Translation procedures applied in translating object labels at vietnam museum of ethnology

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITYOF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FALCULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGES TEACHER EDUATION GRADUATION PAPER TRANSLATION PROCEDURES APPLIED IN TRANSLATING OBJECT LABELS AT VIETNAM MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY Supervisor: Vuong Thi Thanh Nhan, M.A Student: Bui Thi Yen Course: QH2010.F1.E21 Hanoi 6, 2014 ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ KHOA SƯ PHẠM TIẾNG ANH KHOÁ LUẬN TỐT NGHIỆP CÁC THỦ THUẬT ĐƯỢC ÁP DỤNG TRONG DỊCH TÊN CÁC HIỆN VẬT TẠI BẢO TÀNG DÂN TỘC HỌC VIỆT NAM Giáo viên hướng dẫn: Th.s Vương Thị Thanh Nhàn Sinh viên: Bùi Thị Yến Khoá: QH2010.F1.E21 HÀ NỘI – NĂM 2014 DECLARATION I hereby stated that I: Bui Thi Yen, QH 2010 F1.E21, being a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (TEFL) accepts the requirements of the College relating to the retention and use of Bachelor’s Graduation Paper deposited in the library In terms of these conditions, I agree that the origin of my paper deposited in the library should be accessible for the purposes of study and research, in accordance with the normal conditions established by the librarian for the care, loan or reproduction of the paper Hanoi, 2014 Bui Thi Yen ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Mrs Vuong Thi Thanh Nhan, M.A for her precious guidance, valuable advice as well as her encouragement which were decisive factors assisting me in finishing the paper on the right track My sincere thanks to helpful staff: Mr Luong Van Thiet, Mrs Vu Ha who worked in the museum for providing some materials related to the museum field Without them, my paper cannot be completed I am also grateful to my classmates who encouraged me a lot to continue conducting this paper and also gave me very useful advice Finally, I appreciate support and caring from my roommates from beginning to the end of the research i ABSTRACT Translation in culture-specific items plays an important role in spreading culture of a country to other cultures in the world There were also many studies researching on this field but not many of them mentioned translation of real exhibits in cultural destinations, especially museums Vietnam Museum of Ethnology where a large number of cultural objects are stored and displayed to visitors and has been welcoming a large amount of visitors coming to experience Vietnamese culture obviously becomes an available source needed studying These factors urged the researcher to conduct this paper with the aim of studying translation procedures applied in translating object‟s labels as well as possible errors that were made in translation 400 objects‟ names collected after purposive sampling process and studied revealed that the most frequently used procedure was literal translation and the most common error was omission Through this paper, the researcher expects to provide suggested procedures for translators to translate culture-specific items and reveal errors that can be made during the translation process to improve the quality and usefulness of the information given to visitors ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i LIST OF ABBREVIATION v LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of the problem and rationale for the study 1.2 Aims of the study and research questions 1.3 Significance of the study 1.4 Scope of the study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Definition of translation 2.2 Translation procedures 2.2.1 Literal translation 2.2.2 Transference 2.2.3 Naturalization 2.2.4 Cultural equivalent 2.2.5 Functional equivalence 2.2.6 Descriptive equivalent 2.2.7 Synonym 2.2.8 Through translation 2.2.9 Shift or transposition 2.2.10 Modulation 2.2.11 Recognized translation 2.2.12 Translation label 2.2.13 Compensation 2.2.15 Reduction and expansion 2.2.16 Paraphrase 2.2.17 Couplets iii 2.3 Translation of cultural concepts 2.3.1 Definition of culture 10 2.3.2 Classification