a study on english types of sentences in the gift of the magi with reference to vietnamese equivalents

ACKNOWLEDGE With reference to their Vietnamese equivalents, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped to complete this research on the English sentence types and sentence eleme

Rationale for the study

Analyzing the various sentence structures used in O Henry’s short story

“The Gift of the Magi” can provide valuable insights not only into the literary techniques employed by the author but also facilitate a deeper understanding of how the story may be interpreted and appreciated by readers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, such as those familiar with the Vietnamese language

Studying English sentence types in “The Gift of the Magi” with Vietnamese equivalents can enhance cross-cultural understanding by highlighting subtleties in meaning, tone, and rhetorical techniques English and Vietnamese have different grammatical structures, with English having more diversified sentence patterns and Vietnamese being a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) language Comparing these sentence structures can help language learners and translators better understand the challenges involved in translating different English sentence structures This can also help educators create more effective learning resources and instructional practices for cross-cultural communication Comparing the English and Vietnamese interpretations of the story can help people understand the diversity of human expression and experience.

Aims and objectives of the study

The study aims to examine the English sentence forms in O Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” and their Vietnamese equivalents It investigates the use of simple, compound, and complex sentence patterns, their translation into Vietnamese, and the linguistic influences on the narrative style The study also aims to enhance knowledge of cross-cultural literary analysis and the challenges of translating literary works from English into Vietnamese The

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Scope of the study

This study compares the Vietnamese counterparts of the English sentence patterns used in O Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi”:

This study compares the English sentence patterns used in O Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” in Vietnamese and English It examines the original English text and its translation into Vietnamese, analyzing sentence structure and word choices The research also compares the Vietnamese and English translations, identifying any translation-related difficulties and changes The study’s pedagogical implications include its application in literary analysis, translation studies, and English-Vietnamese instruction The findings could provide insights into the interpretation and value of literary works in a more nuanced manner The research focuses on linguistic and cultural elements affecting sentence patterns in the two languages, offering valuable insights for translation studies and cross-cultural literary analysis.

Significance of the study

The study of English sentence types in O Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” aims to advance knowledge of linguistic and cross-cultural understanding, highlighting the difficulties and complexities of cross-cultural communication and literary exchange The findings can be used to improve teaching methods, course materials, and evaluation instruments for Vietnamese and English students The study also enriches literary scholarship by providing a more complex understanding of the literary devices used by author O Henry

It also advances translation studies by guiding the creation of more efficient techniques and understanding the challenges of maintaining the aesthetic and cultural authenticity of literary works The study also fosters cross-cultural

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Design of the study

The thesis consists of 3 parts:

Part I: Introduction: States the reasons for choosing the topic, the aim, its scope, and the significance of the study

Part II: Development consists 3 chapters:

Chapter 2: Literature review of “The Gift of the Magi”

Chapter 3: Analysis to compare similarities and differences between the original and the translation of “The Gift of the Magi” with reference to Vietnamese equivalents

Part III: Conclusions: Summarize the main points of the thesis, states.”

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Overview of English Sentence Structures

A simple sentence consists of a main clause composed of a subject and predicate It may also include complements and objects Sentences can be classified into five patterns based on their functional elements According to PhD Vesel Nuhiu (2002), there are additional sentence patterns beyond these five.

In Pattern I, The verbs used as predicators are intransitive verbs Intransitive verbs are action verbs without an object that is the recipient of the action

Pattern II: Subject – Predicator – Subject Complement

Linking verbs are employed as predictors in Pattern II Verbs that define the subject of the sentence by tying it to a subject complement - a noun phrase, adjective phrase, finite clause, non-finite clause, or prepositional phrase - are known as linking verbs It should be noted that Pattern II sentences cannot be converted to passive voice

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Some frequent linking verbs are: am/ is/ are, will be, can be, should be, appear, become, grow, seem, feel, look, smell, sound, taste, fall, and make

