INTRODUCTION
Rationale
As a student at Duy Tan University's Foreign Language Department, I have many opportunities to gain extensive knowledge of various types of translation, and
The growing demand for interpretation and translation services, particularly in the tourism sector, highlights the importance of skilled translators It is essential for translators to possess not only proficiency in translation but also a deep understanding of the context in which they are interpreting.
Reading has been a cherished activity for both adults and children throughout history, offering numerous benefits such as enhanced cognitive skills, stress relief, and improved critical thinking Additionally, it provides insights into the mind and strategies for personal change One notable book that exemplifies these advantages is "20 Minute Manager Managing Time" by Harvard Business Review Press.
This book emphasizes the importance of effective time management and identifies key factors that lead to work interruptions It provides proven methods for creating an efficient work schedule quickly By implementing the strategies outlined, you can save two additional hours of productive work each day, significantly enhancing your work quality and productivity without requiring extra effort or time.
I have a keen interest in evaluating my time usage and identifying unproductive periods throughout the day To enhance my understanding, I selected the title "20 Minute Manager Managing Time" for translation from English to Vietnamese, aiming to provide readers with accessible insights This article focuses on analyzing the suggested translations of chapters 4, 5, and 6 of the book, ensuring that essential concepts are easily comprehensible for the audience.
“20 Minute Manager Managing Time” by Harvard Business Review Press,2014” for my graduation paper.
With my extensive knowledge and skills, I aim to deliver a comprehensive translation that earns high praise By utilizing the suggested version, I can effectively communicate the book's content and the significant messages intended by the author, while also ensuring accurate translations and adeptly managing phrases and nuances.
Aims and Objective
The aim of this research is to evaluate the English translational version of the book
The article "20 Minute Manager Managing Time" explores three key perspectives—lexical, syntactic, and interpretive—to enhance translation and analysis skills It provides a thorough analysis that identifies optimal solutions for addressing challenges related to translation, terminology, and structural issues.
After completing my graduation paper, I acquired the following targets:
- Improving my translation skills, using suitable words and structures of any sentences
- Understanding marketing on the social web to translate it effectively
- Summing up the knowledge I learned in the past.
- Translating the text smoothly and naturally.
- Removing language barriers to help Vietnamese people understand clearly the book.
- Analyzing difficult and complex vocabularies, phrases, or structures which easily make misunderstand for readers.
Scope of the study
This study examines the translation and analysis of challenging vocabulary and structures found in chapters 4, 5, and 6 of "20 Minute Manager: Managing Time" by Harvard Business Review Press (2014), while also providing essential solutions to address these difficulties.
The book "20 Minute Manager Managing Time" offers a straightforward approach to overcoming time management challenges and effective task scheduling Written in the constructive psychology style, it emphasizes that time management efficiency is determined by the results achieved rather than the speed of task completion By prioritizing essential tasks, readers can enhance their productivity This insightful read is essential for anyone balancing work, family life, and relationships.
This article focuses on selected chapters 4, 5, and 6 from the book "20 Minute Manager Managing Time" by Harvard Business Review Press, published in 2014 Due to time constraints and the book's extensive length, only these specific chapters were chosen for review The translated content comprises 4,600 words spread over 13 pages.
The chapters 4, 5 and 6 is from 20 Minute Manager Managing Time written by Harvard Business Review Press and published in 2014 I got this book in Duy Tan university library
“20 Minute Manager Managing Time” has 6 chapters, and I chose chapters 4, 5 and 6 to translate They name: “Execute Your Plan: TimeBoxing”, “Keep Yourself on Track” and “Reassess Yourself”
Methods of the study
- Reading the whole text (scanning and skimming) to get the key points.
- Gaining knowledge by reading the chapters that were selected with caution.
- Translating the language and taking notes on complicated terminologies, phrases, and text structures
- Discussing with boss, coworkers, and mates, as well as use of the Internet to look up terminologies, phrases, and frameworks.
- Completing the text and recommending a new edition
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
TRANSLATION THEORY
Translation can be understood through various definitions provided by different scholars and sources To gain a clearer understanding of translation, it is essential to explore these diverse interpretations.
“Translation is the expression in another language (target language) of what has been expressed in one language (source language), preserving semantic and stylistic equivalencies.” [1]
“Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by equivalent textual material in another language (target language)”
“Translation is a process of conveying messages across linguistic and cultural barriers” [3]
In conclusion, translation is the process through which translators convey the meaning of texts from one language to another, ensuring both syntactic and semantic accuracy.
Translation involves interpreting the meaning of a source language and conveying it accurately in a target language, while maintaining both syntactic and semantic similarity.
