sources and personal

experience to assist students with their problems.

The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative andquantitative research methods Primary data was collected through a surveyquestionnaire administered to 100 junior and senior Business English students.

Secondary data was also obtained from academic journals, reports, companydocuments, and online resources.

According to the study's findings, BE students face a variety of obstacles whentranslating, including cultural context of slang expression, determining themeaning of slang, and locating a Vietnamese equivalent for slang After solving

the difficulties, pupils will receive excellent solutions from renowned authors.Moreover, it is remarkable that the majority of BE students are thoroughly

informed regarding

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT << 5c HH TH H900 004.08 1EXECUTIVE SUMMA RYY 2G G5 Họ 0.00009000966040 2

TABLE OF CONITEN TỀ G0 cỌ HT TH 0000096009 0000698 080 3LIST OF FIGURES 25-5 5< < 5c c0 00000890 5CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 55-55-55 < 5< s2 9 83 83085689656 61.1 Introduction of the ResearcCHh - - c1 +12 1911191 2 vn He, 61.2 Rationale for the Research <2 1111 211911 9119 1 9v TH ng 61.3 Purposes of the Research - s k9 HH HH nh 7I Noo cuối 8c a3 71.5 Research 90) A5 71.6 Research MethOdS - - s11 HH TH HH 7

CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK S2 ° 10

2.1 Translation and Cultural FCfOTS «5 + E3 kg ereg 10

2.1.1 Definition of “TranSÏafIOH c1 HH Hư 102.1.2 Types of TransÏatIOT - c kx*vS2* SH ng ng ng rưy 112.1.3 Translation Process ccccseccsscceseseceeseceseeecececeesceeaeeeceseeeseeeaeeeaeeaeees 132.1.4 Translation Methods - - s1 vn ng ry 152.2 Slang and Culttre 107 - -Aa 19

2.2.1 Definition Of Slang 192.2.2 Cultural context Of slang oo ceeeesccceseceseeceseeceseecsaeeeseeeeeeceaeeeseeeees 212.2.3 Cultural factors affecting transÏafIOn - sssss+sserseeeeesees 21

2.2.4 Translation challenges Of sÏạig -. 5 s11 ngư 23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLUOC Y 0 G5 9 0 050040 8900 243.1 The setting of the research - - 5 + + kHnHnHhnH HH ghngg gnt 243.2 Research ùn) ĐCDUDIỤỌIẠIadi 243.3 Data collection techn1QU€ - - - 5 + + 1xx 1 vn vn nh gi, 243.4 Data analysis DFOC€SS LH HH HH HH HH HH ng ng 25CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION on se 26

4.1 Difficulties encountered by students when translating English to

Miouia 0 274.1.1 The frequency of students encountering slang terms during translation

4.1.2 The level of confidence of students when translating slang language.4.1.3 The amount of time that students spend researching and translating a

S]ANG 5901115198000 294.1.4 Difficulties students face when translating slang from English to

VIETNAMESE 30

4.1.5 The English slang expression that presents the greatest difficulty in

translation to Vietnamese eee eeccssceseeseeseeeseessececeseeesseesseceeseeeeaeesseesees 314.2 Cultural factors affecting translation versions of slang from English to

'V]€{TIAITSC - G0 9g TT HH nh 324.3 Measures Business English juniors and seniors take to enhance their own

weaknesses relating to cultural factors in the translation process 334.3.1 The information resources utilized by students to investigate the

cultural context of English slang eXPT€SSIOTNS - 5 «+55 <++<£+<c<s+ 33

4.3.2 The most effective exercise in enhancing students' translation

proficiency for English slang expressions .cceeeeeeeeeeeeceeeeseeseeeeeeseens 35CHAPTER 5 RECOMMENDA TIONS o- G00 1 050 6e 37

5.1 Recommendation for stU€TIES - - 5 5 1xx ni, 375.2 Recommendation for t€aCH€TS - - 5 5+ xxx ng ng 38CONCLUSION Ọ Ọ Ọ Họ 0004.0000000 00000056000098.0 41REEERENCES GỌI n0 0000088089400048070008008000 880 44APPENDIX cọ HH In 00 0000000000089089480380807000001008084 47

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Process flow diagram for translation 0 eee eeeeseeeseceeeseeeneeeseeeees 14