Pattern III: Subject – Predicator – Object

Transitive verbs are employed as predictors in Pattern III Action verbs with a direct object that receives the action are known as transitive verbs Except for sentences in which the object is a reflexive pronoun, the majority of pattern III phrases can be rendered in the passive voice Examples of transformable statements are: Poem is written by her

Sentences such as “I cut myself”, “He saw himself” and “They heard themselves” are non-transformable

Pattern IV: Subject – Predicator – Indirect Object – Direct Object

Example: Alex bought her a gift

His neighbor passed him the keys

Ditransitive verbs, predictors of Pattern IV, demand a subject, an indirect object, and a direct object These verbs express actions that involve transferring something from one individual or entity to another Examples of common ditransitive verbs include: "bring," "purchase," "call," "catch," "charge," "deliver," "ask," "offer," "pay," "send," and "write."

Passive voice can be added to Pattern IV sentences by making the direct or indirect object the sentence’s subject Retained objects (RO) are any objects that continue to exist as objects in the passive voice

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For example: Mina gave Lucy a beautiful bag – Active

Lucy was given a beautiful bag – Passive #1

A beautiful bag was given to Lucy – Passive #2

There are two ways to convert a pattern IV statement to a passive voice The retained object in passive sentence #1 is a beautiful bag, whereas in sentence

Pattern V: Subject – Predicator – Object – Object Complement

Examples: America chose Trump as President

Transitive verbs are employed in this pattern Adjective phrases, noun phrases, prepositional phrases, and finite or non-finite sentences can all be used to convey the object complement

One-member and two-member simple sentences can both be unextended and extended sentences Simple sentences can also be further subdivided into one- and two-member sentences

When a two-member sentence has both of the major components - the subject and the predicate - it is considered complete

For example: My friends and I supported Tim

Hoa studies at the innovation school

Sentences with just one member that do not function as either the subject or the predicate are referred to as one-member sentences One-member phrases are typically employed in descriptive or emotive speeches

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As was already explained, phrases consisting of one or two members can be extended or unextended When the subject and the predicator, the two main sentence components, fully communicate a notion without the need for any further parts, the sentence is considered unextended

The simplest definition of a compound sentence is one that consists of many basic sentences A coordinating conjunction connects the independent or primary clauses that make up a complex sentence’s simple sentences Despite having the same rank, it doesn’t imply that any arrangement of coordinated simple phrases is permissible in a complex sentence Here are some rules:

• The order of two sentences cannot alter if they are coordinated by “but”

• The events in the first and second clauses cannot be in a different sequence if they occur in chronological order

• The order of the clauses cannot vary even if some of the items in the second clause are elliptical

Coordinating conjunctions, represented by the acronym FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so), connect compound sentences by joining equivalent elements within a phrase These function words include: and (addition), nor (negated addition), but (contrast), or (choice), yet (contrast with implication), and so (result).

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There is information added to the first clause by the conjunctions joining it, either copulative or cumulative Although it may also be a consequence, the event that occurs in the second matrix or independent clause is a chronological sequence to the event in the first matrix or independent phrase or as a consequence of the occurrence mentioned in the first sentence Among the copulative coordinators are both, and, and and, also, not only but additionally, additionally, besides, additionally, in addition

For example: Minh wrote the song and Linh published the song

Darl saw him breaking in and called the police

There is a disagreement between the two linked phrases expressed by the adversative conjunctions that unite them The reason for this contradiction is that the events in the first independent sentence do not predict the events in the second independent clause Adversative conjunctions include but, but while, on the other hand, on the contrary, nonetheless, again, after all, and so on But is the most often utilized adversative coordinator

For example: He did not study hard but he passed the exam

I went to study in London but I started working in a restaurant

The sentence that is attached to the other major clause by a disjunctive or alternative conjunction does convey a different sense Other conjunctions that can be used include or, either or, neither nor, nor, and otherwise Or is the most often utilized substitute coordinator

