THANGLONG UNIVERSITY

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

AN ASSESSMENT OF TRANSLATION OF
“THE OWL”
By

Supervisor: CHU HƯƠNG GIANG

Student’s name: LƯU THỊ TRANG
Student’s code: A35226

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................………………………………………………….......3

Chapter 1: Theoretical Framework....................................................................……………………………............3

1. About Translation………………..…………………………........................................................................................3

2 .Translation method……..................................................................................….………………………..…………..3

a) The intention of text……………………………………………..................................................................................3

b) The intention of translator……………............................................................................………………………….4

c) Stylistic scales......................................................................................…………………………………………….……4

d) Setting of the text….................................................................................…………………………………….….…..4

e) Quality of the Source Text……………………..............................................................................………….……..4

3 Translation method……………….............................................................................…………………………. ………4

a) Adaptation………......................................................................................……………………………….…………….4

4 Translation procedures……………...........................................................................………………………………….4

a) Literal translation……………………………................................................................................................…….5

b) Change of symbols………………………………........................................................................................………..5

c) Addition……………………………….......................................................................................…………………………5

d) Paraphrase………………………………………………….....................................................................................……5

CHAPTER 2: EVALUATE THE TRANSLATION OF THE STORY “THE OWL”....................................................5

1 The author’s attention…………………………………………............................................................................……..5

2 The translator’s attention…………………………….........................................................................………………..5

3 Text type……………………………………………………....................................................................................……….5

4 The readership………………………..................................................................................………………………………5

5 Stylistic scale .…………………………………………………..................................................................................…...6

6 Quality of the Source text………………………………...........................................................................……………6

7 Comparing the translation with the original.…………….................................................................……………6

a) Literal translation………………………………………...................................................................................………6

b) Abstract > Concrete………………………………..................................................................................…………...6

c) Positive > Negative…………………...................................................................................………………………….6

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 d) Change of symbols………………………….....................................................................................……………….7

e) Addition……………………………………………........................................................................................………….7

CONCLUSION…………………………………………….....................................................................................…….......8

References………………………………………………………...............................................................................……...9

Appendices…………......................................................................................................................……10,11,12

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 Introduction
Translating from one language to another is no easy task. A certain degree of meaning loss is a norm
due to differences between languages and cultures) The more disparities that exist between any two
languages, the greater the meaning loss in translations. In order that, translation enables effective
communication between people around the world. It is a courier for the transmission of knowledge, a
protector of cultural heritage, and essential to the development of a global economy. Highly skilled
translators are key. Translation studies helps practitioners develop those skills. The main objective of
this thesis is to present the strategies and methods of translation, the translation procedures as well as
the concrete examples and their potential translations of the story THE OWL. The first chapter is an
introduction where the content of each chapter is indicated and the sources are defined. The second
chapter – Text Analysis – relates to the evaluation of lyrical translation. The text analysis, the translation
method and the translation procedures used in this translation will be shown. The following chapter
concludes that everything has been summarized and resolved. References, abstracts and appendices can
be found in the final chapters.

Chapter 1: Theoretical Framework

1. About translation
Nowaday, international communication depends heavily on translation. Traditionally, translators were
concerned mainly with the literary and aesthetic aspects of the text in the target language(TL). Hence in
many types of text (legal, administrative, dialect, local, cultural) the temptation is to transfer as many
SL(Source Language) words to the TL (Target Language) as possible. The pity is, as, Mounin wrote, that
the translation cannot simply reproduce, or be, the original. And since this is so, the first business of the
translator is to translate.

2. Text analysis
Text analysis plays an important role in translation process, thus, it is always paid attention by both the
translator and the translation researcher. Analysis of a text is a procedure in which the translator must
read the text, find out the intention of the text, text styles, readership, as well as stylistic scales, attitude,
setting. besides, the translator has to take into account the quality of the writing, and before translating,
he/she has to read the text the last time

a) The intention of text

Understanding text styles is an important step in analyzing text. The intention of text represents the
source language (SL) writer’s attitude of the text or subject matter. It’s necessary to pay special attention
to the type of language and even the grammatical structure, the title may be remote from the content
as well as the intention.