Figure 2 shows how translation is OI€ - 5 «5s 3 v9 ve vicey 15

Figure 4.1 Percentage of students participating in the survey 26

Figure 4.2 The frequency of students encountering slang terms during translation

Figure 4.4 The amount of time that students spend researching and translating aSlANY CXPLESSION 2.0 seeceeceseeecceseceeeeeessecesecesecscecseeeseeeceseeeseceaeseeesseeeaeeeeeseeeaeeegs 29Figure 4.5 Difficulties students face when translating slang from English toMr - 30Figure 4.6 The English slang expression that presents the greatest difficulty in

translation to VietMaMese .eecceseesseeeseecsseeeseeesaecesceceeecsaeeesaeeeaeesneeeeanenaees 31

Figure 4.7 Cultural factors affecting translation versions of slang from English to\Mtouri Juui - 32Figure 4.8 The information resources utilized by students to investigate thecultural context of English slang ©XDT€SSIOTNS c:cceesccesseeesseeeeeeeeeeeseeeeneeeenees 33Figure 4.9 The most frequently employed translation strategies utilized by

students when translating English slang into Vietnamese -‹+ «« 34Figure 4.10 The most effective exercise in enhancing students’ translation

proficiency for English slang expressions .- 55535 + series 35

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction of the Research

Slang is an informal language that people use to communicate with one another ona daily basis, especially the younger generation English has risen to prominenceas a language of dominance throughout the world, including Vietnam, as a resultof the growing impact of globalization As a result, the translation of slang fromEnglish to Vietnamese has drawn considerable attention, especially among youngpeople who are voracious consumers of popular culture and social media.

However, due to the cultural and contextual differences between English and

Vietnamese, translating slang can be difficult Slang translation calls for not only

linguistic proficiency but also knowledge of cultural quirks and social mores Thisstudy attempts to look into how Vietnamese third- and fourth-year studentsmajoring in business English at NEU University translate slang from English toVietnamese based on cultural differences.

The aim of this study is to determine the cultural influences on slang translationand investigate how these influences change the translation versions The studyalso tries to suggest ways to get around these difficulties and offer suggestions onhow to translate slang from English to Vietnamese in an accurate and efficientmanner This study will add to the body of knowledge on translation andintercultural communication by looking into these aspects, especially as they relateto translating slang.

1.2 Rationale for the Research

Vietnamese society has embraced English slang to a large extent as a result ofEnglish's broad use as a worldwide language However, due to cultural differencesthat affect how these idioms are seen and understood, translating slang from

English to Vietnamese presents particular difficulties The current study intends to

investigate these cultural aspects that influence how English slang is translated intoVietnamese and how it affects the translated versions The study aims to provide

insights into effective ways for translating slang in a culturally appropriate and

correct manner as well as to enhance our understanding of the importance ofculture in the translation process, particularly in the context of slang The resultsof the study should be useful to translators, language students, and languageeducators, especially those who teach translation and interpretation.

1.3 Purposes of the Research

° To determine the cultural elements that affect how slang is translated from

English to Vietnamese.

° To investigate how these cultural influences impact how Vietnamese

speakers interpret and comprehend slang phrases.

° To investigate the linguistic and cultural difficulties encountered by NEUUniversity business English majors in translating slang from English toVietnamese.

° To offer suggestions and tactics for bettering slang phrase translations while

taking into account the cultural variations between the two languages.1.4 Scope of the Research

The goal of this study is to better understand how cultural differences impact howslang is translated from English to Vietnamese by third- and fourth-year NEU

University business English majors The study will concentrate on the linguistic

and cultural hurdles that students experience while attempting to translate slangand will seek to identify the most typical problems they confront The study'sparticipants will only be those students who have taken Translation Theory I and

II at NEU University, and only this particular group of students will be able to usethe study's findings A thorough examination of the use of slang in various contextsor a comparison of various translation techniques are not included in the study.

an analysis of pertinent slang, cultural aspects of translation, and translation theoryliterature.

Methods for both qualitative and quantitative data collecting will be used for themain data collection Interviews with linguists, professional translators, andbilingual speakers will be performed to elicit their perspectives on the influence of

cultural factors on slang translation for the qualitative data In order to comprehendthe perspectives and experiences of third and fourth year Business English majors

at NEU University who have studied translation theory 1 and 2, focus groups willalso be conducted with them.

