Hue University

University of Foreign Languages

English Department

*---------------*

FINAL ASSIGNMENT
LANGUAGE AWARENESS

Instructor: Trương Bạch Lê

Student:

Student Code:

Class:

Hue – 12/2021
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction Page 1

Chapter I: English Vietnamese text Page 2

Analyzing Page 4

Chapter II: Vietnamese  English text Page 10

Analyzing Page 12

Chapter III: Conclusion Page 18

Reference Page 18
 INTRODUCTION

Although it is likely axiomatic to argue that translation is an expert language, it is a

difficult task since the various language communities make translation necessary for their
interaction. As a result, in order to produce an effective translation version, translators
must have a thorough understanding of the language. Through the security and analysis,
there emerges a golden opportunity to review some general and essential knowledge of
language. The goal of this research is to investigate and analyze how language elements
were transferred from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL). English and
Vietnamese are the two languages that will be used to conduct the meeting.

This assignment is divided into two main parts. In the first part, we will analyze
language elements of English – Vietnamese translation. In the second part, it will be the
analysis of Vietnamese – English translation.

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 I. English – Vietnamese Translation:

Source language Target language

ENGLISH VIETNAMESE
Dairy of a Wimpy Kids 1 (Jeff Kinney), page Nhật ký chú bé nhút nhát 1 (translated by Trần
212-219, published by ABRAMS Thị Thu Trinh)

English version Vietnamese version

(1) I was hoping Mrs. Norton would just cut me (1) Tôi đã hy vọng bà Norton sẽ cắt phần diễn
from the play, but today she said that everyone của tôi, nhưng hôm nay bà nói rằng tất cả những
who tried out is going to get a part. (2) So lucky người đã thử vai đều có một vai diễn. (2) May
me. mắn cho tôi.
(3) Mrs. Norton showed "The Wizard of Oz" (3) Bà Norton đã chiếu bộ phim "Phù thủy xứ
movie so everyone would know the story. (4) I Oz" để mọi người có thể biết câu chuyện. (4)
was trying to figure out what part I should play Tôi đã cố gắng nghĩ xem mình nên đóng ở cảnh
but pretty much every character has to sing or nào, nhưng có khá nhiều phân đoạn mà các
dance at one point or another. (5) But about nhân vật phải hát hoặc khiêu vũ. (5) Nhưng đến
halfway through the movie, I figured out what khoảng giữa phim thì tôi đã tìm ra được phần
part I wanted to sign up for. (6) I'm going to mà tôi muốn đăng ký. (6)Tôi sẽ đăng ký làm
sign up to be a tree because one, they don't have một cái Cây bởi vì một là, chúng không phải hát
to sing and two, they get to bean Dorothy with và hai, chúng còn có cơ hội để trừng phạt
apples. Dorothy với những trái táo nữa.
(7) Getting to peg Patty Farrell with apples in (7) Có thể ném táo vào Patty Farrell ngay trước
front of a live audience would be my dream mặt khán giả sẽ biến giấc mơ của tôi trở thành
come true. (8) I may actually have to thank sự thật. (8) Tôi thực sự sẽ phải cảm ơn mẹ vì đã
Mom for making me do this play once it's all bắt tôi tham gia vở kịch này ngay khi nó kết
over. thúc.
(9) After the movie ended, I signed up to be a (9) Tôi đăng ký nhận vai cái cây sau khi bộ
Tree. (10) Unfortunately, a bunch of other guys phim kết thúc. (10) Nhưng không may, một vài
had the same idea as me, so I guess there are a người khác cũng muốn nhận vai diễn này, vì
lot of guys who have a bone to pick with Patty vậy mà tôi đoán có thể vì Farrell đã gây thù
Farrell. chuốc oán với rất nhiều người.
(11) Well, like Mom always says, be careful (11) Vâng, như mẹ luôn nói, hãy cẩn thận những
what you wish for. (12) I got picked to be a tree gì bạn muốn. (12) Tôi đã được chọn làm cây

