A study on the translatino of businer andministrative management texts bestween English and VietNamese Nguyễn Thị Hồng Nhung Trường Đại học Ngoại Ngữ Luận văn ThS. Chuyên ngành:English Linguistics; Mã số: 602215 Người hướng dẫn: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Hùng Tiến (PhD) Năm bảo vệ: 2010 Abstract: With the globalization in economy, the expansion of international business, the performance of Administrative management texts of each nation for management and controlling of foreign business activities is necessary. These texts would make foreign companies run their business legally and contribute to our country’s development. Consequently, the need for research into the translation of Administrative management texts from Vietnamese to English has increased. In this study, the author attempts to find out typical lexical and structural features in translation and preferred methods for better translation quality of such texts. The findings from the study are based on comparative analysis of original Vietnamese administrative management texts, especially Guiding Official Letters and available translated texts. Data base for the study is collected from official government websites to ensure the accuracy and clarity of the content. Keywords: Tiếng Anh; Dịch; Văn bản quản lý hành chính. Content: iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale 1 2. Aim of the study 2 3. Scope of the study 2 4. Method of the study 2 5. Design of the study 3 PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 1. Translation theories 4 2. Equivalence in Translation 5 3. Translation methods 7 4. What is a good translation 9 5. Administrative management texts review 11 CHAPTER II: GENERAL FEATURES AND REQUIREMENTS IN VIETNAMESE ADMINISTRATIVE TEXTS 1. Reason for Guiding Official Letters 13 2. Features of formal-legal text style 14 3. General features of language and structure 15 CHAPTER III: A STUDY ON TRANSLATION OF GENERAL LEXICAL AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES IN GUIDING OFFICIAL LETTERS BETWEEN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH 1. General content layout and lexical features 17 1.1 Translation of lexical features in Beginning part 17 1.2 Translation of lexical features in Developing part 20 1.3 Translation of lexical features in Ending part 23 2. Translation of typical structural features 24 v 2.1 Nominalization and extended nominal groups 24 2.2 The use of Passive voice 27 2.3 Parallel structures 28 2.4 Run-together sentences and Stringy Sentences 30 PART C: CONCLUSION 1. Conclusion 33 2. Recommendation 34 REFERENCES 36 APPENDICES - 1 - PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale The development of translation study goes hand in hand with the rapid growth of globalization, international business, cross cultural communication, science and technology. The need of translation for multi-purposes such as business, tourist, official documents (contracts, treaties, correspondence, textbooks…), the exponential increase in technology - patents, specifications, documentation -, the attempt to bring and transfer new technology to developing countries… require written translation rather than oral translation, in other words, interpretation. Obviously, translation has made great contributions in International communication and played a vital role in human society. In current economic background when Vietnam enters WTO with chances and challenges, with opening mechanism and preferential policies, our country is a potential and healthy investment environment attracting more and more foreign groups, multinational companies and organizations. In coordination with foreign investors, we would make full use of their advance in technology and strong finance, our young generations would have chance to gain experience and work in high challenging environment. Their business activities would create more jobs to our Labor resource with high earnings for better life. The most importance, their investment is a great contribution to our development, our national economic growth. However, foreign investors must understand thoroughly and obey our laws and regulations, mechanism and policies to operate business effectively and legally. In this case, Administrative management text is an indispensable tool in guiding foreign investors doing business legally. In order to meet the demand of the globalization trend, there require skilled, professional translators. Translators are intermediates between foreign companies and our Governmental agencies and authorities. If there is available translation of administrative management texts, the promulgation of laws and regulations is much easier; however, if there is no available translation, the translator role would be of great importance. In many cases, when foreign companies need express their opinions, proposals and suggestions to high levels but they do not have their separate administrative department, the translator has to do two tasks at the same time - composing and translating administrative texts. In order to have an effective and persuasive administrative text to address administrative procedures conveniently and quickly, the translator must use their administrative text composing skill and professional - 2 - translation skill. However, most translators face with serious problem that they have no comparison between Vietnamese Administrative management texts and English original administrative management texts. They manage to translate Administrative management texts by themselves according to previous translated ones. This means more thorough studies on this matter are necessary. Such studies would find out similarities, differences and typical features in translation of those kinds of texts and would improve translation quality. 