EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Tạ Trí Đức EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX MA THESIS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE HO CHI MINH CITY, 2020 VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Tạ Trí Đức EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX Field: English Language Code: 8.22.02.01 Instructor: Assoc Prof Dr Phạm Hữu Đức HO CHI MINH CITY, 2020 DECLARATION BY AUTHOR Except where reference has been made in the text, this thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person I, Tạ Trí Đức, hereby state that this thesis is the result of my own research and the substance of the thesis has not, wholly or in part, been submitted for any degrees to any other universities or institutions Author’s Signature Tạ Trí Đức Approved by SUPERVISOR Assoc Prof Dr Phạm Hữu Đức Date:…………………… i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this thesis is credited to many people’s contributions and support I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all most sincerely, knowing that my thanks are never adequate First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to Assoc Prof Dr Phạm Hữu Đức, my supervisor, for his helpful and warm encouragement as well as his insightful comments on my work from the beginning to the end of the study In addition, I would like to thank all of the lecturers who gave me interesting lessons, dedication and advice during my study at Graduate Academy of Social Sciences I also offer my special thanks to my beloved friends whose support and encouragement help me to have this thesis accomplished Last but not least, I must express my gratitude to my family It is their endless love and expectations that have motivated me to complete this thesis I am immensely thankful for all the assistance they have given me ii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION BY AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 RATIONALE 1.2 AIM(S) OF THE STUDY 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 1.6 RESEARCH METHODS 1.7 STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY CHAPTER LIRTERATURE REVIEW 2.1 SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX 2.2 SUBTITLE TRANSLATION 2.2.1 Subtitle and subtitle translation 2.2.2 Subtitle constraints 2.3 EQUIVALENCE IN TRANSLATION 2.3.1 Different approaches to translation equivalence 2.3.2 Descriptive Translation Studies 2.3.3 Translation universals 2.3.4 Categories of Translation Universals 2.4 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 2.5 CHAPTER SUMMARY CHAPTER METHODOLOGY 3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN 3.2 SAMPLING AND METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION 3.3 ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY 3.4 CHAPTER SUMMARY iii CHAPTER TRANSLATION UNIVERSALS AND TRANSLATION LAWS IN SHERLOCK 4.1 TRANSLATION UNIVERSALS IN SHERLOCK 4.1.1 Explicitation 4.1.2 Simplification 4.1.3 Normalization 4.1.4 Omission of repetition 4.1.5 Exaggeration of Target Language Features 4.2 TRANSLATION LAWS IN SHERLOCK 4.2.1 Law of growing standardization 4.2.2 Laws of interference 4.3 CHAPTER SUMMARY CHAPTER CONCLUSION 5.1 RECAPITULATION 5.2 CONCLUDING REMARKS 5.3 IMPLICATIONS FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION TEACHING AND LEARNING 5.4 LIMITATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES REFERENCES APPENDIX: SAMPLES OF ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT AND VIETNAMESE SUBTITLE OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX I iv ABSTRACT This study evaluated the equivalence in the Vietnamese translation of Sherlock on Netflix Most previous studies used the formal equivalence approach, which focused mainly on the form and content relationship between source text and target text This study uses dynamic equivalence approach, which describes functional relationship in translation Dynamic equivalence is considered to be a more suitable approach for evaluating equivalence in film subtitle translation because of the specific characteristics of subtitle translating Subtitle translators must ensure that the translated text can be read within the exact duration of the scene as well as ensure that the audience still has time to watch the images while preserving the meaning and effect Descriptive translation study of translation universals and laws is used as a theoretical framework applied to evaluate the dynamic equivalence in subtitle translation The Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix were analyzed on the basis of a theoretical framework derived from Baker's hypotheses on translation universals and Toury’s translation laws Research has shown that there are translation universals and laws in Vietnamese subtitles, through which functional relationship between the original and Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix are found Most of the translation universals is used to shorten or minimize the subtitles in order to meet the constraints of subtitle translation The parts that are omitted are mostly repetitive words or can be understood through images on film This shortening hardly affects the content that the audience needs On the other hand, some translation universals and laws are used to normalize grammar as well as explain cultural features that can be confusing to the audience However, this research also pointed out some of the audience’s experiences are sometimes lost due to circumstances