of culture 10 2.3.3 Definition of culture-specific concepts 10 2.3.4 Translation of culture-specific concepts 11 2.4 Framework for Standardized Error Marking 12 2.5 Exhibit labels 16 2.5.1 Definition of labels and exhibit labels 16 2.5.2 Classification of exhibit labels 17 2.6 The Vietnam Museum of Ethnography (VME) 17 2.7 Previous studies 19 CHAPTER METHODOLOGY 20 3.1 Data collection 20 3.2 Data analysis 21 CHAPTER RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 24 CHAPTER 5.CONCLUSION 42 5.1 Major findings and implications 42 5.2 Limitations 43 5.3 Recommendation for further study 44 REFERENCES 45 APPENDIX 48 APPENDIX 57 APPENDIX 61 APPENDIX 62 APPENDIX 63 APPENDIX 64 APPENDIX 65 iv LIST OF ABBREVIATION VME: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology v LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS Page Table Types of translation procedures 25 Table Common errors found in the collected items in the museum 31 Figure Frequency of translation procedures 25 Figure Percentage of errors found in translated versions of exhibit in the museum 30 Figure Common Errors found in the collected items in the museum 31 vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of the problem and rationale for the study After the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (VME), with two other museums in Vietnam occupied slots in the rank of 25 best museums in Asia by TripAdvisor website in 2013, it immediately received huge attention from domestic and foreign tourists Official statistics by the museum showed an increasing number of visitors coming to the museum In the first half of 2010, the total number of the visitors was 220,000, of which domestic guests accounted for 148,000 (66.5%), and foreigners 35.5% including the French (36.1%), American (9.9%), German (7.4%), Australian (9.6%), Korean (7%) and people from other countries In addition, the number of foreigners visitors increased by 20% in comparison with that of the previous year Therefore, the museum should be invested more not only in objects displayed at the museum themselves but also their translation of exhibits in English to serve English-speaking visitors Based on that fact, the researcher decided to work on the translation of object labels with the title as following: “Translation procedures applied in translating objects labels at Vietnam Museum of Ethnology” Apart from reasons mentioned above, the researcher has other intends to this research Firstly, the researcher realizes that the translation of culture-specific concepts has definitely posed a number of challenges to translators due to the lack of cultural overlap between two languages Thus, to obtain equivalent effects, the translators may have to use typical procedures to translate such cultural items The researcher decides to choose the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology due to its huge number of exhibits that serve aims of the study Secondly, translating cultural items, especially exhibits in museum is quite specific, which hardly appears in thesis or proposal at schools Thence, the researcher wants to set a frame, if possible, in translating such exhibits Lastly, this study is conducted to assess the quality of translations and see how translation theory is applied in the real world and equivalence effect it brings It may be useful for students who want to study thoroughly in the field of cultural Con quay Spinning top Dụng cụ miết vải Implement for smoothing cloth Phễu Calabash funnel Dao nhọn Knife Thùng gỗ Wooden buckets Y phục nam Man‟s garment Bút vẽ đường thẳng Batik pen for straight lines Bút vẽ đường diềm Batik pen for zig-zag design Bàn vẽ chấm tròn Batik pen for line dot design Nhíp cắt lúa hình chim Bird-shaped rice harvesting knife Nhíp cắt lúa, hình mặt trăng Moon-shaped rice harvesting knife Guốc gỗ Wooden shoes Gối tre Bamboo pillow Gươm thờ Ritual swords Hộp phụ nữ Woman‟s box Trang phục nữ Woman‟s outfit Giỏ phụ nữ Woman‟s basket Áo nam Man‟s vest Khăn thầy cúng Ritual specialist‟s headdress Giỏ đựng cá Fish basket Gươm