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but I don't know if that's such a good thing. (13) nhưng tôi không biết đó liệu đó có phải là một
The tree costumes don't actually have arm holes điều tốt hay không. (13) Trang phục cái cây
so I guess that rules out any apple-throwing. thực sự không có ống tay nên tôi đoán rằng
(14) I should probably feel lucky that I got a phần ném táo sẽ không thực hiện được. (14) Có
speaking part at all. (15) They had too many lẽ tôi nên cảm thấy may mắn khi tôi có phần hội
kids trying out and not enough roles so they had thoại. (15) Có quá nhiều bọn trẻ thử vai và vì
to start making up characters. không đủ vai nên chúng phải bắt đầu bịa ra các
(16) Rodney James tried out to be the Tin Man nhân vật.
but he got stuck with being the Shrub. (16) Rodney James đã thử vai Người Thiếc
(17) Remember how I said I was lucky to get a nhưng cậu ta lại phân vai làm Bụi Cây.
speaking part? (18) Well, today I found out I (17) Bạn có nhớ tôi từng nói rằng tôi đã may
only have one line in the whole play. (19) I say mắn như thế nào khi có một cảnh nói không?
it when Dorothy picks an apple off my branch. (18) Vâng, hôm nay tôi mới phát hiện ra là tôi
(20) I say "Ouch". (21) That means I have to go chỉ có một dòng trong toàn bộ vở kịch. (19) Tôi
to a two-hour practice every day just so I can nói khi Dorothy hái một quả táo từ nhánh của
say one stupid word. tôi. (20) Tôi nói "Ouch". (21) Điều đó đồng
nghĩa với việc tôi phải luyện tập kịch hai giờ
(22) I'm starting to think Rodney James got a mỗi ngày chỉ để nói một từ ngu ngốc.
better deal as the Shrub. (23) He found a way to (22) Tôi bắt đầu nghĩ Rodney James có một
sneak a video game into his costume and I'll bet thỏa thuận tốt hơn là Cây bụi. (23) Cậu ta đã
that really makes the time go by. tìm cách lén đem theo một trò chơi điện tử
trong trang phục của cậu ta và tôi cá rằng điều
(24) So now I'm trying to think of ways to get đó thực sự làm cho thời gian trôi nhanh hơn.
Mrs. Norton to kick me out of the play. (25) But (24) Vì vậy mà bây giờ tôi đang cố nghĩ cách để
when you only have one word to say, it's really khiến bà Norton đá tôi ra khỏi vở kịch. (25)
hard to mess up your lines. Nhưng khi bạn chỉ có một từ để nói thì việc gây
rối quả thực khó khăn.

Link source text:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14aOyfKq6j9FaxIws941q_xeM2nE8gMrP/view?usp=sharing

Link target text: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13IavDZM7Gh1jNj4hLe8HLuDMqxDpenlU/

view?usp=sharing

3
1. Text-linking means:

Generally, in the English version, the author almost always uses the word “but” as
another text-linking mean in sentences (1), (4), (5), (12), (16), and (25). Besides, the word
“unfortunately” in sentence (10) is used as the same target. Using all of them to connect
two sentences and show contrast ideas of the story. Literally, it was translated all into
“nhưng” in Vietnamese version in sentences (1), (4), (5), (12),(16), (25). And “không
may thay” in sentence (10).

Moreover, the word “so” is used for most of sentences in the English version text
because the author wants to create complex sentences and the word “so” is also used to
give a result or consequence from the ideas before, for instance, sentences (3), (10), (13),
(15), and (24). Most of them are translated literally into “ vì vậy” in sentence (10) or
“nên” in sentences (13) (15).

In another way, the word “so” is used to replace the word “to” to offer something.
For example, in sentences ( 3) and (21) it translated in to “để”.

In English version, The word “because” in sentence (6) and “for” in sentence (8) is
translated into “bởi vì” or “vì” in Vietnamese version to give the reason before some
situations.

The word “and” in sentence (6) is used to link two sentences in grammar and
add more details for the ideas before. And in the Vietnamese version text, it is translated
into “và”.

Moreover, in the sentences (11) and (18) in the English version, the word “Well” is
used to answer the questions before. In the Vietnamese version, the translator used the
word “Vâng” to give his ideas.