A survey will be given to a sample of 100 Business English majors at NEUUniversity to ascertain their grasp of slang phrases and their familiarity withcultural elements that influence translation in order to gather quantitative data Todetermine the most frequently used slang terms and the variables influencing thevariances in slang translations, the questionnaire will be analyzed using descriptive

The study will also examine and contrast numerous slang translations used invarious situations, including social media, music, and movies, to find out howcultural influences affect how slang phrases are understood Last but not least, thestudy will use content analysis to investigate how slang is used in various situationsand how cultural influences affect the slang words used.

1.7 Design of the Research

This study's research strategy will take a mixed-methods approach, collecting andanalyzing data using both qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Focus groups with third- and fourth-year Business English majors at NEU

University who have studied Translation Theory 1 and 2 will be used to gather

qualitative data Discussions in these focus groups will examine participants’opinions and experiences translating slang from English to Vietnamese as well asthe cultural nuances that influence these translations In order to find recurringthemes and patterns in the data, the discussions will be videotaped, transcribed,

and subjected to thematic analysis.

An online survey that will be given to 100 juniors and seniors at NEU Universitymajoring in Business English will be used to gather quantitative data Closed-ended questions in the survey will probe students’ exposure to and knowledge withEnglish slang, their comprehension of cultural variances, and their translation

techniques when confronted with slang terms or expressions in English To findany noteworthy links or patterns in the survey data, descriptive and inferentialstatistics will be used to analyze the data.

Combining qualitative and quantitative data will help to triangulate the resultsfrom both methodologies and will give a thorough knowledge of the culturalfactors that influence variations of slang from English to Vietnamese.

CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Translation and Cultural Factors2.1.1 Definition of Translation

Due to its extensive connections to the majority of societal sectors today, theconcept of translation appears to be well-known to many individuals It is clearthat various researchers have defined Translation throughout the course of severalyears It is essential for BE students to comprehend what translation entailsbecause it enables them to picture the tasks that professionals in this industrywould be expected to perform However, it's possible that this term doesn't yet

have a perfect definition.

There are a few definitions of translation that professionals have come up with Amethod of transforming communications from the Source Language (SL) into theTarget Language, according to Wiratno (2003), is translation (TL) SL is thesource language that is translated, whereas TL is the target language that is usedto express the translation's outcome According to Newmark (1988), translation isthe process of conveying a text's meaning into another language in the mannerintended by the author.

However, unlike what many people believe, the definition of translation is notstraightforward There are numerous definitions of Translation provided byvarious specialists They provide numerous and varied definitions of what

"translation" means Translation, according to Hatim and Munday (2004), is the

process of converting a written text from the source language (SL) to the targetlanguage (TL) The emphasis in this definition is on translation as a process ratherthan what the words or terms translated actually signify The Oxford AdvancedLearner's Dictionary (2000) agrees with this definition of translation as a process,stating that translation is the transformation of something that is written or spokeninto another language According to Lilova (1985), translation is a special oral orwritten activity intended to recreate an oral or written text (utterance) that alreadyexists in one language into a text in a different tongue while maintaining the

original's qualities, consistency, and authenticity According to Solodub (2005), adifferent scholar, translation is an intellectually creative activity that refers to the

transmission of information from an original language into a target language.

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The experts' definition of translation extends beyond the aforementionedviewpoints Some experts have provided a variety of definitions in relation tocommunication-related topics According to Sdobnikov and Petrova (2006),translation can be broadly interpreted as a method of facilitating interlingualcommunication through the generation of a text in target language (TL) intendedto completely replace the original content Translation is defined by Garbovsky(2004) as a social function of communicative mediation between individuals whospeak different linguistic systems According to him, this function is performed bya bilingual person as a psychophysical activity with the goal of reflecting realitybased on his or her unique abilities as an interpreter This function involvestransitioning from one semiotic system to another with the same overall goal, butit is always the partial transmission of a system of meanings from onecommunicant to another that is contained in a source message Latishev (1988),who also shares this viewpoint, claims that translation is a form of languagemediation with the goal of socially assisting to approximate a mediated bilingualcommunication by completeness, effectiveness, and naturalness to a typical

monolingual communication.

