An investigation into modality expressions in english film subtitles and their corresponding expr

THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES LÊ VƯƠNG SONG HÀ AN INVESTIGATION INTO MODALITY EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH FILM SUBTITLES AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EXPRESSIONS IN THE VIETNAMESE MASTER THESIS IN LINGUISTICS AND CULTURAL STUDIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES Da Nang, 2020 THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES I further declare that I havLeÊnoVt sƯubƠmNittGed tShOis NtheGsisHatÀany other institution in ord AN INVESTIGATION INTO MODALITY EXDPaRnaEngS,SMIaOrcNh,S20 IN ENGLISH FILM SUBTITLES AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EXPRESSIONS IN THE VIETNAMESE Major: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS Code: 82.20.201 MASTER THESIS IN LINGUISTICS AND CULTURAL STUDIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES SUPERVISOR: NGUYỄN THỊ HUỲNH LỘC, PhD NGŨ THIỆN HÙNG, PhD Da Nang, 2020 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this master thesis and that I have not used any sources other than those listed in the bibliography and identified as references I further declare that I have not submitted this thesis at any other institution in order to obtain a degree Danang, March, 2020 LÊ VƯƠNG SONG HÀ ABSTRACT Up to now, issues of modality expressions have been addressed with more interest in such lexical means and grammatical means as modal adverbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal lexical verbs and mood system Based on a broader view of modality, this study aims to examine prosodic means, communicative types of sentences and modal particles used in conversations in English films and Vietnamese subtitles The research was conducted with a descriptive study that sought the qualitative and quantitative information about the types of modality expressions used in English films and their corresponding expressions in Vietnamese subtitles Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of a sample of 788 utterances collected from 10 English films and their Vietnamese translated sentences, the study found that different communicative types of sentence were used to signal the speech act modality with illocutionary force along with the modal nuances conveyed by various intonation patterns The study also reveals that the choice of modal particles in the Vietnamese translation of the subtitles with different emotion and attitude were governed by a number of pragmatic factors such as the information of the particular communicative situation or the relationships between the utterances, the information that signals the speaker's supposition to the hearers status of mind and knowledge, the information that signals the social status, role of the interlocutors or communicative partners, the information that orientates the response or feedback from the other interlocutors TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.4.1 4.4.2 The information that signals the social status, role of the interlocutors or QUYẾT ĐỊNH GIAO ĐỀ TÀI APPENDIX FIGURES TABLES CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 RATIONALE In language communication, apart from the message based on the descriptive meaning of the utterance, there is a kind of interpersonal meaning that needs to be interpreted for the comprehending of the speaker/writer's attitude toward the content of utterance and toward the hearer/reader This kind of meaning is labeled modality in terms of grammar, semantics and pragmatics as far as its meaning and function are concerned This is an essential component of meaning that should be taken into consideration in shaping the communicative message by the addresser/encoder and in decoding/interpreting the interpersonal meaning for the successful communication How to express and interpret modality is not an easy task