INTRODUCTION
RATIONALE
As globalization and technological advancements continue to rise, the demand for international understanding grows significantly However, language barriers often prevent effective communication between native speakers Translation plays a crucial role in bridging this communication gap across various sectors, including education, science, technology, literature, tourism, and business Essentially, translation involves transferring the content of a text from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL), facilitating better comprehension and interaction.
As the demand for translation services continues to rise, automated translation tools have become essential for effective communication Among these, Google Translate stands out as the most widely used machine translation application, offering rapid translations of vast amounts of text at minimal cost while ensuring user security Launched by Google in April 2006, Google Translate has revolutionized the way people access and understand information across different languages.
Google Translate is an advanced tool that enables global communication by translating various forms of text and media, including words, phrases, and webpages With support for over 100 languages at different proficiency levels, it facilitates seamless interaction across diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Despite the widespread use of Google Translate (GT), concerns about the quality of its output persist, particularly when translating idiomatic expressions Linguistic and cultural differences can hinder the naturalness and fluency of translations, as the meanings of idioms often cannot be deduced from the individual words Amir (2012) highlighted the challenges in both understanding and translating idioms, emphasizing the need for greater focus on improving the quality of GT outputs in this area.
Recent research has increasingly focused on the quality of Google Translate (GT) For instance, Jimmy Cromico (2015) assessed the translation quality of English-Indonesian using GT, concluding that it struggles to employ appropriate techniques for producing high-quality translations of sentences from scientific articles Additionally, Aiken and Balan (2013) analyzed GT's accuracy and found that translations between Western languages tend to be more accurate than those involving Asian languages Furthermore, a study by Shao et al (2018) evaluated various aspects of machine translation, contributing to the ongoing discourse on GT's effectiveness.
Performance on Chinese Idioms with a Blacklist Method, the results proved that GT generates relatively poor quality in Chinese idioms translations and literal translation error is a common error type
While many studies have assessed the quality of Google Translate (GT), most have focused on overall text quality between languages with similar linguistic features Few have specifically examined GT's performance with idiomatic expressions in English and Vietnamese Idioms are integral to figurative language and are commonly used in everyday conversations, educational materials, and media Despite advancements in translation theory and technology, idiomatic expressions continue to present significant challenges for both human translators and machine translation systems.
This study aims to gather data to fill existing research gaps regarding idiomatic expressions My interest in this topic grew from frequent encounters with idioms in academic readings and mass media The ability of idioms to convey emotions and contextual meanings effectively has motivated me to delve deeper into this area of exploration.
This study aims to evaluate the quality of idiom translation by Google Translate (GT), focusing specifically on errors made in translating English idioms that include time-related words By identifying these errors, the research seeks to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of GT in handling idiomatic expressions.
GT is then explored This is the reason why I decided to do the research on:
“The quality of Google Translate’s Vietnamese translations of English idioms with words denoting time.”
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study aims to examine the quality of Google Translate‟s Vietnamese translations of English idioms with words that denote time
To achieve this aim, the researcher collected and analyzed data to fulfill the following objectives:
- Identify the errors committed by Google Translate when it translates English idioms with words denoting time into Vietnamese,
- Classify the errors according to translation error types, and
- Examine the frequencies of the errors in terms of translation error types.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Based on the background of the research, the researcher attempted to answer to the following questions:
1 What errors can be found in Google Translate‟s Vietnamese translations of the English idioms with words that denote time?
2 What kinds of errors can be found in Google Translate‟s Vietnamese translations of these English idioms?
3 What is the frequency of each of the translation error types found in Google Translate‟s Vietnamese translations of these English idioms?
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study examines the errors in translating idiomatic expressions using Google Translate A total of 128 English sentences featuring time-related idioms were sourced from the reputable "Oxford Dictionary of Idioms" (Siefring, 2004) and four online dictionaries: theidioms.com, thefreedictionary.com, cambridge.org, and oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com.
This study focuses exclusively on English idioms that include time-related expressions, along with their Vietnamese translations generated by Google Translate Idioms that do not pertain to time-related meanings are not included in this research.
For this study, reliable data was sourced from reputable references known for their extensive collection of idioms The focus was on idioms related to time, as the concept of time is significant in Western culture, making these expressions particularly prevalent and relevant for analysis.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study's findings will significantly enhance our understanding of the quality of Google Translate's translations of English-Vietnamese idiomatic expressions Additionally, this research will serve as a valuable reference for identifying errors made by Google Translate, paving the way for future studies in this area.
