An investigation into english – vietnamese translation of euphemisms in public speeches

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ THANH AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLISH – VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF EUPHEMISMS IN PUBLIC SPEECHES (Phân tích cách dịch uyển ngữ diễn văn tiếng Anh sang tiếng Việt ) M.A MINOR THESIS Hanoi, 2020 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ THANH AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLISH – VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF EUPHEMISMS IN PUBLIC SPEECHES (Phân tích cách dịch uyển ngữ diễn văn tiếng Anh sang tiếng Việt ) M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics CodeODE: 8220201.01 Supervisor: Phạm Thị Thủy, Ph.D Hanoi, 2020 DECLARATION I certify that all the material in this study which is not my own work has been identified and acknowledged, and that this thesis is the result of my own research and the substance of the thesis has not, wholly or in part, has submitted for any degree to any other universities and institutions i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My thesisstudy has been only completed successfully with the assistant and guidance of my teachers, my friends, and my relatives First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for my supervisor, Doctor of PhilosophyAssoc Prof Phạm Thị Thủy for her valuable suggestions, academic guidance, critical comments and practical advices, without which, the thesisstudy could not come into being I am also grateful to all my teachers at University of Languages and International Studies for their useful lectures, much help and encouragement In addition, my thanks also to my friends for their ideas, material and enthusiasm during my whole course of studying Last but not least, I wish to acknowledge the support and invaluable help of my parents while the work was in progress ii ABSTRACT Translation from one language to another, particularly translation of euphemisms, is no easy task Euphemisms are a figurative device which are used in life and at work by almost everyone, from ordinary people to politicians, including presidents, in order to avoid directness of speech and embarrassing or unpleasant expressions The present thesis focuses on the methods of English- Vietnamese translation of euphemisms, more specifically, in public speeches The aim of this thesis is to find out the main methods that the translators use to translate euphemisms for death in English public speeches into Vietnamese To achieve that aim, we have taken the data from 63 English public speeches and their translations in Vietnamese Altogether, 37 euphemisms for death (see appendix 4) have been collected The data then has been analyzed to discover the methods that the translators have employed The analytical framework for translating euphemisms for death from English into Vietnamese is taken from translation methods provided by Larson (1998) and Barnwell (1980) The finding shows that 82% the euphemisms for death in the English public speeches have been translated by equivalent euphemisms in Vietnamese, 12% euphemisms have been translated indirectly or by non-equivalent euphemisms, and 6% euphemisms – by direct forms in Vietnamese texts iii Euphemism is a figurative device which is almost used by everyone in many aspects of life, especially by president in public speeches so that they can avoid the directness of speech or the ugly expressions This thesis is a case study which investigates methods translators have used when they translate euphemism for death from English into Vietnamese in linguistic and culture difference between two languages The study examines some sentences which contain death euphemism in public speeches and analyzed For its framework for analysis, the present case study will assess the translation of English euphemisms into Vietnamese in public speeches by focusing on three ways of translating euphemisms The study