STRATEGIES APPLIED IN THE TRANSLATION OF IDIOMS IN TWO ENGLISH VERSIONS OF “TRUYỆN KIỀU” BY HUỲNH SANH THÔNG AND MICHAEL COUNSELL

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION GRADUATION PAPER STRATEGIES APPLIED IN THE TRANSLATION OF IDIOMS IN TWO ENGLISH VERSIONS OF “TRUYỆN KIỀU” BY HUỲNH SANH THÔNG AND MICHAEL COUNSELL Supervisor: Tống Thị Mỹ Liên (M.A.) Student: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Diệp Course: QH.2017.F1.E22 Hanoi, 2021 ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ KHOA SƯ PHẠM TIẾNG ANH KHOÁ LUẬN TỐT NGHIỆP CHIẾN LƯỢC DỊCH THÀNH NGỮ TRUYỆN KIỀU TRONG HAI BẢN DỊCH TIẾNG ANH CỦA HUỲNH SANH THƠNG VÀ MICHAEL COUNSELL Giáo viên hướng dẫn: Tớng Thị Mỹ Liên (ThS) Sinh viên: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Diệp Khoá: QH.2017.F1.E22 Hà Nội – Năm 2021 Signature of Approval: _ Supervisor’s Comments & Suggestions _ _ _ _ _ ACCEPTANCE I hereby state that I: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Diệp, class QH2017.F1.E22, being a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (TEFL) accept 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 Signature iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This graduation paper could never be completed without the assistance and encouragement from my supervisor, my friends, my family and all the participants taking part in the study First and foremost, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Ms Tống Thị Mỹ Liên Thanks to her intellectual consultancy, spiritual encouragement and conscientious guidance, I was able to complete this graduation paper successfully Secondly, I am so grateful to two anonymous Vietnamese friends from Yale University (USA) who gave me the original copies of two English versions which I had not been able to find anywhere before Had it not been for their precious support, I could have never accomplished this research due to the lack of authentic materials I would like to thank all the participants who were willing to spend so much time completing my questionnaires Their assistance was the primary contribution the fulfillment of my research Last but not least, my heartfelt thanks would go to my parents who always supported me unconditionally and gave me the warmest encouragement during this tough time i ABSTRACT Translating Vietnamese idioms into English is always a challenging task to any translator, especially in a medieval literary work as Truyện Kiều Although many studies have been conducted to examine the artistic values of this work such as antitheses, hyperboles, and allusions, none has been done to investigate idioms in terms of translation strategies By analyzing two English versions by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell, the researcher aimed at exploring all the strategies employed to translate idioms in Truyện Kiều by two translators based on Baker’s taxonomy Moreover, the level of faithfulness, naturalness and aesthetics of each translation was also assessed Data were collected via two instruments: document analysis and questionnaire The final results indicated that translation by paraphrasing was used the most frequently by both translators Besides, literal translation was also identified as a supplementary strategy to Baker’s framework With regards to faithfulness, both translations satisfied this criterion; yet, Huỳnh’s translation was considered more faithful However, Counsell’s version was asserted to be more aesthetic and natural to English natives The differences stemmed from the purpose of each author Huỳnh tended to provide a detailed and accurate translation while Counsell was inclined to produce a rhymic, poetic and easily understandable version for readers ii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS i ABSTRACT ii LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Statement of the research problem and rationale for the study Objectives and research questions Significance of the study Methods of the study Organization of the study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Idiom 2.1.1 Definition of idiom 2.1.2 The differences between idioms and collocations 2.1.3 Classification 2.2 Translation 2.2.1 Definition of translation 2.2.2 Translation strategies 10 2.3 Translation quality assessment 12 2.4 Reviews of related studies 13 2.5 Chapter summary 14 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 16 3.1 Setting of the study 16 3.2 Subjects of the study 16 3.2.1 Truyện Kiều and its English versions 16 3.2.2 Participants 17 3.3 Data collection methods 18 3.3.1 Document analysis 18 3.3.2 Questionnaires 19 iii 3.4 Data collection procedures 20 3.5 Data analysis methods 21 3.5.1 Qualitative analytical method 21 3.5.2 Quantitative analytical method 21 3.6 Data analysis procedures 22 3.6.1 Data analysis procedures for the document analysis 22 3.6.2 Data analysis procedures for the questionnaire 22 3.6.3 Chapter summary 23 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 24 Research question 1: What strategies are adopted by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell to translate Vietnamese idioms into English in two English versions of “Truyện Kiều”? 