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b) The intention of translator
In reading, the translator, searches for the intention of the text, he/she cannot isolate this from
understanding it. the intention of the text is shown through the selecting means like grammatical
structures, vocabulary of the writer, for example two texts on should be paid to the readers of TL. And
there is a tendency to translate "educated, middle-class readership in an informal, colloquial style."
There are three types of readership: an expert, an educated layman.

c) Stylistic scales
To understand and form as suitable text, the translator has to identify the stylistic scales of the text.

d) Setting of the text

Find out where the text will be published in TL, the TL equivalent of the SL periodical, newspaper,
textbook...Customers and their requirements also take into account the 'briefer title, lack of subtitles
and sub-headings, shorter paragraphs and other features of the TL house-style' The translator has to
make "a number of assumptions" about the readership, that is, who they are, their education.

e) Quality of the Source Text

Another important thing that the translator needs to pay attention to is the quality of the SL in order
to choose a translation method. Quality writing, depends on the author's writing skills, the author's
intention and the requirement of the subject matter. A text is considered to be well-written when the
correct words are used in the right places, it has a minimum of redundancy, it is logical, .... The authority
of the text is subject to the status of the author in his field. Of course, if the text is written by an expert,
the accuracy is better. If the text is written with "stereotyped phrased, not well written" at that time, the
translator will have to deal with the badly written text.

3. Translation method
For a good translator, which could be considered the utmost importance and the guideline in
translation job is translation methodology.

a) Adaptation
Adaptation depends on the particular market or style. “This is the 'freest' form of translation.” It is
mostly applied in plays where the poetry, comedy, themes, plot and characters are preserved, but the
text rewritten. Adaptation can also work when the SL and TL are the same.

4. Translation procedures
Translation procedures are methods used by translators when formulating equivalence for the
purpose of transferring meaning elements from SL to TL. Translation procedures are used for sentences
and smaller language units. More than one procedure may be used in one translation, and some
translations may result from a cluster of procedures that is difficult to identify

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a) Literal translation
Literal translation ranges from one word to one word, through group to group, collocation to
collocation, clause to clause, to sentence to sentence. The positive and negative connotation is often
conveyed in English it can be difficult to know which verb to use in the Vietnamese

b) Change of symbols
Most of the English words have many meanings; the exact meaning of one word can be expressed only
in context

c) Addition
In some cases, sentences in the SL sometimes is not enough clear when translated in to the SL.
Addition procedure will be used to solve this problem.

d) Paraphrase
This strategy can be used when translating an English word or concept that does not exist in
Vietnamese, or when the Vietnamese term for it does not include all the meanings conveyed by the
English term for the same concept.

CHAPTER 2: EVALUATE THE TRANSLATION OF THE STORY “THE OWL”

1. The author’s attention
When I read SL for the first time, I'll probably know that the author want to tell a funny story about
the owl. The funny story may attracts many childrens in the world.

2. The translator’s attention

Translator has used the communicative translation method to rewrite the text. The translator had
used common word to transmit the story to readers. Help the readers are easy to understand the story

3. Text type
In this text, all the text is written like telling an old story. All the words are used as telling a story of the
owl. The first sentence “ Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so crafty
and cunning as they are now-a-day, an extraordinary event took place in a little town” counting a
memory. Therefore, the text type is narrative

4. The readership
According to the text, words in the text that point to the object is the educated layman. When use
words that anyone can understand, especially children.

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5. Stylistic scale
Scale of emotional tone is used in this text is intense. The words such as “Strike home”, “ Let” are used
to make the text more intensive.

6. Quality of the Source text

Depending on the author's writing skill, we can see that the translator is a good writer when uses the
right words in right places.

7. Comparing the translation with the original

a) Literal translation
SL TL
The owl Con cú
In the morning when the man-servant went into Khi trời đã rạng hẳn, người đầy tớ nhà kho ấy vào
the barn to fetch some straw kho lấy rơm

We can see that almost the TL is translated literal to the SL. As we saw, the word “ the owl” means “
con cú’’. And “ In the morning when the man-servant went into the barn to fetch some straw” translate
to “Khi trời đã rạng hẳn, người đầy tớ nhà kho ấy vào kho lấy rơm” when translated into TL, it does not
change the word, but only changes the order.

b) Abstract > Concrete

SL TL
now-a-day ngày nay
Strike home! strike home! Đâm đi, đâm luôn đi thôi

The SL was translated concrete for instance “ now-a-day” means “ ngày nay”. “Strike home! strike
home!” means “Đâm đi, đâm luôn đi thôi”.

