Analyzing strategies in the english vietnamese translation of foreign affair texts at dong nai department of external relations master graduation project in english language

Validity & reliability, ethical considerations 38 Appendix 2: Tasks for E-V Translation Diplomatic Texts xiv Appendix 3: Examples of translation task of one learner xix Appendix 3: Examp

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LAC HONG UNIVERSITY

BUI THI TO

ANALYZING STRATEGIES IN THE ENGLISH - VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN AFFAIR TEXTS AT DONG NAI

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

MASTER GRADUATION PROJECT

1.1.1 Definitions of English sentence structures 8 1.1.2 Definitions of Vietnamese sentence structures (simple, compound, compound-complex sentences in Vietnamese) 151.1.3 Views on types of translation and translation strategies 15

2.7 Validity & reliability, ethical considerations 38

Appendix 2: Tasks for E-V Translation (Diplomatic Texts) xiv

Appendix 3: Examples of translation task of one learner xix

Appendix 3: Examples of translation task of one learner xxiii

Appendix 5: Vietnamese sentence structures (in Vietnamese) xxix

Appendix 6: List of learners participate in class of English translation and

interpretation skills for civil servants, officials in 2023 ii

Especially, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my family for their unparalleled love and comfort and support Our family effort is expressed most fully

in the opportunities and experiences that have made me who I am today

Finally, I respectfully recognize that despite my best attempts, time and ability constraints have left this project with defects I do, however, genuinely appreciate any criticism or comments that could enable me to enhance my work even more It has been an honor and a pleasure to learn from such distinguished scholars, and I hope that this work contributes even a small bit to the remarkable history of this esteemed university

Dong Nai, July, 2024

Author

Bui Thi To

ABSTRACT

This study aims to investigate the typical strategies employed in translating diplomatic documents from English into Vietnamese and provide effective ways for conveying the meaning of diplomatic texts from English into Vietnamese The primary data for analysis in this study are mostly sourced from the English diplomatic documents of Dong Nai Department of External Relations, which are classified into four categories Additionally, the Vietnamese-translated versions of these writings are also included The underlying framework for interpreting the data is based on the fundamental principle of equivalence, which involves the use of translation procedures by learners

The translation process involves various strategies that can be categorized into different types These include translation with similar meaning and form, which involves maintaining the same sentence structures Another strategy is a translation

by deletion or illustration and paraphrase, where certain elements are omitted or explained in a different way

Similarly, this study includes examples of diplomatic texts in both English, the source language, and Vietnamese, the target language These examples are used to categorize diplomatic terms into four distinct categories The data indicate that the Vietnamese translators in question often employ paraphrasing as a technique to convey the illocutionary dynamics of the learners' emotions and feelings during translation The study addressed two research questions regarding the translation strategies and the prevalent errors made by learners during the process of translating diplomatic materials from English to Vietnamese

Key words: Vietnamese diplomatic texts, translation strategies, Vietnamese diplomatic texts translation

English-THE RECOGNIZANCE FOR NON-PLAGIARISM

I, Bui Thi To, certify that the intellectual content of this graduation project titled

“Analyzing strategies in the English - Vietnamese translation of foreign affair texts

at Dong Nai Department of External Relations” is the product of my own work All data, analysis, findings, conclusions, and other content offered in this project are based completely on my own academic study and have never been utilized in any other thesis, dissertation, publication, or degree qualification of the same level before This is to ensure that this project, in its totality, is an ethical and transparent representation of my own thoughts I assume full responsibility for the uniqueness and veracity of the information generated and disseminated by means of this scholarly endeavor

Dong Nai, July, 2024

Author

Bui Thi To

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DONADER Dong Nai Department of External Relations

DONAPROPC Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee

MOFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1: Conceptual framework 24 Figure 2.2: Distribution of gender 34 Figure 2.3: Distribution of participants’ working experience 35

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1: Distinguish between compound and complex sentences in Vietnamese 14

Table 1.2 Summary of previous studies relating on the title of the project 25

Table 2.1 Descriptive statistics of data and the participants in Dong Nai province 32 Table 2.2 The demographic of the participants in the study 34

Table 3.1 Distribution of sentence structure pairs (S, Cpd, Cpx, Cpd- Cpx) 40

Table 3.2 Distribution of sentence structure pairs (S, Cpd, Cpx, Cpd- Cpx) 42

Table 3.3: Distribution of sentence structure pairs (S, Cpd, Cpx, Cpd- Cpx) 45

Table 3.4: Distribution of sentence structure pairs (S, Cpd, Cpx, Cpd- Cpx) 46

Table 3.5 Common strategies suggested in translating English diplomatic texts 48 Table 3.6 Common errors made by learners in translating English 52

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

In the context of Vietnam's strong international integration, the demand for foreign languages has increased and it is necessary that the number of people using foreign languages has increased significantly thanks to the attention and investment of the State, the agencies, businesses and individuals for the study and learning of foreign languages, in which English is considered as a second language and is universalized nationwide Therefore, English translation and interpretation become an extremely necessary tool to convey the language and message of the writer and speaker to the reader and listener, especially the translation of documents related to the field of diplomacy in order to serve foreign affairs and national development