Full translation: in the process of translation, every part of the entire text in theSource Language is submitted by the equivalent in the Target Language [2]
From the ratification of the First Amendment in 1791 until the mid-nineteenth century, American newspapers primarily served as platforms for partisan opinion, with printers aligned closely to political parties It wasn't until the 1820s and 1830s that newspapers began to employ reporters to actively gather news, shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach in journalism.
Từ khi Sửa đổi bổ sung Hiến Pháp đầu tiên được phê chuẩn vào năm 1791 cho đến thế kỷ XIX, báo chí Mỹ chủ yếu phục vụ cho việc truyền tải ý kiến đảng phái Các nhà in báo phụ thuộc vào sự ủng hộ và lòng trung thành của các đảng chính trị Phải đến những năm 1820 và 1830, họ mới bắt đầu tuyển dụng phóng viên để chủ động thu thập tin tức, thay vì chỉ chờ đợi thông tin đến với mình.
Partial translation: there are some parts of the SL that are not translated but only put into the TL [2]
“Ao dai” is a popular Vietnamese women's costume
The "Áo dài" is a traditional attire widely recognized among Vietnamese women This cultural term retains its original form in English translations, as there are no direct equivalents Therefore, it is essential to preserve the term "Áo dài" when translating into English to maintain its cultural significance.
Total translation is defined that all levels of the SL text are replaced by TL material However, actually, there is a misunderstanding here because of the term
“total translation” We can’t replace all the levels of the SL to the TL, though total replacement is involved [2]
Honesty is the best policy [10]
->Thật thà là thượng sách
Restricted translation involves substituting source language (SL) text with equivalent target language (TL) text at a single level, such as phonological, graphological, or one of the grammatical and lexical levels.
Time and tide wait for no man [11]
->Thời giờ thấm thoát thoi đưa
Gathered around a campfire, you experience its warmth, inhale the fragrant smoke, and listen to the crackling sounds However, getting too near can irritate your eyes and nostrils.
Ngồi bên lửa trại, bạn sẽ cảm nhận được sức nóng và mùi khói gỗ đặc trưng, cùng với âm thanh lách tách của ngọn lửa Tuy nhiên, nếu lại gần quá, bạn có thể bị bỏng rát mắt và cảm thấy cay xè trong lỗ mũi.
In the translation process, the translators also meet up with many problems that make them difficult to solve, for example phonological translation.
Phonological translation is a specialized form of translation where the phonology of the source language (SL) is substituted with the corresponding phonology of the target language (TL) In this process, the grammar and vocabulary of the SL text are typically preserved in the TL text, with only a few specific grammatical or lexical deviations occurring.
Phonological translation can inadvertently lead to changes in grammar or vocabulary For instance, when translating the English plural term "dogs" into a target language that lacks a morpheme for pluralization, it becomes challenging to ascertain whether it refers to "singular dog" or "plural dog."
Principles and Methods of Translation
In the transition from a source language to a target language, the adoption of translation methods and principles is very important to the translator
Besides the definition, principles play a role in determining the accuracy of your translation There are certain fundamental rules that must be followed in all translations.
In the book of “Translation” [6] the translation means the exact reflection of the original text meaning Thus, we should not arbitrarily add or remove anything.
A good translator should always follow this rules:
The meaning of original text must be clear, if not, we must find out the uncertain points.
Some words are “loaded”, that is, are they containing underlying implications? (“correct me if I’m wrong…” suggests “I know I’m right”)
Is the dictionary meaning of a particular word the most suitable one.
Anything in the translation sounds unnatural or forced.
Example: I was given a watch by my father on my birthday.
Tôi được tặng một chiếc đồng hồ bởi bố tôi vào dịp sinh nhật.
Nhân dịp sinh nhật, bố tôi tặng tôi một chiếc đồng hồ.
The translation should closely mirror the original in both word order and idea arrangement In English, emphasis and primary stress can be achieved by inverting word order and employing various structures, such as "No sooner than," "It is/was that (who)," and "only by."
In the book "Translation," it is emphasized that translators must pay close attention to the arrangement of words and ideas in their translations This careful consideration ensures that the final output is the closest and most appropriate equivalent in the target language (TL).
Example: Rich as he is, he never helps any poor people.
Mặc dù anh ta giàu nhưng anh ta không bao giờ giúp đỡ người nghèo.
Languages often differ greatly in their level of formality in a given context To resolve these differences, the translatior must distinguish between formal and fixed expressions.
- would any expression in the original sound too formal/informal, cold/warm, personal/impersonal if translated literally?
