An investigation into domestication and foreignization in the english translation of culture spec

THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES ĐOÀN THỊ NGỌC BÍCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO DOMESTICATION AND FOREIGNIZATION IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CULTURE-SPECIFIC ITEMS IN VŨ TRỌNG PHỤNG’S DUMB LUCK NOVEL AND READERS’ PERCEPTION MASTER THESIS IN LINGUISTICS AND CULTURAL STUDIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES Da Nang, 2020 THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES ĐOÀN THỊ NGỌC BÍCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO DOMESTICATION AND FOREIGNIZATION IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CULTURE-SPECIFIC ITEMS IN VŨ TRỌNG PHỤNG’S DUMB LUCK NOVEL AND READERS’ PERCEPTION Major: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS Code: 822 02 01 MASTER THESIS IN LINGUISTICS AND CULTURAL STUDIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES SUPERVISOR: NGUYỄN THỊ THU HƯỚNG, Ph.D Da Nang, 2020 i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP Except where reference is made in the text of the thesis, this thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma No other person‘s work has been used without due acknowledgements in the thesis This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution Da Nang, May 2020 Doan Thi Ngoc Bich ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS During the process of fulfilling the graduation paper, I have received much encouragement and essential assistance from my teachers, family, and domestic as well as foreign friends Sincerely from the bottom of my heart, I highly appreciate their cooperation and support I would like to send my deep gratitude to Ms Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, the supervisor of this graduation paper Her useful recommendation, detailed comments and practical encouragement have helped me obtain the aim and shape my ideas Therefore, it is the fact that the paper would not have been completed without her enthusiasm I warmly thank all my family, friends and colleague for their valuable help throughout the process of writing the thesis Especially, I give thanks to my international friends for their effective and precious cooperation during the process to complete the survey of the questionnaire iii ABSTRACT Recognizing the importance of culture-specific items (CSIs) in translation, the researcher aims to analyze whether Vietnamese culture-specific items have been translated into English based ondomestication or foreignization Data were based on culture-specific items taken from ―Số Đỏ‖ novel of Vũ Trọng Phụng and their English equivalents in the Vietnamese version by Nguyễn Nguyệt Cầm and Peter Zinoman This research also examines readers‘ perception of the cultural words It investigates if readers have difficulties as well as misunderstanding in comprehending culture-specific items in the English translation of ―Dumb Luck‖ novel To conduct the survey, the questionnaire was designed with 10 domesticated cuture-specific items and 10 foreignized culture-specific items taken from ―Dumb Luck‖ novel to obtain feedbacks from three foreign readers The findings indicate that the background information plays a significant role in improving the comprehensibility of foreign readers about Vietnamese culture-specific items The occurrences of foreignizing were much higher than domestication with the domination of literal translation technique However, the translators should have a parallel combination of both ―domestication‖ and ―foreignization‖ when translating culture-specific items into English It is essential to provide the background information in order to enhance the effectiveness of English translated Vietnamese masterpieces At the same time, it is necessary to consider the level of the comprehensiveness to create closeness for foreign readers Besides, translators should conduct a survey about readers‘ perception designed for various foreign audiences so that translated texts are more popular with international friends Key words: culture-specific items (CSIs), domestication, foreignization, readers‘ perception iv TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF CHARTS ix LIST OF APPENDICES x Chapter One INTRODUCTION 1.1 RATIONALE 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 