for speakers of English as a second language The basic content of utterances can be translated word by word, but for interpersonal meaning Therefore, learners and translators need to utilize some of the linguistic means that help to render the interpersonal meaning in the characters' conversations In case of rendering this kind of meaning in conversations from English films into Vietnamese subtitles, the translators are expected to understand not only the proposition or descriptive meaning of utterance but also know how to express the modal meaning conveyed in this utterance This requirement has to be met so that the movie viewers can have a better insight into how the characters communicate their messages and build up the interactive relationships between interlocutors However, as far as issues of means of expressing modality have been concerned, apart from what has been traditionally discussed such as lexical and grammatical means, there is still room for the examination of the prosodic devices and syntactical structures of communicative types of sentences These have not been paid close attention in the discussion of the modal meaning and pragmatic functions One possible reason may be due to the difficulty in building a spoken corpus for the 10 phonetic analysis that enables us to point out the phonetic features that help bring out the modal meaning along with the syntactic structure employed to realize the utterances Surprisingly, what is feasible for doing the same thing with the conversations in films and translation of the modalized utterances with lexical means and prosodic resources has not been dealt with So far, little has been written about the modal meaning of intonation along with the syntactic form to modalize an utterance in English as the source language and the equivalents in Vietnamese as target language Also, such linguistic resources as modal particles, modal set phrases as means to render the modal meaning in the translational equivalents in subtitles in Vietnamese as the target language still need a closer examination For some translators, most English modality expressions can be translated to Vietnamese without problem, but this is not an easy task for the comprehension of the paraverbal signs along with the sentence structure to figure out the modal meaning to achieve a satisfactory translation into Vietnamese For example, in "The pursuit of happiness" movie, the father's utterance "I don't want you out here shooting this ball around all day and night, all right?" and the son's response, "all right!" were translated into "được chứ?" and "được ạ" respectively How to identify the linguistic means as modalility expressions and the governing factors to understand the addresser's communicative message with interpersonal meaning of corresponding Vietnamese expressions in subtitles of English films is an interest for researchers These concernings have inspired me to choose to conduct the research with the title "AN INVESTIGATION INTO MODALITY EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH FILM SUBTITLES AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EXPRESSIONS IN VIETNAMESE” 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.2.1 Aims This study aims to investigate the pragmatics of modality expressions used in English Film subtitles and their corresponding expressions in the Vietnamese to provide the learners of English as translators with an insightful knowledge 70 I said eyes ahead! Tơi bảo nhìn thẳng mà! 71 We don't wanna miss our flight! Chúng ta không muốn lỡ chuyến bay đâu! 72 I would've gotten to my parents if I didn't have to go back for you! Ta tới kịp khơng phải quay lại đón cậu đấy! 73 I guess we make a pretty good team Chúng ta ăn ý 74 Tim, there's our flight! Tim chuyến bay đấy! 75 If only it were that easy Giá mà vụ đơn giản đến 76 Say something mean to him Nói với 77 And you have the guts to ask me for a bonus now? Và dám lên