- what is the intention of the speaker or writer? (to persuade/dissuade, apologize/criticize?) Does its come through in the translation?
Different levels of formality in language can lead to significant variations in translation To achieve an accurate translation, translators must carefully consider how the writer or speaker establishes tone, distinguishing between formal or fixed expressions and personal expressions.
Example: I wonder if you could help me.
Tôi băn khoăn không biết bạn có thể giúp tôi không.
A frequent criticism of translation is that it often lacks a natural flow This issue arises from the original text heavily influencing the translator's language choices and thought processes To overcome this, try setting the original text aside and translating a few sentences aloud from memory, which can help diminish the source language's impact.
Idiomatic expressions are often difficult to translate directly, encompassing similes, metaphors, proverbs, sayings, jargon, slang, colloquialisms, and phrasal verbs When faced with such untranslatable phrases, one effective approach is to retain the original term by placing it in inverted commas.
“ Đổi Mới” “ Doi Moi” b Retain the original expression, with a literal explanation in bracket
Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn Good wood is better than good paint
Vụng lúa chê đất lệch A bad workman always blames his c Use a close equivalent
It’s better not to wash one’s dirty linen in public Tốt khoe xấu che d Use a non-idiomatic or plain prose translation
A bit long in the tooth Đã không còn là trẻ con nữa/ lớn rồi
What will be will be Chuyện gì đến sẽ đến
Note: The golden rule is if the idiom does not work in the target language do not force in into translation.
Idiomatic expressions like similes, metaphors, proverbs, and sayings are not meant to be taken literally Translators should strive to keep the original phrase in quotation marks, provide a literal description in parentheses, find similar expressions, or opt for a straightforward prose version to convey the intended meaning.
Example: Bad news has wings.
Example: Great minds thik alike
Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã
The style of the original should not be changed However, if the text is sloppily written, or full of tedious repetitions, the translator may correct the defects.
Example: Không tư duy, không suy nghĩ, không động não sẽ không tồn tại
Example: He ate, and drink, and talked, and asked during the meal.
⮚ Anh ấy vừa ăn uống luôn miệng nói, hỏi suốt bữa ăn.
There are several ways to convert from a source language to a target language in each sentence There are eight simple translation methods:
Interlinear translation involves placing the target language (TL) directly beneath the source language (SL) text, maintaining the original word order In this method, words are translated individually based on their most common meanings, often without considering context, while cultural terms are translated literally This approach is primarily utilized to grasp the mechanics of the source language or to prepare for translating complex texts.
Example: You should keep an eye to him
Bạn nên giữ một mắt đến anh ta
( Bạn nên để mắt đến anh ta).
Example: She plays piano very well.
Cô ấy chơi pi a nô rất tốt.
Example: There are four people in my family.
Có 4 người trong nhà của tôi
Example: He dances very well.
Anh ấy nhảy rất giỏi
In the pre-translation phase, SL grammatical constructions are transformed into their closest TL equivalents, while lexical words are translated individually and out of context This approach highlights the challenges that need to be addressed during the translation process.
Example: My heart is broken when she leaves me
Trái tim tôi vơ nát khi cô ấy rời xa tôi.
Example: A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
Example: He looked up at the Milky Way
Anh nhìn lên con đường màu sữa
A faithful translation strives to accurately convey the original's contextual meaning while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language It effectively transfers cultural terms and maintains a level of grammatical and lexical deviation from the norms of the source language.
Example: “Knowledge only progresses by making mistakes as fast as possible.” [13]
“Kiến thức chỉ tiến bộ bằng cách mắc lỗi càng nhanh càng tốt.”
Example: Rồng đến nhà tôm
Dragon comes to visit Shrimp’s house
Example: He is as fast as a kangaroo
Anh ấy nhanh như một con kangaru
This method must pay more attentionc attention aesthetic value (that is, the beautiful and natural sound) of the source language text, compromising on
In translation, it's important to avoid assonance, wordplay, or repetition that may disrupt the flow of the text Translators should aim for culturally neutral terms rather than direct equivalents to ensure clarity for the readership The difference between "faithful" and "semantic" translation lies in their approach; faithful translation adheres strictly to the original text, while semantic translation allows for flexibility and creative interpretation, enabling the translator to connect intuitively with the source material.
Example: Water in the Nhi Ha river has began to rise highly and roll as if it had swriled away the island in the middle of river.
Nước sông Nhị Hà bắt đầu lên to, cuồn cuộn chảy, tưởng như muốn lôi phăng cái cù lào ở giữa sông đi.