1.6 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY Chapter Two THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 11 2.2.1 Translation and Culture 11 2.2.2 Domestication and Foreignization 13 2.2.3 Translation Procedures 14 2.2.3.1 Borrowing 15 2.2.3.2 Definition 15 2.2.3.3 Literal translation 16 2.2.3.4 Substitution 16 2.2.3.5 Lexical creation .17 2.2.3.6 Omission 17 v 2.2.3.7 Addition 17 2.2.4 Readers‘ Perception 18 2.3 SUMMARY .19 Chapter Three METHODOLOGY .21 3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN .21 3.2 RESEARCH METHODS 21 3.3 PROCEDURES 22 3.3.1 Data Collection .22 3.3.2 Data Analysis 24 3.4 RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY .25 3.5 SUMMARY .25 Chapter Four FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 26 4.1 DOMESTICATION AND FOREIGNIZATION IN CSIs 26 4.1.1 Character names 26 4.1.2 Place names .30 4.1.3 Social classes 32 4.1.4 Fashion 34 4.1.5 Measuring system 36 4.1.6 Food and drink 38 4.1.7 Addressing system 42 4.1.8 Entertainment forms .45 4.1.9 Expressions .46 4.1.10 Summary .52 4.2 READERS‘ PERCEPTIONS .52 4.2.1 Readers‘ perception 52 4.2.2 Summary 56 Chapter Five CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS .58 5.1 CONCLUSIONS 58 5.2 IMPLICATIONS 58 vi 5.2.1 To Translators 58 5.2.2 To Students and Teachers .59 5.2.3 To Linguists 59 5.2.4 To Sociologist 59 5.3 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY .59 5.4 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCHES 60 REFERENCE 61 APPENDIX 63 APPENDIX 79 QUYẾT ĐỊNH GIAO ĐỀ TÀI LUẬN VĂN (bản sao) vii LIST OF TABLES Number Table 2.1 Name of Tables Page Procedures that can be applied in Foreignization and Domestication strategies 18 Table 3.1 The Division of the CSIs and translation procedure 23 Table 4.1 The Translational Strategies Of Character Names 26 Table 4.2 The Translational Strategies Of Place Names 30 Table 4.3 The Translational Strategies of Social Classes 32 Table 4.4 Table 4.5 Table 4.6 Table 4.7 Table 4.8 Table 4.9 Table 4.10 Table 4.11 Table 4.12 Table 4.13 Table 4.14 Table 4.15 Examples of Definition Applied in Translating CSIs of Social Classes The Translational Strategies of Fashion 34 Examples of Substitution Applied in Translating CSIs of Fashion Examples of Definition Applied in Translating CSIs of Fashion The Translational Strategies of Measuring System Examples of Substitution and Borrowing 35 36 36 Applied in Translating CSIs of Measuring System The Translational Strategies of Food and Drink Examples of Substitution Applied in Translating CSIs of Food and Drink Examples of Literal Applied in Translating CSIs of Food and Drink Examples of Literal Translation Applied in Translating CSIs of Food and Drink The Translational Strategies of Addressing System Examples of Definition Applied in Translating Addressing system 33 37 38 39 40 41 42 42 viii Number Table 4.16 Name of Tables Examples of Literal Translation Applied in Translating Addressing system Page 44 Table 4.17 The Translational Strategies of Entertainment Forms 45 Table 4.18 The Translational Strategies of Expressions 46 Table 4.19 Examples of Substitution Applied in Translating Expressions 47 Table 4.20 Examples of Literal Translation Applied in Translating Expressions 47 Table 4.21 Examples of Omission Applied in Translating Expressions 50 Table 4.22 The Translational Strategies of CSIs 51 Table 4.22 Examples misunderstood by Reader 55 Table 4.23 Examples misinterpreted by reader 56 69 The original source Ngây thơ (p 55) The target source ―Innocence‖ (p 61) Dậy (p.55) Foreignization Domestication Procedure + literal translation ―Puberty‖ (p.62) + literal translation Nữ quyền ―Women‘s + literal (p 55) Rights‖ translation (p 62) Kiên Trinh (p 55) ―Resolute Faithfulness‖ + literal translation (p 62) Lưỡng lự (p 55) ―Hestitation‖ (p 62) + literal translation Cái áo Ỡm Ờ ―Coquette‖ + literal (p 58) (p 63) translation quần Hãy ―Wait-achờ phút Munite‖ panties (p 58) (p 63) + literal translation 10 áo lót Hạnh phúc (p 58) The ―Happiness‖ slip (p 63) + literal translation 11 coósê Ngừng tay (p.58) ―Stop-Those- + literal translation + borrowing 12 Hands‖ brassiere (p.63) áo dài giản Her simple áo dị, áo dài Her không thuộc collar was not mốt cánh sen shaped like a lotus leaf không thuộc (p 68) mốt bành bẻ (p 67) 70 The original source 13 Áo ba đờ xuy dầy sù (p 80) The target source A heavy ba đờ xuy (p 76) 14 Áo quần đinh The funeral clothes must nhiễu Thượng Hải trắng, mà be made from white viền đen ( p 90) Shanghai crepe with a Foreignization Domestication Procedure + borrowing + literal translation + definition + literal translation black border (p 82) 15 Cái Coócsê Coóc xê (p 56) (p 62) 16 Một thiếu niên bé nhỏ … Âu phục quần chân voi (p 130) He wore a European style suit, and his paints were cuffed in the so-called elephant style ( p 105) 17 quần đùi (p 146) slips (p 115) + substitution 18 quần ngủ (p Underwear + substitution 146) (p 115) 19 quần phố (p.146) Trousers (p 115) + substitution 20 Quần nhà (p.146) pajama bottoms (p.115) + substitution Fashionable new + omission 21 đồ sô gai tân thời, mũ mấn trắng mourning 71 The original source viền đen – Dernières creation! The target source clothes This outfit (including the (p.191) white hat with black lace trim) (p.144) chế tạo cho phụ nữ To design a special outfit gọi Nghênh giá (p.238) for women named ―Welcome to the King‖ (p.172) 23 áo the dài a floor-length 22 24 25 (p.215) silk gown (p.158) Nào áo cổ bành bẻ đuôi One sported a swallow coat, tôm để bà cô diện phố xá (p.49) the kind that girls and young women wear to go out (p.58) ba ―hình nhân‖ tạc gỗ, Three wooden ma nơ canh Tây phương gửi sang (p.48-49) imported from Europe (p.57) Foreignization Domestication literal translation + + Procedure + substitution + substitution definition 72 Measuring system The original The target source source xu (p 14) Xu (p 34) + borrowing Hai hào (p 15) Two hào (p 35) + borrowing năm nghìn 5,000 + borrowing bạc piasters (p 43) Phạt đồng tám! (p 34) You are fined one đồng and eight hào! + borrowing + borrowing Foreignization Domestication Procedure (p 47) ba đồng (p 251) three piasters (p 180) Food and drink The original source Phở tái (p 14) bún chả ế (p 24) The target source Domestication Procedure Noodle soup with extrarare beef (p 35) + substitution stale noodles and rancid barbecue pork (p 42) + Substitution Món đét-se An elegant (p 80) đét-se (p 76) Nước ao (p 95) Pond water (p 85) Foreignization + borrowing + literal translation 73 The original source nước ruộng (p 99) the field water (p 87) bát a bowl of cháo yến swallow‘s (p 185) nest porridge The target source Foreignization Domestication + Procedure literal translation + substitution + substitution Domestication Procedure (p 139) Cơm Tây, cơm Tầu, nem chả đủ (p 117) French and Chinese cuisine and served all manner of rare and expensive delicacies (p 98) Addressing system The original source dì (p 78) The target source Foreignization Auntie + (p 75) literal translation toa, moa (p 81) Toa and moa [7] (p 77) + definition Cụ via Old via [8] + definition (p.82) (p 77) + definition Me-sừ Xuân Me sừ Xuân (p.175) (p 132) Bà cụ nhà (p 128) the old man (p 105) + literal translation Lúy (p.117) Lúy (p.149) + definition A mi ơi! (p 180) My a mi! (p 136) + definition 74 Entertainment forms The original The target source source cải lương A southern Nam Kỳ (p 15) opera (p 35) kèn bú Western Tây (p 88) trumpet (p 80) Ngày hội gái nhảy Hà Nội (La La journée des cavalières journée des cavalières Hanoiennes) (p 104) Hanoiennes (p 90) Thưa ngài, I would be hân hạnh ngài cho hầu ngài vài set (p 121) honored if you would play a séc with me (p 100) tờ báo Gõ mõ (p 171) a new paper Foreignization Domestication Procedure + Lexical creation + + borrowing + borrowing + literal translation + borrowing called the Wooden Fish Drum (p 130) cúp Mélia Jaune (p 210) the Melia Jaune Cup (p 163) Kèn ta, kèn Tây, kèn Tầu (p 199) Vietnamese, Chinese and French clarinets (p 148) substitution + substitution 75 The original The target source source báo Con Vẹt (p 243) the Con Vẹt magazine Foreignization Domestication Procedure + borrowing + literal (p 175) ― tiểu thư Miss Junior bộ‖(p.142) Walking translation Race (p.113) 10 câu đối banners (p 197) displaying parallel + addition + substitution Domestication Procedure couplets (p 147) 11 lốc bốc soảng bú a trumpet (p 147) rich (p 197) Expression The original source The target source Thế mà để ngoan bụt, (p.30) But the kids are as well behaved as little Buddhas, (p.45) This jail is just a tiny snot hole (p 46) ―That kid really is a gift from heaven!