Additionally, translation and cultural considerations are related According toKridalaksana's (1983) definition, translation is the act of conveying ideas acrosscultural and linguistic boundaries Newmark (2001), on the other hand, agrees withhim that translation is only a fundamental ability, describing it as a tool thatinvolves the attempt to replace a written message or statement in one languagewith the same message or statement in a different language.

The conclusion drawn from the aforementioned definitions is that translation istrickier than most people think The most popular and well-known definition oftranslation is the process of converting texts, communications, or other contentfrom one language into another A translator must have a full comprehension ofboth the source and target texts during this process, as well as knowledge of both

languages’ grammatical structures, in order to effectively convey the messages of

their translation.

2.1.2 Types of Translation

Depending on various points of view, translation specialists categorise differenttypes of translation There are three different types of translation, according toresearcher Catfords (1965), and this is also the premise the study is based on These

include word-for-word translation, literal translation, and free translation.11

2.1.2.1 Word-for-word translation

Word-for-word translation, according to Catfords (1965), tends to be difficult for

readers to understand, thus the words taken from the SL are translated in a waythat the translator does not place greater emphasis on the message that is presented

in the TL text As a result, the final product could differ from the text's originalsource language The source text appears first, followed by the translation in thefollowing instances provided froma translation website.

Word-for-word translation is difficult to understand, according to Catfords (1965).Although the word order and sentences still adhered to the SL, the vocabulary weretranslated exactly from the TL It is possible to translate the phrases "My mum'smother is my grandmother" and "A cold wet wind came from the east" so that they

sound better than they did before.

Word-for-word translation is typically shown as interlinear translation, with theTL words appearing directly beneath the SL ones The words are translated

individually according to their most prevalent meanings with no regard for thecontext and the word order of the source language.

2.1.2.2 Literal translation

According to Catfords (1965), literal translation may begin with a word-for-wordtranslation but alter to correspond to the TL grammar He asserts that this kind oftranslation can involve a sentence or set of phrases According to Cakir (2006),

another researcher, literal translation is a sort of word-for-word translation that canbe used as a pre-translation activity to handle some challenges including obscurityand ambiguity He also contrasts literal translation with word-for-word translation,noting that whereas literal translation adapts grammatical structures to their closesttarget language equivalents, word order is maintained in word-for-wordtranslation When the source text's structure is examined as it would be in aninterlinear translation, Larson (1984) questions whether a literal translation isnecessary He believes that a literal translation, however intended to aid readers inunderstanding a book in its original language, does not effectively transmit thecontent of the source language.

The following is an example of a literal translation taken from the 2005 book

"Translation: From theory to practice" by Nguyen Thuong Hung.

Reference text King Jeogjo (r 1776— 1800) constructed the Hwaseong Fortress inSuwon as a filial pious gesture to restore the honor of his father, who had been

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assassinated as a result of court intrigue Jeong Yak-yong, also known as Dasan,was one of the best Confucian academics at the Silhak (School of PracticalLearning)."

A literal translation is one that renders the grammatical constructs of the source

language into the closest equivalents in the target language, but the lexical wordsare once more rendered single and out of context This kind of translation is almostidentical in some circumstances to word-for-word translation.

2.1.2.3 Free translation

According to Catfords (1965), free translation places more emphasis on themeaning that is communicated in the SL text in the translator's own words Becauseit will provide information that is simple for readers to understand, it is crucial.When translating something of this kind, the translator may add or remove wordsas appropriate This type of translation will provide information that is simple forreaders to understand due to some adjustments.

Simatupang (2000), a researcher, offers his perspective on the many styles oftranslation There are two categories of translation: literal translation and non-literal translation, sometimes known as free translation Word-for-wordtranslation, literal translation, faithful translation, semantic translation, adaptation,free translation, idiomatic translation, and communicative translation are the eightcategories of translation that Newmark (1988) suggests.

In conclusion, a free translation seems to be free of the SL text's exact word translations The goal is to accurately convey the original text's meaning.While literal translation typically suits scientific and technical texts, free

word-for-translation is more appropriate for literary texts.

Obviously, academics' perspectives on the variety of translations vary But itappears that different scholars agree with Catfords' definition that there are threeprimary categories of translation: word-for-word translation, literal translation,and free translation Therefore, in terms of the variety of translation, the theoriesof the research would primarily follow his research.