xin ta tiền thưởng à? 78 I'm back! Tôi trở lại đây! 79 What are they doing here? Tất làm vậy? 80 He told us to sit here Bố bảo bọn cháu ngồi 81 I'm launching my Forever Puppies, and there's nothing you can about it! Ta phát hành dịng Cún Con Vĩnh Cửu, khơng thể làm để cản ta đâu! 82 Nothing is going to get in the way of my vengeance Khơng cản ta trả thù đâu 83 You have your parents all to yourself Cậu có lại bố mẹ 84 Say hello to Theodore Lindsey Templeton Nói lời chào với Theodore Lindsey Templeton 85 Go and live your peasant lives Quay lại sống đời nông dân người Appendix [8]: Sentences cited from the film “Lion King 2019” were translated into equivalent Vietnamese sentences containing modal particles Must've slipped my mind Chắc quên I was first in line Ta đứng hàng đầu mà Is that a challenge? Đó lời thách thức sao? What am I gonna with him? Ta phải làm với đây? We both know he should've been expelled from the Pride Lands long ago Chúng ta biết bị trục xuất khỏi Pride Lands lâu coming back! Quay lại ạ! You promised! cha hứa mà Give orders for the hunt or chase away evil intruders! Ra lệnh đàn săn, hay đuổi bọn xấu xa đi! Dad! You're going the wrong way! Cha, cha sai đường ạ! 10 All of this will belong to me? Nơi thuộc sao? 11 I thought a king could whatever he wants, take any territory Con tưởng làm vua làm được, chiếm chỗ 12 But, Dad, don't we eat the antelope? Nhưng cha ơi, ăn linh dương mà? 13 Stay with the other cubs Ở nhà với tụi nít khác 14 I am not a cub Con lớn mà 15 My dad showed me the whole kingdom Cha cho thấy vương quốc 16 Your dad showed you the whole kingdom? Cha cho thấy vương quốc sao? 17 Can we go? Chúng nhé? 18 That's my own shadow Đó bóng thơi 19 How we getting rid of the dodo? - Làm để cắt đuôi đây? 20 He's never eaten an impala - Bạn không ăn linh dương đâu 21 A monarch who ignores tradition? Một quân vương mà không theo truyền thống sao? 22 You must be in my sight at all times Con phải tầm mắt 23 You would've never gotten away without your queen Anh không thiếu nữ hồng đâu 24 You've proved how brave you are Thôi rồi, anh chứng minh dũng cảm đủ 25 You can't anything to me! Các người khơng thể làm tơi đâu! 26 Hyenas and lions have been at war since the beginning of time Linh cẩu Sử tử lâm vào chiến tranh tự thủa ban đầu 27 I thought you were very brave Em tưởng anh can đảm 28 What could I give him? - Con có cho ơng đây? 29 Run away! Chạy trốn đi! 30 No little cub could survive that fall Chả đứa nít mà sống rơi đâu 31 That's all she ever has to know Bà cần biết 32 I don't know why it's so important to you Tôi mà quan trọng với cậu vậy? 33 Having a ferocious lion around might not be such a bad idea! Có sư tử chà bá bên cạnh ý tồi 34 Well then, we can keep him? - Vậy tụi giữ cậu lại nhé? 35 Not unless you can change the past Trừ anh đổi khứ 36 How can you change something that hasn't happened? Làm thay đổi thứ chưa xảy chứ? 37 Well, we live wherever we want - Ồ, bọn tơi sống đâu mà bọn tơi muốn mà 38 But we're just getting in the groove, guys Nhưng làm nóng mà 39 No, let's leave them wanting more Khơng, thơi để cịn thèm 40 Look, just tell him to stop Coi nào, kêu dừng đi! 41 I came as soon as I could Chú tới sớm hết mức 42 I don't need protecting anymore Con không cần bảo vệ đâu 43 he is never gonna want to frolic with a carnivore Anh không muốn giỡn mặt với thú ăn thịt đâu 44 You two will never frolic Hai đứa không chơi đâu 45 You sure it's not a circle? Anh khơng phải vịng trịn chứ? 46 Keep going! Tiếp tục đi! 47 you wonder why I prefer to sleep underground Cậu biết lý tơi thích ngủ đất đấy? 48 Seeing you again, you don't know what this will mean to everyone Nhìn thấy anh lần nữa, anh khơng biết ý nghĩa với bầy đâu 49 I know you'll love it Anh biết em thích mà 50 At least let me show you around Ít để anh dẫn em vòng 51 Because of what happened at the gorge? Bởi việc xảy hẻm núi à? 52 You have no idea what I've been through! Em khơng biết anh trải qua chuyện đâu! 53 If I don't fight for it, who will? Nếu anh khơng chiến đấu, 54 I tried to make you understand what a true king can be Ta khiến hiểu vị vua chân mà 55 Looks like we'll be having pig for dinner Có vẻ ăn thịt heo vào bữa tối 56 I'm not a cub anymore! Tôi khơng cịn nít đâu! 57 Nobody move! Không di chuyển nhé! 58 I was planning on killing them all Ta định giết bọn chúng 59 You wouldn't kill your only uncle Con không giết người chứ? Appendix [9]: Sentences cited from the film “Avengers: Endgame” were translated into equivalent Vietnamese sentences containing modal particles You see where you're going? Okay? Go get your arrow 15 Oh, you'd love her Giờ xem làm Được chứ? Enough practice Đi lấy mũi tên Soup's on! Tập luyện We're coming Súp xong We're hungry Đến Lila, let's go Đói rồi! You don't need to that Lila, 10 You're just holding the position Cô không cần phải làm đâu Chỉ cần 11 That's a goal giữ ngun vị trí thơi Một điểm 12 We are now one apiece Bây hịa 13 You have fun? Cơ thấy vui chứ? 14 This thing on? Bật chưa nhỉ? Em thích 16 Uh, but it's now dead in the water Nhưng đến nước đường 17 Well, you know what it looks Chà, em biết kết cục like Tôi thằng bé 18 I lost the kid Tony, thua 19 Tony, we lost tưởng cậu gấu Tôi 20 I thought you were a Build-Atưởng mơ Cậu Bear nhớ điều chứ? 21 Thought I was dreaming 22 Do you remember that? Tony, anh mệt Ngồi xuống 23 Tony, you're sick Sit down Đây, cầm 24 Here, take this Chỉ sao? 25 Just like that? Yeah Chỉ 26 Yeah Just like that Tơi thích 28 You better not throw up on my ship Tốt anh đừng có ói tàu tơi đấy! 29 Answer the question Trả lời câu hỏi 30 It always will be Mọi thứ 31 You gonna get another haircut? Cơ định làm kiểu tóc à? 32 This channel's always active Kênh mở 33 Except it isn't Hoặc có lẽ khơng phải 34 But you seem pretty miserable already 35 You here to your laundry? đủ khổ Anh đến để giặt đồ à? Thói quen mà 36 Force of habit Chỉ học để bắt chuyện 37 Only to make conversation Sandwich 38 Is that anybody's sandwich? rp /V • *1 Á J r • A • J z\ Tơi chết đói Anh nói vậy? 39 I'm starving 40 What are you talking about? Tới ăn rồi! 41 Chow time! Con khơng nên đeo thứ đó, chứ? 42 You should not be wearing that, bố làm cho mẹ okay? 43 I'm making for Mom Đó thứ muốn mà 44 That's what you want Con lấy đâu vây? 45 How did you find this? Con tình cờ thấy thơi 47 You like going in the garage, huh? 48 You accidentally survived Con thích chui vào ga-ra nhỉ? Anh tình cờ sống sót thơi 49 Why didn't we think of this before? Tại trước không nghĩ đến nhỉ? 50 You had me worried there Anh làm lo 51 A lotta people did 52 Bigger than his? Rất nhiều người To sao? Thử 53 Try some of that vài 54 100%, little person 100% ln, bé tí hon 55 I get it Tơi biết mà 56 Listen to your mom Nhớ nghe lời mẹ 57 Well, you pulled this off Nhưng anh làm việc mà 58 Only Mommy says that word Chỉ có mẹ nói từ thơi chuyện 59 Tell me a story Bố kể nghe 60 Go to bed or I'll sell all your toys Đi ngủ không bố bán hết đồ chơi 61 Just a book on composting Sách phân bón mà 62 A lot of people didn't Rất nhiều người không 63 But would you be able to rest? Nhưng làm anh nghỉ ngơi sao? 64 You can't say things like that Anh đừng nói 65 You were kidding, right? Có phải anh đùa khơng đấy? 66 Get your helmet on Đội nón lên 67 It's a baby Một đứa bé 68 Somebody could have cautioned you against it Phải có cảnh báo anh chứ? 69 Regardless, I fixed it Dù thì, tơi làm 70 I just want peace Tơi muốn bình n thơi 71 I didn't bring one for the whole team Tôi không mang cho đội đâu 72 We are getting the whole team, yeah? Chúng ta tập hợp đội chứ? 73 Where's Big Green? Anh bạn xanh to đùng đâu rồi? 74 The kitchen, I think Phòng bếp Tôi nghĩ 75 Rhodey, careful on re-entry Rhodey, cẩn thận đáp 76 Are you here about the cable? Anh đến sửa cáp à? 77 Let me know if he bothers you again, okay? Báo cịn trêu anh, chứ? 78 Don't I look all right? Trông à? 79 You shouldn't be here Em không nên tới 80 These