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c) Positive > Negative
SL TL
not one of you dares to encounter the animal chẳng ai có gan đấu trí với cáo cả

The positive and negative connotation is often conveyed in English it can be difficult to know which
verb to use in the Vietnamese. The TL was be “ chẳng ai có gan đấu trí với cáo cả” instead of “ không kẻ
nào dám đối đầu với thú dữ cả”. As a result, the translator uses a negative sentence to better match the
TL

d) Change of symbols
SL TL
I know you already Tao biết tính mày rồi
you have courage enough to chase a blackbird Mày chỉ có gan đuổi sẻ ngoài đồng
about the fields

In English, one word can have many meanings. First the word “ already” means “ chuẩn bị, sẵn sàng”
but in this sentence, the wolrd “ already” can be translated “biết tính”. Second, the world “ courage”was
translated to “ có gan” instead of “ dũng cảm”

e) Addition
SL TL
A great noise and clamour arose in all the streets Khắp phố xá huyên náo

Some sentences in SL are not enough to clear meaning to the reader when translating into the TL. The
translator has used addition procedure to clarify the meaning and cultural suitability of the reader in the
TL. “A great noise and clamour arose in all the streets” means “ Khắp phố xá huyên náo” make the
translation more compress and pleasing to readers.

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 Conclusion

In conclusion, the story THE OWL has been translated extremely excellent. As we saw, the translator
has been succesful inconveying the intention and the message of the author through the way he
arranges structures and the diverse vocabulary in the story. Thanks to this, all people in our country side
can easy understand the content and the meaning of the story. The essay is divided into three main
chapters. The introduction provide the important of translation, the first chapter showing to us the
theoretical background to the translation. The second chapter, we can find out which translation
method the translation using for provide the meaning of the story to readers. From evaluating the
translation in detail, i got so many time for reaserching and take for myself a huge knowlegde about
translation i haven’t got. Translation help you provide knowledge and improve your translating skills.

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 REFERRENCES

1. Georges Mounin, born Louis Leboucher, who also wrote under the pseudonym Jean Boucher
(June 20, 1910 – January 10, 1993)
2. Newmark, Peter (1989), A Textbook of Translation, Printice HallInternational, Herfordside

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 Appendices

The owl
Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so crafty and cunning as they are
now-a-day, an extraordinary event took place in a little town.

By some mischance one of the great owls, called horned owls, had come from the neighboring woods
into the barn of one of the townsfolk in the night-time, and when day broke did not dare to venture
forth again from her retreat, for fear of the other birds, which raised a terrible outcry whenever she
appeared.

In the morning when the man-servant went into the barn to fetch some straw, he was so mightily
alarmed at the sight of the owl sitting there in a corner, that he ran away and announced to his master
that a monster, the like of which he had never set eyes on in his life, and which could devour a man
without the slightest difficulty, was sitting in the barn, rolling its eyes about in its head.

– “I know you already,” said the master, “you have courage enough to chase a blackbird about the fields,
but when you see a dead hen lying, you have to get a stick before you go near it. I must go and see for
myself what kind of a monster it is,” added the master, and went quite boldly into the granary and
looked round him.

When, however, he saw the strange grim creature with his own eyes, he was no less terrified than the
servant had been. With two bounds he sprang out, ran to his neighbours, and begged them imploringly
to lend him assistance against an unknown and dangerous beast, or else the whole town might be in
danger if it were to break loose out of the barn, where it was shut up.

A great noise and clamour arose in all the streets, the townsmen came armed with spears, hay-forks,
scythes, and axes, as if they were going out against an enemy; finally, the senators appeared with the
burgomaster at their head. When they had drawn up in the market- place, they marched to the barn,
and surrounded it on all sides. Thereupon one of the most courageous of them stepped forth and
entered with his spear lowered, but came running out immediately afterwards with a shriek and as pale
as death, and could not utter a single word. Yet two others ventured in, but they fared no better.