24 4.1.1 The application of Baker’s strategies in the translation of symmetric idioms 24 4.1.2 The application of Baker’s strategies in the translation of similes 28 4.1.3 The application of Baker’s strategies in the translation of regular idioms 29 4.1 4.2 Research question 2: To what extent the translations reflect the level of faithfulness, naturalness and aesthetics as compared to the original Vietnamese version? 33 4.2.1 Faithfulness 33 4.2.2 Aesthetics 37 4.2.3 Naturalness 39 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 42 5.1 Summary of the findings 42 5.2 Limitations of the study 43 5.3 Recommendations for further studies 44 REFERENCES 45 APPENDICES 48 Appendix 1: Classification and meaning of idioms in “Truyện Kiều” 48 Appendix 2: Translation strategies in Huỳnh Sanh Thông’s translation 58 iv Appendix 3: Translation strategies in Michael Counsell’s translation 65 Appendix 4: Questionnaire I 74 Appendix 5: Questionnaire II 80 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Figure 1.1: Cù’s classification of Vietnamese idioms Figure 4.1: Percentage of frequency of Baker’s translation strategies 25 used in two English translations of symmetric idioms in “Truyện Kiều” Figure 4.2: The scores given by respondents for the translation of 34 each idiom by Huỳnh Sanh Thông Figure 4.3: The scores given by respondents for the translation of 35 each idiom by Michael Counsell Figure 4.4: Percentage of natural idiom translations in the English 39 versions by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 4.1: Strategies used to translate symmetric idioms in two 25 English translations of “Truyện Kiều” Table 4.2: Strategies used to translate regular idioms in two English 29 translations of “Truyện Kiều” Table 4.3: List of examined idioms in the Questionnaire vi 33 regret 489 Rằng: Hay thật hay 17 Nghe ngậm đắng nuốt cay “What talented!” he cried out Reduction “But yet I’m saddened as I muse” 497 Hoa hương càng tỏ thức hồng No equivalent translation was Đầu mày cuối mắt nồng found 18 Omission tấm yêu 19 509 Phải điều ăn xổi Was it for this that we were made Tiết trăm năm lỡ bỏ that I should have betrayed ngày my whole life for a single day? Omission 515 Trong chắp cánh liền cành No equivalent translation was Mà lòng rẻ rúng đã dành found 20 Omission bên 545 Gìn vàng giữ ngọc cho My precious, please take special hay care; Cho đành lòng kẻ chân mây then I will not worry, where cuối trời the world’s end merges in the blue 557 Người nách thước kẻ tay But suddenly, at least 21 Paraphrase đao a dozen ugly thugs all armed 22 Đầu trâu mặt ngựa ào ào sôi with clubs and daggers, swarmed 69 Paraphrase From all four sides, round and about 603 Để lời thệ hải minh sơn 23 Làm trước phải đền ơn sinh thành I’ll face this prospect grim Paraphrase I’ll set aside the solemn vows 609 Thấy nàng hiếu trọng tình thâm His heart was deeply moved Reduction 24 Vì nàng nghĩ thương by such devotion as Thuy Kieu’s thầm xót vay 615 Thương tình trẻ thơ 25 ngây Gặp vạ gió tai bay bất kỳ So young! So full of grace! Paraphrase That sorrow, like a sudden squall A person who is led 617 Đau lòng tử biệt sinh ly 26 away from those she loves is grieved Thân chẳng tiếc tiếc gì đến duyên Reduction as if she was bereaved Kim thought but little of her life 689 Trong tay đã sẵn đồng Now, it is but a small tiền affair to change white into black 27 Dầu lịng đổi trắng thay đen khó 725 Giữa đường đứt 28 gánh tương tư Keo duyên chắp mối tơ thừa Literal translation when money does not lack …and now the vows thereof are broken while they’re almost 70 Paraphrase mặc em new; please use the phonenix glue to join the severed threads for him And then, when I am laid to rest, and am no more 733 Chị dù thịt nát xương than dust, mòn my soul will share, I trust, 29 Ngậm cười chín śi cịn the honour of what you Paraphrase for me, thơm lây and it will happily rest in the Palace of the Springs 749 Bây giờ trâm gãy bình tan No translation was found 30 Omission Kể xiết muôn vàn ân 753 Phận phận bạc vôi 31 Đã đành nước chảy hoa trôi lỡ Why is my fate so cruel? My life’s a flower cast on the Paraphrase stream làng And oh, the broken hearts 781 Đau lòng kẻ người of her who went and those who stayed 32 Lệ rơi thấm đá tơ chia rũ tằm Literal translation there fell a great cascade of tears upon the paving-stones; 71 such pain in flesh and bones like silkworms emptied of their thread And oh, the broken