2.1.3 Translation Process

As was already said, some experts believe that translation is the process ofconverting a text from one language into another Many scholars have worked hard

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to identify the phases of translation in an effort to gain a thorough understandingof how to produce a desired translation.

Nida and Taber (1969) divided the translation process into three stages, beginningwith message analysis in the SL, followed by transferring, and concluding withreconstruction of the transferred message in the TL The following diagram

describes this procedure.

A (source language) B(receptor language)

Figure 2.1: Process flow diagram for translation

Source: The Theory and Practice of Translation, Nida and Taber, 1969It is evident from the diagram that the source language is examined before goingon to the transferring stage SL is transformed into TL at this point Thereconstruction phase is when the translator rewrites or reviews the materials toensure that the final translation is acceptable and readable in accordance with the

TL's norms and styles Furthermore, Nida and Taber as well as Nababan (2003)

have the same opinion Additionally, he emphasizes that there are three parts inthe translation process: 1) an examination of the source language (SL), 2)

transmission of the message, and 3) restructuring.

It is also vital to take into account another perspective from Larson (1984), whosimilarly explains the translation process as follows:

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Source: Meaning-Based Translation: A Guide to Cross-LanguageEquivalence,Larson, 1984Larson (1984) places more emphasis on the message's intent in his thesis.

According to him, translation entails converting the meaning of the originallanguage into the target language Through the use of semantic structure, this is

finished from the first language's form to the second tongue's form He said that

during the process, the importance of semantic organization or word meaning isgiven top priority.

When introducing the process of translation, Larson (1984) and Nida and Taber (1969)obviously have a similar idea in mind Both processes have three primary parts, andbefore creating a flawless translation, each source text must be examined and rebuilt.Through each recent study, the three primary steps (analyzing, understanding, andreconstructing) remain the same These steps must be followed by translators in order

to provide an accurate, understandable, and natural translation.2.1.4 Translation Methods

2.1.4.1 Additional Technique

Another strategy is for translators to insert terms into their translations that areabsent from the original text in order to make the text more fluid and coherent.Hung (1986:15) stated the following in regards to this subject:

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There are several causes of additions They are frequently required by whatmight be described as the "Lexical Incompleteness" of particular word groups in

the source language In contrast to Vietnamese, where their actual existence in thegroup is required, omitted words can often be simply reinstated in the context inEnglish, but this requires translational additions.The sample translations fromEnglish to Vietnamese and vice versa are provided below.

“A peace committee ® Uy ban bao vệ hoà binh.” (Su, 2003:32).Obviously toreach the adequate and fluent meaning, “bao vé” was added in the Vietnameseversion whereas there was no equivalent meaning “bảo vệ” in the source language.

“Bay nhiêu người đều ùa nhau vào day, thì hòn đá lăn ra bên đường ® All

men eagerly push the stone, it rolls out of the road immediately ”” (An & Anh,1993:161) The addition here is “immediately” to emphasize a level of a clear andcomplete expression in the version.

2.1.4.2 Omissions

Omissions, which are the exact reverse of the addition strategy, are a way to cutdown on pleonastic terms that may not be necessary for the translation's intendedmeaning In other words, translators can eliminate some extraneous words usingthe omission technique without significantly altering the meaning of the finalproduct According to Hung (1986:15), omissions are the opposite of additions andare employed to provide a higher level of "compression," or lowering theredundancy of the text, by leaving out words that can be readily recovered from

the context.

The following are some examples about this technique.«

and he bent down over the bed and took his wife’s hand and began to

caress her forehead ® rồi anh cúi xuống cẩm tay vợ và vuốt ve trán nang.” (An

& Anh, 1993:183) “over the bed” and “began” were omitted to make the versionmore concise.

“Với tư cách là những sinh viên mới, chúng ta phải hoc bài trước khi đến

lớp học ® As new students, we must study lessons before class ” (Dung, 2003:24).

The verb “dén” was omitted to convey a concise verison in the target language.

2.1.4.3 Replacements

When translating, word forms and parts of speech are two typical types oflinguistic units that translators should understand since they have a significant

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impact on how grammar is changed between the source language and the target

i The singular and plural versions of words that are easily recognised in the

rendering should receive extra attention In rare instances, translators can change

the plural forms into the singular ones and vice versa in order to become fluent in

the target language.