Also, In the extract, the author uses several relative pronouns such as that and who.
However, in the Vietnamese version of the text here, it is clear that all of the relative
pronouns are omitted, not really translated. For examples: In sentence (1) of SL version,
the word “who” and is omitted in TL version for the natural of the TL version

2. The article:

Two kinds of articles appear in the extract such as “a/an” and “the”. However,
there are no clear definitions of articles in Vietnamese.

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 In the first sentence (1), (6), (10), (17), and (22) the translator use the word “một” in
place of article “a”. And in sentence (19), “an” is also replaced by the word “một”.

In sentence (2) the article “the” is used to refer something that the speaker and the
listener have a share knowledge of “the Wizard of Oz”

In sentence (5), (9) the translator use “the” to talk about the movie “the Wizard of
Oz” that has already been mentioned.

In sentence (13), “the” refers to the tree mentioned in sentences (6), and (12).

The word “the” in sentence (16), (18), and (22) are used before the word identifies
them.

All most articles “the” are omitted in the target text. In sentences (12) and (14), the
article is not translated because in the context of the extract, in Vietnamese, it is unecessary
to translate and this work can create a natural translation in Vietnam. For example, in
sentence (14) ) “I should probably feel lucky that I got a speaking part at all.”, the
Vietnamese is “Có lẽ tôi nên cảm thấy may mắn khi tôi có phần hội thoại.”

3. Vocabulary:

The vocabulary in the book is not too difficult for people with poor English skills to
understand, and the words in the book are common daily words. Many people use the book
series as an English document without causing boredom like other academic documents.

The work is also a good choice for those starting out who want to approach foreign-
language works without too much difficulty, because the author often uses simple, every
day, easy-to-understand vocabulary. Every word on the page is arranged logically. If you
don't want to read the original, you can also buy cute translations to read.

Some words are not translated as their first meaning in the dictionary; others must
be put into a particular context to convey their exact meaning. For example, the word
“part” is translated into “vai diễn” in sentence (1) and “cảnh” in sentence (4). And
sentence (6) in English “they get to bean Dorothy with apples” is translated into “chúng
còn có cơ hội để trừng phạt Dorothy với những trái táo nữa.”

Moreover, the author also uses some slang that cannot be found in the dictionary
because they are not updated. Therefore, To understand the whole story, readers should

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search for them on the Internet. These words can help readers improve their vocabulary
skills. For example: figure out = to solve, mess up line = gây rối, egging me = encouraging
me, diaper rash = inflammation of the baby’s skin.

4. Sentence structure:

This text uses almost compound sentences and complex sentences, Which are so
long in the story. Therefore, in this element, analyzing each two equivalent sentences in
two language versions is necessary.

Excepting sentence (2), sentence from (1) to (6) are compound sentences and have
many clauses. They are translated literally keeping the structure in target text.

Sentence (2) “So lucky me” is a special simple sentence. The translator translated it
into Vietnamese “May mắn cho tôi”.

Sentence (7) is a simple sentence and it keeps the type when translated in Vietnamese.

Sentence (8) is complex sentence which begin with an independent clause, and is
translated into Vietnamese “Tôi thực sự sẽ phải cảm ơn mẹ vì đã bắt tôi tham gia vở kịch
này ngay khi nó kết thúc.” Sentence (9) is also complex sentence. And Sentence (11)
“Well, like Mom always says, be careful what you wish for. is another complex sentence.

Sentences from (10) to (16), and sentence (21), (23), (25) are compound sentences
and all kept the original type because none of them are too complicated. They are also
complicated sentences which have many clauses and are long one. And in the Vietnamese
version, the translator wants to make these sentences simpler.

Additionally, sentences (18), (19), (20), (22), and (24) are simple sentences. The
structure of these sentences is quite simple. They are all kept the original type and structure
because none of them are too complicated.

5. Tense:

In the source text, the signals of tense are clearly shown in TL text through
changing of verbs’ form. However, these signals in the Vietnamese version are, as its
special characteristic, not clear while the text is indicating the past events.

This is a Dairy of a Wimpy Kids, so the story is almost use Simple past tense all the
whole text.