The study's findings hold significant implications for teachers, students, and professionals in the translation field It enables educators to identify and address translation errors in idiom translations produced by Google Translate (GT), allowing for more selective use of GT Additionally, teachers can effectively train students in both idiom translation and the strategic use of GT For students, the research provides valuable insights into the nuances of idioms and the differences between human and machine translations.
Understanding idioms enhances linguistic flexibility, benefiting both academic performance and everyday conversations with non-native speakers Additionally, this knowledge serves as a valuable resource for linguists and computer scientists aiming to improve the quality of idiomatic translations in Google Translate by developing parallel corpora for bilingual English-Vietnamese expressions for future statistical machine translation advancements.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The six chapters in this dissertation are organized as follows:
Chapter 1: Introduction - presents the rationale for the study, aim, and objectives of the study, the research questions, and the scope of the study
Chapter 2: Literature review – focuses on introducing important concepts of translation, Machine Translation, Google Translate, Translation Errors theory, and idioms relevant to the topic of the study; presents the theoretical framework for later data analysis and reviews the previous studies related to the topic of this thesis
Chapter 3: Methodology - presents the chosen research method and research procedures for carrying out the study
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion – examines, identifies, describes and analyzes the types of errors; reports and discusses the results of data analysis
Chapter 5: Conclusions and Implications – summarizes the main findings of the study and provides some implications for English translations, English learning and teaching This chapter also includes the limitations and suggestions for further researches.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Translation
This section covers the theory about translation consisting of the definition of translation, translation process, types of translation, machine translation, Google Translate, translation errors, and translation quality assessment
Translation is interpreted in various ways by theorists, with Catford (1965) defining it as the substitution of text from a source language with equivalent text in a target language This definition highlights linguistic equivalence, focusing primarily on the surface structure of language, while overlooking factors such as intended meaning, the target audience, and the stylistic elements of the translated work.
Nida (1974) defines translation as the process of reproducing the closest natural equivalent of a source language message in the target language, prioritizing meaning and style This perspective is echoed by Bell (1991), who emphasizes that translation involves expressing the content of one language in another while maintaining semantic and stylistic equivalence Consequently, translation prioritizes the receptor's response, making the preservation of meaning the central principle in the transition from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL).
Newmark (1988) highlighted the importance of meaning in translation over mere linguistic equivalences, asserting that translation involves conveying the intended message of a text into another language.
Bell (1991) presents a comprehensive view of translation as the expression of ideas from a source language into a target language while maintaining semantic and stylistic equivalences This perspective is reinforced by House (1977), who describes translation as the substitution of a source text with a semantically and pragmatically equivalent text in the target language Consequently, the translation process is fundamentally centered on both semantic and pragmatic elements.
Receptors interpret messages similarly to their intended meaning when translation adheres to three key principles: reproducing, transferring, and maintaining the original message Given the complexity of translation, evaluating the quality of target translations can be challenging To achieve a more accurate translation, translators must possess extensive knowledge across various dimensions, including society, culture, and linguistics.
According to Arnold et al (1994), a human translator requires five kinds of knowledge:
- Knowledge of the source language
- Knowledge of the target language
- Knowledge of various correspondences between the source language and target language
- Knowledge of the subject matter, including general knowledge and
Translators must possess a deep understanding of the culture, social conventions, customs, and expectations of both the source and target language speakers Mastery of semantics and pragmatics is essential for translators to accurately convey the original message, ensuring that the translation resonates with the intended audience while preserving its meaning.
This section reviews some definitions of translation viewed from different aspects of linguistics as well as required knowledge for a translator The next part describes the procedures in translation work
Translation is a communication process that transfers messages from the source language (SL) to the receptor language (RL) According to Larson (1984), translation is fundamentally a meaning-based process that involves utilizing both grammatical structures and lexical choices of the receptor language.
Larson outlines the translation process in three key steps: first, it involves an examination of the lexicon, grammar, communication context, and cultural nuances of the source language Second, the translator analyzes the source text to grasp its meaning fully Finally, the translator reconstructs this meaning using appropriate lexicon and grammatical structures suited to the target language and its cultural context This structured approach to translation is visually represented in Figure 2.1.
Discover the meaning Re-express the meaning
Translation Text to be translated
The translation process is complex and cannot be fully captured in a simple overview Larson (1984, pp 519-526) outlines that translation procedures are categorized into various methods, highlighting the intricacies involved in accurately conveying meaning across languages.