Example: “I never hear and read the name of Yamouth but I am reminded of a certain Saturday on the beach…” (extracted from David Cofferfied by Chales Dickens) [14]
“Tôi không bao giờ nghe hoặc đọc đến tên “Yamouth” (tên một thị trấn) mà tôi lại không nhớ đến một sáng thứ 7 nào đó trên bãi biển…”.
Example: Keep off the grass.
Example: Hoan Kiem Lake is a fascinating body of water right in the heart of
Hanoi, a tranquil oasis far removed from the hustle and business of the City.
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, một viên ngọc giữa lòng Hà Nội, là một hồ nước tuyệt đẹp và yên bình, tách biệt hoàn toàn với sự ồn ào và nhộn nhịp của thành phố.
The freest form of translation is primarily utilized for plays, particularly comedies, and poetry In this approach, the core themes, characters, and plots are maintained while adapting the source language culture to that of the target language The text is often rewritten by a skilled dramatist or poet to ensure cultural relevance and artistic integrity.
Example : He is of talent!
Anh ta tài thiệt đấy!
Example: “When Heaven and Earth changed places” [16]
“Khi trời đất đổi thay”
Bữa trước, riêng hai dưới nắng đào,
Nhìn tôi cô muốn hỏi "vì sao?"
Khi tôi đến kiếm trên môi đẹp
Một thoáng cười yêu thỏa khát khao
Vì sao giáp mặt buổi đầu tiên, Tôi đã đày thân giữa xứ phiền, Không thể vô tình qua trước cửa,Biết rằng gặp gỡ đã vô duyên?
The other day, we met in bright sunshine
Looking at me, you wanted to ask "Why?"
When I came there to see on your lips fine
A hint of smile that so much pleased my eye
Why was it that even on the first day,
I was so soon banished to great sadness
Hardly had I stepped in across the way
Than I knew right then that we'd be loveless.
(Translated by Thomas D Le 9 May 2004)
This approach replicates the substance of the material while disregarding its original style, resulting in a paraphrase that is typically longer than the source text Known as "intra-lingual translation," this method often comes across as verbose, affected, and appears to lack any translation quality.
Chỉ cần có tiền là xong!
Example: Good food, good life [20]
Cho bé yêu ngày càng lớn giỏi
Example: “Come Alive, You’re in the Pepsi Generation” [17]
Sảng khoái với Pepsi thế hệ mới
This produces the “message” of the meaning by preferring colloquialism and idioms where these do not exist in the original.
Example: Everyday is not Saturday
Sông có lúc, người có khúc
Example: Carry coals to Newcastle
Example: Empty barrels make the most noise
Example: As rich as Rockerfeller
Example : Man Proposes, God Disposes [18]
Mưu sự tại nhân, hành sự tại thiện.
Example: Her advice fell on deaf ears
Không ai nghe lời khuyên của cô ấy cả.
This method aims to convey the precise contextual meaning of the original text, ensuring that both the content and language are easily understandable for the audience It is commonly used in radio news and newspapers, where the goals of communicative and semantic translation often align.
Example: I would like to say “hello” to everyone here.
Tôi xin gửi lời chào tới tất cả mọi người đang có mặt tại đây.
Example: They laugh at me because I'm different I laugh at them because they're all the same [19]
Họ cười tao vì tao không giống họ, tao cười họ vì họ quá giống nhau.
Example : If you’re good at something, never do it for free [19]
Nếu mày giỏi việc gì thì đừng bao giờ làm nó miễn phí.
Example: Her face is all her fortune
Cô ấy chỉ được mỗi cái xinh
SUGGESTED TRANSLATION
Execute Your Plan: Time Boxing
Thực thi kế hoạch của bạn: khung thời gian cố định
After tracking your time and creating a comprehensive plan for better time management, the crucial next step is to implement that plan effectively To achieve this, you can utilize a technique known as time boxing, which helps you stay committed to your schedule and enhances productivity.
Sau khi theo dõi thời gian và xây dựng kế hoạch chi tiết để sử dụng nó hiệu quả hơn, bước tiếp theo là thực hiện kế hoạch một cách kiên trì Để đạt được điều này, bạn sẽ áp dụng một công cụ gọi là khung thời gian cố định.
Execution is by far the hardest part of the time management process.
Managing multiple tasks, goals, and deadlines can make it challenging to adhere to a well-structured plan However, by adopting a disciplined and organized approach to your daily schedule, you can effectively stay on track and achieve your objectives.