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 For example:

In English version, in sentence (3): Mrs. Norton showed “The Wizard of Oz" movie
so everyone would know the story.” is translated into “Bà Norton đã chiếu bộ phim "Phù
thủy xứ Oz" để mọi người có thể biết câu chuyện.” in Vietnamese version.

When translating the text in Past Tense, the author uses the word “đã” to give the
reader a real vision and motion in the context of the story.

6. Style:

Literature is childish, but the meaning layer is not childish at all. Through
sentiments, small stories, the author sends many lessons that only need to be counted a
little, readers will receive.

Because this is a literature text, therefore, several times, the words are translated by
cultural adaption or non-literal translation although literal one is still the most common
way of translating.

The translation version has a style which combines: Word by word translation, The
intention of the author, Equivalence, Paraphrase.

7. Translation strategies:

7.1 10 micro strategies in Cragie & Pattison, 2018, pp. 66-70:

1. Direct transfer of an SL item into the TL (this involves preserving the

item in its original form, without any modification).
2. Calque (literal translation of the SL word or phrase in the TL).
3. Direct equivalence of an SL item in the TL (one-to-one SL/TL match).
4. Cultural equivalent (different words in the SL and TL for the same
concept/reference).
5. Synonymy (synonym or near-synonym).
6. Sense translation (untranslatable or non-viable SL item rendered by a
neutral TL form).
7. Expansion or paraphrase (explanation of the SL item in the TL).
8. Reduction (simplification and shortening of the SL item in the TL).
9. Grammatical / syntactic change (change of form or structure between
the SL and TL).

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 10. Compensation (the loss of meaning that occurs in translation is
compensated for elsewhere in the TT).

7.2 Some micro strategies were used in translating the elements above:

1. Direct transfer:

The Wizard of Oz = phù thủy xứ Oz

my dream come true = giấc mơ trở thành sự thật

be careful = hãy cẩn thận

one stupid word = một từ ngu ngốc

the time go by = thời gian trôi nhanh

2. Calque:

Literal translation of a word or phrase reflects the original (figurative) image

in the SL and has become a usable and recognizable form in its own right in the TL.

Mom = mẹ

Tin Man = Người thiếc

3. Direct equivalence:

Lucky = may mắn

The story = câu chuyện

Character = nhân vật

The movie = phim

4. Cultural equivalent:

Costumes = trang phục

Kids = bọn trẻ

6. Sense translation:

No equivalent (or near equivalent) for an SL/ST word or phrase, the translator
either uses a standard neutral form

figure out = nghĩ xem

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 bean = trừng phạt

Where a standard cultural transfer does not exist, a means must be devised of
transferring the information in the ST item to the TT as effectively, economically and
transparently as possible.

halfway through the movie = đến khoảng giữa phim

a bone to pick = gây thù chuốc oán

had the same idea as me = cũng muốn nhận vai diễn này

mess up your lines = gây rối

7. Expansion or paraphrase:

After the movie ended, I signed up to be a Tree. = Tôi đăng ký nhận

vai cái cây sau khi bộ phim kết thúc.

rules out any apple-throwing = phần ném táo sẽ không thực hiện được

8. Grammatical / syntactic change:

a two-hour practice = luyện tập kịch hai giờ (noun -> verb)

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 II. Vietnamese – English Translation:

Source language Target language

VIETNAMESE ENGLISH

Cho tôi xin một vé đi tuổi thơ (Nguyễn Nhật Ticket to childhood (translated by William
Ánh), page 4-5 , published by Tre publishing Naythons), page 5-6, published in the United States
house. in 2014 by The Overlook Press, Peter Mayer
Publishers, Inc.

