INTRODUCTION
RATIONALE
In a kingdom nestled among hills, a tribe of vengeful and ruthless elves resides in the mountain caves, harboring a deep-seated grudge against the king and his people Their sinister plans target the king's daughter, the beloved princess, but only a humble miner suspects the impending danger.
As a person who loves reading fairy tales, funny animations and magical literature That's why I chose the book: the princess and the goblins to present my graduation thesis.
In chapters 5 and 6 of the book, the princess and her nanny find safety after encountering a miner boy while lost in the dark This brief yet impactful meeting not only alleviates their fear but also leaves the princess feeling grateful and eager to reunite with the miner During this pivotal moment, she gains insight into the elves' plot, which ultimately aids her in her journey.
With my enthusiasm and passion, I aim to share the valuable messages and insights from this book I hope readers experience moments of relaxation and excitement as they engage with this translation.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
-To understand thoroughly theoretical translation and practice flexibly, creatively and exactly on specific English.
-To present my ability in translating and analyzing a document.
-To translate text smoothly and fast.
-To analyze complicated words, phrases, idioms, and contexts, etc.
-To help myself improve in translating.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
"The Princess and the Goblin" is a classic children's fantasy novel written by George MacDonald and first published in 1872 by Strahan & Co The book features enchanting black-and-white illustrations by Arthur Hughes and was initially serialized in the monthly magazine "Good Words for the Young," starting in November 1870.
"The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald is a timeless children's fantasy that follows Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, the miner's son When Princess Irene uncovers a hidden stairway in the castle leading to her great-great-grandmother's secret chamber, danger looms as Curdie learns of a Goblin plot to kidnap her and flood the mine Together, they must thwart the Goblins' sinister plans and ensure the safety of the Princess.
The text includes chapters 05 and 06 of the book “The Princess and Goblin” It has about 5000 words in length.
The novel “The Princess and Goblin” by George MacDonald was gotten from the link: https://www.pagebypagebooks.com/George_MacDonald/
The_Princess_and_the_Goblin/
METHOD OF THE STUDY
In order to meet the aims and objectives of this graduation paper, I have used a number of methods based on various sources:
First, Using reference books and internet materials can provide me with a great source of information and help me gain a deep understanding of the natural sciences.
Secondly, referring to the findings of research from researchers around the world helps me build the theoretical foundation and list the difficulties in the translation process.
Thirdly, the method of analyzing vocabulary and sentence structure difficulties based on theoretical background helps me find out suggestions to give readers the best translation version.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The novel “The Princess and The Goblin” has 32 chapters, however I chose to translate the chapter 5 and 6 of this book This chapters are titled
"The Princess Lets Well Alone" and " The Little Miner" are presented through the following main sections:
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION: rationale, aims and objectives, scope of the study, and method of the study.
Chapter 2: is theoretical background about translation.
Chapter 3: is original version of chapter 5 and 6, which is followed by my suggested translation.
Chapter 4: is contains the analysis of some vocabulary, grammatical structures, idiom and special phrases
Chapter 5: is consists of my difficult problems in translation
Chapter 6: are conclusions and some suggestions to the university and its teachers.
Translation is the process clearly presenting the relation between at least two languages: source language (SL) and target language (TL).
There are many different definitions of translation given by some well- known linguistic experts as follows:
According to Catford “Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL).”[1]
According to Tudor Ian “Translation is the process of conveying messages across linguistic and cultural barriers.” [2]
According to Peter Newmark “Translation is a process rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text” [3]
There are some types of categories of translation defined in terms of extent, levels, and ranks of translation.
The distinction relates to the extents of translation.
According to J.C Carford (1965), in a full translation the entire text is submitted to the translation process: that is, every part of the SL text is replaced by TL text materials.
In a partial translation, some part or parts of the SL text are left untranslated: they are simply transferred to and incorporated in the TL text. Examples:
Full translation: I will buy five books
Tôi sẽ mua năm cuốn sách
Partial translation: Hanbok is the Korean traditional costume
Hanbok là trang phục truyền thống của Hàn Quốc
In terms of levels, translation is divided into two types by J.C Catford: total translation and restricted translation
Total translation involves substituting the grammar and vocabulary of the source language (SL) with corresponding elements from the target language (TL), while also altering the phonological and graphical aspects of the SL to fit the TL, even if they are not directly equivalent.
Example: Blood is thicker than water
Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã
Restricted translation is replacement of SL textual by equivalent TL textual material, at only one level.
According to Nguyen Manh Quang, M.A In this translation, the main thing is SL phonology is replaced with equivalent TL one, but there are hardly other important replacements.
In phonological translation, sometimes grammatical or lexical changes may result accidentally.
In graphological translation, SL graphology is replaced with equivalent target one without other considerable replacements, also noted by Nguyen Manh Quang, M.A.
Transliteration involves substituting source language (SL) graphological units with their corresponding phonological units These SL phonological units are then translated into equivalent target language (TL) phonological units Finally, the TL phonological units are converted into the appropriate TL graphological units.
Example: Canada -> Ca-na-da
2.1.8 Free, Literal, and Word-for-word Translation
A "free" translation offers flexibility, while "word-for-word" translation adheres strictly to the original text "Literal" translation occupies a middle ground, beginning with a "word-for-word" approach but adapting to the target language's grammar by modifying structures and inserting additional words This method can result in translations that reflect group-to-group or clause-to-clause equivalence.