In recent years, there have been international conferences organized to find out general rules for ensuring essential equivalents in the translation process However, the translation and interpretation of diplomatic documents are not outside the general rules of translation It requires a thorough understanding of linguistic properties and related topics, logical thinking in analyzing the properties and nature of language The translation of diplomatic documents requires translators to have extensive knowledge of the diplomatic profession, a thorough understanding of the specialized characteristics, and the ability to well cover the use of diplomatic terminology and knowledge of diplomatic writing styles These are key issues to confirm the accuracy, completeness, and clarity of the documents and diplomatic documents during the translation process

Translation standards and processes vary among different countries Furthermore, translation is intricately linked to the political domain, and there is a limited number

of linguists and translators who are examining the strategies employed in translating E-V documents pertaining to international affairs at the Dong Nai Department of External Relations, with the intention of practical application

On the other hand, the concept and theory of translation appeared very early in ancient Rome and lasted until the Renaissance In each period, researchers put forward different principles of translation, but the principles of translation in the XX century can be considered quite complete and used by professional translators Representing the principles of translation in the twentieth century are the principles of Hatim and Mason (1990) and Mona Baker (1992) The research will follow the theoretical framework from two authors as presented above

Statement of the problem

In studying the translation of diplomatic documents, strategies and rules for translation are the most important in both English and Vietnamese In addition, word arrangement or syntax in the two languages has always played a very important role

in clarifying the cases where there is no equivalence between the two languages On the contrary, to explain all the problems in translating diplomatic texts from English into Vietnamese we should have knowledge not only in linguistics but also in the specialized field of diplomacy

However, at present, the field of diplomatic text translation is quite limited Therefore, it is extremely important and necessary to consider the types of sentences

in English and Vietnamese used in diplomatic text categories in the translation process in order to find out a translation strategy model suitable to the actual situations, especially in the E-V translation of foreign affair texts In this light, the author chooses a project entitled: “Analyzing strategies in the English - Vietnamese translation of foreign affair texts at Dong Nai Department of External Relations”

to conduct a study in the form of a graduation project

Aims and objectives of the study

The research was carried out to achieve the following aims:

(1) exploring and studying the theoretical trends of linguistics and translation as an appropriate theoretical basis for E-V diplomatic texts translation at Dong Nai Department of External Relations;

(2) analyzing and evaluating original English diplomatic texts and translated Vietnamese versions and finding out the most effective translation model used in translating the diplomatic texts from English into Vietnamese;

(3) suggesting some useful strategies of E-V translations for learners of English to improve the quality of translation in the field of diplomatic translation in foreign affairs of Dong Nai province

The research has the following objectives:

- to compare the diplomatic texts of the two languages, English and Vietnamese for analysis;

- to find out the learners’ common errors in the E-V diplomatic texts used in foreign affairs;

- to propose some useful appropriate strategies for the E-V translation of current diplomatic texts as a reference source for subsequent studies of translated texts in Dong Nai Department of External Relations

Scope of the Study

Due to experience and time constraints, the present study confined itself to investigating the diplomatic texts at Dong Nai Department of External Relations, including the comparison of the translation of diplomatic documents by 20 learners

of English (from one class of translation and interpretation skills 2023 organized by Dong Nai Department of External Relations) to find out the common errors in the process of translating diplomatic documents and solutions to overcome the difficulties The research on the translation and assessment of diplomatic writings, comprising over 290 sentences quoted from over 120 diplomatic texts, can be categorized into two primary groups:

- The diplomatic documents and texts for exchange between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign diplomatic missions and localities from the foreign administrative offices in Vietnam are Notes, Official Letters, Memoranda of Understanding

- Consular documents related to the field of legal translation such as Birth, marriage, and death certificates, visas, passports, and assistance to arrested citizens

Research questions

In accordance with the purposes of the study, the study has been specifically designed

to answer the following guiding questions:

(1) What are the translation strategies employed in diplomatic text translation? (2) What are the typical errors made by learners in the grammatical structures of E-

V translations of foreign affair texts, and what are some recommendations to address them?

Significance of the study

This research might make minor contributions to translating foreign affairs texts on two aspects: theoretical and practical perspectives:

The findings of this study are hopefully useful to readers who are interested in the translation of diplomatic texts, especially for the diplomatic cadres and civil servants, teachers, and learners in Dong Nai province

Through this study, the writer could learn more about the translated diplomatic texts and the way of how to solve the difficult problems in the process of translation The research can be useful in a variety of ways because it provides vital information that can be helpful in the achievement of various objectives The significance of the current research is based on the knowledge about translation as a means of shedding light on the title of the project and allowing the development of methods to address the obstacles in the process of diplomatic text translation

The research provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by English learners when translating these specific types of writings from English to Vietnamese

It also gives arguments and discussions on the underlying reasons for these difficulties Moreover, the research can provide suggestions for improving the English teaching and learning process, specifically in the area of translation skills, in

order to assist individuals in overcoming their existing challenges The study's findings can serve as valuable reference materials in the field of translation, specifically for use in Dong Nai province

Theorists have provided different definitions for translation According to Newmark (1988), translation is the skill of replacing a written message and/or statement in one language with the same message and/or statement in another language

To put it simply, Larson (1984) provides a definition of translation as the act of transferring the meaning of the source language (SL) into the receptor language while keeping the original language but altering the structure

Translation, as defined by Hatim and Mason (1990), is the process of conveying a message from one language and culture to another, bridging the gap between different forms of communication

Catford (1980, p 1) defines translation as the act of replacing a text in one language with a text in another language