Vietnamese version English version

(1) Một ngày, tôi chợt nhận thấy cuộc sống (1) One day, I suddenly realized that life was dull and
thật là buồn chán và tẻ nhạt . boring.
(2) Năm đó tôi tám tuổi. (2) The first time this happened, I was eight.
(3) Sau này, tôi cũng nhiều lần thấy cuộc sống (3) I had the same feeling at fifteen, when I failed my
đáng chán khi thi trượt ở tuổi mười lăm, thất high school entrance exam; at twenty-four, when I
tình ở tuổi hăm bốn, thất nghiệp ở tuổi ba got my heart broken; at thirty- three, when I lost my
mươi ba và gặt hái mọi thành công ở tuổi bốn job; and at forty, when I was fully employed and
mươi. happily married, but then it didn’t matter.
(4) Nhưng tám tuổi có cái buồn chán của tuổi (4) There are many shades of boredom, though, and
lên tám. (5) Đó là cái ngày không hiểu sao tôi eight was a dark year. (5) I felt that the future had
lại có ý nghĩ rằng cuộc sống không có gì để nothing in store for me.
mà chờ đợi nữa. (6) Many years later, I would discover that
(6) Rất nhiều năm về sau, tôi được biết các philosophers had, for millennia, been turning their
triết gia và các nhà thần học vẫn đang loay minds inside out like a pocket looking for the
hoay đi tìm ý nghĩa của cuộc sống và tới Tết meaning of life, to no avail.
Ma Rốc họ cũng chưa chắc đã tìm ra. (7) But when I was eight, I understood: there was
(7) Nhưng năm tôi tám tuổi, tôi đã thấy cuộc nothing new out there.
sống chả có gì mới mẻ để khám phá. (8) The same sun shone every day; the same curtain
(8) Vẫn ánh mặt trời đó chiếu rọi mỗi ngày. (9) of darkness dropped every night; the wind in the
Vẫn bức màn đen đó buông xuống mỗi đêm. eaves, and in the trees, moaned the same moans; the
(10) Trên mái nhà và trên các cành lá sau same birds sang their same songs; the crickets always
vườn, gió vẫn than thở giọng của gió. (11) chirped the same chirping; and it was true for the
Chim vẫn hót giọng của chim. (12) Dế ri ri chickens squawking the same squawks. (9) In short,
giọng dế, gà quang quác giọng gà. (13) Nói all of life was of a sameness: worn out and dull.
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tóm lại, cuộc sống thật là cũ kỹ.

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(14) Cuộc sống của tôi còn cũ kỹ hơn nữa. (10) Before going to bed every night, I knew for sure
(15) Mỗi đêm, trước khi đi ngủ, tôi đã biết what the next day would bring.
tỏng ngày mai những sự kiện gì sẽ diễn ra
trong cuộc đời tôi.
(16) Tôi kể ra nhé: Sáng, tôi phải cố hết sức để (11) Let me tell you: In the morning, I would try my
thức dậy trong khi tôi vẫn còn muốn ngủ tiếp. best not to get out of bed. (12) I would pretend to be
(17) Tất nhiên là trước đó tôi vẫn giả vờ ngủ fast asleep, ignoring my mother’s voice and lying
mê mặc cho mẹ tôi kêu khản cả giọng rồi lay there like a log while she shook my shoulders and
lay người tôi, nhưng dĩ nhiên tôi vẫn trơ ra tickled my feet. (13) Once she roused me, I had to go
như khúc gỗ cho đến khi mẹ tôi cù vào lòng brush my teeth and wash my face before being forced
bàn chân tôi. (18) Khi đặt chân xuống đất rồi, to sit at the breakfast table, listlessly chewing on
tôi phải đi đánh răng rửa mặt, tóm lại là làm vệ something disgusting.
sinh buổi sáng trước khi bị ấn vào bàn ăn để
uể oải nhai chóp chép một thứ gì đó thường là
không hợp khẩu vị.
(19) Mẹ tôi luôn luôn quan tâm đến sức khỏe (14) My mother’s major concern was to make me
và cụ thể hoá mối quan tâm của mình bằng (and the whole family, for that matter) eat balanced
cách bắt tôi (và cả nhà) ăn những món ăn có meals, whereas the only food I really liked—instant
nhiều chất dinh dưỡng trong khi tôi chỉ khoái noodles—she considered junk.
xực những món mà bà cho rằng chẳng bổ béo
gì, như mì gói chẳng hạn.
(20) Quan tâm đến sức khoẻ là điều tốt, và (15) It is good to care about your health, obviously,
càng lớn tuổi mối quan tâm đó càng tỏ ra đúng especially as you get older. (16) Who would deny it?
đắn. (17) Not me. (18) A journalist once asked me which
(21) Chẳng ai dám nói quan tâm như vậy là of humanity’s most common cares worried me the
điều không tốt . (22) Tôi cũng thế thôi. (23) most: health, love, or money. (19) Love, I said, was
Khi tôi trưởng thành, có nhà báo phỏng vấn first, and health was second, and money can’t buy
tôi, rằng giữa sức khoẻ, tình yêu và tiền bạc, either, or so they say.
ông quan tâm điều gì nhất? (24) Lúc đầu tôi
nói nhiều về tình yêu, về sau tôi nói nhiều hơn
về sức khoẻ.
(25) Tôi phớt lờ tiền bạc.
Link source text:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SuiPXnKpZ1Av1NH5BZY_XIp5BlOTIXKc/view