concludes that the most of the euphemisms in the SL texts are transferred by equivalent euphemism in the TL texts, some in the SL texts are transferred indirectly or by non-equivalent euphemisms in the TL texts, a small number are transferred by a direct form in the TL texts The principal aim of this study is to explore how many euphemisms for death are used in public speeches Moreover, it also aims to come to main methods taken by translators in translating euphemisms for death from English public speeches into Vietnamese In doing so, this thesis attempts to study the figure of speech on the aspect of translation to give some considerations and propose methods in translating euphemisms for death in public speeches iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS viv ABBREVIATION xiivii LIST OF TABLES xiiiviii LIST OF FIGURES .xviix CHAPTER I: INTRODUTION 1.1 Rationale of the thesis 1.2 Aims and objectives of the thesis 1.2.1 Aims 1.2.2 Objectives 1.3 Research method of the thesis 1.3.1 Research method 1.3.2 Research questions 1.4 Scope of the thesis 1.5 Significance of the thesis 1.6 Organization of the thesis CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 54 2.1 Translation 2.1.1 Definitions of translation 54 2.1.2 Translation equivalence 75 2.1.3 Translation process and translation methods in general 98 2.1.4 Methods for translating euphemisms 1312 v 2.2 Language and culture 1413 2.3 Euphemisms 1615 2.3.1 Definition of public speech 1615 2.3.2 Definitions of euphemism 1715 2.3.3 Classification of euphemism 1816 2.3.4 Euphemisms for death 2019 2.4 Chapter summary 2620 CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHOD 2821 3.1 Research method 2821 3.1.1 Research method 2821 3.1.2 Research questions 2821 3.2 Research design 2821 3.3 Data collection and analysis 2922 3.3.1 Data collection 2922 3.3.2 Data analysis 3023 3.4 Chapter summary 3124 CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 3225 4.1 Euphemisms in the SL translated by direct form in the TL texts 3325 4.2 Euphemisms in the SL translated by equivalent euphemisms in the TL texts 3729 4.3 Euphemisms in the SL translated indirectly or by non-equivalent euphemisms in the TL texts 4234 4.4 Frequency of methods for translating death euphemisms 4637 4.5 Chapter summary 4739 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION 5040 5.1 Conclusion 5040 vi 5.2 Implications for translation studies and language teaching 5242 5.3 Some limitations of the thesis 5242 5.4 Some suggestions for further research 5343 REFERENCES 5444 APPENDIXES I APPENDIX 1: A dictionary Euphemisms & Other doubletalk I APPENDIX 2: How Not To Say What You Mean: A Dictionary of Euphemisms IVIII APPENDIX 3: Data collected XIX APPENDIX 4: Euphemisms for death XLVXXXVII APPENDIX 5: Non- euphemisms for death XLVIIXXXIX DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv ABBREVIATION vi LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES viii CHAPTER I: INTRODUTION 1.1 Rationale of the thesis 1.2 Aims and objectives of the thesis 1.2.1 Aims 1.2.2 Objectives 1.3 Research method of the thesis 1.4 Scope of the thesis 1.5 Significance of the thesis 1.6 Organization of the thesis CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Definitions of translation 2.2 Translation equivalence vii 22926 die ch t 40 Revolutionist Nhà cách mạng Robespierre Robespierre ọc Delivers His di n văn cuối Final Speech 23026 death 12 406 tử h nh 17 407 c i ch t 40 10 ch t 12 ch t 16 c i ch t 16 gi c ng 18 c i ch t 11 19 ch t 12 19 s b t tử 12 ch t 206 23126 death 23226 die 207 23326 death 23426 death 23526 sleep 23627 death 23727 dead 23827 immortality 23927 die 16 408 XXXIII 208 24027 die ch t 35 23 John Brown Has John Brown nói a Few Words to vài l i trư c án tử Say about His hình Death Sentence 24127 death 418 tử hình 216 24 ch t 24 25 cư p i sinh mạng 25 28 tử h nh 29 tử h nh 39 hy sinh 16 217 25 220 24227 suicidal 24327 took the lives 24427 ends 24527 death 419 24628 sacrifices 25 General