such as repetition or lack of grammar is intended by the filmmaker to create humor or represent the character v CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale When more and more people watch movies not only to relax, but also to study foreign languages and cultures, subtitles translation has become a major problem Translation was considered language macro skill Netflix is an American leading streaming service that allows members to watch a wide variety of television shows, movies, documentaries, etc Netflix has over hundred million international subscribers, making it one of the world's largest entertainment services The subtitles programs of Netflix are translated into many languages in the world including Vietnamese Netflix-translated subtitles can be seen to have a major impact on the public and have played a large part in transmitting foreign languages and cultures to Vietnamese Sherlock is a British television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories Sherlock has been praised for the quality of its writing, acting, and direction Recent film subtitling research studies in European countries have concentrated primarily on content aspects, from a European viewpoint and as a representation of “a multi-talented challenge” (Gottlieb 2004) Scholars in the field of translation studies have founded the theoretical branches of AudioVisual Translation, the most important of which are Chaume (2004), Diaz-Cintas (2004), Gambier (2009) and Gottlieb (2001) Their respective studies have formed the theoretical structure for subtitle translation and integrated successful translation strategies There have also been a few studies on translation and equivalence in the translation of subtitles in Vietnam such as the study by Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà on subtitles for translating some selected films from the website kst.net.vn, the research by Lê Thị Nhung about the equivalence in translating English subtitles of some documentary films However, there are no research studies on translation and dynamic equivalence based on descriptive translation study in the translated subtitles by Netflix, an American service, as well as a famous TV series like Sherlock Therefore, I chose to a thesis on “EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX” 1.2 Aim(s) of the Study The thesis goal is to examine the dynamic equivalence in the Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock series on Netflix To achieve the goal of this thesis, three main targets need to be implemented include finding out the existence of translation universals and laws in translating subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix, investigating the behavior of translation universals in Vietnamese subtitles, evaluating the relationship between English and Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock based on the descriptive translation study theory 1.3 Research Questions This thesis is implemented to answer the following questions: - What are the translation universals and laws used in translating subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix? - What are the behaviors of translation universals in Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix? - What is the relationship between English and Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix? 1.4 Scope of the Study This thesis focuses on equivalence of original English transcript and Vietnamese subtitle version of Sherlock on Netflix Samples were taken from episodes throughout seasons of the series The research only focuses on dynamic equivalence, which is evaluated based on translation universal and law analysis of descriptive translation study Therefore only the most outstanding representative samples were selected for dynamic equivalence analysis 1.5 Significance of the Study Theoretical significance: This thesis gives an overview of subtitle translation This thesis also strengthened the theory of descriptive translation study and the theory of dynamic equivalence Practical significance: This thesis supports subtitle translators by giving the translation universals and laws used for subtitle translation as well as providing the behavior of translation universals, which draw the relationship, equivalent, in translating movie subtitles This thesis also aims to arouse the interest of English translation students with subtitle translation in particular and translation study in general 1.6 Research Methods Qualitative methods were applied to implement this thesis The data obtained were evaluated on the basis of a theoretical framework derived from Baker's hypotheses on translation universals and Toury’s translation laws Subtitle translation equivalence assessment would be explored by using dynamic equivalence framework combining with descriptive translation study in subtiles One-by-one translation universals and laws will be discussed by looking at their behaviors in nine episodes of Sherlock Only the most striking instances of each REFERENCES Baker, M (1993) “Corpus Linguistics and Translation Studies Implications and Applications.” Text and Technology: In honour of John Sinclair Ed M Baker, G Francis and E Tognini- Bonelli John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam 233-252 Baker, M (2001), Brano Hochel “Dubbing.” Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies Ed Mona Baker Routledge: London 74-76 Catford J.C (1976) A linguistic Theory of Translation Oxford: OUP Chaume, F (2004) "Film Studies and Translation Studies: Two Disciplines at Stake in Audiovisual Translation." Meta: Translators' Journal 49.1.12-24 Chesterman, A (2004) “Hypotheses about Translation Universals.” Claims, Changes and Challenges in Translation Studies: Selected contributions from the EST Congress, Copenhagen 2001 Ed G Hansen, K Malmkjaer, D Gile John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam 1-14 Denton, J (2007) “Audience Reception of Translated Audiovisual Texts and the Problem of Visual and Verbal Shared/Unshared Knowledge.” La lingua invisibile Aspetti teorici e tecnici del doppiaggio in Italia Nuova Editrice Universitaria Ed G Massara 23-36 Díaz Cintas, J (2004) “In Search of a Theoretical Framework for the Study of Audiovisual Translation.” Topics in Audiovisual Translation Ed Pilar Orero John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam 21-34 Gambier, Y (2009) “Challenges in Research on Audiovisual Translation.” Translation Research Projects Ed A Pym, A Perekrestenko Intercultural Studies Group: Tarragona 17- 25 70 Gentzler, E (2001) Contemporary Translation Theories Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Gottlieb, H (2001) “Subtitling.” Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies Ed Mona Baker Routledge: London 244-248 Gottlieb, H (2004) “Subtitles and International Anglification.” Nordic Journal of English Studies Worlds of Words – A Tribute to Arne Zettersten 3.1.219-230 Guardini, P (1998) “Decision-making in Subtitling.” Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 6:1.91-112 Hajmohammad, A (2004) “The Viewer as the Focus of Subtitling Towards a Viewer-oriented Approach.” Translation Journal and the Author House, J (2008) “Beyond Intervention: Universals in Translation?” Trans-kom 1.6-19 Kenny, D (1998) "Creatures of Habit? What Translators Usually Do with Words." Meta: Translators' Journal Koller, W (1990) Equivalence in translation theory, Heidenberg:Quelle UndMeyer Laviosa, S (2004) “Corpus-based Translation Studies: Where Does It Come from? Where is It Going?” Language Matters: Studies in the Languages of Africa Laviosa, S (2008) “Description of the Translation Classroom: Universals as a Case in Point.” Beyond Descriptive Translation Studies: Investigations in Homage to Gideon Toury Ed A Pym, M Shlesinger, D Simeoni John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam 119- 132 Mauranen, A (2008) “Universal Tendencies in Translation.” Incorporating Corpora: The Linguist and the Translator Ed G.M Anderman, M Rogers Multilingual Matters Ltd.: Clevedon 32-48 71 Mauranen, A, Kujamäki P (2004) “Introduction.” Translation Universals: Do They Exist? Ed A Mauranen, P Kujamäki John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam 1-14 Munday, J (2008) Introducing Translation Studies Theories and Applications 2nd ed Abingdon: Routledge Nida, E., & Taber, C (1974) The Theory and Practice of Translation Leiden: Koninklijke Pym, A 2008 “On Toury’s Laws of How Translators Translate.” Beyond Descriptive Translation Studies: Investigations in Homage to Gideon Toury Ed A Pym, M Shlesinger, D Simeoni John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam 311-328 Sánchez, D (2004) “Subtitling Methods and Team Translation.” Topics in Audiovisual Translation Ed Pilar Orero John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam, 2004 9-18 Šarčević, S (1989), Lexicography and translation across cultures John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam Siefring, J (2004), ed Oxford Dictionary of Idioms 2nd Ed St Ives: Oxford University Press Toury, G (1995) Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Co Toury, G (2004) “Probabilistic Explanations in Translation Studies: Universals – or a Challenge to the Very Concept? Claims, Changes and Challenges in Translation Studies: Selected contributions from the EST Congress, Copenhagen 2001 Ed G Hansen, K Malmkjaer, D Gile John Benjamins Publishing Co.: Amsterdam, 15-26 72 Valdeón, R A (2008) “Alienation Techniques in Screen Translation The Role of Culture Specifics in the Reconstruction of Target-culture Discourse.” Languages in Contrast Weston, M (1991) An English Reader’s Guide to the French Legal System, New York, Oxford, Berg Ying-Ting, C (2006) “Studying Subtitle Translation from a Multi-modal Approach.” Babel 52:4; 372–383 73 APPENDIX: SAMPLES OF ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT AND VIETNAMESE SUBTITLE OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX SAMPLES OF ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT AND VIETNAMESE SUBTITLE OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX No Season 1 I II 10 11 12 13 14 15 III 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 IV 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 V 34 VI ... SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX? ?? 1.2 Aim(s) of the Study The thesis goal is to examine the dynamic equivalence in the Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock series on Netflix To achieve the goal of this thesis,... constraint These limitations exist because of ? ?the presence of the visual and verbal elements of the original, the spatial constraints that imply the reduction of the original and the change in the. .. three main targets need to be implemented include finding out the existence of translation universals and laws in translating subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix, investigating the behavior of translation