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Link target text:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2KV0E0pbJ34_KiUQftn0Cikclo03aqN/view?usp=sharing

13
1. Text-linking means:

In general, the author often uses the word “và” in the source text – Vietnamese
version to create complex sentences with many clauses, and connect these close together.
This word is also used to add more details for the ideas before. In the target text – English
version, the translator uses the word “and” to replace the word “và” with the same meaning
and make the translation more natural. For example, this can be clearly seen in sentences
(1), (3), (6) and (20).

On the other hand, The linking word “nhưng” is used to show contrastive ideas. And
it is translated into “But” in sentences (7). However, in some sentences in Vietnamese text,
when translated into English, the word “but” may be omitted to reduce sentences or readers
can understand without it. For example, sentence (4) “Nhưng tám tuổi có cái buồn chán của
tuổi lên tám.” is translated into “There are many shades of boredom, though, and eight was
a dark year.”

In the extract, there are many other linking-words used in source text that do not have
a suitable translation in the target text including “Sau này”, “Đó là”, “nhưng dĩ nhiên”.
These words can show nature in the telling way of the author. Although most of them are
omitted in target text, the reader also can understand. For instance,

2. The article:

Article is not so popular in Vietnamese text, and the ways two languages use articles
are so different. Sometimes, there are no articles in the Vietnamese version while in the
English version there are so many.

In other words, in the Vietnamese version, there are none. However, in the target
language version, all kinds of articles of English are used. It is not a translation version.
They are only true forms of English grammar.

3. Vocabulary:

Some words are not translated as their first meaning in the dictionary; others must be
put into a particular context to convey their exact meaning. And in target text, the
vocabulary is not too difficult for people with poor English skills to understand.

Every word in Nguyen Nhat Anh's work has brought me back to the flow of time,
back to the old times and immersed in it.

14
 The words will leave a lot of laughter mixed with tears as readers flip through each
page of the book. Because everyone has passed a carefree time with many dreams.

Laughter and tears both remain in the reader's mind in a harmonious way after
reading this work. Everyone has gone through an innocent time that did not know what
harm is to others, a carefree time with many innocent dreams.

4. Sentence structure:

There is a difference between the number of sentences in the Vietnamese version and
the English version. The source text has fewer sentences than the target text. For instance,
there are 25 sentences in source text, but this number decreased to 19 sentences in target
text.

In some paragraphs, two or more sentences are translated as one sentence in

target text.

Example:

Sentences (8), (9), (10), (11) and (12) are translated to sentence (8) in the English
version.

“(8) Vẫn ánh mặt trời đó chiếu rọi mỗi ngày. (9) Vẫn bức màn đen đó buông xuống
mỗi đêm. (10) Trên mái nhà và trên các cành lá sau vườn, gió vẫn than thở giọng của gió.
(11) Chim vẫn hót giọng của chim. (12) Dế ri ri giọng dế, gà quang quác giọng gà.” => “(8)
The same sun shone every day; the same curtain of darkness dropped every night; the wind
in the eaves, and in the trees, moaned the same moans; the same birds sang their same
songs; the crickets always chirped the same chirping; and it was true for the chickens
squawking the same squawks.”

Sentences (24) and (25) are translated to one sentence – sentence (19).

“(24) Lúc đầu tôi nói nhiều về tình yêu, về sau tôi nói nhiều hơn về sức khỏe. (25)
Tôi phớt lờ tiền bạc.” => “(19) Love, I said, was first, and health was second, and money
can’t buy either, or so they say.”