For example: Either Lan is kind, or she pretends to be kind

I can stay here or go to a hotel

The conclusion drawn from another statement is expressed in the sentence that is connected by illative conjunctions The conjunctions “for” and “so” are these

For example: The kids shouted, so I heard the noise

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A compound sentence can have two main clauses combined in one of three ways These three techniques will be further discussed below

− Method 1: Independent Clause + Comma + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause

For example: I have seen her, so I do not need to look for her

− Method 2: Independent Clause + Semicolon (;) + Independent Clause

For example: Dr Sylvia is the best doctor of the year; I was lucky to meet her

− Method 3: Independent Clause + Semicolon + Coordinator + Comma + Independent Clause

For example: I am happy to see you; yet, I was not looking forward to meeting you

A main clause coupled to one or more subordinate clauses makes up a complicated sentence Subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns like who, that, and which link the subordinate phrase to the main clause

Function words known as subordinating conjunctions or subordinators link a subordinate sentence to a major clause Subordinators are not assigned a definite position within the committees they join, unlike coordinators Both the beginning and the conclusion of the sentence can contain subordinators Following, as, before, because, even though, so that, since, as soon as, when, whenever, while, till, until, then, that, though, although, where, anywhere are some subordinating conjunctions

For example: After I finished my homework, I went and ate dinner with Lisa Once he finished his work, he played badminton

Because it was raining, we got stuck in our flat all day

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Overview of Vietnamese Sentence Structures

The arrangement of Vietnamese words to produce meaning will be covered in this part Let’s begin with the classic example: “Anh yêu em” is the Vietnamese expression for “I love you” Let’s look at the breakdowns:

Table 1.1 Analyze expressions between English and Vietnamese languages

Vietnamese has distinct temporal expressions called tense terms instead of formal verb tenses like English These terms help differentiate between past, present, and future time frames, as Vietnamese lacks the twelve tenses found in English.

“Đã” can be used before the main verb to describe an earlier occurrence For example, Vietnam You visited Vietnam

Additionally, you may use time terms like “hôm qua” (yesterday), “tuần trước” (last week), “năm trước” (last year), and “năm ngoái” (last year) to characterize the past

When a time phrase or clause begins with "Hồi," it serves as a temporal marker that transports the listener or reader back in time This linguistic device allows for the expression of past experiences and events, providing a sense of chronological context and situating actions within a specific timeframe.

It implies that you're more senior or older It means I

Vietnamese usage of the first-person pronoun "I" varies based on the speaker's age and seniority in relation to the listener Furthermore, regional differences can influence the choice of term These factors combine to create a complex and multifaceted system of personal pronouns in the Vietnamese language.

The meaning of the term is you This term suggests that you are less experienced and younger (Extended discussion of pronouns)

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You can use the verb alone in a basic sentence tense, without using any additional words or phrases

Put “đang” before the primary verb to represent an ongoing activity or anything that is currently happening For example, “Cô ấy đang học tiếng Việt” (She is studying the language)

The time expressions “hôm nay” (today), “bây giờ” (now), “ngay bây giờ”, and “tại thời điểm này” (right now) can also be used

There are several techniques to predict future events Each method can be used singly or in combination

Putting “sẽ” before the primary verb is the first method As an illustration,

“Tôi sẽ lấy vợ Việt Nam.” (I intend to wed a Vietnamese lady.)

Using time words such as “ngày mai” (tomorrow), “tuần tới” or “tuần sau” (next week), “năm tới” or “năm sau” (next year), “cuối năm nay” (at the end of this year), and “cuối tuần này” (at the end of this week) are examples of the second method

Using a clause to explain what will happen when it ends is the third method In this instance, the phrase might begin with “khi” (when) or “sau khi” (after) For instance: “Sau khi tôi tốt nghiệp, tôi sẽ kiếm việc làm” (I'll get a job once I graduate).

Comparative Analysis of English and Vietnamese Sentence Structures

1.3.1 The similarities between English and Vietnamese Sentence Structures:

• Verb – Subject - Object (SVO) Word Order: In simple declarative phrases, the word order in both English and Vietnamese is subject – verb - object “She sings” in English and “Cô ấy hát” in Vietnamese are two examples

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• Verb-Centric Sentences: The verb is a key component of sentences in both languages, serving to express the core idea of the action or situation The verb is frequently necessary to finish a statement and convey significant information

• Parts of Speech Sequence: There are rules governing the order in which the various parts of speech belong in a sentence in both Vietnamese and English In both languages, for example, adjectives usually come before nouns, as in

“beautiful house” (English) and “ngôi nhà đẹp” (Vietnamese)

• Sentence Components: Subject and predicate are parts of sentences in both languages The predicate contains the verb and gives further details about the subject, whereas the subject is the thing doing the action or going through the state

• Negation: To indicate the lack or denial of a condition or activity, negation is used in both Vietnamese and English Adding negative words or particles to a sentence - such as “not” in English and “không” in Vietnamese - is the usual method of achieving negation

• Questions: To find out information, ask questions in both languages When forming a question in English, the subject and auxiliary verb are frequently switched, or question phrases like “Who, What, and Where” are used Vietnamese formulate questions using question words (like “Ai, Gì, Ở đâu”) or question particles (like “Có phải”, “Đúng không”)

• Coordination and Subordination: To link sentences and convey relationships between concepts, both English and Vietnamese utilize coordination (coordinating conjunctions like “and”, “but”, “or”) and subordination (subordinating conjunctions like “because”, “although”, “when”)

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While Vietnamese and English share some similarities, their sentence structures exhibit significant differences Understanding these disparities is essential for effective language acquisition and communication Recognizing the contrasts between the two languages can help learners avoid common errors and improve their proficiency in both languages.

1.3.2 Considering sentence structure in Vietnamese and English

Due to the difference in language types, sentence structures in the two languages are quite clearly different If Vietnamese is an isolated language, then English is a morphing language

Vietnamese and English simple sentences differ from one another in a number of ways, such as word order, structure, syntax, and use context Word Order: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) is a common word order in Vietnamese phrases This sequence is often followed, however it may change depending on the situation Although English sentences also employ SVO word order, they can be altered more readily based on the situation and intent Auxiliary Verbs: Compared to English sentences, Vietnamese sentences hardly ever include auxiliary verbs Vietnamese frequently expresses meaning through the employment of additional forms, such as context and time The auxiliary particles “do”, “does”, “did”, “have”, and “be” are frequently used in English to build more intricate sentence forms Pragmatic environment: The social and cultural environment of Vietnamese statements frequently has a significant impact In everyday conversation, sentences might be shorter and more to the point

English phrases are nuanced, reflecting social contexts Vietnamese relies on a tense system to convey temporal and activity details more explicitly than English, which uses complex structures to express time and action Furthermore, English emphasizes verb-object relationships, showcasing its distinct usage patterns.

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Unlike English, Vietnamese verb structure frequently relies on changing the verb form rather than the usage of verb auxiliary particles English has a more complicated sentence structure since it depends on verbs and employs auxiliary particles Vietnamese is a language that simulates the complexity of meaning via the use of phrases and grammatical combinations to build complex sentence structures

English may have a more complex sentence structure than other languages, but it still employs phrases and grammatical word combinations These distinctions frequently lead to misunderstandings when speakers or learners move across languages Foreign language learners are better able to comprehend sentence structure and make efficient use of language when they are aware of this distinction

The following crucial elements highlight the significant distinctions between Vietnamese and English in compound phrases, which represent a complicated language structure: (Futrell, R., et al 2020) Word Order: Complex Sentences The SVO word order is frequently upheld in Vietnamese The context and intended use will determine which sequence applies SVO word order is also employed in English, yet it can vary based on the situation and goal English is better at word arrangement than Vietnamese; Vietnamese complex sentences frequently contain a large number of dependent clauses to explain circumstances or details (Chen, X., et al., 2021) Dependent clauses are similarly employed in English, however, the sentence structure is more flexible and may arrange and share information in more sophisticated ways Conjunctions in Vietnamese and conjunctive adverbs are frequently used to join concepts in compound sentences (Boxodirova, F., et al., 2022) Although connecting adverbs and conjunctions are often employed in English, their use varies greatly (Sujatna, M L., et al 2019) Auxiliary Verbs Compared to English, Vietnamese auxiliaries are seldom employed in complex sentences English uses a lot of auxiliary particles to build

Copies for internal use only in Phenikaa University sentence constructions that are more intricate Vietnamese compound sentences are often employed to explain relationships, timeframes, or circumstances between occurrences (Pragmatic Function Friedman, L., & Sterling, A 2019) Compound sentences in English can be used to illustrate links between causes and effects, contrast, and cause and effect

The following table illustrates how complex sentences in Vietnamese and English vary in that they both have at least one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses:

Complex sentences usually maintain SVO (subject– verb – object) word order but can change depending on the context and purpose of use

Also maintains SVO word order but has greater flexibility compared to Vietnamese Sentence structure can change depending on purpose and context

Use multiple dependent clauses to describe details, conditions, or relationships between events

Use multiple dependent clauses, and be able to arrange them in multiple ways to show relationships and complexity of meaning

Use conjunctions and linking adverbs to connect the main and subordinate clauses

There are many linking conjunctions and adverbs to create complex sentence structures Conjunctions such as

“although”, “because”, and “while”…, are used to show relationships between clauses

In complex sentences, definite auxiliary particles are rarely used compared to English

Use more auxiliary particles like “do”,

“does”, “did”, “have”, and “be” to create more complex sentence structures

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Use commas and periods to distinguish between clauses and ideas in complex sentences

Use commas, semicolons, and periods to create complex sentence structures and differentiate clauses

Table 1.2 The variation in complex sentences in Vietnamese and English.

Previous Studies on Sentence Types

Research conducted over the past fifty years has demonstrated that studies of translation have arisen and developed globally, including in Vietnam, in tandem with the growth of numerous other disciplines, particularly linguistics, under the influence of various linguistic theories and tendencies, ranging from Nida & Taber’s 1969 theory of communicative activity in translation to N Chomsky’s transformative-genetic grammatical theory, Jakobson’s Prague functional theory (1959), Halliday’s hierarchical grammar theory, and Svejcer’s (1987) Regarding language, two notable studies are Blum-Kulka (1986) and Hatim & Mason (1991) Readers have recently been introduced to the idea of translation by Hartmann (1980) and Gutt (1991) According to this theory, translation must transcend the text and instead seek out communicative interactions in order to transfer the content that the reader is interested in Peter Newmark (1995) developed this viewpoint from a more focused perspective Based on the information above, it can be concluded that the communication- oriented approach is the most often used method in translation studies worldwide

As translation practice has grown in Vietnam over the ages, linguistic and literary scholars as well as numerous translators and writers have been interested in translation studies For instance, Le Quang Thiem (1989) addressed some translation theory issues for the first time in his work “Consideration of Languages” We have synthesized several additional translation research papers in chronological order and utilized them as reference materials for the

Copies for internal use only in Phenikaa University dissertation on translation in general Nguyen Thuong Hung (2005) and Nguyen Hong Can (2001, 2004, 2005, 2006) are two examples that come to mind Not to be overlooked are the contributions made by Hoang Van Van (2005), Le Hong Tien (2007), and Luu Trong Tuan (2008) Overall, the authors' contributions are remarkable and enrich the theory of translation

The situation of English-Vietnamese translation research:

Recent years have seen the appearance of several studies on English- Vietnamese translation in Vietnam, including those by Nguyen Quoc Hung (2005) and Le Hung Tien (2007), applying the ideas of translation as the topic of linguistics in theory and practice Numerous dissertations and research articles on the translation of phrases, word actions, cultural concepts, or specialist terms from English to Vietnamese have been written throughout the past 20 years They include, among others, theses in comparative and language studies, such as those of Can Thi Thu Ha, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha (2007), and Vo Tu Phuong (2011) Assessments have been conducted on translations of specialized terms (Luu Trong Tuan, 2008; Nguyen Thi Bich Huong, 2014); translations of cultural vocabulary (Kieu Phuong Nga, 2007); and translations of English-Vietnamese phrases (authors Tran Thu Hien, 2009; Hoang Cong Binh, 2015) The dissertation by Trinh Thu Hang (2019), the thesis on “Study on the Critical Evaluation of English-Vietnamese Translation in the Field of Literature (Literary Prose)” by Pham Thu Thuy (2015), and the philosophical doctoral thesis of Trinh Thi Thom (2014) are also noteworthy works in the field of literary translation and poetry

Research on translation, particularly English-Vietnamese translation, has garnered significant attention from scholars worldwide.

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Overview of O Henry

William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O Henry (1862– 1910), was an American short story writer renowned for his astute narratives, surprising turns of events, and dark conclusions He is regarded as one of the great writers of short stories and has influenced American literature greatly

Stories by O Henry frequently center on common people in commonplace circumstances, especially those of early 20th-century New Yorkers His work is characterized by a blend of pathos, comedy, and wit He had a talent for developing endearing characters and capturing the vibrant metropolitan environment of the day

O Henry’s use of unexpected endings is one of his signature techniques

He would build up a scenario that appeared to be going one way, just to abruptly veer off course at the very end, surprising readers with an unexpected turn of events or revelation Themes of love, sacrifice, irony, and the complexity of human nature are frequently explored in his works

“The Gift of the Magi” a little tale of love and sacrifice, is among O Henry’s most well-known compositions The heroes of this tale are Della and Jim, a poor couple who gave up assets to purchase gifts for one another When they get gifts, though, they discover that they are meaningless without the items that have been thrown out This tale, which combines love, selflessness, and the irony of fate, embodies O Henry’s typical style

“The Ransom of Red Chief” is another one of O Henry’s works It’s a humorous tale about two thieves attempting to kidnap a wealthy youngster and holding him for ransom But this youngster turns into an ugly “monster” that bothers the two crooks This tale, with its surprising circumstances and unexpected conclusions, embodies O Henry’s comedy and sarcasm

O Henry’s use of vivid, witty, and cutting language is a common indicator of his classical style He frequently use short stories to set up surprising circumstances that frequently defy the reader's expectations O.Henry also

Copies for internal use only in Phenikaa University frequently creates a sense of familiarity and empathy with the reader by utilizing well-known characters and informal settings

Overall, O Henry’s classic style is conveyed via the employment of vivid, witty, and cutting language in addition to the development of surprising situations and frightening conclusions His compositions frequently combine love, sacrifice, and the irony of fate in a classical and artistic manner.

Overview of “The Gift of the Magi”

“The Gift of the Magi” is a classic short story that tells the tale of a young married couple, Jim and Della, who are struggling financially but are determined to give each other meaningful Christmas gifts

Della has only $1.87 to spend on a gift for Jim She decides to sell her most valuable possession - her long, beautiful hair - in order to buy Jim a chain for his prized pocket watch

Meanwhile, Jim sells his pocket watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair, not knowing that she has cut it off

In the poignant moment of gift exchange, the irony of their sacrifices starkly unfolds: the extravagant gifts they meticulously selected are rendered obsolete Yet, amid the fading luster of material possessions, a deeper understanding emerges They rediscover the essence of Christmas, recognizing that the true gift lies not in the tangible but in the act of giving itself.

In O Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," poverty and generosity intertwine as young Jim and Della struggle to afford Christmas gifts Despite their limited means, they prioritize each other's happiness, sacrificing their cherished possessions to enhance the other's wealth Della sells her prized hair to buy a watch chain for Jim's family heirloom, while Jim sells his watch to purchase a comb for Della's beautiful hair Their selfless acts symbolize the depth of their love and the power of giving, ultimately triumphing over material wealth.

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Love is the most important gift, as Jim and Della give each other the best of all possible gifts: each other The story highlights the value of love and the sacrifices made in the name of love, as well as the uselessness of gifts that are ironically removed from their intended purpose The story highlights the importance of self-sacrifice in the name of love

Characters in literary works possess distinct personalities shaped by their role and demeanor Primary characters include protagonists such as Jim and antagonists like Della, whose interactions drive the narrative Minor characters, like Madame Sofronie who acquires Della's hair, play supporting roles Characters can be classified into four types: stock characters (e.g., Madame Sofronie), dynamic characters (e.g., Della), static characters (e.g., Jim), and flat characters with unchanging traits These characterizations enhance the plot and contribute to the overall impact of the story.

“The Gift of the Magi” is set in Madame Sofronie’s store, Della and Jim’s home, and the store where Della purchased the gift chain Della was counting money to buy Jim the perfect gift, eventually cutting off her hair and selling it to Madame Sofronie for $20 The story takes place on Christmas Eve, with Della purchasing Jim’s watch’s fob chain

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Overview of translator and Vietnamese Version

1.7.1 Overview of translator – Than Trong Son

Born in 1945 in Hue, the individual has been translating Vietnamese poetry into French since the 90s He aims to provide opportunities for Frenchmen and Francophones to read Vietnamese poetry without knowing Vietnamese He has also translated books on culture and Nguyen dynasty history, but has stopped due to lack of compensation He has translated poetry, articles, and prose, mainly short stories, from English to Vietnamese He has also translated books on culture and Nguyen dynasty history, as well as poetry and prose The translator is careful about their writing, influenced by a French teacher who gave them 16 points for “assez bon devoir.” He believes that there is a better way to write, and they use the same technique when writing in Vietnamese, especially when translating The translator takes responsibility for their work and tries to avoid mistakes, but their main concern is expressing the style, tone, and sentence of Vietnamese writing without being considered “too western.”

This translation by the translator Than Trong Son - the renowned and trustworthy writer, is posted on the homepage “Chim Cành Việt Nam” magazine

- is to serve as a conduit between readers and producers, giving everyone a platform to contribute to happiness It’s a garden full of leaves, flowers, butterflies, birds, and uneven stones that welcomes everyone to contribute to the development of Vietnamese culture The translator writes with extreme caution

The translator's approach is likely influenced by their observation of a first-year instructor Translators working in Vietnamese adhere to specific elements, particularly when engaged in translation This is because translations aim to accurately convey the author's intended message, rather than expressing the translator's personal interpretations.

When it is unlikely that they would receive feedback on manuscripts, translators attempt to be self-aware and prevent errors The translator does not believe that his proficiency in writing Vietnamese is diminished since he utilizes

The translator's primary challenge lies in capturing the Vietnamese style, tone, and phrase in their translation while avoiding perceptions of direct copying As a result, the translations are exclusively intended for internal use within Phenikaa University and are available in various languages.

“văn Tây quá” (too Western), or how to translate how the Vietnamese write

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ANALYSIS TO COMPARE SIMILARITIES AND

Identification of Sentence Types and compare the two English-Vietnamese versions

This analysis delves deeper into the sentence structure used by O Henry in his heartwarming short story, “The Gift of the Magi” I will explore how English and Vietnamese utilize simple, compound, and complex sentences to convey meaning and create a distinct narrative flow

Types The Gift of the Magi Món Quà Giáng Sinh

- “Three times Della counted it.”

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (Della) and a verb (counted) without any additional clauses or complex structures The repetition of counting emphasizes Della’s carefulness and highlights the importance of the action in the context of the story

- “Della đếm tới đếm lui ba lần.”

