1. Translation equivalence and types of equivalence.
2. Classification of translation according to translation methods.
3. Exercise: Grammatical skewing and translation shift.
What is translation? (Any presentation is compelled to have)
Translation is a craft of replacing a written messages and/or statement in one language by the same message and/or statement in another language.
1. Translation equivalence and types of equivalence?
a. Translation equivalence
- Translation definition: ()
However, translation is not simply the replacement of a ST (source text) by TT (target text) but a communicative act across time, person, and language. The whole work of translation is considered as the whole process of finding equivalence in TL.
A key concept in translation is equivalence and this helps establish our approach to translation. Equivalence centers around the processes interacting between the original source text and translated text.
- Equivalence: Is a state of being equal in value, amount, meaning and importance.
Translation equivalence (TE): The ideal relationship that a reader would expect to exist between the SL and the TL.
>>To characterize the TE, translators should be able to express all features of the total test situation.
b. Types of equivalence
- (1) Referential equivalence (cùng một chủ thể) is established when the words in the source language (SL) refer to the same objects in the world as the words in the target language (TL).
E.g.: This dog is hers and that is mine. Con chó này của chị ấy còn con chó này của tôi. (NOT: Con chó này của chị ấy còn con vật này của tôi).
- (2) Connotative equivalence (có liên quan theo nghĩa rộng) is established when the words in both languages and texts trigger the same associations and connotations.
E.g.: Study manners first and then study read and write. Tiên học lễ hậu học văn. (Văn is associated to reading and writing).
- (3) Pragmatic equivalence (mang tính võ đoán) refers to words in both languages having the same effect on the readers in both languages.
E.g.: Twinkle twinkle in the sky. Lung linh lung linh những vì sao lung linh. (All the stars can twinkle).
- (4) Contextual equivalence (theo ngữ cảnh) is established when words in both languages are used in the same or similar contexts.
E.g.: Your Majesty! Tâu bệ hạ!
- (5) Formal equivalence (theo nguyên tắc) refers to words in both languages having similar phonological (thuộc ngôn ngữ học) or orthographic (phép chính tả) features.
E.g.: He drives carefully. Anh ấy lái xe cẩn thận. (NOT: Anh ấy là một lái xe cẩn thận).
- (6) Textual equivalence (theo nguyên bản) refers to aspects of cohesion and coherence which are similar in both texts and languages.
E.g.: Ladies and gentlemen! Kính thưa các quý bà các quý ông. (NOT: Kính thưa các quý vị đại biểu).
2. Classification of translation according to translation methods.
(1) Literal translation
This type of translation is form-based. It follows the syntactic structures of the SL and preserves the semantic equivalence between SL and TL textual segments (phần, mảng). There is a little consideration for the translation situation of language context.
E.g.:
English: I love you.
Literal translation into Vietnamese: Tôi yêu em!
Appropriate translation: Anh yêu em, mẹ yêu con, etc.
(2) Word-for-word translation
This type of translation is at the extreme of literal translation and also known as interlinear translation since it follows strictly the word order of the SL. In a typical interlinear translation, each word in the SL will be replaced by the exact replica (bản sao y như thật) in the TL.
E.g.:
Vietnamese: Tên anh là gì?
Literal translation into English: Name you is that?
Appropriate translation: What is your name?
(3) Faithful translation
Also called modified literal translation. This type of translation transfers the grammatical structures and cultural words of the SL into the TL. It attempts to be completely faithful to the intention and the text-realization of the SL writer. Changes are made only to avoid complete nonsense in the TL.
E.g.:
English: Mary has done well.
Vietnamese: Mary đã làm việc tốt.
(4) Semantic translation
This type of translation is at the far end of literal translation. It starts to take into account the aesthetic (thẩm mỹ) value, readership and neutrality of meaning thought it is yet to use the cultural equivalents. It is more flexible than faithful translation and allows for the translators creativity.
E.g.:
English: Keep off the grass.
Vietnamese: Tránh xa cỏ.
Appropriate translation: Không dẫm lên cỏ.
>>Translation of scientific texts, translation for the purpose of teaching translation.
(5) Free translation
This type of translation is meaning-based. There is only the global correspondence (sự tương ứng) between the textual units of the ST and those of the TT. Free translation may allow a total creativity of the translator. The contexts of language, translation situation, translation purpose and translation ship are among essential considerations for this kind of translation.
E.g.:
Vietnamese: Chào. Đang làm gì đấy?
English: Hi. How are you?
(6) Unduly free translation (adaptation)
Unduly free translation: addition of unnecessary information, change of meaning, distortion (sự xuyên tạc) of historical and cultural settings of the SL>> effects rather than meaning. This kind of translation is not normally accepted as normal translation.
E.g.:
The translation of movies, tittles, songs, etc
(7) Communicative translation
Rendering the exact contextual meaning of the original in such away that both context and language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readership.
Using standard expression for an equivalent target culture situation.
E.g.:
An example of free translation from: Hungry for more of Vietnam
I took out the window of the car taking me into Hanoi, sell lush, green rice, paddies, water buffalo, the women in their peaked hats bent at a hip, standing in calf-deep water.
Tôi nhìn qua cửa sổ chiếc xe hơi chở tôi vào Hà Nội, thấy những cánh đồng lúa xanh rờn, mấy con trâu, những phụ nữ đội nón lá đang gập người làm ruộng, chân đầm dưới nước.
(8) Idiomatic translation
This translation is always culturally-bound. The translation does not sound a translation at all but an originally written/spoken piece of SL.
E.g.:
Vietnamese: Nghèo kiết xác.
English: As poor as a church mouse.