The following are some examples about this technique.

“To tell him an hour before your date is the epitome of bad manners ® Chi

báo cho người yêu trước cuộc hen một tiếng đông ho là biểu lộ lỗi cư xử tệ ” (Yen,

2004:67) The plural noun — “manners” was transformed into the singular one —“lôi cư xử” rather than “những lôi cư xử”.

“Họ sẽ nam trên cỏ trong vòng tay cua nhau, ® They would lie down on the

grass in one another’s arms, ” (Yen, 2004:59) It is clear that the singular noun“vong tay” was replaced by the plural form “arms” in the rendering.

ii In translation, spoken components are frequently replaced For correctnessand semantic compatibility in English and Vietnamese styles, nouns in English canbe replaced with verbs or adjectives in Vietnamese, and vice versa.

The following examples illustrate this part of the technique.

“Our belief is that Vietnam’s economy will be at the top-ten of the world ®

Chúng tôi tin rang nên kinh tế Việt Nam sẽ được xếp vào 10 nước đứng dau thé

giới ” (Dung, 2003:54) Obviously, the possessive adjective “Our” was replacedwith the pronoun “Chúng tôi” and the noun “belief” was replaced with the verb

“tin” to match the suitable meaning in the target-language style.

“Trong buồi hop tổng kết, các chuyên gia đã tiếp chuyên một cách thân mậtvà sôi nổi với các đại diện của chính phú ® At the summing-up conference, the

experts had friendly and enthusiastic talks with government and represenfatives ”

(Dung, 2003:86) The verb “tiếp chuyện” was replaced by the noun “talks” thanks

to the replacement technique.2.1.4.4 Transposition

The order of the linguistic building blocks—words, phrases, clauses, and

sentences—can be changed with the transposition technique without changing the

meaning of the utterance As Hung (1986:12) has stated:

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It should be noted that the traditional word order in English is Subject —Predicate — Object — Adverbial modifier (manner/means/instruments + place +

time) while the common tendency in Vietnamese is to place adverbial modifiers oftime at the beginning of the sentence.

Such technique is more clearly illustrated by the following examples.

“Use your napkin to wipe the area around your mouth every few minutes, ®

Choc chóc ban hãy dùng khăn ăn lau quanh miéng.” (Yen, 2004:82) In this case,

“every few minutes” at the ending order was transposed when being rendered intothe target language.

“The train had already left when we arrived at the station ® Khi chúng tôi

đến thi xe lửa đã rời ga roi.” (Hung, 1986:10) The reason why “Khi chúng tôi

đến nơi” was transformed to the first order as being rendered is that the first place

of a sentence, in Vietnamese, is most often occupied by the subordinate clause.2.1.4.5 Applying expressions to proverbs

There are many different kinds of expressions, but the focus of discussion is on

proverbs, which are brief, well-known statements or wise sayings that offerindividuals actionable life advice It should be kept in mind that translators should

look for words or word combinations in the target language that have the samemeaning as those in the source language when applying the expressions to

proverbs Su (2003) really argued that the meaning of a fixed combination is notthe same as the meaning of the words added individually.

The following are some examples about this technique.

“No guide, no realization ® Không thay đồ may làm nên.” (An & Anh,

1993:87) With the expression technique, it can be easy to find that “No guide, norealization” was conveyed meaningfully by providing the equivalent-meaning

saying “Không thay dé mày làm nên” in the target language rather than the attempt

of translating literally the message (e.g “No guide, no realization” ® Không có sự

hướng dan thì không có sự hiểu rõ.) Obviously, this sounds ambiguous and

“Money makes many things” in the target language to transmit a clearermessage to the target-language receptor.

“Practice makes perfect ® Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim.” (An & Anh,

1993:141) Like the example above, it seems to be a good choice as using theexpression technique This makes the version clear and coherent How can thetranslator convey the completely meaningful message if they use the word-for-word translation (e.g “Practice makes perfect.” ® Thực hành tạo nên sự hoanhao)? This would hardly convey any sense to the Vietnamese receptor due to the

unfamiliarity with the custom.