Some sentences are paraphrased when translated in English to make it more

clear and give the readers an easy understanding.

Examples:

15
 “(3) Sau này, tôi cũng nhiều lần thấy cuộc sống đáng chán khi thi trượt ở tuổi mười
lăm, thất tình ở tuổi hăm bốn, thất nghiệp ở tuổi ba mươi ba và gặt hái mọi thành công ở
tuổi bốn mươi.” => “(3) I had the same feeling at fifteen, when I failed my high school
entrance exam; at twenty-four, when I got my heart broken; at thirty- three, when I lost my
job; and at forty, when I was fully employed and happily married, but then it didn’t matter.”

“(4) Nhưng tám tuổi có cái buồn chán của tuổi lên tám.” => “(4) There are many
shades of boredom, though, and eight was a dark year.”

“(19) Mẹ tôi luôn luôn quan tâm đến sức khỏe và cụ thể hoá mối quan tâm của mình
bằng cách bắt tôi (và cả nhà) ăn những món ăn có nhiều chất dinh dưỡng trong khi tôi chỉ
khoái xực những món mà bà cho rằng chẳng bổ béo gì, như mì gói chẳng hạn.” => “(14) My
mother’s major concern was to make me (and the whole family, for that matter) eat balanced
meals, whereas the only food I really liked—instant noodles—she considered junk.”

In target text, the translator added more expressions when translated to give the
reader a clearer vision.

Example:

“(2) Năm đó tôi tám tuổi.” => “(2) The first time this happened, I was eight.”

Most of the sentences remained the original structure from Vietnamese to

English.

Examples:

(16) Tôi kể ra nhé: Sáng, tôi phải cố hết sức để thức dậy trong khi tôi vẫn còn muốn
ngủ tiếp. => “(11) Let me tell you: In the morning, I would try my best not to get out of
bed.”

(17) Tất nhiên là trước đó tôi vẫn giả vờ ngủ mê mặc cho mẹ tôi kêu khản cả giọng
rồi lay lay người tôi, nhưng dĩ nhiên tôi vẫn trơ ra như khúc gỗ cho đến khi mẹ tôi cù vào
lòng bàn chân tôi. => “(12) I would pretend to be fast asleep, ignoring my mother’s voice
and lying there like a log while she shook my shoulders and tickled my feet.”

(18) Khi đặt chân xuống đất rồi, tôi phải đi đánh răng rửa mặt, tóm lại là làm vệ sinh
buổi sáng trước khi bị ấn vào bàn ăn để uể oải nhai chóp chép một thứ gì đó thường là
không hợp khẩu vị. => “(13) Once she roused me, I had to go brush my teeth and wash my
face before being forced to sit at the breakfast table, listlessly chewing on something

16
disgusting.”

17
 However, the translator also changed the form of some other sentences between
source text and target text to make the translation more natural.

Examples:

“(21) Chẳng ai dám nói quan tâm như vậy là điều không tốt.” => “(16) Who would
deny it?”

“(22) Tôi cũng thế thôi.” => “(17) Not me.”

“(23) Khi tôi trưởng thành, có nhà báo phỏng vấn tôi, rằng giữa sức khỏe, tình yêu và
tiền bạc, ông quan tâm điều gì nhất?” => “(18) A journalist once asked me which of
humanity’s most common cares worried me the most: health, love, or money.”

5. Tense:

In the source text, these signals in the Vietnamese version are, as its special
characteristic, not clear while the text is indicating the past events. However, the signal of
tense is clearly shown in target text through the changing of verbs’ form.

This story is almost use Simple past tense all the whole text. For example: In
Vietnamese version, in sentence (1): “Một ngày, tôi chợt nhận thấy cuộc sống thật là buồn
chán và tẻ nhạt..” is translated into “Bà Norton đã chiếu bộ phim "One day, I suddenly
realized that life was dull and boring.” in English version.

However, in sentence (20), simple present tense is used because this sentence
explains the reality in our life. “Quan tâm đến sức khỏe là điều tốt, và càng lớn tuổi mối
quan tâm đó càng tỏ ra đúng đắn.” is translated “It is good to care about your health,
obviously, especially as you get older.”