1 Preparation: the translator should have trained in linguistics knowledge and translation principle before undertaking the project Then, preparation steps including reading the entire texts, studying the background material, studying linguistic matters are followed to get familiar with the text
2 Analysis: the translator should have to take note of any lexical item as the keywords and pay attention to the opening and closing of the text to identify the theme of the original language
3 Transfer: it is a process of analyzing the semantic structure of the initial draft in the translation In this process, the translator attempts to find out the lexical equivalence and culture in the receptor language
4 Initial Draft: the translator had left the draft for a certain time to get more reading background for the best equivalent and then back for reworking on them
5 Reworking the Initial Draft: translator checks for accuracy and naturalness with the focus on the meaning of language After the translators get a second draft and translator might work out again and again to modify the draft until they finish a final draft
6 Testing the Translation: this step involves testing the translation by translators themselves or with the help of other members who are trained as expert consultants
7 Polishing the Translation: From the results of, translators should have to check again and polish the translation in order to ensure the accuracy, naturalness, and acceptability in the receptor language
8 Preparing the Manuscript for the Publisher: this is the last step of the translation process After the final draft is completed, the manuscript is ready to be prepared for the publisher
There are different ways to determine the types of translation Larson (1984) grouped translation into two main types namely literal translation and idiomatic translation
Idioms
This section provides an overview of idioms, defining them broadly and focusing specifically on idioms related to time It includes a classification of different types of idioms and discusses the translation of idioms, highlighting their significance in language comprehension and communication.
Idioms are considered as parts of the figurative languages Idiomatic expressions can be widely found in newspapers, books, magazines, on the radio, on the television, and in daily conversation
According to Stern and Summers (1998) in the Longman Idioms Dictionary, idioms are defined as sequences of words that collectively possess a meaning distinct from the individual meanings of each word Seidl and McMordie (1988) echo this definition, stating that an idiom consists of multiple words that, when combined, convey a meaning that differs from the meanings of the individual words.
Crystal defines idioms as sequences of words that are semantically and syntactically restricted, functioning as a single unit in grammar and lexicology He emphasizes that the meanings of the individual words in an idiom cannot simply be added together to convey the overall meaning.
„idiomatic‟ expression as a whole From a syntactic viewpoint, the words often do not permit the usual variability they display in other context (Crystal, 1980, p.179 as cited in Awwad, 1990, p.57)
According to English Idioms in Use, Idioms refer to a fixed expression which
“has a meaning that is not obvious from the individual words” (McCarthy & Dell, 2017, p.6)
The idiom "call it a day" illustrates that meanings of phrases cannot always be deduced from individual words, as it signifies "to stop what you are doing" rather than relating to time or day.
Nguyễn Thiện Giáp (1996) defines idioms in Vietnamese as fixed phrases that possess both completeness and figurativeness in meaning, often reflecting attitudes such as appreciation, respect, disdain, or disgust Similarly, Hoàng Văn Hành (2004, p.25) emphasizes that idioms are stable expressions with consistent forms and structures, characterized by their complete and figurative meanings, and are commonly used in everyday communication.
Both English and Vietnamese idioms are characterized by their grammatical and lexical fixedness, and their meanings are entirely different from the meanings of their individual components.
Idioms are deeply rooted in the social life, cultural identity, and history of a nation, showcasing unique lexical features These fixed expressions rely on specific contexts for their meaning and cannot be understood solely by analyzing their individual components Instead, the interpretation of idioms requires an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts that shape them.
The classification of idioms varies among linguists, influenced by factors such as syntax, lexical choices, and pragmatic domains However, the essence of an idiom lies in its meaning, which is the most crucial characteristic While some idioms can be inferred from their components, others require contextual understanding to grasp their significance The grammatical correctness of idioms is less important than their semantic features, leading to a classification based on meaning rather than superficial structure.
According to Fernando (1996, pp.35-36), idioms are categorized into three sub-types: Pure idioms, semi-idioms, and literal idioms
A pure idiom is a conventionalized expression made up of multiple words, where the overall meaning cannot be deduced by simply combining the meanings of the individual words.
For example, the expression “Call it a day” is a pure idiom, because its real meaning has nothing to do with the day It means “decide to stop working on something”
- Semi-idioms: A semi-pure has at least one literal element and one with a non-literal meaning
An example of a semi-idiom is the phrase “beat the clock,” where "beat" is used in a non-literal sense while "clock" retains its literal meaning This expression signifies the act of completing a task before a deadline.
- Literal idioms: Literal idioms are either invariable or allow little variation They are considered to be transparent because they can be interpreted based on their parts
For example, “day by day” is a literal idiom since the meaning of the whole is derived from the literal meaning of each component
McCarthy and O'Dell (2017) proposed an alternative classification of English idioms based on their structural combinations, categorizing them into seven distinct sub-types For a more comprehensive understanding, including examples and meanings, please refer to Table 2.3.