In conclusion, the study has provided various methods for translating between

English and Vietnamese, including additions, omissions, substitutions,

transpositions, and expressions, along with examples that are thought to beparticularly helpful for English learners This represents the work and input of theresearcher Although each strategy was presented separately for the sake of clarity,

these techniques can really be merged when necessary during translation.Hopefully, this research will result in a little booklet that is helpful to thoseinterested in translating between Vietnamese and English.

2.2 Slang and Culture

2.2.1 Definition of Slang

Slang is a linguistic phenomenon that is constantly evolving and is prevalent in

every subculture globally, although linguists do not have a single, unambiguousdefinition for it Some claim that slang exists because we need to define novel

experiences that have emerged as a result of time and modernity Bethany K.Dumas and Jonathan Lighter (1978) However, in an effort to address the lack ofa precise definition, Bethany K According to Dumas and Jonathan Lighter (1978),a phrase is "true slang" if it satisfies at least two of the following requirements:

It diminishes, even momentarily, "the dignity of formal or serious speech orwriting," or, to put it another way, it would probably be viewed as a "glaring misuseof register" in those settings.

When someone uses a term, it is assumed that they are familiar with it or that theyare among a group of people who are.

In everyday conversation with people of a higher social rank or greaterresponsibilities, it is considered taboo.

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This is done primarily to minimize difficulty or frustration caused by having toelucidate further It replaces "a well-known conventional synonym."

Adams, Michael (2009) Slang dictionaries, gathering thousands of slang entries,

offer a broad, empirical window into the motivating forces behind slang MichaelAdams states that "[slang] is a liminal language it is often impossible to tell, evenin context, which interests and motives it serves slang is on the edge.” EricPartridge (2002)

Slang is distinct from colloquial and jargon terminology because of its uniquesocial circumstances, even though many forms of lexicon may be regarded as low-register or "sub-standard." In contrast to slang, which is frequently seen as impolitein many common communicative circumstances, colloquial phrases are typicallyregarded as acceptable in speaking across a wide range of contexts Jargondescribes the terms used by professionals in a field or the language used to explaincertain phrases to others who have a particular interest Despite the fact that bothjargon and slang can be used to exclude people outside of the group from theconversation, Piekot and Tomasz claim that the goal of jargon is to improveconversation by employing terms that suggest technical understanding (2008).However, slang places more of a focus on social and contextual knowledge.

Although jargon and colloquialisms may relate to a specific group and appear tobe slang because of this, they do not necessarily satisfy the definition of slangbecause they do not specifically attempt to replace the general lexicon of a standard

language Slang is less accepted and less expected in ordinary usage thancolloquialisms, and jargon is frequently developed to discuss characteristics of aparticular subject that are not covered by the broader lexicon Paul Dickson (2010).

The terms "slang" and "jargon" are occasionally viewed as synonyms (Grzenia,

Jan., April 25, 2005), and the definition of "jargon" is occasionally expanded toinclude all types of socially constrained language, Grabias, Stanisaw However,linguists do not always apply this distinction (1997)

Slang frequently blends into colloquialisms and even high-register lexicon over

time, making it challenging to distinguish it from these words Words like

"spurious" and "strenuous," which are now thought of as broad, even high-registerwords, were originally thought to be slang The slang literature even analyses howa term's status as true slang might change when it is recognised by the media andno longer considered to be the exclusive insider language of a particular group.Black American music, for instance, frequently employs slang based on ethnicity

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and nationality Combining slurring and slurping of words is slang However, a

general test for determining whether a word is slang or not is whether it would beacceptable in an academic or legal setting, as both are contexts in which standardlexicon is thought to be necessary, and/or whether the term has been entered in theOxford English Dictionary, which some scholars claim changes the term's statusas slang, Paul Dickson (2010).

2.2.2 Cultural context of slang

Slang reflects the social and cultural norms of a specific population (Wardhaugh,2010) A variety of cultural characteristics, including ethnicity, gender, age, andsocioeconomic status, among others, have an impact on it The cultural context of

slang is extremely important in determining the correctness and acceptability of

translations from English to Vietnamese.