In addition, he (1980, p 20) provides a definition of translation as the act of substituting written content in one language (SL) with corresponding written content

in another language (TL) Larson (1984, p 3) defines translation as the process of substituting the actual words, phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, etc of the source language with their counterparts in the target language, also known as the receptor language

According to Hatim and Mason (1997), translation is an act of communication that attempts to relay, across cultural and linguistic boundaries, another act of communication The definitions provided above are all-encompassing and not specific to any particular case Nevertheless, the primary emphasis of this study lies

in translation procedures Translation systems possess distinct qualities and advantages Consequently, we can gain a more precise understanding of these tactics and select the appropriate translation strategy to effectively fulfill the task

Diplomatic texts encompass official letters and documents that are frequently employed in diplomatic relations and international affairs between nations They

serve as official national or local documents for exchanging and presenting matters

of national or local significance with other countries and localities Diplomatic correspondence refers to the formal exchange of official documents between countries, cities, or international organizations This interchange serves the purpose

of establishing contacts, arranging visits, extending congratulations, and sharing information

Diplomatic dispatches: including formal correspondences regarding the reception and administration: Official documents, correspondence, and many types of telegrams

A diplomatic text is an official statement issued by a country that formally communicates the country's perspectives, stances, and attitudes toward international matters, events, domestic and foreign policies, and significant issues of the country There are three types of diplomatic instruments:

1 Unilateral instruments, which are proposed by one party and include speeches, statements, and white papers

2 Bilateral and multilateral instruments that are not signed, such as conference declarations, action plans, communiqués, press releases, and resolutions

3 Signed instruments, which include joint declarations and international treaties like treaties, conventions, agreements, protocols, and exchange notes Diplomatic documents, similar to diplomatic dispatches, adhere to stringent standards regarding their form and structure, by international norms

In the context of globalization, countries are more inclined to develop collaborative and amicable relationships with each other instead of engaging in confrontational situations To foster positive relationships and articulate its perspectives, countries frequently employ diplomatic correspondence and official documents It served as a means of nationwide interchange, demonstrating seriousness The document serves

as a repository of the country's independent stance and viewpoint on a specific matter, particularly in the realm of diplomatic communications It does not possess any legally enforceable significance between nations but mostly serves as a means of information interchange

Given the extensive range, the framework of this subject is restricted to examining the many categories of diplomatic documents at the regional level

Translation is the process of conveying the meaning of a text from one language to another, both in spoken interpretation and written form, as a means of human communication The objective of translation is to effectively communicate the original tone and intention of communication while considering the cultural and regional disparities between the source and target languages Translation facilitates communication between individuals from various linguistic regions

The Organization of the project

The projetct is made up of three main chapters, and introduction, conclusion, references, and appendices The main contents of the thesis will be dealt with in three separate chapters:

Chapter 1 Literature Review, provides the definition of key terms in this study This chapter also reviews some previous studies on word arrangments in English and Vietnamese, and identifies the gaps in those studies that motivate the current study Chapter 2 Research Methodology, explains the methodology employed in the research This chapter clarifies the research participants, subjects, and instruments, and describes how data are collected and analyzed

Chapter 3 Findings and Discussions, presents the description and interpretation of the collected data in light of research questions

Conclusion and Recommendations present the summary of results and then offers some suggestions Besides, the author also clarifies the limitations of this research and gives recommendations for further studies in the future

CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter presents two sections: The first section is the theoretical background of the study; the second section relates to the literature of the translation of foreign affair texts, and ideas relevant to the study are summarized and synthesized as a means to provide the study with relevant context

1.1 Theoretical background

1.1.1 Definitions of English sentence structures

A sentence's classification can be determined by the sorts of clauses it comprises, which can be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex As stated by Marjolijn Verspoor and Kim Sauter (1984:34), a sentence is a collection of words that, in written form, commences with an initial capital letter and concludes with either a period, question mark, or exclamation mark A grammatically complete sentence consists of a subject and predicate and conveys a complete occurrence or scenario Each of the following two examples is a basic phrase including a single clause

Example 1:

Finite clause

I highly appreciate the affection and

deep concern of the Chairman and the

Board of Directors for the lives and

studies of Cambodian students in the

province

Finite clause

This is a great motivation for students

to make more efforts and try harder in their studies to become a valuable resource Cambodia

Nevertheless, a sentence can also comprise two or more clauses Observe the various methods in which the two uncomplicated statements mentioned earlier are merged to create more extensive sentences Both of the examples shown below demonstrate a complex sentence, including two clauses: one main clause and one subordinate clause (Adverbial clause of reason)

Example 2:

Complex sentence:

Clause 1:

I highly appreciate the affection and

deep concern of the Chairman and the

Board of Directors for the lives and

studies of Cambodian students in the

province

Clause 2:

Summary

(1) Simple (Independent clause) - This sentence only has one clause

(2) Compound (Independent clause + coordinating conjunction + Independent clause)

(3) Complex (Dependent clause + Independent clause)

(4) Compound-complex (Dependent clause, independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause)

Marjolijn Verspoor and Kim Sauter (1984) also state that although the two phrases above convey similar meanings, they differ grammatically due to their inclusion of distinct clause types There are two primary categories of clauses: independent or main clauses, which may stand alone and have meaning on their own, and dependent clauses, which cannot stand alone and serve as a part of another sentence (such as a

because this is a great motivation for students to make more efforts and try harder in their studies to become a valuable resource Cambodia

subject or object) These clauses are referred to as subordinate or dependent clauses The subsequent section on sentence type will provide a clearer differentiation between main clauses and dependent clauses