are Pym Particles, all right? Chúng hạt Pym chứ? 81 Where are my headphones? Tai nghe chị đâu rồi? 82 I'm pretty sure he's dead Tôi chết 83 where to start? Bắt đầu từ đâu nhỉ? 84 He's pretty good at that Anh ta giỏi khoản 85 Let's start over, shall we? Ta bắt đầu lại nhé? 86 I'll be right back, okay? Tôi quay lại ngay, chứ? 87 Oh, that is today? Ồ Hôm à? 88 but she's gone Nhưng bà 89 Are you crying? Anh khóc à? 90 Get it together! Cùng làm nào! 91 You can this Anh làm mà! 92 All that is really helpful Mấy câu thực giúp ích 93 We're not the only ones in 2014 looking for the stones Chúng ta kẻ năm 2014 tìm viên đá đâu 94 Wait a minute What are you talking about right now? Đợi chút, nói vậy? 95 And yet, you always need it Thế mà lúc em cần 96 He's found an Infinity Stone Ơng tìm thấy viên đá vơ cực 97 One stone isn't six, Nebula Một viên đá sáu viên, Nebula 98 He won't like that Hắn ta khơng thích đâu 99 I'll have that drink now Thì ta phải uống ly rượu thơi 100 All right, get him on his feet Được rồi, đỡ ta dậy 101 Take the stairs Đi thang đi! 102 I've got eyes on the prize Mục tiêu tầm tay 103 But I need the case Nhưng cần vali 104 You promise me you won't die? Hứa với anh không chết đc chứ? 105 Window's closing Cánh cửa khép lại 106 I'm going to try something Okay? 107 Oh, that worked a treat Ồ, ta làm hỏng chuyện 108 Tell me you found that Cube 109 What are you doing? Tơi thử đó, chứ? Nói với tơi anh có khối lập phương Con làm đấy? 110 I always wear this Con mặc mà 111 The future hasn't been kind to you, has it? Tương lai đối xử khắc nghiệt với à? 112 113 114 115 This is about your future Đây tương lai mẹ What am I looking at? Little stroll down memory lane Where are we going? 116 They didn't open it, did they? 117 You got a big date tonight? Tơi nhìn đây? Nhớ lại chút ký ức anh Chúng ta đâu vậy? 118 Congratulations! 119 But she still isn't here, is she? 120 Maybe you wanna go talk to him, okay? 121 122 123 124 Họ chưa mở hộp chứ? Anh có buổi hẹn quan trọng tối à? Chúc mừng anh Nhưng cô không à? Có thể anh muốn nói chuyện với hắn, chứ? You're betraying us? Chị định phản bội à? You don't have to this There shall be no knifing one Get him back Cô không cần phải làm another Sẽ khơng có chém giết đâu Đưa anh Appendix [10]: Sentences cited from the film “click” were translated into equivalent Vietnamese sentences containing modal particles Which one of these turns on the TV? Cái để bật tivi vậy? The O'Doyles got a universal remote control Nhà O'Doyle có điều khiển đa Oh, no, that's not wrestling Không phải đấu vật đâu Hey, Michael? l'll see you tonight at the swim meet? Này, Michael? Em gặp anh tối thi bơi chứ? Your father's stereo blows? That's too bad Dàn loa bố cháu đồ bỏ à? Chán His father's stereo blows! Dàn loa bố đồ bỏ Make bar longer Làm quầy bar dài ls he really my dad? Ông thực bố cháu sao? How you doing? Bill Herlihy Anh rồi? Bill Herlihy 10 Big Ben, that was great progress out there Big Ben, tiến 11 He's gonna kill himself Nó tự giết thơi 12 Don't worry l'm not dying Đừng sợ Bố không chết đâu 13 l'm gonna live for 200 years ls that long enough for you and me? Bố thọ 200 tuổi Chừng đủ cho bố chứ? 14 How you that, Grandpa? Làm ông làm vậy? 15 Hey, Michael Michael, who are you talking to? Này, Michael, nói chuyện với vậy? 16 We gotta postpone the camping trip Chúng ta phải hoãn chuyến cắm trại 17 Do you think l don't know that? Em nghĩ anh sao? 18 l'm sick of this Anh chán 19 Will you be my friend? Anh làm bạn nhé? 20 l'm about to rock your world Tôi chuẩn bị làm sôi động giới anh 21 Why are you doing this, then? Tại ông làm thế? 22 Let's see what you got, mate Để xem thứ làm 23 Will you just hold it in for five minutes and keep the freaking volume down? Chịu thêm năm phút giảm âm lượng 24 Okay, sweetie Calm it down Được rồi, bé cưng Bình tĩnh lại 25 He can bark in over six different languages Nó sủa ngơn ngữ khác 26 ls this some sort of reality show? Đây chương trình thực tế