Cultural context, according to Al-Deeky and Al-Khaldi (2019), is the social,historical, and cultural setting that influences how a text is interpreted and understood.The values, beliefs, and social standards of the language's speakers are included in thecultural context of slang For instance, the word "cool" can be used in English to showsomething that is current or popular However, because it is influenced by Vietnamese

cultural norms and beliefs, the corresponding term "ngau", or “đẹp trai”, or “thời

trang” in Vietnamese might not have the same meaning.

Moreover, the speakers' socioeconomic and historical backgrounds have an impacton the cultural setting of their slang For instance, due to differences in their socialand cultural experiences, the younger and older generations of Vietnamese people

may employ different slang.

To ensure that the translation effectively captures the intended meaning of theslang term in its cultural context, it is imperative to consider the cultural context

of slang while translating from English to Vietnamese.

2.2.3 Cultural factors affecting translation.

Slang is a form of language that is characterized by its informal nature and isfrequently employed in relaxed social contexts and by specific social groups The

utilization of colloquial language may exhibit considerable variation across diverse

cultures, thereby posing a formidable task for translators to precisely communicatethe intended meaning and cultural nuances of such language in their translations.The objective of this study is to investigate the cultural variables that impact thetranslation of colloquial language from English to Vietnamese.

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The translation of slang can be influenced by various cultural factors, with one ofthe primary ones being the distinct cultural contexts in which slang is employed.The usage of informal language is frequently associated with the cultural normsand beliefs of a specific community, and translators may encounter difficulties inprecisely communicating these norms and beliefs in their translations The

vernacular expression "lit" in the English language is frequently employed toconnote an experience that is stimulating or enjoyable.

However, the connotation of this term may fluctuate depending on the cultural

milieu of the individuals who employ it The absence of a direct equivalent in

Vietnamese culture poses a challenge in accurately conveying the meaning of thisterm through translation.

Another cultural aspect that may impact the translation of slang is the varyingdegrees of formality and politeness that are present in diverse cultures Colloquiallanguage is frequently employed in casual contexts, and the utilization ofcolloquialisms may be regarded as discourteous or unsuitable in particularsocieties It is imperative for translators to possess an awareness of culturaldisparities and tailor their translations accordingly As an illustration, a colloquialexpression that is frequently employed by adolescents in English may not be

suitable for utilization in a formal Vietnamese manuscript, thereby necessitating

the translator to procure an alternative translation that imparts the sameconnotation in a more refined and courteous manner.

In addition to these cultural factors, translators also need to be aware of the

different levels of proficiency in English and Vietnamese that exist among their

target audience Slang is often used by young people and may not be understoodby older or more conservative audiences It is imperative for translators torecognize such variations and modify their translations accordingly, utilizingterminology that is suitable for the target readership.

To conclude, the process of translating slang from English to Vietnamese is amultifaceted one that is impacted by a diverse array of cultural elements It isimperative for translators to take into consideration these factors and modify theirtranslations accordingly, with the aim of precisely communicating the intendedmeaning and cultural implications of colloquial language to the intendedrecipients The present study emphasizes the significance of understanding culturaldisparities and modifying translations to cater to the requirements and anticipationsof diverse cultures.

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2.2.4 Translation challenges of slang

The perception of slang is subjective and can vary depending on the individual ordemographic What may be considered slang by one group or generation in aparticular context may be interpreted differently by others in a distinct setting.

Typically, these terms connote attributes such as cleverness, amusement,

inventiveness, originality, and impromptu thinking; alternatively, they may

necessitate the use of metaphors and other forms of figurative and expressivelanguage Significantly, they constitute an integral aspect of a distinct cultural milieu.Therefore, a crucial aspect of being a proficient and expert translator involvespossessing a comprehensive understanding of both the source language and thetarget language, enabling adaptability in the event of encountering any colloquialexpressions during the translation procedure.

Despite their frequency, pronouns pose a significant challenge for translators andinterpreters due to their multifaceted and context-dependent application The term'thương' is frequently employed in spoken Vietnamese by individuals to expressconcurrence with others or to communicate a sense of admiration In the English

language, there exist multiple terms that may express comparable meanings,however, they are not employed in English discourse to the same degree as the

Vietnamese term 'thuong' is by English speakers.

The expertise of professional translators or interpreters can significantly impactthe communication process Their specialized training enables them to effectivelyconvey the intended meaning of the original message while maintaining its context

and semantics Their training primarily focuses on identifying the optimal solution

with precision.

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