Sentences can vary in their levels of complexity They can be comprised of either one

or multiple major clauses, or they can be comprised of one or multiple main clauses along with one or more dependent clauses These sentences are categorized as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex based on the clauses they include Each category is elaborated upon in depth in the following sections

a Simple sentences

A simple phrase comprises solely of a single major clause Nevertheless, the length

of the sentence does not necessarily have to be brief Here is an illustration of a lengthy statement that is straightforward as it lacks any subordinate clauses The final adverbial is not a complete dependent clause as it lacks a subordinator and a full verb

b Compound sentences

A compound sentence is comprised of two or more independent components The line "Whales cannot respire underwater as they possess lungs rather than gills" is an instance of a compound sentence since both sentences are autonomous and capable

of standing alone The coordinating conjunction "for," which denotes causation, links these two phrases and indicates the relationship between these two events Let us have a look at the table as follows:

conjunctions

Source: Marjolijn Verspoor and Kim Sauter [1984:36]

An alternative method of linking two major clauses and creating a compound sentence is by use a semi-colon (;) to separate the main clauses

Coordinate conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs have similar meanings; for instance, both "and" and "moreover" indicate addition, while both "so" and

"therefore" indicate consequence However, they differ linguistically Contrary to a coordinating conjunction, a conjunctive adverb has the flexibility to be relocated within the second clause

A compound sentence is a type of sentence that consists of two or more independent clauses joined together by coordinating conjunctions or punctuation marks

A compound sentence can be formed by connecting two or more main clauses using

a coordinator (a coordinate or a correlative conjunction) or by separating them with

a semi-colon

c Complex sentences

A complicated sentence is a sentence that includes at least one complete dependent clause, which has its own subject and predicate A dependent clause is a clause that commences with a subordinator, such as "because," "although," "if," "who," "where,"

"when," "that," and so on.; whereas, a compound sentence consists of two simple, separate sentences A dependent clause, in a complex sentence, is unable to function independently and instead serves as a constituent (such as a subject, object, adverbial,

or attribute) of the main phrase In certain situations, it may also be a part of another constituent inside the sentence There exist three distinct categories of dependent clauses: noun clauses, Adjective clauses, and adverb clauses

Subordinators introduce dependent clauses, which serve as a constituent of a clause (such as subject, object, adverbial, etc.) or as part of a constituent It is important to note that a dependent clause alone does not create a complex sentence

d Compound-complex sentences

It is also feasible to construct a sentence that consists of many clauses, each of which

is complicated, or a sentence that contains multiple independent clauses, each of

which is complex Both forms of sentences will be referred to as compound-complex sentences This compound-complex sentence contains two independent clauses that are joined by the coordinating conjunction "and" Each of these sentences contains a dependent clause

Dependent clauses are introduced by subordinators and serve as a constituent of a clause (such as subject, object, adverbial, etc.) or as part of a constituent They can also be coupled with a coordinator to construct a compound-complex phrase

1.1.2 Definitions of Vietnamese sentence structures (simple, compound, compound-complex sentences in Vietnamese)

a Simple sentence in Vietnamese

A simple sentence is a collection of words that are arranged according to a specific rule, conveying a relatively comprehensive concept and serving a particular objective A basic sentence consists of two primary components: subject and predicate

Example 3: “Ngoài đường, xe //chạy.”

The subject “xe” is the component of a sentence that identifies the item, phenomenon,

or concept being referred to The topic can be identified by lexical categories such as nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases The predicate “chạy” is the component of a sentence that expresses the action, state, or characteristics of the subject Predicates can be identified by lexical items such as verbs, adjectives, verb phrases, and adjective phrases

A simple sentence consists of two essential elements: a subject and a predicate, which together convey a comprehensive idea A simple phrase can have complements, in addition to the subject and predicate Simple sentences are categorized into three varieties based on the amount of key components: standard simple sentences, shortened simple sentences, and special simple sentences A typical simple sentence consists of a subject and a predicate, and it conveys a fully formed idea

b Compound sentences in Vietnamese (Câu ghép đẳng lập)

A compound sentence is a sentence that is created by merging two or more clauses, which are simple sentences Every clause within a compound sentence must include

a comprehensive sentence structure, which encompasses both a subject and a predicate

A compound sentence serves the objective of demonstrating the intimate connection between concepts within a sentence

Example 4: Chị //rất mệt nhưng bọn trẻ //vẫn la hét ầm ĩ

One can generate a compound sentence by employing the following techniques:

• Use connecting words: To create compound sentences, we can use words or phrases that can connect the clauses of the sentence such as “và rồi”, “hoặc”, “hay”

• Connect clauses directly using punctuation marks such as colons, semicolons, or commas Punctuation symbols serve to delineate and illustrate the connections between different components of a sentence

• Use relative words: These words and phrases help express logical relationships and meanings between clauses, such as: càng … càng, bao nhiêu … bấy nhiêu, vừa … vừa, vừa … đã …, mới … đã, đang … thì

Example 5: Trời// càng tối, nó// càng sợ

The crucial aspect of constructing a compound phrase lies in identifying and guaranteeing the logical connection between the elements within the sentence In order to form a comprehensive and unambiguous meaning, every clause in a compound sentence must both support and complement one another The careful selection of linking strategies and vocabulary is a crucial element in enhancing the coherence and comprehensibility of compound sentences

c Complex sentences in Vietnamese (Câu ghép chính - phụ)