‖ (p 51) Phòng giam lỗ mũi (p 31) Con Giời Phật đấy! (p 38) Foreignization + literal translation + literal translation + substitution 76 The original The target source source Xuân Tóc Đỏ đương mở As Xuan Toc Do‘s máy nói kèn hát (p 68) speaking machine was Foreignization Domestication Procedure + addition shifting into high gear (p 69) ngáy o o snoring sấm (p 32) thunderous ly (p 46) Ông Phán đứng dậy The senior clerk bị lò so đẩy lên (p.107) sprang to his feet (p 92) Xuân nói nửa nạc nửa mỡ (p 111) ―I don't believe you have any need for them,‖ + literal translation + substitution + substitution + substitution Xuan responded suggestivel y (p 94) Ông Victor Ban kinh hãi cúi đầu thấp, bắt tay Xuân Tóc Đỏ xong đứng Victor Ban bowed his head low and shook hands with Xuan, who 77 The original The target source source ngây mặt người gỗ (p 118) stood frozen in place like a wooden statue (p 99) A water buffalo is only a true water buffalo when it eats and fights (p 102) rattled on (p 116) Có chọi gọi chọi trâu (p 124) 10 Nhai nhãi nói chão rách (p 147) Không môn đăng hộ đối! (p 156) 11 12 13 Foreignization Domestication + Procedure literal translation + omission They not come from families of the same social rank! (p 121) + omission Mày bôi gio trát trấu vào You‘ve sulled the + omission thannh danh nhà tao (p.157) family‘s honor (p 121) Điều hai với hai bốn It is a clear as two plus two makes (p 155) four (p.121) + literal translation 78 14 15 The original The target source source Thiên biến vạn hóa Give to a host of (p 167) peculiar conditions (p 128) Tài đào mỏ praise your (p.181) prospectin g skills (p 137) 16 rồng cháu tiên (p.227) the children of dragons and the Foreignization Domestication Procedure + addition + literal translation + literal translation grandchildr en of fairies (p.166) 17 nhanh cuốc lủi (p.240) quick as a water hen (p.173) 18 ―mày nuôi ong tay áo‖ (p.157) ―you let the bee up your + + omission Literal translation sleeve!‖ (p.121) 19 Lại khen phò mã áo tốt (p.267) You only praise what everyone has noted already! (p.189) + Omission 79 APPENDIX ―Nearby, Red-Haired Xuân attempted to engage a sugarcane girl in deep discussion‖ (p.34) A sugarcane girl is: a the girl sells sugarcanes b the girl‘s name is ―sugarcane‖ The other idea: ―Two hào for tickets to the nightclub, one for two bowls of noodles soup with extra-rare beef‖ (p.35) ―Noodles soup with extra-rare beef” is: a a type of soup consisting of broth, white rice noodles, herbs, and rare beef b a type of soup consisting of noodles made from wheat flour and rare beef The other idea: ―Inside was a beggar together with his wife and child, a vagabond, and a female peddler with two baskets of stale noodles and rancid barbecue pork” (p.42) ―Noodles and barbecue pork” are: a served with grilled pork made into meatball over a plate of white rice vermicelli and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce b served with grilled pork over white rice noodles c served with grilled pork over white rice noodles and herbs The other idea: ―Great-Grandpa was slurping down a bowl of swallow’s nest porridge‖ (p.139) ―Swallow’s nest porridge” is: a oatmeal cooked with added flavorings such as sugar and swallow‘ nest of any birds b a kind of a plain thick rice soup largely disintegrated after prolonged cooking in water and served with salanganes‘ nest c a kind of a plain thick rice cooked with added flavorings such as sugar and nest of any birds ―Red-Haired Xuan handed over the field water and several daisy leaves‖ (p.87) ―The field water” is: 80 a the water is collected directly from the paddy field It is unsafe and unclean to drink, or even to cook meals b a kind of popular water Vietnamese people usually drink The other idea: ―Dr Lung held the vial of water up to the light ―What the hell is this? Pond water?‖‖ (p 85) It is: a a kind of dirty water taken from the pond to drink b a kind of healthy water that local people often drink It was a young man running toward them wearing traditional clothes: a turban, a floor-length silk gown, and a pair of old-fashioned shoes‖ (p.158) A floor-length silk gown is: a a floor-length dress dressed on formal occasions such as weddings b a long tunic that is slit on the sides and worn over loose pants c a long and loose piece of clothing over other clothes for particular purpose The other idea: It was a young man running toward them wearing traditional clothes: a turban, a floor-length silk gown, and a pair of old-fashioned shoes‖ (p.158) Which is ―turban”? a The other idea: b c 81 ―Recalling the words of a southern opera, Xuân broke into song: ―All alone on an autumn night, my tender heart is sinking‖‖ (p.35) A southern opera is: a opera in the south of Vietnam b a form of modern folk opera in Vietnam which combines southern Vietnamese folk songs, classical music, and modern spoken drama The other idea: 10 There were scores of wreaths and at least three hundred banners displaying parallel couplets (p.147) Which is ―banners displaying parallel couplets‖? a b c The other idea: 11 ―The kids are as well behaved as little Buddhas‖ (p.45) The kids: a are little Buddhas b behave very well c follow Buddhism The other idea: 12 ――But how could you possibly decline, my friend?‖ she retorted ―A woman like Miss Snow? Beautiful, very modern, and from a rich family? Were you to marry Miss Snow, every well-educated young man in our country of Nam would praise your prospecting skills!‖‖ (p.137) Prospecting skills means that 82 a someone does attempts to get married with the other only due to his / her wealth b the person has mining skills c the person has high skills of attracting beautiful girls The other idea: 13 ―You let the bee live up your sleeve!‖ (p.121) It means that a the bee lives in sleeves b the bee‘s nest has the shape of the sleeve c homeowner raises a traitor who causes damage to homeowners The other idea: 14 To try to improve relations between the countries, on the one hand, and to let the arrogant Siamese know that we are the children of dragons and the grandchildren of fairies, the Protectorate Government invited the king of Siam to travel to Vietnam (p.165-166) ―the children of dragons and the grandchildren of fairies” is a to mention Vietnamese ancestors as dragons and fairies b to imply the unity of the Vietnamese because all Vietnamese have the same origin and blood-relationship The other idea: 15 ―Who stood frozen in a place like a wooden statue‖ (p.99) It means: a standing still and keep immobile b standing in the extremely cold weather The other idea: 16 ―Symptoms of the nervous system indicate problems with the kidneys and can give to a host of peculiar conditions” (p.128) ―Give to a host of peculiar conditions‖ means: a difficult and hard situations created by God b numerous unpredictable and extraordinary changes The other idea: 17 ―This jail is just a tiny snot hole.‖ (p.46) That means: a the water is dripping in the small jail b the jail is too small to hold many people 83 c the jail is dirty The other idea: 18 Every stood up except the vagabond, who was snoring thunderously.‖ (p p.46) ―Snoring thunderously” means: a sleeping during the daytime b sleeping deeply and soundly The other idea: 19 ―Quick as a water hen, Xuan darted through the crowd in the opposite direction of the procession.‖ (p.173) ―Quick as a water hen” means that: a someone leaves a place very quickly and quietly to hide b a water hen can swim very quickly c someone walks like a water hen The other idea: 20 ―A water buffalo is only a true water when it eats and fights‖ (p.102) That means: a people only confirm their positions only when they show their talent and ability b good water buffaloes always fight against each other while eating * Full name: * Nationality: * Profession: * How long have you been in Vietnam? * What region of Vietnam have you been in? * How many Vietnamese translation novels have you read in English? * Did you find it difficult to understand English translation of Vietnamese cultural items? If yes, why? * How is your understanding when reading culture-specific items in ―Dumb Luck‖? a Fully understand b Nearly Understand c Partly understand * Do you want to suggest any solutions to make the English translation comprehensible the foreign readers? ... (2013) investigates into children‘s literature translated into Albanian to show the level of visibility of the original author and culture versus the translator in the original language and domesticating... Strategies of Food and Drink Examples of Substitution Applied in Translating CSIs of Food and Drink Examples of Literal Applied in Translating CSIs of Food and Drink Examples of Literal Translation. . .THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES ĐOÀN THỊ NGỌC BÍCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO DOMESTICATION AND FOREIGNIZATION IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CULTURE- SPECIFIC