Della's meticulous counting, emphasized by the repetition of "counting" in the sentence, serves as a pivotal action in the story Consisting solely of a subject, verb, and adverbial phrase, the sentence's simplicity underscores the crucial nature of Della's actions.

=> Both sentences conveyed the same information that Della counted something three times However, the expression of each sentence produces a slightly different nuance The English sentence focuses on the number of counts, demonstrating Della’s caution Vietnamese sentence emphasizes repetitive action, provoking Della’s anxiety or concern about counting

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (Della), a verb (did), and an adverb (so) without any additional clauses or complex structures The word “so” indicates that Della took the action

- “Della làm như thế thật.”

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (Della), a verb (làm), and an adverbial phrase (như thế) without any additional clauses or complex structures The phrase “như thế

Della's meticulous nature is evident in her actions, exemplified by her "studied movement of the visionary," which conveys her careful and deliberate planning Conversely, her genuine and sincere qualities are encapsulated in the phrase "she proceeded as planned," highlighting that her actions were authentic and true to her character The simplicity of both sentences allows for clear and concise statements, effectively capturing the nuances of Della's character and actions.

=> Both sentences convey Della’s action in a simple and direct manner However, they create slightly different nuances The English sentence emphasizes the completion of a previously mentioned action or plan Vietnamese sentence emphasizes the genuineness and sincerity of Della’s actions

In essence, both sentences highlight Della’s decisiveness and commitment to her course of action

- “Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him.”

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (she), a verb phrase (had spent planning), and a prepositional phrase (for something nice for him) without any additional clauses or complex structures The phrase “many a happy hour” indicates the duration and frequency of Della’s planning activities The simplicity of the sentence allows for a clear and concise statement regarding the time and effort Della dedicated to preparing something special for him

- “Cô đã mất nhiều giờ tính toán nghĩ cho ra món quà gì thật đẹp dành cho anh.”

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (cô), a verb phrase (đã mất), and a noun phrase (nhiều giờ tính toán nghĩ - many hours calculating and thinking) modifying the verb The phrase “cho ra món quà gì thật đẹp dành cho anh” expresses the purpose of her actions The simplicity of the sentence allows for a clear and concise statement about the time and effort she invested in creating a special gift for him

Della's dedication in planning a special gift for Jim is evident in both sentences The English sentence underscores the joy and extended timeline of her planning, capturing the emotional significance of the process On the other hand, the Vietnamese sentence highlights the intentional effort behind her actions, focusing on the careful consideration and mental exertion involved in her preparation.

In essence, both sentences portray Della’s thoughtful and committed approach to finding the perfect gift

- “Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an

- “Có lẽ bạn đã thấy một chiếc gương như vậy trong căn hộ thuê 8 đô la.”

Copies for internal use only in Phenikaa University

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (you), a verb phrase (have seen), and a direct object (a pier-glass) with additional prepositional phrases (in an

$8 flat) without any additional clauses or complex structures The word “perhaps” introduces a possibility or uncertainty The simplicity of the sentence allows for a clear and concise statement about the potential familiarity of the reader with a specific item in a particular setting

A simple sentence is characterized by its basic structure, which includes a subject (you), a verb phrase (witnessed), and a direct object (such a mirror), potentially accompanied by additional prepositional phrases (within your rented apartment).

8 đô la) without any additional clauses or complex structures The phrase “Có lẽ” introduces a possibility or uncertainty The simplicity of the sentence allows for a clear and concise statement about the potential familiarity of the reader with a specific item in a particular setting

=> Both sentences are strikingly similar, functioning as mirrors (pun intended) of each other There’s minimal difference in emphasis or nuance They effectively achieve the same purpose - gauging the reader’s familiarity with the described object and its environment

- “Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag.”

=> This is a simple sentence because it consists of a subject (Della), two verb phrases (finished and attended), and two direct objects (her cry and her cheeks) with a prepositional phrase (with the powder rag) modifying the second verb The conjunction