Douglas Tư ng Douglas MacArthur Macarthur n Moves Congress Quốc h i x c with “Old v i c u “ Nh ng Soldiers Never ngư i lính già Die” khơng h ch t” 24728 die 425 XXXIV ch t ng 24828 die 25 ch t 221 ch t 34 225 24928 die 431 Total XXXV Part XII: Political speeches (B i di n văn ch nh tr ) ENGLISH Word 250 284 285 252 286 253 287 254 288 VIETNAMESE Line Page Demosthenes Demosthenes t n Attacks His c ng ngư i bu c t i Accuser ông 485 di t vong 16 854 the fallen 36 857 ng xuống 14 488 858 24 488 gone 35 858 qu cố 489 destroy 16 859 tiêu di t withdrawing himself from i sống c ng Edmund Burke ch tọa phiên tòa hòa gi i v iM America 290 t m nh r t kh i public life Conciliation with 256 Page 12 Makes a Case for 289 Line perish Edmund Burke 255 Word sacrifice 11 863 hy sinh 492 repose 11 863 ngh ngơi 492 XXXVI 257 291 258 292 259 293 260 294 sacrifice 14 863 hi n d ng 492 sacrifice 19 863 hy sinh 10 492 gives all their life 24 868 21 496 destroying 12 869 497 32 498 38 498 Benjamin Franklin 62 sacrifice 33 871 lose 38 871 Thomas Jefferson bu i l nh m chức Inauguration 264 298 265 299 nh m t gọi o n k t at His 297 hy sinh Thomas Jefferson kêu Appeals for Unity 263 ph h y ngh liên bang Convention 296 sống c a họ nói chuy n trư c h i Federal 295 i Benjamin Franklin Addresses the 261 tạo cho t t c buried 873 yên ngh 16 499 mortal 34 873 ch t ngư i 500 devoted 17 876 hi n d ng 16 502 XXXVII 266 300 bestowed 38 876 ban t ng 31 502 Historian – Legislator Nhà L p Pháp kiêm Thomas Macaulay Sử gia Thomas Calls on Macaulay tri u t p Parliament to Lift ngh vi n the Political cư ng hạn ch Restrictions on the tr tang ngư i Do Thái Jews 267 301 268 302 269 303 304 270 271 305 272 306 lost 19 878 gi t laid down 22 878 hạ xuống 33 503 death 32 878 ch t 504 have gone ( so far) 12 882 i ( qu xa) 45 506 deathbed 33 882 giư ng h p hối 24 507 buried 33 882 mai t ng 24 507 503 William Cobbert William Cobbert Heaps Scornn on Heaps khinh mi t ối Opponents of His th d th o lu t Bill to Reduce c a ông v gi m b t Chils Labor lao XXXVIII ng tr em 273 307 274 308 275 309 276 310 277 311 278 312 279 313 280 314 281 315 282 316 283 317 i 26 16 i 26 away 16 i 26 away i 27 away i 27 away i 27 away 16 away 885 887 Senator Henry Thượng ngh s Clay Calls for the Henry Clay kêu gọi Great Compromise ại th a c nh m to Avert Civil War ngăn ch n n i chi n 509 510 sacrifice 15 887 hy sinh 40 510 sacrifice 15 888 hy sinh 22 511 sacrifice 29 889 hy sinh 21 512 sacrifice 32 889 hy sinh 24 512 lose 12 891 m t 28 512 XXXIX Lincoln , in His Lincoln, bu i l First Inaugural, nh m chức Asserts the tán thành tính c n Necessity of thi t c a Lu t a số Majority Rule 284 lost 900 m t 520 destroy 17 900 tiêu di t 22 520 318 285 319 Đại bi u J Proctor Representative J Knott sử d ng ngh Proctor Knott Uses thu t tr o ph ng Satire to Sink a nh m chìm d lu t Land Grant Bill 286 320 287 321 288 322 289 323 290 324 291 325 u tiên c p t sacrifice 902 ch t 20 522 died 15 904 ch t 523 death 15 904 c i ch t 523 fades away 30 905 im i 14 524 perish 909 b mạng 14 527 bury 909 ch n v i 527 XL Kalakaua, Last Kalakaua, v vua cuối King of Hawaii, c a Hawaii, lên Assumes the Throne 292 326 293 327 died 913 băng h 34 529 dying 13 914 h p hối 25 530 Bài di n văn nh m President Franklin chức l n thứ nh t c a D Roosevelt‟s T ng thống Franklin First Inaugural D Roosevelt bày t Instills Confidence lòng tin vào m t quốc in a Depression – gia au kh cu c Racked Nation 294 328 295 329 296 330 297 331 suy thoái sacrifice 13 937 hy sinh 43 543 perish 27 938 b mạng 545 sacrifice 19 940 hy sinh 27 546 submit our lives 22 940 d ng c mạng sống 29 546 President John F T ng thống John F Kennedy, in His Kennedy Inaugural, Takes di n văn nh m chức Up the Torch for a cao th h m i XLI New Generation 298 332 299 333 300 334 301 335 302 336 303 337 sacrifice 28 969 hi sinh 37 554 sacrifice 29 969 hi sinh 37 554 deadly 34 971 ch t ngư i 21 556 graves 20 972 c cn mm 557 sacrifice 973 hy sinh 24 557 death 18 976 c i ch t 43 559 Egypt‟s President