Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
COURSE TITLE :
TRANSLATION 1
REFERENCES 1. Duff, A (1998) Translation. OUP 2. Hervey, Sndor G. J.; Higgins, Ian. (1992) Thinking Translation : A Course in Translation Method, Taylor & Francis Routledge 3. Hornby , A.S (1993) Guide to Patterns and Usage in English OUP 4. Truong .Q. P (2001), Giao Khoa Cn Ban Mn Dich Anh Vi t, Vi t - Anh, NXB a i Ho c Qu c Gia Tp H Ch Minh
Page 2 of 51
WEEK 1
Introduction
TOPIC
Indentifying sentence patterns
2 3
Main part and subordinators: noun, noun clauses . Text for translation Indentifying sentence patterns Main part and subordinators: verbs, passive voice Text for translation Indentifying sentence patterns
Main part and subordinators: verbs, passive voice. Text for translation
4 5
Indentifying sentence patterns Main part and subordinators : adverbs, adverbial Text for translation Indentifying sentence patterns
Main part and subordinators: prepositional phrase. Text for translation
6 7
Indentifying sentence patterns Main part and subordinators: participle phrases. Text for translation Indentifying sentence patterns
Main part and subordinators: participle phrases. Text for translation
Main part and subordinators: adjective and attributives, absolute phrases Text for translation
Main part and subordinators: adjective and attributives, absolute phrases . Text for translation
10 11
Indentifying sentence patterns Main part and subordinators: to infinitive Text for translation
Page 3 of 51
12 13 14 15
Proximity & parallelism. Text for translation Special structures: comparative, unreal subjects...Text
for translation
Review
ASSESSMENT 30% ( A,B,C) A: Classroom discussion participation: x 1 B: individual preparation for homework & class discussion x 1.5 C: group preparation for class discussion x 2
Page 4 of 51
WEEK 1
I. Some definitions
1 Translation as a process Text : Any given stretch of speech or writing produced in a given language and assumed to make a coherent whole. A minimal text may consists of a single word for example, Look! A maximal text may run into volumes Source language (SL) The language in which the text requiring translation is couched Target language (TL) The language into which the original text is to be translated. Source text (ST) The text requiring translation. Target text (TT) The text which is a translation of the ST. the translation process = understanding a ST and formulating a TT. 2 Translation as a product As we have seen, translation can be viewed as a process. Now we shall view it as a product. Here, too, it is useful to examine two diametric opposites, in this case two opposed degrees of translation, showing extreme SL bias on the one hand and extreme TL bias on the other. Literal translation, where the literal meaning of words is taken as if from the dictionary (that is, out of context), but TL grammar is respected. At the extreme of TL bias is completely free translation, where there is only a global correspondence between the textual units of the ST and those of the TT. The following example contrasts a literal and a free translation of a stock conversation in Chinese between two people who have just been introduced: Literal TT Free TT A B A B A B Sir, are you well? Are you well? Sir comes from where? I come from England. How many persons in your family? Wife and five children. And you? A How do you do? B Pleased to meet you. A Do you come here often? B No, this is my first visit A Nice weather for the time of year. B Yes, its been quite warm lately. ( The extreme freedom seen in the second version is of the type found in communicative translation)
Page 5 of 51
Communicative translation is, however, formal for many culturally conventional formulae that do not allow literal translation. Public notices, proverbs and conversational clichs illustrate this particularly clearly, as in: Lost property. Half a loaf is better than no bread. Dont mention it.
Between the literal and free extremes, the Chinese conversation given above might be rendered at the three intermediary points as follows: Faithful TT A Are you well? A Where do you come from? B I come from England. A How big a family do you have? B A wife and five children. And yourself? Balanced TT (literal/communicative) A How do you do? A Where are you from? B England. A Have you any family? B Yes, a wife and five children. Have you? Idiomatic TT A How do you do? A Where are you from, then? B Im English. A Any family? B Wife and five kids. How about you?
Page 6 of 51
- is the dictionary meaning of a particular word the most suitable one? - does anything in the translation sound unnatural or forced? b. Form. The ordering of words and ideas in the translation should match the original as closely as possible. (This is particularly important in translating legal documents, guarantees, contracts, etc. ) But differences in language structure often require changes in the form and order of words. When in doubt, underline in the original text the words on which the main stress falls. A D you know who he is? Yes, I do. B D you know who he is? I do indeed !
c. Register. Languages often differ greatly in their level of formality in a given context (say, the business letter). To resolve these differences, the translator must distinguish between formal and fixed expressions (Please find enclosed ) and personal expressions, in which the writer or speaker sets the tone. Consider also: - would any expression in the original sound too formal/ informal, cold/ warm, personal / impersonal if translated literally? - what is the intention of the speaker or writer? (to persuade/ dissuade, apologize/ criticize?) Does this come through in the translation? d. Source language influence. One of the most frequent criticism of translation is that it doesnt sound natural. This is because the translators thoughts and choice of words are too strongly molded by the original text. A good way of shaking off the source language (SL) influence is to set the text aside and translate a few sentences aloud, from memory. This will suggest natural patterns of thought in the first language (L1) which may not come to mind when the eye is fixed on the SL text. e. Style and clarity. The translator should not change the style of the original. But if the text is informally written, or full of tedious repetitions, the translator may, for the readers sake, correct the defects f. Idioms. Idiomatic expressions are notoriously untranslatable. These include similes, metaphors, proverbs and sayings. (too many cooks spoil the broth), jargon, slang, and colloquialism (user- friendly, the Big Apple, yuppie, etc), and (in English) phrasal verbs. If the expressions cannot be directly translated, try any of the following: - retain the original word, in inverted comma: yuppie - retain the original expression, with a literal explanation in brackets: Indian summer (dry, hazy weather in late autumn)
Page 7 of 51
- use a close equivalent: Out of the frying pan into the fire - use a non- idiomatic or plain prose translation: Anh y quyt nh ln Si Gn tm t dng v : He decided to go to SG in search of an opportunity to develop his talents. i n cm bi: go out to the roadside food stalls for lunch The golden rule is : if the idiom does not work in the L1, do not force it into translation.
III. Practice: Study the noun patterns below. Then work in pairs/ groups and translate the examples of different noun patterns in italics into Vietnamese.
Page 8 of 51
Page 9 of 51
Page 10 of 51
Page 11 of 51
Page 12 of 51
Page 13 of 51
Page 14 of 51
Page 15 of 51
Page 16 of 51
Page 17 of 51
Page 17 of 51
Page 18 of 51
Week 2 Work in pairs/ groups, discuss and then translate the examples of verb patterns in the tables below into Vietnamese
Page 19 of 51
Page 20 of 51
Page 21 of 51
Page 22 of 51
Page 23 of 51
Page 24 of 51
Page 25 of 51
Page 26 of 51
Page 27 of 51
Page 28 of 51
Page 29 of 51
Page 30 of 51
Page 31 of 51
Page 32 of 51
Page 33 of 51
Page 34 of 51
Page 35 of 51
Page 36 of 51
Page 37 of 51
Page 38 of 51
Page 39 of 51
Page 40 of 51
Page 41 of 51
Page 42 of 51
Page 43 of 51
Page 44 of 51
Page 45 of 51
Page 46 of 51
Page 47 of 51
Page 48 of 51
Page 49 of 51
Page 50 of 51
Page 51 of 51