At last one stepped forth; a great strong man who was famous for his warlike deeds, and said,

– “You will not drive away the monster by merely looking at him; we must be in earnest here, but I see
that you have all tuned into women, and not one of you dares to encounter the animal.”

He ordered them to give him some armour, had a sword and spear brought, and armed himself. All
praised his courage, though many feared for his life. The two barn-doors were opened, and they saw the
owl, which in the meantime had perched herself on the middle of a great cross-beam. He had a ladder
brought, and when he raised it, and made ready to climb up, they all cried out to him that he was to
bear himself bravely, and commended him to St. George, who slew the dragon.

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 When he had just got to the top, and the owl perceived that he had designs on her, and was also
bewildered by the crowd and the shouting, and knew not how to escape, she rolled her eyes, ruffled her
feathers, flapped her wings, snapped her beak, and cried, “Tuwhit, tuwhoo,” in a harsh voice. “Strike
home! strike home!” screamed the crowd outside to the valiant hero. “Any one who was standing
where I am standing,” answered he, “would not cry, strike home!” He certainly did plant his foot one
rung higher on the ladder, but then he began to tremble, and half-fainting, went back again.

And now there was no one left who dared to put himself in such danger. “The monster,” said they, “has
poisoned and mortally wounded the very strongest man among us, by snapping at him and just
breathing on him! Are we, too, to risk our lives?” They took counsel as to what they ought to do to
prevent the whole town being destroyed.

For a long time everything seemed to be of no use, but at length the burgomaster found an expedient.
“My opinion,” said he, “is that we ought, out of the common purse, to pay for this barn, and whatsoever
corn, straw, or hay it contains, and thus indemnify the owner, and then burn down the whole building,
and the terrible beast with it. Thus no one will have to endanger his life. This is no time for thinking of
expense, and niggardliness would be ill applied.”

All agreed with him. So they set fire to the barn at all four corners, and with it the owl was miserably
burnt.

Let any one who will not believe it, go thither and inquire for himself.

Con cú
Hồi đó cách đây khoảng mấy trăm năm, khi con người còn chưa tinh khôn, ranh mãnh như chúng ta
ngày nay, ở thị trấn kia đã xảy ra một chuyện lạ kỳ như sau:

Tình cờ có một con cú thuộc giống cú lớn bay đi ăn đêm từ một khu rừng gần đó rồi lạc vào kho lúa và
rơm của một gia đình kia. Đến sáng hôm sau, nó vẫn náu mình trong góc kho chẳng dám bay ra nữa vì sợ
các giống chim khác thấy nó tất sẽ khiếp đảm mà kêu la ầm lên.

Khi trời đã rạng hẳn, người đầy tớ nhà kho ấy vào kho lấy rơm, hắn sợ hãi co cẳng chạy lên báo chủ là
trong kho có một con quái vật suốt đời hắn chưa từng thấy bao giờ. Con quái vật đảo mắt lia lịa, chắc là
nó nuốt chửng người ta dễ như chơi. Chủ nhà nói:

– “Tao biết tính mày rồi! Mày chỉ có gan đuổi sẻ ngoài đồng, còn hễ thấy dù chỉ là một con gà mái đã
chết lăn ra đó. Trước tiên mà cũng cứ đi kiếm gậy cầm lăm lăm trong tay rồi mới dám đến gần. Để tao
thân chinh xuống xem con vật kỳ quái ấy hình thù thế nào?”

Chủ nhà đứng phắt ngay dậy, hùng hổ vẻ can đảm lắm, đi thẳng xuống kho, tìm ngó quanh quẩn.

Nhưng khi chính mắt bác nhìn thấy con vật lạ kỳ và gớm ghiếc kia thì hoảng sợ cũng chẳng kém gì người
đầy tớ. Chỉ vài bước nhảy, bác đã ra khỏi nhà kho, chạy sang khẩn khoản xin hàng xóm cứu giúp chống
lại con vật lạ kỳ nguy hiểm. Nếu không sẽ nguy cho cả thị trấn một khi con quái lọt được ra ngoài.