Complex sentences, known as "Câu ghép chính phụ" in Vietnamese grammar, are equally significant and fundamental, alongside simple and compound sentences

In Vietnamese grammar, a complicated sentence is defined as a sentence that contains

a minimum of two clauses: a main clause and one or more dependent clauses The principal clause is the paramount component of the sentence, although subordinate clauses may contribute supplementary information

Complex sentences are crucial for conveying meaning with greater intricacy, depth, and precision in written communication Complex sentences contribute to the creation of interest and diversity in sentences By employing intricate phrase structures, we can effectively communicate information in a more lucid and effortless manner

Example 6: Nếu anh đến sớm thì nó đã không giận dỗi như vậy

d Compound – complex sentences in Vietnamese (Câu ghép hỗn hợp) Compound-complex sentences consist of two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses Conjunctions are frequently used to connect dependent clauses to the primary sentence

Example 7: Mặc dù trời mưa to nhưng tôi vẫn cố gắng đi học để (tôi) không bị điểm kém

Table 1.1: Distinguish between compound and complex sentences in Vietnamese

Characteristic Compound sentence

(Câu ghép đẳng lập)

Complex sentence (Câu ghép chính phụ)

Basic structure At least two independent clauses

and no dependent clauses

At least one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

Number of dependent

clauses No dependent clauses There is at least one

In analyzing the structure of a sentence we recognize a hierarchy of syntactic levels: sentence-clause-phrase-word The normal relation between the levels is that units of one level function in the level next above and are composed of units from the level immediately below; e.g phrases function in clauses and are composed of words So

to describe the structure of a unit at any level, we have to specify what types or categories of units from the level below are involved and what function they are performing

1.1.3 Views on types of translation and translation strategies

Throughout the course of translation history, numerous translation notions have been discussed by various translation theorists These themes include:

Hatim and Mason (1990) state that the act of translating literature requires the exchange of information between the author and the reader Larson (1984) posits that translation generally transmits the identical meaning as seen by speakers of the source language, while also maintaining the text's dynamism within the normal grammatical structure of the recipient language In addition, she emphasized that the translator's goal should be to provide a translation that is tailored to the intended readership This means that the translated text should express the same message as the original material, but in a way that is natural to the target language

Newmark (1981) regards translation as a discipline that encompasses scientific principles, practical expertise, artistic expression, and a personal passion for effectively communicating concepts in a different language Hence, translators must possess knowledge Assess the event to effectively communicate the intended message using suitable language and acceptable practices The translation is subjective as translators choose the translation that they feel most attractive

A translator is an individual who transfers information from one language to another, serving as a connection between two cultures and two languages

Based on the analysis of the aforementioned theories, text translation can be understood as a cognitive process including decision-making and problem-solving The translator must carefully watch, recognize, and determine an appropriate solution Implementing an appropriate translation technique enables translators to effectively communicate information

Translation can be broadly categorized into two types: literal translation and free translation A literal translation is a translation that strictly follows the grammatical structure of the original language, commonly referred to as a word-for-word translation Free translation focuses on conveying the primary concept of the original text while adhering to the natural grammatical structure of the language it is being translated into A free translation may or may not adhere closely to the structure of the original text

(1) A literal translation involves altering the structure of the source text to match the target text, while preserving the original form, meaning, phrase, sentence, and writing style to the greatest extent possible It is frequently employed in the translation of books, autobiographies, and contracts

(2) A free translation aims to convey the original message by modifying its presentation The objective is to convey the content of the original text to the intended audience as accurately as feasible The translators have the ability to engage in conversation, elaborate, or exclude parts of the source message in order to preserve the intended meaning The use of free translation is used when translating news articles, business correspondence, and written pieces in publications

Generally, the choice of translation method depends on the translator's objective, although a high-quality translation typically incorporates multiple translation approaches

1.1.4 Translation strategies

Mona Baker (1992) examines the techniques used to translate specific lexical elements, from one language to another The strategies of translation can be used as follows:

+ Translation with similar meaning and structure

According to Baker (1992), employing this strategy is recommended as the optimal method for conveying roughly equal meanings of idioms or fixed expressions from the source language, which includes lexical items

Plus The purpose of this method is to gather a specific phrase or idiom in the target language (TL) that can convey a similar meaning to the source language (SL), even

if the specific words used in the expression are different

+ Translation through rephrasing

The paraphrase approach is employed when the concepts present in the source text (ST) cannot be expressed using the vocabulary of the target language (TL) Instead

of seeking a word that is connected to another, paraphrasing can focus on altering some specific words, or entirely on deciphering the meaning of associated terms in the source language, particularly if the terms are complex in terms of semantics Loan words, when accompanied by explanations, can sometimes provide a certain degree

of precision in conveying the meaning of the source text, known as explanatory translation Mona Baker categorizes the technique of paraphrasing into two distinct types: paraphrasing using "associated words" and paraphrasing using "unassociated words"

+ Translation through omission

It refers to the act of excluding certain expressions or information from a text if they are deemed unimportant for the overall development of the message This is done to avoid confusing readers with unnecessary explanations for using this strategy, it is expected that some loss of meaning would occur Therefore, Baker (1992) suggests that this technique should only be used as a last resort for solving an issue