thờ Ritual sword Nón phụ nữ Woman‟s hat Túi mo cau Palm leaf carrier Giỏ phụ nữ Woman‟s basket Váy Woman‟s skirt Y phục nữ Woman‟s garment Túi phụ nữ Woman‟s bag 53 Nón Hat Mũ bé trai Young boy‟s hat Mũ bé gái Young girl‟s hat Khăn Headdress Đòn gánh, tặng bạn gái Shoulder pole, given to a lover Gối Pillows Giỏ cọ Palm leaf carrier Trang phục nữ Woman's outfit Dụng cụ đeo dao, hình cá Fish-shaped knife sheath Dụng cụ đeo daom hình bướm Butterfly-shaped knife sheath Gáo Ladle Vợt vớt bánh Cake scoop Nhíp cắt lúa Knife for harvesting rice 54 APPENDIX DESCRITPVE EQUIVALENT Vietnamese version English version Mỏ vầy đánh sơn Tool for stirring lacquer Bàn vắt sơn Tool for filtering lacquer Bàn xoay Wooden potter‟s wheel Bao gốm Receptacles for fired pottery Tủ sách thầy đồ Portable cabinet for candidates taking Mandarin examinations giáo Hunting spear Cặp đun bếp Bamboo tongs for charcoal Nọc cấy Digging stick for transplanting rice seedlings váy Women‟s skirt Chăn sợi vỏ Woven bark –cloth blanket Hộp phụ nữ Woman‟s small box Khố Man‟s belted apron Giỏ tuốt lúa Belted harvesting basket Gùi nam giới Man‟s shoulder basket Giỏ tra hạt Belt-basket for planting seeds Giỏ tuốt lúa Belt-basket for harvesting Gùi nam giới Man‟s shoulder basket Đó Fish trap Rìu Balanced axe Giỏ phụ nữ Woman‟s belt basket 55 Giỏ phụ nữ Woman‟s belt basket Gùi đeo qua trán Basket with headstrap and shoulder rest Chổi trừ tà Whip to chase away evil spirits Đồ dùng thầy cúng Rattle used by ritual specialist Khèn Mouth organ Địu củi Container for carrying cut wood ống vẽ hình trơn ốc Batik pen for spiral design Bút vẽ chấm tròn Batik pen for dot design Vải vẽ sáp ong, chưa nhuộm A design is drawn on cloth with beeswax prior to dyeing Gáo Water scoop Thổ cẩm brocade for garments Mẹt winnowing basket Giỏ phụ nữ Woman‟s belt-basket Lò sưởi Foot-warmer Mõ Bamboo bell 56 APPENDIX SHIFT OR TRANSPOSITION Vietnamese version English version Chăn vịt Duck keeper Úp nơm fisherman Cày ruộng Harrower Trống chiến Drum for martial music Bộ đồ ăn trầu Betel nut kit Bút vẽ nét Brush for outlines Mủng đựng trầu Betel nut box Cạp váy thổ cẩm Brocade for skirt waistbands Mặt chăn thổ cẩm Brocade for Marking blanket Giỏ đựng dụng cụ dệt Weaving- tool basket Dệt vải Weaver Chày cối giã gia vị Spice mortar and peddle Hũ đựng mẻ Spice jar Bộ đồ cất rượu Still for rice wine Mâm đựng lễ vật Tray for offerings Hái gặt lúa Rice sickle Móc vơ cỏ Rake for grass Dao phát cỏ Machete Bao dao Knife and scabbard Hái gặt lúa Rice sickle Giỏ đựng cá Fish basket Giỏ đựng cơm Basket for cooked rice Dụng cụ làm gốm Pottery tools Khay đan, ống uống rượu Tray and alcohol glasses 57 Muôi múc canh Soup ladles Cối giã gia vị Spice mortar ống đựng tên nỏ Quiver and arrows Dụng cụ xới đất Hoe Vỏ bầu đựng rượu Alcohol calabash Vở bầu đựng nước Water container Vỏ bầu đựng thuốc Tobacco calabash Vỏ bầu đựng canh Soup bowl nia Winnowing basket Dụng cụ bắt mồi Termite trap ống tra hạt Seed tube ống chọc tiết lợn Bamboo pig bleeders Khay đựng thức ăn Serving tray Hộp đan đựng cồng Gong with case Đó bắt cá bống Goby fish trap Gùi đựng đồ vải Basket for clothes Giỏ đựng đồ dùng dệt vải Weaving –tool basket Gùi đeo qua trán Basket with headstrap ống đựng tiền Tube for money Giỏ đựng cá Belt- basket for fishing Giỏ đựng hạt giống Seed basket Giỏ đựng xôi Basket for sticky rice Hòm đựng đồ vải Clothing chest ống đựng muối Bamboo salt tube ống đựng đũa Bamboo chopstick holder Gùi đeo qua trán, có ách tì vai Basket with headstrap and shoulder rest ống đựng muối Bamboo salt container 58 Trống dùng lễ cúng Ritual drum Cồng dùng lễ cúng Ritual gong Hòm, đựng đồ cô dâu Box for bridal objects Vỏ bầu, đựng hạt giống Calabash for seeds Giỏ đựng cá Fish basket Bao dao Knife and sheath ống tra hạt Seed container Giỏ đựng cá Fish basket Gùi, đeo qua trán Basket with headstrap ống đựng thuốc sống Box for gun powder Giỏ đựng chè Basket for tea Ông xách nước Water container Lồng mang gà xin dâu Bird cage for betrothal ống đựng muối Salt container Chày cối giã ớt Mortar for chili Bầu đựng cho gà Calabash scoop for