à? 27 My life has a commentary? Có phim tài liệu đời tơi sao? 28 l'm not freaked out enough? Tôi kinh ngạc chưa đủ sao? 29 How can you get close to nature in a tin can like that? Có thể đến gần với thiên nhiên hộp sắt sao? 30 l'm gonna be alone on the Fourth of July? Tôi cô đơn ngày mồng tháng sao? 31 And l'm not going to Và khơng định làm 32 All right, let'sget dinner over with 34 lt couldn't have gotten any smaller 35 l am so tired of having this argument 36 l don't think anybody did Được rồi, kết thúc bữa tối Bố mẹ vui chơi với chứ? Nó chẳng thể nhỏ đâu Em chán tranh cãi Em nghĩ chẳng muốn đâu Ơng từ chỗ đến vậy? Cái cơ? Hôm thứ hai rồi? 37 Where'd you come from? 33 You had a fun time hanging out with me? 39 Just watch your toons and have a great day with Mommy today, okay? Xem hoạt hình chơi với mẹ ngày hôm nay, chứ? 40 Eating cupcakes like your old man Ăn bánh bố 41 You look a little pale there, pal Anh nhợt nhạt 42 You're all yellow from the scurvy Vàng bị bệnh scobat 43 Let me try to give you a real-life example because l'm sure l've done it Để nêu ví dụ thực tế tơi nghĩ tơi làm 44 l'm going to the bathroom to slit my wrists Tôi nhà vệ sinh cắt cổ tay 45 Who needs a stupid river in the lobby? Ai cần dịng sơng hành lang chứ? 46 How can you goons sleep when you know l got you presents? Làm ngủ biết bố có quà cho nhỉ? 47 Come and get them Đến lấy chúng 48 What's all this? Những thứ sao? 49 Don't think l forgot my beautiful wife Đừng nghĩ anh quên người vợ xinh đẹp 50 Maybe he's gotta grow up sometime and get the hell off Fantasy lsland Có thể cần phải lớn lên rời khỏi hịn đảo kì diệu 51 That's all we ever is get through it Những làm cố gắng vượt qua 52 l took it out of Kevin's hands Tơi lấy từ Kevin 53 You guys have been dating a couple months now? Hai người hẹn hò vài tháng à? 54 l can't shower because then l'll fast-forward Anh khơng thể tắm tự động tua nhanh 55 l wanna be with you every minute of my life, that's why l gotta leave now Anh muốn bên em giây phút đời anh, anh phải thơi 56 ls that my daughter? Đó gái sao? 57 Get your ass upstairs put normal clothes on Lên gác thay đồ bình thường 58 Ten years, you're not finished yet? 59 lt was just a dream? Mười năm, mày chưa làm xong sao? Chỉ giấc mơ sao? 60 You had a bad dream? Anh gặp ác mộng sao? 61 When exactly did l hurt my head? Chính xác anh bị chấn thương đầu vậy? 62 That's not bad for your third liposuction Thế không tệ sau ba lần hút mỡ đâu 63 One more tummy tuck should take care of it Một lần phẫu thuật thẩm mĩ xong 64 No, she knows that l'm just playing Không, bà biết đùa mà 65 Ben's wife seems like a nice kid, huh? Vợ Ben bé ngoan nhỉ? 66 One dance, you pop an artery? Nhảy tí mà anh bị nhồi máu tim sao? 67 Why'd you make me waste my entire life? Tại ơng khiến tơi lãng phí đời thế? 68 You both really need to get some sleep Cả hai người cần ngủ tí 69 Well, l mean, you're not ''young'' young Thực anh khơng trẻ đâu 70 l'm just teeing off Tôi bắt đầu sống 71 A magician never reveals his secrets Ảo thuật gia khơng tiết lộ bí mật đâu 72 Doggie years go by very quick so it's time to enjoy the real thing Tuổi đời chó trơi qua nhanh nên tận hưởng đồ thật 73 Think l like this holiday Em thích ngày lễ 74 Hey, who wants to have a pillow fight? Này, muốn đánh gối nào? ... concernings have inspired me to choose to conduct the research with the title "AN INVESTIGATION INTO MODALITY EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH FILM SUBTITLES AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EXPRESSIONS IN VIETNAMESE”... types of modality expressions used in English films and their corresponding expressions in Vietnamese subtitles Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of a sample of 788 utterances collected... a feeling of saying something routine, uninteresting or boring Halliday (1978) claimed that basically, the falling intonation means a certainty and the rising intonation means an uncertainty (italic