+ Translation through visual representation

A lexical item that lacks an equivalent in the target language (TL) can be exemplified when the text imposes limitations on length or when the material needs to be concise and focused This process is not restricted to identifying equivalences above the level

of individual words and can also be employed to compensate for the loss of meaning,

to restore emotional impact, or to convey stylistic aspects in cases where a direct reproduction of a precise point in the target text may be unattainable

+ Translation through addition

This translation loss technique involves incorporating additional semantic forms into the target text (TT) that are not originally present in the source text (ST) Although the semantic forms of the source text (ST) and target text (TT) may not be identical, this imperfect replication can nevertheless be considered acceptable and efficient due

to its ability to assist in translating culturally specific parts that require additional explanations While it may not be recommended to use this process for translating idioms in general, it could be a reasonable approach for translating exclamations specifically

+ Translation through deletion

Once again, this strategy would not be sufficiently feasible to maintain the idiomatic nuances in translation Alternatively, this could be beneficial in situations where interpreting a diplomatic text is necessary

Numerous researchers have put forth various sorts, categories, and classifications for distinct translation procedures, namely:

Bergen (n D.) references Chesterman's (1997) perspective, which asserts that there

is a notable lack of clarity in the use of language within the translation method Chesterman (1997) identifies three key attributes of translation strategies: deliberate application throughout the entire process, modification of the text, and a core purpose Many subjects require an empirical method that is comprehensible to readers, rather than being limited to the individual utilizing them

Academics hold divergent perspectives on various facets of translation endeavors Bergen (n.d.) categorizes strategies into three types: acquisition, transfer, and production strategies Prior to choose the optimal methodology, it is necessary to thoroughly study and analyze the text, and discern the disparities between the source text and the target content Subsequently, we will proceed to translate the original content into the desired language utilizing its relevant resources

Lorscher (1996: 28) outlines nine fundamental components of translation strategy These include identifying translation problems, proposing potential solutions, outlining implementation procedures and expected outcomes, critiquing and troubleshooting the source language text, and so on

Hatim and Munday (2004) have raised significant concerns regarding the strategies employed in translating, particularly in relation to the arrangement and content of literal and free translations This distinction can assist in identifying instances where the translation is overly literal, impeding the understanding of the text Nevertheless, the translation of text type and object poses significant practical challenges

Bergen (n.d.) and Chesterman (1997) assert that the categorization of translation strategies is uncomplicated The fundamental approach is to modify anything The translator makes these types of modifications in line with the vocabulary, grammatical structure, and natural context of the original text

Regarding syntax methods, Chesterman, in his work from Bergen (n.d.), argues that the categorization of translation strategies is uncomplicated (Chesterman, 1997) The fundamental approach is to modify anything The translator makes these types of modifications in line with the vocabulary, grammatical structure, and natural context

of the original text

The one who initially promoted the concept that meaning is generated from syntax in

1997 He claims that this method, which includes literal translation, borrowed translation, type-transposition, unit change, interpretative structural modifications, clause structure change, sentence structure change, modifying coherence, and schema change, is considered the "default" one

Semantic strategies are proposed by Chesterman (1997) encompasses several subcategories, such as synonymy, antonymity, top-down, transformation, shifting synonyms, abstract and distributive change, and changing emphasis

Pragmatic strategies as stated by Chesterman (1997 as cited in Bergen n.d.), is cultural filtering It refers to a strong understanding of the universal translation technique that emphasizes the linguistic aspects of the source or target culture This strategy is commonly employed when translating works that have several cultural constraints The readability of the text can be modified to enhance or diminish its clarity The original language terminology does not suggest any alteration of material The text can be modified in an interpersonal manner to enhance or reduce its technicality and informativeness The following strategies are speech act, modifying visibility, coherence change, partial translation, and translating editing Chesterman (1997) asserts that the basic translation approach is

Nevertheless, the efficacy of different translation processes differs The user did not provide any text Oblique translation encompasses seven distinct genres: Borrowing, transcription, literal translation, word conversion, metamorphosis, and adaptation

Chesterman's categorization is unquestionably more comprehensive in relation to the strategies discussed above There is no dominant hierarchical structure that is consistently adopted, and all of the tactics stated above are theoretical concepts proposed by different theorists Several translation procedures employed by professional translators, such as Hatim and Mason (1990) and Baker (1992), include: The classification proposed by Hatim and Mason (1990): The following principles of translation are provided: Comprehending the substance of the source text necessitates the study of grammar and vocabulary, as well as access to specialist information and

an intentional approach The process of translating involves organizing lexical meanings, arranging grammatical meanings, and considering rhetorical aspects, which encompass pragmatic and deductive meanings The evaluation of the target language necessitates assessing the readability of the translation, adhering to the

genre rules of the target language, and determining the suitability of the translation for certain objectives

Mona Baker (1992:26-42) presents a classification of eight methods that competent translators can employ to resolve translation problems Translation can be understood

in a broader context, encompassing many approaches such as utilizing neutral or less expressive words, cultural substitution, borrowing words, paraphrasing, skipping, and providing examples

Each theorist presents their own distinct set of procedures, however Baker (1992) has included the most often employed strategies in their classification of translation strategies due to their utilization by professional translators This concept implies that strategies are not just a collection of procedures, but may also be evaluated by skilled translators to assess their effectiveness

1.2 The Application of translation strategies in literature related to international affairs

As mentioned before, there are two predominant translation procedures that were commonly employed in the 20th century, namely Hatim and Mason (1990) and Baker (1992)