Thực hiện là giai đoạn khó khăn nhất trong quản lý thời gian, đặc biệt khi bạn phải đối mặt với nhiều nhiệm vụ, mục tiêu và thời hạn Dù kế hoạch có được xây dựng cẩn thận đến đâu, việc thực hiện vẫn không hề đơn giản Tuy nhiên, nếu bạn áp dụng một cách tiếp cận kỷ luật, chu đáo và tổ chức cho lịch trình hàng ngày, bạn hoàn toàn có thể duy trì tiến độ và đạt được mục tiêu của mình.
P Time-boxing basics Khái niệm cơ bản về khung thời
Time boxing is an effective planning technique that combines elements of a calendar and a to-do list By dividing your day into small time segments—such as 30 minutes, one hour, or two hours—you can allocate specific tasks to each period This method is akin to scheduling personal meetings, where you establish an agenda, designate a timeframe, and commit to being prepared and focused during each session.
Khung thời gian cố định là một công cụ lập kế hoạch hiệu quả, kết hợp giữa lịch và danh sách việc cần làm Phương pháp này giúp bạn chia nhỏ lịch trình thành các khoảng thời gian nhỏ, từ đó tăng cường khả năng quản lý thời gian và nâng cao hiệu suất làm việc.
Để quản lý thời gian hiệu quả, hãy chia nhỏ các nhiệm vụ thành từng đoạn thời gian cụ thể, chẳng hạn như nửa giờ, một giờ hoặc hai giờ Hãy coi việc này như việc lên lịch các cuộc họp với chính mình: xác định chương trình làm việc, đặt thời gian cụ thể và luôn chuẩn bị sẵn sàng để bắt tay vào công việc đúng giờ.
One of the benefits of time boxing
Effective time management not only encourages a realistic assessment of what tasks can be completed within a given timeframe but also facilitates the grouping of similar tasks This approach allows individuals to maximize efficiencies and streamline their workflow, ultimately enhancing productivity.
Một lợi ích quan trọng của việc thiết lập khung thời gian cố định là nó giúp bạn xác định rõ ràng công việc có thể hoàn thành trong thời gian nhất định Điều này không chỉ đảm bảo bạn có đủ thời gian để thực hiện các nhiệm vụ mà còn cho phép bạn nhóm các công việc tương tự lại với nhau, từ đó tối ưu hóa hiệu suất làm việc.
Think about a trip to the grocery store If you had a list of 25 items
(meat, milk, vegetables, cereal, cheese, yogurt, rice, coffee, etc.), you wouldn’t zigzag from aisle 1 to aisle 15, then aisle 2, aisle 9, aisle 5, and back to aisle 15 You’d separate
Khi bạn đi đến cửa hàng tạp hóa với danh sách 25 mặt hàng, hãy sắp xếp các mặt hàng theo mức độ gần nhau và di chuyển theo thứ tự từ đầu này sang đầu kia của cửa hàng Bằng cách này, bạn có thể dễ dàng chọn hai hoặc ba mặt hàng từ mỗi lối đi mà không phải chạy qua lại giữa các lối đi khác nhau.
When managing our work to-do lists, we often approach tasks haphazardly, much like a zigzagging shopper Instead of strategically planning our actions, we tend to tackle items based on their random order, overlooking the most logical and efficient sequence to enhance productivity.
Khi giải quyết danh sách việc cần làm, chúng ta thường hành động một cách ngẫu hứng, giống như một người mua sắm không có kế hoạch Thay vì thực hiện công việc một cách có hệ thống, chúng ta thường bắt tay vào những nhiệm vụ nằm ở đầu danh sách mà không cân nhắc đến thứ tự hợp lý và hiệu quả Việc lập kế hoạch trước sẽ giúp chúng ta tối ưu hóa quy trình làm việc và đạt được kết quả tốt hơn.
Many people overlook the significance and priority of each task, leading to a chaotic approach similar to a shopper who zigzags between activities This lack of focus results in inefficiency and scattered efforts.
Chúng ta thường bỏ qua việc đánh giá giá trị, tầm quan trọng và mức độ ưu tiên của từng nhiệm vụ Điều này dẫn đến việc giống như những người mua sắm, chúng ta chạy từ hoạt động này sang hoạt động khác một cách lộn xộn và không có mục tiêu rõ ràng.
Time boxing prevents that kind of randomness and instead brings the following:
Khung thời gian cố định ngăn chặn loại ngẫu nhiên đó và thay vào đó mang lại những điều sau:
To enhance accountability, it's crucial to schedule your tasks in advance, specifying both when and how long you'll work on them This approach significantly increases the likelihood of dedicating adequate time to your most important activities By committing your schedule to writing, you are more inclined to adhere to it and stay on track.
• Efficiency Grouping similar tasks together will allow you to get more done in less time because you won’t be shifting mental gears between tasks.