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 Khắp phố xá huyên náo, bàn tán về chuyện đó. Người người khắp mọi nơi đổ về, tay giáo, tay mác, tay
liềm, tay hái, tay rìu, cứ như đi đánh giặc. Mấy vị trong tòa thị chính do viên thị trưởng dẫn đầu cũng có
mặt. Đoàn người tụ tập ở bãi chợ để chỉnh đốn hàng ngũ, rồi nhất tề kéo đến vây kín kho. Tiếp đấy, một
người dũng cảm táo tợn nhất trong đám đông, tay lăm lăm ngọn giáo, xông vào. Nhưng mới thấy con
quái, hắn đã ù té chạy, mặt nhợt như da người chết, miệng lắp bắp không nói được lời nào. Thêm hai
người nữa liều mình xông đến, nhưng cũng chẳng hơn gì người kia.

Mãi sau, có một người cao lớn, lực lưỡng bước ra. Anh nổi tiếng xưa nay vì những chiến công trong
chiến trận. Anh nói:

– “Các người chỉ nhìn suông thì làm sao đuổi được quái vật! Trong chuyện này, phải nghiêm túc mới
được. Nhưng tôi thấy hình như các ông đã hóa thành loại đàn bà nhút nhát cả rồi thì phải, chẳng ai có
gan đấu trí với cáo cả”.

Anh đòi đem giáp, trụ, giáo, kiếm lại. Binh giáp đã sẵn sàng, mọi người đâm lo cho tính mạng anh,
nhưng ai cũng khen anh là dũng cảm. Hai cánh cổng kho được mở và người ta thấy con cú đã bay lên
đậu chính giữa một cái xà ngang rất lớn. Anh bảo đi lấy thang. Khi anh đặt thang xong, chuẩn bị trèo lên,
ở bốn phía mọi người reo hò, cổ vũ anh, cầu thánh Gioóc, vị thánh đã giết rồng khi xưa phù hộ độ trì cho
anh. Khi anh trèo sắp tới gần, con cú mới nhận ra là anh muốn trèo đến chỗ nó. Nó lại nhìn thấy đám
đông người ở ngoài hô hoán huyên náo cả một vùng nên càng bàng hoàng, không biết trốn đi đâu. Mắt
nó long lên, chớp liên tục, xù lông, giương cánh, cất giọng khàn khàn: “Cú… cú….” Đám đông hò hét
khích lệ người anh hùng dũng cảm: “Đâm đi, đâm luôn đi thôi!”

Anh thanh niên đáp: “Có giỏi cứ lên đây đứng, xem có còn dám hô “đâm đi” nữa không.” Thực ra anh
cứ bước lên thêm được một nấc thang nữa, nhưng rồi toàn thân run rẩy. Anh rút lui trong tình trạng gần
ngất xỉu.

Giờ không còn một ai dám dấn thân vào chỗ nguy hiểm ấy nữa. Mọi người bảo nhau: “Con quái vật mới
há mỏ, hà hơi thôi mà đã làm cho tráng sĩ cừ nhất của chúng ta trúng độc và bị thương rồi. Những loại
như chúng ta dù có liều thân cũng chẳng được tích sự gì.”

Họ đứng bàn tán, tìm xem có cách nào để cứu cả thị trấn khỏi đổ nát không. Tất cả mọi cách gần như
không có hy vọng gì. Mãi sau, viên thị trưởng mới nghĩ ra một kế. Ông nói: “ Tôi nghĩ thế này: Ta đốt cả
nhà kho cùng con quái vật kia. Rồi ta quyên góp tiền bồi thường cho chủ nhà cả kho lẫn rơm, lúa, cỏ,
cùng những vật dụng để trong đó. Như vậy thì chẳng một ai phải liều thân nữa. Trong chuyện này không
thể tính chi li được. Bủn xỉn chỉ mang hại cho chính mình.”

Tất cả mọi người đều nhất trí như vậy. Mọi người, mỗi người một tay, châm lửa bốn góc nhà kho. Chẳng
mấy chốc, nhà kho bị cháy rụi, con cú cũng bị chết thảm hại trong lò lửa.

Ai không tin chuyện kể, xin cứ đến đó mà hỏi.

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