Free translation: This job is my bread and butter.
Công việc này là kế sinh nhai của tôi.
Word-for-word translation: The sun rises in the East and diving in the West
Mặt trời mọc ở hướng Đông và lặn ở hướng Tây
Literal translation: A miss is as good as a mile
Sai một ly đi một dặm
2.2 Methods and Principles of Translation
There are some basic principles of translation listed by M.A Nguyen Manh Quang
The translation should reflect accurately the meaning of the original text Nothing should be arbitrarily added or moved, though occasionally part of the meaning can be “transpose”
Example As you sow, so you shall reap
Gieo nhân nào gặt quả ấy
In translation, it is essential to maintain the original order of words and phrases as closely as possible, particularly regarding form and sequence When uncertain, underline the key words in the original text that carry the main stress In English, achieving emphasis can be accomplished through the inversion of word order and the use of varied structures.
Example: Only by studying hard you can pass the final exam
Chỉ bằng cách học tập chăm chỉ bạn mới có thể vượt qua kì thi cuối kì
Languages often differ greatly in their levels of formality in a given context To resolve these differences, the translator must distinguish between formal and fixed expression.
Example: Please do not go fast
Làm ơn đừng lái xe quá nhanh
A frequent issue in translation is the lack of natural flow, often due to the translator's thoughts and word choices being overly influenced by the original text To achieve a more authentic translation, it's beneficial for the translator to step away from the original material and verbally translate a few sentences from memory, allowing for a more natural expression of the content.
Example: We have had some problems with our computer systems recently.
Chúng tôi đã gặp sự cố với hệ thống máy tính của mình trong thời gian gần đây.
Idiomatic expressions like similes, metaphors, proverbs, and sayings cannot be translated directly To preserve their meaning, translators should consider keeping the original phrase in inverted commas, providing a literal explanation in brackets, using close equivalents, or opting for a non-idiomatic, plain prose translation.
Trăm nghe không bằng một thấy.
The original style should be maintained, but any sloppy writing or repetitive phrases may be refined for clarity For instance, instead of saying, "She cooked, and washed dishes, and washed clothes, and cleaned the house during all afternoon," it could be improved to convey the same meaning more fluidly.
Cô ấy nấu ăn, rửa chén, giặt áo quần, dọn dẹp nhà cửa suốt cả buổi chiều.
Situational context encompasses the various factors that influence the meaning of a text, which can be more challenging to identify than linguistic elements These factors include micro-level aspects such as facial expressions, gestures, and body language, as well as broader elements like social, political, economic, and cultural contexts Additionally, conventions and value systems vary significantly across different cultures and societies, impacting interpretation and understanding.
Hoàng Tử điện hạ/ Công chúa điện hạ!
All methods of translation below are defined by M.A Nguyen Manh Quang.
Interlinear translation is a method where the target language (TL) is placed directly below the source language (SL) words, maintaining the original word order In this approach, each word is translated individually using its most common meaning, often without considering the surrounding context For instance, the sentence "There is a blanket on the bed" illustrates this technique effectively.
Có một cái mền ở trên giường.
The SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivalents, but the lexical words are again translated singly out of context.
As a pre-translation process, this indicates the problem to be solved.
Example: Photoshop pleased to sponsor this program.
Photoshop xin hân hạnh tài trợ chương trình này.
A faithful translation aims to accurately convey the original context while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language It effectively transfers cultural terms and maintains the original text's grammatical and lexical nuances Ultimately, it strives to remain true to the intentions and expressions of the source language writer.
Example: "We can think of transmission risk with a simple phrase: time, space, people, place," explains Dr William Miller, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University.
Tiến sĩ William Miller, nhà dịch tễ học tại đại học bang Ohio, đã chỉ ra rằng nguy cơ lây truyền có thể được hiểu qua bốn yếu tố chính: thời gian, khoảng cách, con người và địa điểm.
This approach emphasizes the aesthetic value of the source language (SL) text, prioritizing the beauty and natural sound over strict adherence to meaning It seeks to avoid jarring elements such as assonance, wordplay, or repetition in the final translation Additionally, it may opt for culturally neutral terms instead of direct cultural equivalents for less significant cultural words, making minor adjustments to cater to the readership.
Example: Children are the future of the country
Trẻ em là mầm non của đất nước.
This translation style is the most flexible, primarily applied to plays and poetry It retains the original themes, characters, and plots while adapting the source language culture to that of the target language, resulting in a rewritten text that resonates with the new audience.
Example: One swallow doesn’t make a summer (The name of the radio theme)
Một cánh én không làm nên mùa xuân
This produces the “message” of the original again but tends to distort the nuances of meaning by preferring colloquialisms and idioms where these do not exist in the original.
Example: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
Đứng núi này trông núi nọ
This translation method aims to convey the original's contextual meaning while ensuring that both the content and language are easily understood by the audience It is commonly used in news broadcasts and newspapers, where communicative and semantic translations may align.
Example: Please remember to turn off the lights before you leave!
Xin hãy nhớ tắt đèn trước khi bạn rời đi!
The Princess Lets Well Alone
1 When she woke the next morning, the first thing she heard was the rain still falling Indeed, this day was so like the last that it would have been difficult to tell where was the use of It