6. Style:

The book is like a lovely memoir about the games. The thoughts are very naive in
childhood, not only the author's. And anyone who reads the book will at least once find the
old self in it. Interwoven with these very childish stories are contemplations about the
author's life.

Because this is a literature text, therefore, several times, the words are translated by
cultural adaption or non-literal translation although literal one is still the most common way
of translating.

18
 The translation version has a style which combines: The intention of the author, Word
by word translation.

7. Translation strategies:

7.1 10 micro strategies in Cragie & Pattison, 2018, pp. 66-70:

1. Direct transfer of an SL item into the TL (this involves preserving the

item in its original form, without any modification).
2. Calque (literal translation of the SL word or phrase in the TL).
3. Direct equivalence of an SL item in the TL (one-to-one SL/TL match).
4. Cultural equivalent (different words in the SL and TL for the same
concept/reference).
5. Synonymy (synonym or near-synonym).
6. Sense translation (untranslatable or non-viable SL item rendered by a
neutral TL form).
7. Expansion or paraphrase (explanation of the SL item in the TL).
8. Reduction (simplification and shortening of the SL item in the TL).
9. Grammatical / syntactic change (change of form or structure between
the SL and TL).
10. Compensation (the loss of meaning that occurs in translation is
compensated for elsewhere in the TT).

7.2 Some micro strategies were used in translating the elements above.

1. Direct transfer:

- cuộc sống thật là buồn chán và tẻ nhạt = life was dull and boring

- Ý nghĩa của cuộc sống = the meaning of life

- Chim vẫn hót giọng của chim = the same birds sang their same
songs

- Dế ri ri giọng dế = the crickets always chirped the same chirping

- gà quang quác giọng gà = chickens squawking the same

squawks

2. Direct equivalence:

19
 - tình yêu = love

- sức khỏe = heath

- tiền bạc = money

- bức màn đen = curtain of darkness

3. Cultural equivalent:

- Dế = the cricket

4. Synonymy:

- nhà thần học = philosopher

5. Sense translation:

- thất tình = heart broken

- thất nghiệp = lost job

- biết = discover (change of part of speech)

- phỏng vấn = ask

- buồn chán = shades of boredom

- cũ kỹ = worn out and dull

6. Expansion or paraphrase:

- Năm đó tôi tám tuổi. = The first time this happened, I was
eight.

- gặt hái mọi thành công = fully employed and happily married

- cuộc sống không có gì để mà chờ đợi nữa = the future had

nothing in store

7. Reduction:

- Mỗi đêm, trước khi đi ngủ, tôi đã biết tỏng ngày mai những sự
kiện gì sẽ diễn ra trong cuộc đời tôi. = Before going to bed every night, I knew for
sure what the next day would bring.

- Những món ăn có nhiều chất dinh dưỡng = balanced meals

20
 CONCLUSION:

To summarize, the most crucial aspect of translating a document from source

language to target language is to ensure that readers understand the true meaning of the
content. Because of the language disparities, the translated content would be altered in both
form and meaning in order to make the translation sound more natural and understandable to
target language readers. Furthermore, there are multiple ways to translate a text, depending
on the translator's expertise and abilities. The process of comparing and contrasting the
source language and target language texts aids translators in dealing with more practical
situations in which they must apply many translation approaches and determine which
method is best for translating a word, a phrase, a sentence, or a project.

REFERENCES:

1. https://drive.google.com/file/d/14aOyfKq6j9FaxIws941q_xeM2nE8gMrP/view?usp=shari
ng

2. https://drive.google.com/file/d/13IavDZM7Gh1jNj4hLe8HLuDMqxDpenlU/view?usp=sh
aring

3. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SuiPXnKpZ1Av1NH5BZY_XIp5BlOTIXKc/view

4. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2KV0E0pbJ34_KiUQftn0Cikclo03aqN/view?usp=shari
ng

5. http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

6. Trung tâm khoa học xã hội và nhân văn quốc gia – Viện ngôn ngữ học (1995),Từ điển Anh
– Việt, Nxb Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh