OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

GROUP 7
1. Doan Thi Hau 20183073
2. Nguyen Thu Trang 20183172
3. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung 20183142

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 Table of contents
1. Overview of operating instructions in translation
2. Translation strategies in operating instructions

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Overview of operating
instructions
Definition
Features
Example
Presenter: Doan Thi Hau 20183073

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1. Overview of operating instruction
1.1. Definition
• Technical document: refers to the documents that involve product-related information,
present the products in a way that is easy to read, use, understand, and actually help the
user.
• Operating instruction: is a manual usually accompanying a technical device and
explaining how to install or operate it.

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The overview of operating instruction
1.2. Features
• Use imperative sentence (remove, twist, open, place, press, select,…)
Use simple present tense
Use linking words related to time (first, then, when) or use the word “STEP” to move to the
next one
Provide detailed information about:
 How to use/ install?
 Where to install?
 When to install/use?
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The overview of operating instructions
1.3. Example
Source text
Do not place things such as vessels containing water or anything else on top of the unit.
Water may penetrate into the unit and degrade electrical insulations, resulting in an electric
shock.
Suggested translation
Không đặt những vật như bình chứa nước hoặc bất kỳ thứ gì lên trên thiết bị. Nước có thể
thấm vào thiết bị và giảm khả năng cách điện, dẫn đến điện giật.

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Translation strategies
Loan words
Imperative sentence
Presenter: Nguyen Thu Trang 20183172

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2. Strategies for translation
2.1. Loan words
• Purpose:
 Avoiding misunderstanding or confusion among users during their use of products.
- Being used in case of having no Vietnamese equivalents
• Example
English Vietnamese
Mileage LCD screen and reset Màn hình LCD số dặm và nút reset
button (cài đặt lại)
Under the daily mileage A display Dưới trạng thái hiển thị số dặm A
status, press the button more than 2 hằng ngày, ấn nút reset hơn 2 giây để
seconds to reset daily mileage A đặt lại dặm A hằng ngày.
Press the reset button less 2 seconds Ấn nút reset lại ít hơn 2 giây để đặt
to change from daily mileage to daily lại số dặm A hằng ngày sau số dặm B
B display status. hằng ngày.

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2. Strategies for translation
2.1. Loan words
Sometimes, loan words don’t require explanation
Example

English
Slide windscreen service (space
cabin): If the cabin needs
ventilations, open the lock shackle
of the window to let fresh air flow
into the cabin.
Vietnamese
Cửa chắn gió bên cạnh (cabin kéo
dài): Nếu cabin cần thông gió, mở
còng khóa của cửa sổ để không khí
trong lành thổi vào cabin.

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2. Strategies for translation
2.2. Imperative sentence
 Purpose
 Avoiding long interpretation which against style of a legal documents
 Giving well-organized structure for the instructions.
 Making the instructions concise and direct.

• Structure: Verb + object

• Example : Which is expected in an operating instruction?

1. Open the valve. [Mở khóa van]

2. You must open the valve.
3. It is crucial for you to open the valve.
4. Having opened the valve. 10
2. Strategies for translation
2.2. Imperative sentence

Note : some verbs are not specific enough to be used in instructions.

Source text : Hãy giữ mực nước trong Bể nước, T-109, không vượt quá 5 mét.
Target text :
1. Ensure that level in the Water Tank, T-109, does not go above 5 meters.
=> The word “ensure” is too abstract.
2. Fill the Waste Water Tank, T-109, to a level of 5 meters.
The instruction (2) gives a more specific explication of the instruction (1).

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 Translation strategies
Parallelism use
Strategies related to passive voice
Presenter: Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung 20183142

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2. Strategies for translation
2.3. Parallelism
Purposes
 Adding balance and rhythm to the sentence.
 Giving ideas of a smoother flow.
Example

Before cleansing, be sure to stop unit
operation, turn the breaker off or
remove the power cord.
Depending on the environment, an
earth leakage breaker must be
installed
Trước khi vệ sinh, đảm bảo dừng
hoạt động của thiết bị, tắt aptomat
hoặc rút dây nguồn.
Tùy theo môi trường, cần phải lắp
đặt cầu dao chống dòng rò.

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2. Strategies for translation
2.4. Strategies related to passive voice
Purpose: To emphasize the actions not the actors.
Passive into passive

Các tiếp điểm khác nhau được nối với các công tắc, như là tiếp điểm hành trình, tiếp điểm
dừng khẩn cấp và tiếp điểm ngắt nhiệt (đối với bảo vệ quá nhiệt)
Þ Various contacts are connected to the switches, such as limic contacts, emergency stop
contacts and thermal cut-out contacts (for thermal overload protection).

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2. Strategies for translation
2.4. Strategies related to passive voice
 Passive into active

Example: This sound is heard from the inside of the air-conditioner when the exhaust fan is activated
while the room doors are closed. Open the window or turn off the exhaust fan.
=> Bạn nghe thấy âm này từ bên trong điều hòa nhiệt độ khi bật quạt xả trong khi các cửa phòng đang
đóng. Mở cửa sổ hoặc tắt quạt xả.
 Passive into de-transitive

Once you have checked all the components and made sure the configutation is correct, tap the save button.
The system configuration will now be updated automatically.
=> Khi bạn đã kiểm tra tất cả các thiết bị và chắc chắn cấu hình đã chính xác, nhấn nút lưu. Cấu hình hệ
thống sẽ tự động cập nhật ngay lúc này.
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CONCLUSION

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References
 Mitsubitsi electric (2014), GX Works2 Version 1 Operating Manual (Common) retrieved from
https://dl.mitsubishielectric.com/dl/fa/document/manual/plc/sh080779eng/sh080779engam.pdf
 Operation manual, Daikin room air conditioner, retrieved from
https://www.daikin.com.au/sites/default/files/daikin-multi-split-system-Wall-Mounted-CTXF20-50TVM
A.pdf

 Operating Instruction, Ian Sutton, 2015, retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/operating-instruction
 Technical Documentation: What is it & How to Create it? (Steps Included), 2020, retrieved from
https://blog.bit.ai/technical-documentation/

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Thank you for listening!

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