chicken feed Khuôn đúc chảo Pan mould Chảo đung sáp ong Wax mould Khăn để gối đầu người chết Pillow for the deceased Chổi quét chảo Scrubber for pans Giỏ đựng hạt giống Basket for seeds Giỏ cắm dao Knife sheath Giỏ đựng đũa, thìa Basket for chopsticks and spoons Mi xúc thóc, ngơ Large ladle used for grains Giỏ đựng xôi Sticky-rice basket Hộp đựng xôi Sticky rice basket 59 Bầu đựng xôi Calabash for sticky rice Bầu đựng nước Calabash for water Giỏ đựng xôi Sticky rice basket 60 APPENDIX MODULATION Vietnamese English Ván khắc in nét đen Outline printing block Dụng cụ quét màu lên ván khắc Paint bowls and brushes Ván khắc in màu Printing blocks for colors Thùng đựng sơn Basket for lacquer Dụng cụ chạm gỗ Tools for wood carving Kéo cắt đất Clay cutter ống đựng tên Quiver and arrows Hòn đá Hearth stone Bộ khay trà lễ Ritual tray and glasses Ống đựng tên nỏ Quiver and arrows Gùi có nắp Shoulder basket with a lid Sợi lanh qua bước chế tác Preparation of hemp fiber 61 APPENDIX REDUCTION Vietnamese English Sáo ngang Flute Đàn nguyệt Zither Đàn ống tre Bamboo zither Đàn độc huyền Monochord 62 APPENDIX CULTURAL EQUIVALENT Vietnamese version English version Kèn bóp Oboe phách Clapper kèn Oboe Sáo Flutes Đàn Lute dao phát cỏ machete dao xà gạc sickle 63 APPENDIX TRANSFERENCE Vietnamese version English version Kinh Koran Koran Đám ma Mường Muong funeral 64 APPENDIX ITEMS CONTAINING ERRORS Vietnamese version English version Tiên nước Fairy Trống chầu Drum to accompany singing Điếu ống Water pipe Đèn kéo quân Lantern Đèn xếp Lantern Phỗng giấy Paper toys Đồ thờ tục cúng mụ Objects to protect children Con dấu, ván in tranh cúng mụ Paint stamps and seals Dụng cụ mài cốt sơn Polisher Rây bột đất làm men Strainer Thanh tre cắt vía Bamboo spatula Gốm khơng men Wheel technique, unglazed Gốm có men Wheel technique, glazed Khn gốm Stages of a molded bowl Khn thạch cao kìm gắp gốm mộc Mould and remover Khuôn đúc chuông Bell-shaped mould Cốt để tạo khuôn Smoother Nồi nấu đồng, bùn ao Earthenware pot Nồi nấu đồng, cốt gang Metal-lined pot Mi đúc đồng Ladle Kìm gắp than Tongs Xẻng múc than Shovel Tượng thờ tổ hát bội Ritual dolls for hat boi singers Dao nam giới Knife Nồi vỏ Bark casserole pot 65 Chõ vỏ Bark-steamer Hộp đan, đựng trang phục Household basket for valuable objects Đạo cụ hành lễ Accessories Mũ chầu Hat Bộ đồ khót Sacred objects Bẫy chim mồi Trap for doves Võng ma, chôn theo người chết Hammock, buried with the dead Ninh chõ Steamer Váy nam giới Man‟s sarong Quả đựng lễ vật ăn hỏi Box given at betrothal Mâm đồng Tray Bộ giỏ lễ đám cưới Marriage baskets Trống ginăng Drum Trông paranung Drum Kèn saranai Oboe Thổ đựng đồ cúng Ritual vase Giỏ tuốt lúa Harvesting basket Dụng cụ chọc lỗ để tra hạt Planting tool Đàn ting ning Zither Bát vỏ bầu Bowl Khúc lấy vỏ làm đồ mặc Wood cut to remove the bark Y phục nữ Woman weaving Dệt vải, hoa văn cườm Backstrap loom Đàn ống tre Tubular zither Nhị abel Fiddle Kèn rlet Mouth organ 66 Đàn brook Two-stringed zither Hoa văn gỗ Decoration for buffalo sacrifice Gậy chọc lỗ để tra hạt Planting stick Khèn mboat Mouth organ Đàn môi Jews-harp and case Đũa đực, đũa Chopsticks Dao nhọn nhỏ Knife Chiếu dứa rừng Mat Nón lợp dứa rừng Hat Dụng cụ làm cỏ rẫy Small hoe Dao xà gạc Sickle Cuốc làm cỏ rẫy Spade Sách cổ Black Thai manuscript Sách chữ nôm Manuscript Guồng quấn sợi Spool Địu có hoa văn in sáp ong Batik baby-carier Vải vẽ sáp ong, nhuộm A batik design Màn gió Brocade screen Khn bánh khảo Cake mould 67 ... the aim of studying translation procedures applied in translating object? ??s labels as well as possible errors that were made in translation 400 objects‟ names collected after purposive sampling process... title as following: ? ?Translation procedures applied in translating objects labels at Vietnam Museum of Ethnology? ?? Apart from reasons mentioned above, the researcher has other intends to this... study is firstly aimed at researching translation procedures used in translating names of exhibits at the museum Culture- related objects are symbols of a nation and not exist in the target language