hearts of her who went and those who stayed 781 Đau lòng kẻ ở người there fell a great cascade Paraphrase 33 Lệ rơi thấm đá tơ chia rũ tằm of tears upon the paving-stones; such pain in flesh and bones like silkworms emptied of their thread Using an idiom of 811 Tình cờ chẳng hẹn mà nên And what a pair! A set similar meaning 34 Mạt cưa mướp đắng đôi bên of rotten eggs both in one nest! phường but dissimilar form Their interests coalesced 813 Chung lưng mở hàng 35 Quanh năm buôn phấn bán hương đã lề in opening a sort of shop in which, without a stop, they sold made-up and perfumed maids 72 Paraphrase “She really is as smart” 825 Đã nên quốc sắc thiên hương 36 Một cười hẳn nghìn vàng chẳng ngoa he told himself, “as any queen A smile from her would mean Reduction a thousand golden taels, I’ll swear.” “[…] and now you want to change 37 959 Giờ thay bậc đổi my rank; Dám xin gửi lại lời cho so therefore I would thank minh you if you’d try now to explain.” 73 Paraphrase APPENDIX 4: QUESTIONNAIRE I QUESTIONNAIRE Dear Respondent, I am collecting the data for the study Strategies applied in the translation of idioms in two English versions of “Truyện Kiều” by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell This survey is used as the data to assess the Faithfulness and the Astheticism of two English versions compared to the original Vietnamese source text Participants’ information is ensured to be kept confidential, so it is optional for you to fill in the information box below Name: Age: Email: (Optional) 74 A – ASSESSING THE FAITHFULNESS Instruction: First, please read the attached file “List of idioms and their translations” carefully to understand the meanings of each idiom and its translation Then, use the 5-point scale below to answer the following questions by putting an (X) in each box Please read the translations carefully and assess them honestly Do not leave any item unanswered – Excellent – Very good – Good – Average 1– Bad Question 1: To what extent can the translations below deliver the accurate denotative meanings of source texts? 1.1 Huỳnh Sanh Thông’s translation No Source text bỉ sắc tư phong mười phân vẹn mười nghiêng nước nghiêng thành tài tử giai nhân trâm gãy bình rơi thỏ lặn ác tà phượng chạ loan chung English translation (Huynh’s) losses balance gains each perfect in her way kingdoms rocked Fine men and beauteous women the pin had snapped, the vase had crashed … For many moons shared in her embrace 75 trộm dấu thầm yêu hội thuyền 10 cửa đóng then cài 1.2 Source text bỉ sắc tư phong mười phân vẹn mười bolts were locked in place English translation (Counsell’s) “Rich in good looks” perfect grace revolt! trâm gãy bình rơi thỏ lặn ác tà 10 All doors were shut, all nghiêng thành the selfsame boat Stir cities or empires to tài tử giai nhân of the same League, we ride nghiêng nước of them, in vain Michael Counsell’s translation No had long sighed and dreamt phượng chạ loan chung trộm dấu thầm yêu hội thuyền cửa đóng then cài Fair ladies and noble, welldressed gentlemen the hook had broken and the vase crashed down since many moons ago woo passion never voice two of a kind closed, barred door 76 Question 2: Are there any verses not to be translated faithfully to the source text? What are they? Could you suggest some ways to improve this point? _ _ _ _ _ _ B – ASSESSING THE AESTHETICS Question 1: Read the source text and each translation carefully and choose the translation that is more rhythmic by putting an (X) in the box No English translation (Huynh’s) English translation (Counsell’s) “Rich in good looks” appears to mean poor luck and tears of It is so strange that losses balance woe, gains? which may sound strange, I Blue Heaven’s wont to strike a know, rose from spite but is not really so, I swear, seems Heaven everywhere seems jealous of the fair of face Who were as slim as two Bodies like slim plum branches, young poplar-tree, as pure as snow-pure souls: snow each her own self, each perfect in as fair as heaven, though her way quite different in their perfect grace One glance of Kieu’s could stir A glance or two from her, and 77 kingdoms rocked! cities or empires to revolt! Supreme in looks, she had few Her beauty had no fault peers in gifts nor in her mind was any flaw Fair ladies passed along, And noble, well-dressed Fine men and beauteous women on parade: gentlemen: a crush of clothes, a rush of wheels The crowds divided when and steeds Each vehicle and horse would pass A stranger came to town by boat, soon after she had died But when the lover’s boat sailed to seek her for his bride […] into port, he found the pin had snapped, the And not until he came to hook vase had crashed was he informed the hook had broken and the vase crashed down … For many moons, None heeds it now, since many who’s come to