Examining the application of translation procedures proposed by Hatim and Mason (1990) and Baker (1992) in foreign affairs language materials

The authors Hatim and Mason (1990): The following principles of translation were provided: Comprehending the substance of the source text necessitates the study of grammar and vocabulary, as well as access to specialist information and an intentional approach The process of translating involves organizing lexical meanings, arranging grammatical meanings, and considering rhetorical elements such as pragmatic and deductive meanings The assessment of the target language involves assessing the readability of the translation, adhering to the genre standards

of the target language, and evaluating the suitability of a translation for specific objectives

Mona Baker (1992:26-42) identifies eight strategies that competent translators can employ to resolve translation problems: Translation can be understood in a wider context, encompassing many approaches such as employing neutral or less emotive words, substituting cultural elements, adopting words from another language, paraphrasing, skipping some parts, or providing examples

Each theorist presents their own set of procedures, although Hatim and Mason (1990) and Baker (1992) included the most often used strategies in their taxonomy of translation strategies because they are the techniques adopted by professional translators This concept implies that strategies are not just a collection of procedures, but may also be evaluated by skilled translators to assess their effectiveness

Justification for employing the translation procedures proposed by Baker (1992) in writings related to foreign affairs Based on the aforementioned theoretical and practical foundation, it is evident that the notions of translation theory have been present since ancient Rome and have persisted until the Renaissance and continue to

be relevant now Every period, researchers propose many principles of translation, however the principles of translation in XX can be deemed comprehensive and utilized by professional translators The ideas of translation in the twentieth century are mostly represented by Mona Baker (1992) Besides, the scholars also engaged in

a discussion regarding the translation methodologies

Furthermore, during my research on the translation process of diplomatic documents,

I have found that it is permissible for it to be based on linguistic rules, which is in line with the general rule The role of language is vital in identifying a situation when two or more languages are not equal However, it is insufficient to attribute all translation difficulties solely to linguistic characteristics; a comprehensive understanding of the specialized domain of diplomacy is also necessary

Currently, there is a scarcity of studies in the domain of diplomatic text translation

We have yet to discover a universally accepted metric for evaluating this particular form of text, particularly when considering the principles of systematic functional grammar Hence, it is crucial to take into account both linguistic aspects and diplomatic text classifications during the translation process to identify a translation

strategy model that is appropriate for specific circumstances, particularly from the standpoint of system functional grammar To resolve this issue, we must address the following associated inquiries

While there may be variations in the terminology employed by various researchers, the fundamental concept remains comparable Newmark (1988) recommends two strategies for translation: semantic translation, which focuses on the meaning in the source language, and communicative translation, which prioritizes effective communication in the target language Larson (1984) refers to idiomatic translation The objective of these translation methods is to generate a translation that preserves the meaning of the source text by employing the inherent grammatical structures and vocabulary of the target language It is important to acknowledge that while the translator's objective, according to Larson (1984), is to achieve idiomatic translation,

it is not mandatory for a translation to be limited solely to idiomatic expressions A translation can include both literal forms and natural forms in the target language One potential distinction between the methodologies of the two researchers might be found in Newmark's (1988) approach to translating based on semantics and communication, specifically in relation to the types of texts being translated Newmark (1988:39-42) incorporates Bühler's three primary language functions and suggests three text categories derived from them: 'expressive,' 'informative,' and 'vocative' texts He suggests using semantic translation for expressive literature as it captures the artistic essence of the source text, whereas communicative translation, which prioritizes the target language, is more suitable for informative and vocative texts Additional primary translation techniques, as discussed by Newmark (1988) and Larson (1984), exhibit similarities For instance, Newmark's word-for-word translation may be equivalent to Larson's highly literal or literal translation due to the fact that this translation approach focuses on individual words The advantage of this method lies in its ability to facilitate the study of the linguistic elements of the target language

1.3 Conceptual framework

Figure 1.1: Conceptual framework

Analyzing strategies for translating E-V diplomatic documents at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Dong Nai province through distributing the survey form to the 20 learners in order to understand the learners’ personal information, and the E-V translation tasks to do in the English translation and interpretation skills class of 2023 organized by Dong Nai Department of External Relations We will identify the common errors made by learners in the grammatical structures of E-V translations of foreign affair texts, and propose some recommendations appropriate diplomatic text translation strategies for learners

1.4 Previous study

The utilization of the translation procedures proposed by Baker (1992) in foreign affairs materials has been a subject of ongoing debate Proponents of these translation methodologies anticipate a favorable impact on the translation of diplomatic texts

Given that the majority of present study findings tend to endorse the prudent and carefully orchestrated integration of machine translation (MT), further investigation

is warranted to obtain additional empirical evidence on this matter Having access to

a greater amount of data on this matter enables us to identify more appropriate translation methodologies for our translators This study is one of the experiments conducted to address this difficulty The findings of this study will contribute to the existing empirical data on the use of translation strategies by diplomatic cadres, civil servants, and individuals working in the International Cooperation Divisions of Universities or Colleges Specifically, it will focus on the translation strategies proposed by Hatim and Mason (1990) or Baker (1992) in foreign affairs texts

Table 1.2 Summary of previous studies relating on the title of the project

instrument

Key findings

Dang (2020) The objective of this study

was to analyze the translation techniques employed in converting three of O'Henry's stories, namely "An Unfinished Story," "The Furnished Room," and "The Last Leaf," into their Vietnamese counterparts