2. Aim of the study The study aims at presenting some typical features of Administrative management texts in terms of lexical, structures and requirements of composing content. These findings would be helpful in translation of those kinds of texts from Vietnamese to English and vice versa. Hopefully, this study then would be used as a ground for further suggestions, if any, to improve translation quality. 3. Scope of the Study Administrative management texts involve in all activities in human lives from politics, education, economy, culture… These texts, therefore, vary in forms, functions and purposes. One common feature of these texts is to help our Government manage and control human activities to work and live in freedom but under the legal-frame, current standard and Vietnamese Laws and regulations. The study would focus on Guiding Official Letters which normally used in Business activity as part of administrative management texts. The data are collected randomly to increase the objectivity and accuracy of those findings. 4. Method of the study The main research method of this study is Comparative Analysis with the following activities: - Collecting Vietnamese Administrative Management texts in which Guiding Official Letters account for a large proportion, supporting data and its available translations issued and translated by reliable sources such as Governmental Ministries, - 3 - agencies, local authorities… which have similar features to form the database for analysis with high accuracy and clarity in content and structure. - Analyzing Vietnamese Administrative Management texts to find out difficulties and typical features in translation process between English and Vietnamese and vice verse. - Analyzing available translated texts to find out relevant features. - Consulting linguistic theories, professional opinions and applying relevant theories for analysis and comparison - Basing on analysis and comparison of such data to point out similarities, differences and typical findings between the two languages - Basing on appropriate findings to conclude and make suggestions for further research on translation quality 5. Design of the Study The study takes the following arrangement as its framework. Part A: Introduction Part B: Development Chapter 1: Theoretical Background Chapter 2: General features and requirements in Vietnamese Administrative management texts Chapter 3: A Study on Translation of general lexical and structural features in Guiding Official Letters between Vietnamese and English Part C: Conclusion References Appendices - 36 - REFERENCES TIẾNG VIỆT 1. Lưu Kiếm Thanh (2003), Hướng dẫn soạn thảo văn bản quản lý hành chính Nhà nước, NXB Thống kê, Hà Nội. 2. Nguyễn Văn Thâm (1995), Soạn thảo và xử lý văn bản trong công tác của cán bộ lãnh đạo và quản lý, NXB Chính Trị Quốc Gia, Hà Nội. 3. Lê Hùng Tiến (1999), Một số đặc điểm của ngôn ngữ Luật pháp tiếng Việt – có so sánh đối chiếu với tiêng anh và ứng dụng trong dịch Việt Anh, Luận Án Tiến sĩ Ngữ Văn, Trường Đại học Khoa Học Xã Hội và Nhân Văn, Đại học Quốc Gia Hà Nội. TIẾNG ANH 1. Bassnett S. (2002), Translation studies, Routledge, London and New York. 2. Bell R. T. (1989), Translation and Translating, Lancaster and London. 3. Chesterman A. (1989), Readings in Translation Theory, Loimaan Kirjapaino Oy, Finland. 4. Hatim B., Mason I. (1990), Discourse and the Translator, Longman, London and New York. 5. Hickey L. (1998), The Pragmatics of Translation, Multilingual Matters Ltd, Clevedon. 6. Munday J. (2001), Introducing Translation Studies, Routledge, London and New York. 7. Newmark P. (1988), Approaches to Translation, Prentice Hall, CUP 8. Newmark P. (1995), A Textbook of Translation, Phoenix ELT, Prentice Hall International. 9. Oshima A., Hogue A. (1998), Writing Academic English, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. 10. Quirk R., Greenbaum S. (1973), A University Grammar of English, Longman Group UK Limited, England. 11. Trang, Nguyễn Thế (2003), A comparative study of some discourse features of the US and Vietnamese Executive Decisions as part of Public Administrative Register, - 37 - unpublished MA Thesis, University of Language and International Studies, Post- Graduate Department, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 12. Van, Hoang Van (2005), Translation: Theory and Practice - Dịch thuật: Lý luận và thực tiễn, Hanoi Open University, Educational Publisher. Internet source: 1. http://baodientu.chinhphu.vn/Home/Tang-truong-theo-chieu-sau-Tu-co-hoi-den- hanh-dong/20107/33677.vgp 2. http://baodientu.chinhphu.vn/Home/Dam-bao-quan-ly-su-dung-hieu-qua-tai- nguyen-khoang-san/20107/34048.vgp . agencies and authorities. If there is available translation of administrative management texts, the promulgation of laws and regulations is much easier; however, if there is no available translation,. Lancaster and London. 3. Chesterman A. (1989), Readings in Translation Theory, Loimaan Kirjapaino Oy, Finland. 4. Hatim B., Mason I. (1990), Discourse and the Translator, Longman, London and. translation rather than oral translation, in other words, interpretation. Obviously, translation has made great contributions in International communication and played a vital role in human