tend a grave that no moons ago one claims? Where are they now who shared in Those who stood around her her embrace? house, Where are they now who lusted for waiting to woo her, where are her charms? they? He loved her whom he’d never But, as if hills and streams had seen; barred the way, for an eternity he’d been he had long sighed and dreamt of consumed by passion never them, in vain voiced We both reap what we sowed in Now for the worst prepare; 78 our past lives: your fate already is defined; we are two of a kind of the same League, we ride the selfsame boat The closed, barred door for bad him pass All doors were shut, all bolts were 10 locked in place Dead flowers bestrewed the A threshold strewn with flowers – grass – where was she? Where could Kim find his true love, Kieu Question 2: In your opinion, which translator has the choice of words that sounds more expressive to you? Explain your choice by noting down some examples _ _ _ Question 3: Between two versions, which version is more cohesive? _ _ _ Question 3: Between two versions, which version sounds more aesthetic? _ _ _ Thank you for your participation! 79 APPENDIX 5: QUESTIONNAIRE II QUESTIONNAIRE Dear Respondent, I am collecting the data for the study Strategies applied in the translation of idioms in two English versions of “Truyện Kiều” by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell This survey is used as the data to assess the Naturalness of two English versions compared to the original Vietnamese source text Participants’ information is ensured to be kept confidential, so it is optional for you to fill in the information box below Name: _ Age: _ Email: _ (Optional) 80 Question 1: Read the source text and each translation carefully and choose the translation that sounds more natural to you by putting an (X) in the box No English translation (Huynh’s) English translation (Counsell’s) “Rich in good looks” appears to mean poor luck and tears of It is so strange that losses balance woe, gains? which may sound strange, I know, Blue Heaven’s wont to strike a but is not really so, I swear, rose from spite seems Heaven everywhere seems jealous of the fair of face Who were as slim as two Bodies like slim plum branches, young poplar-tree, as pure as snow-pure souls: snow each her own self, each perfect in as fair as heaven, though her way quite different in their perfect grace One glance of Kieu’s could stir A glance or two from her, and kingdoms rocked! cities or empires to revolt! Supreme in looks, she had few Her beauty had no fault peers in gifts nor in her mind was any flaw Fair ladies passed along, And noble, well-dressed Fine men and beauteous women on parade: gentlemen: a crush of clothes, a rush of wheels The crowds divided when and steeds Each vehicle and horse would pass But when the lover’s boat sailed A stranger came to town into port, by boat, soon after she had died he found the pin had snapped, the to seek her for his bride 81 […] vase had crashed And not until he came to hook was he informed the hook had broken and the vase crashed down … For many moons, None heeds it now, since many who’s come to tend a grave that no moons ago one claims? Where are they now who shared in Those who stood around her her embrace? house, Where are they now who lusted for waiting to woo her, where are her charms? they? He loved her whom he’d never But, as if hills and streams had seen; barred the way, for an eternity he’d been he had long sighed and dreamt of consumed by passion never them, in vain voiced We both reap what we sowed in Now for the worst prepare; our past lives: your fate already is defined; of the same League, we ride the we are two of a kind selfsame boat The closed, barred door for bad him pass All doors were shut, all bolts were 10 locked in place Dead flowers bestrewed the grass A threshold strewn with flowers – – where was she? Where could Kim find his true love, Kieu 82 Question 2: Why some verses sound unnatural/ inappropriate to you? Could you point out what makes the translation unnatural and give some suggestion to improve this point? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thank you for your participation! 83 ... What strategies are adopted by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell to translate Vietnamese idioms into English in two English versions of “Truyện Kiều”? 24 4.1.1 The application of Baker’s... Classification and meaning of idioms in “Truyện Kiều” 48 Appendix 2: Translation strategies in Huỳnh Sanh Thông? ??s translation 58 iv Appendix 3: Translation strategies in Michael Counsell? ??s translation. .. 1) What strategies are adopted by Huỳnh Sanh Thông and Michael Counsell to translate Vietnamese idioms into English in two English versions of “Truyện Kiều”? 2) To what extent the translations