A total of 1,617 CDs were gathered from three locations for research purposes The study employed document analysis as a main research tool

The results revealed that 18.5% of the total number of CDs, specifically 300 out of 1,617, were translated using translation methodologies The analysis revealed five distinct strategies: substitution with a more neutral or less emotive term, paraphrasing with a similar term, paraphrasing with unrelated terms, omission, and illustration The

frequency analysis of these tactics indicates that the most commonly employed translation technique

is omission, while the least utilized strategy involves substituting a more neutral or less expressive word

Mixed-method study

Data for this preliminary

investigation were gathered via a modified iteration of the Approaches to Classroom

Assessment Inventory tool This study highlights the pressing necessity for additional training specifically focused

on enhancing the proficiency of faculty members who teach translation courses in the area of Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) literacy It aids

in enhancing translation training

and developing more efficient courses

No 1, March 2021, pp

115~125 ISSN: 2252-8822, DOI:

10.11591/ijere.v10i1.20819)

This study is a descriptive research conducted using

a qualitative methodology

The examination was

administered to

a total of 73 eighth-grade students from two junior high schools located

in Rokan Hulu Regency, Riau, Indonesia This study focuses

on the skill of translating between different kinds

of representation, namely symbolic representations

Students are then required to translate these

Based on the data analysis, it is evident that students are still struggling to accurately portray symbolic equations as verbal problems in their daily lives Despite being instructed to convert information into visual form, students continue to struggle with producing accurate and comprehensive graphs The errors generated by students primarily stem from misinterpretation and implementation issues, resulting in a lack of semantic congruence between the original representation and the final graphical representation

Therefore, it is imperative to develop

a comprehensive

symbolic representations into other forms, such as pictures and verbal

descriptions

The questions pertain to the content of the two-variable linear equation system

(TVLES), which is material that students have already studied

learning strategy that enhances students' proficiency in translating across different forms of representation

The empirical study examined the extent to which six hours

of remedial teaching

instruction enhances the ability to recognize compound- complex sentences in the context of

The data collected from the tests was examined using quantitative methods The findings indicated that participants had improved sentence structure knowledge

at the conclusion of the course compared

to their initial level of knowledge at the beginning of the course Furthermore, the study's findings

teaching writing

revealed notable disparities in students' ability to recognize different sentence types, with complicated phrases being the most perplexing for them

Tran (2022) Strategies to translate English

exclamations into Vietnamese

The primary source of data for analysis in this study consists of English

classical novels authored by notable writers

in the 19th century, as well

as their translated equivalents in Vietnamese

The findings illustrate that the Vietnamese translators being studied often employ paraphrase as a way to convey the illocutionary forces of the speaker's emotions and feelings

Fan Zhou

(2022)

University And Ku Leuven Faculty OF Arts AND Philosophy

“The comparison between machine translation

Mix- methods The utilization

of translation relations in parallel corpora

is computed for research

comparisons and in-depth

The conclusive outcome indicates that NMT employs a greater proportion of literal translation compared to HT, with

a margin of 17.41% across all categories This disparity persists

and human translation in terms of translation

relations”

linguistic analysis This involves the use

of translation techniques that incorporate both semantics and syntax, such as the use of hyperonyms in the

generalization technique and the alteration of part-of-speech tagging in the transposition technique

These techniques are employed to gauge the application of translation relations

within each genre, although the degree of variation differs among them Non- literal translation techniques are used in both Neural Machine Translation (NMT) and Human Translation (HT) At the syntactic level, NMT performs almost

as well as HT, particularly when employing techniques such as lexical shift, transposition, and unaligned-reduction However, NMT's performance is not optimal when it comes to translating using techniques like particularization, figuration, equivalence, and generalization at the semantic level

Chapter summary: The fundamental research plan is presented in this chapter It addresses the particular goals and questions of the study, the research design, the participants, the time and location, the tools and methods used for gathering data, the method for analyzing that data, and the research process

CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGYThis chapter provides the basic plan of the research It covers the specific research purposes and questions, research design, participants, time and place, data collection instruments and techniques, data analysis technique, and research procedure At the end of this chapter, the chapter sumary is also presented

2.1 Research design

This study aims to focus on identifying and exploring the strategies of E-V translation regarding learners’ practice of translating diplomatic texts from English into Vietnamese, so a descriptive, analyzed research can be appropriate A mixed methods approach which combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research was adopted to the study to strengthen and supplement the conclusions of the study For the mixed methods approach with the type of an embedded design, the researcher collects and analyzes both types of data (data source and learners’ data collection) at the same time, but within a larger qualitative design Following the design, the researcher’s observation, data source from the office, and a task for E-V translation (See appendix) to distribute to 20 participants were used to collect data The data collection is designed based on the theories in the literature review to find out the information about the learners’ common errors in this class The combination of the two instruments enables the researcher to gain a more comprehensive understanding

of different strategies in the translation process in practice

This study hopefully attempts to answer the following questions:

(1) What are the translation strategies employed in diplomatic text translation? (2) What are the typical errors made by learners in the grammatical structures of E-

V translations of foreign affair texts, and what are some recommendations to address them?

The study was conducted at Dong Nai Department in the year of 2023-2024, the high time of implementing the research To be ready for the improvement of learners’ translation skills, the original diplomatic text versions were used simultaneously to compare and contrast the standard and the pilot one