T ng thống Ai C p Anwar el- Sadat Anwar El-sadat Travels to Jerusalen Jerusalem to c a Israel Knesset 338 earth 305 go to the ends of 339 earth 306 340 lost nói chuy n v i Knesset Address Israel‟s 304 go to the ends of n 1006 i t i t n c ng tr i t 564 32 1006 i t i t n c ng tr i t 24 564 41 1008 29 566 m t Thượng ngh s Senator Edward XLII M Kennedy Edward M Kennedy Exhorts Fellow c v Đ ng viên Democrats to Hold Đ ng dân ch ngăn Fast to Liberalism ch n Ch ngh a T 307 341 308 342 309 343 310 344 311 345 death 15 1010 c i ch t 29 567 death 37 1014 ch t y u 22 573 sacrifices 36 1016 hy sinh 13 sacrifices 39 hy sinh 15 die 15 1018 m t Labour‟s Neil Đ ng Lao Excoriates Mrs th c a bà Thatcher Toryism 313 347 314 348 ng ch trích Ch ngh a B o Thatcher‟s 346 574 Neil Kinnock c a Kinnock 312 25 immortal 15 1031 b t tử 28 575 wasted 13 1032 b i 19 576 death 37 tử hình XLIII 40 315 349 Henry Kissinger Henry Kissinger c nh Warns against the báo v s tái xu t Reemergence of hi n c a ch ngh a Isolationism Bi t l p sacrifice 1045 hy sinh Total 21 16 XLIV 586 APPENDIX 4: Euphemisms for death No Source language English asleep away bestowing their lives bury/ buried buried Target language Vietnamese gi c ng i hi n d ng sinh mạng ch n v i, mai t ng yên ngh commit my spirit deceased departed/ depart from departed giao ph linh h n khu t giã t , i, bi n m t qu cố 10 destroy/ destroying devoted ends 11 expiring 12 fades away 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 fall/fell/fallen final resting place give up life/ all their life gave their lives go to the ends of earth gone grave(s) immortality/ immortal killed 22 lay down/ laid down/ lay n m/ ngã/ hạ xuống down my life lay /laid down my life hy sinh/ t b mạng destroyed/ tiêu di t Frequency occurrences 2 1 12 hi n d ng tử h nh 1 h p hối im i ( lại) ng xuống nơi c n lại sau c ng t b mạng sống hy sinh mạng sống i t i t n c ng tr i t qu cố ( nh ng) n m m s b t tử gi t XLV 2 of sống lose/loss/lost lose/loss/lost s m t m t, i 10 loss c i ch t mortal ch t ngư i mortality v nh h ng 25 offer up/of my life 26 offer their lives/ sons d ng hi n mạng sống c a m nh hy sinh mạng sống 23 24 m nh 27 passed passing i c i ch t 1 28 29 30 31 32 33 perish repose sleeps/slept sacrifice submit our lives suicidal b mạng, di t vong ngh ngơi yên gi c, ng , ng ngon nh ng hy sinh d ng c mạng sống ch t 5 28 1 34 35 take my leave of you took their/ the lives t bi t cư p i sinh mạng 36 withdrawing himself from t m nh r t kh i public life sống c ng wasted b i Total 37 Non- euphemisms about death XLVI i 1 140 APPENDIX 5: Non- euphemisms for death Non- euphemisms about death There are some direct words used to refer death or the dying process as mentioned below in table 51 No Source language Target language Frequency of English Vietnamese occurrences died/die(s), dying ch t, h p hối (the) death(s) c i ch t, ch 5764 ch t, tử 116113 h nh, ch t deadly ch t ngư i, ph i ch t deathbed giư ng h p hối the dead ngư i ch t, ngư i qu 25 cố, ch t Total 184209 Table 51 Non- euphemisms about death From Table 51, there are 5184 direct words about death with 209 frequency of ocurrences in 63 public speeches This shows that people always remember the merits and sacrifices of the previous generation who are maybe their relatives, soldiers, and lovers Therefore, they show gratitude and admire those sacrifices when mentioning these deaths XLVII ... UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ THANH AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLISH – VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF EUPHEMISMS IN PUBLIC SPEECHES. .. are English euphemisms for death in public speeches The present case study will evaluate the translation of English euphemisms into Vietnamese in public speeches by focusing on three methods of. .. taken by translators in translating euphemisms for death from English public speeches into Vietnamese In doing so, this thesis attempts to study the figure of speech on the aspect of translation