Table 2.3 Types of idioms (McCarthy and O’Dell, 2017, p.6)
Kill two birds with one stone
Produce two useful results by just doing one action
Prepositional phrase In the blink of an eye In an extremely short time
Compound A bone of contention Something which people argue and disagree over Simile (as + adjective + as or like + a noun) As dry as a bone Very dry indeed
(word + and + word ) Rough and ready Crude and lacking sophistication Trinomial
(word + word + and+ word) Cool, calm and collected Relaxed, in control, not nervous
Whole clause or sentence To cut a long story short To tell the main points, but not all the fine details
The classification of idioms primarily relies on their surface structure and grammatical rules, categorizing them into forms such as compound, binomial, and simile However, this method does not consider the meanings of the idioms Given that this study emphasizes the translation of idioms, Fernando's (1996) classification, which focuses on semantic features, is more appropriate for analysis.
Time is defined as a dimension that allows events to be sequenced from the past to the future, as well as a measure of the duration of these events and the intervals between them This concept has been a significant focus of study across religion, philosophy, and science, particularly within Western culture.
Idioms can be categorized based on the meanings of their keywords, including themes like animals, time, color, body parts, and size Notably, idioms that include time-related words are prevalent and represent a significant portion of idiomatic expressions These idioms utilize time terms, such as day, week, dawn, noon, and spring, as key components, emphasizing their special meanings in context.
Idioms across various languages exhibit unique characteristics influenced by cultural superstitions, specific societal elements, ideologies, and social classes These differences highlight that idioms cannot be interpreted through the literal meanings of their individual words, leading to significant challenges in both understanding and translation.
As a result, the quality of translating idiomatic expressions depends totally on the translators‟ knowledge, translation skills, and applied strategies
To avoid misunderstanding and maintain the original messages of source languages, some researchers have proposed the ways to overcome problems as follows
Grassilli (2013) suggested some strategies when dealing with idioms translations:
1 find an idiom in the target language which uses the same words, the same structure, and has the same exact meaning
2 find an idiom in your language which uses different words, but has the same structure and the same exact meaning
3 find an idiom in your language that has different words, different structure but the same exact meaning
Previous studies
Machine translation has garnered significant interest from researchers due to its growing demand and widespread application in today's fast-paced technological landscape In the last decade, numerous studies have focused on evaluating the quality of translation services, particularly those provided by platforms like Google Translate.
Aiken and Balan (2011) conducted a study on the translation quality of Google Translate, analyzing 2,550 language pair combinations across 50 different languages Their findings revealed that Google Translate performs significantly better with Western language pairs compared to Asian language pairs, highlighting a disparity in translation accuracy.
A study by Taleghani & Pazouki (2018) evaluated the effectiveness of four online translators in translating English idioms and phrasal verbs into Persian The researchers selected ten texts from "Oxford Word Skills: Idioms and Phrasal Verbs" and translated them using Bing, Google Translate, Free Translation, and Targoman The translations were assessed subjectively against the Aryanpur English-Persian dictionary Results indicated that Targoman outperformed the other translators in idiomatic translations The study concluded that bilingual tools like Targoman and those with idiomatic parallel corpora, such as Google Translate, provide superior performance in translating idioms Additionally, it emphasized the need for experts to create more corpora focused on idioms and phrasal verbs to enhance online machine translation.
H Al-khresheh and Almaaytah (2018) carried out a study on “English
Proverbs into Arabic through Machine Translation” They randomly collected a group of English proverbs the translated them into Arabic by
A qualitative analysis of Google Translate revealed significant linguistic challenges in accurately translating English proverbs into Arabic due to the differing grammatical structures of the two unrelated language families The study highlighted that machine translation often fails to convey the literal meanings of proverbs, suggesting a need for further research to improve the accuracy and quality of online translation services.
Cromico (2015) investigated the quality of GT with the research
This article evaluates the translation quality of English-Indonesian using Google Translate, focusing on accuracy, acceptability, and readability of scientific articles Employing a descriptive method, the study analyzed 106 sentences from three articles and distributed questionnaires to various raters for feedback The findings revealed that all three factors—accuracy, acceptability, and readability—were rated relatively low, indicating that the translation techniques used by Google Translate resulted in less accurate, acceptable, and readable translations Consequently, it suggests that Google Translate struggles to apply suitable techniques for producing high-quality translations of sentences in scientific literature.
Another study published by Shao, Sennrich, Webber and Fancellu
In 2018, a study assessed the performance of Machine Translation (MT) on Chinese idioms using a blacklist method, sourcing idioms from the Chinese Idioms Blacklists Bank The dataset comprised 1,194 Chinese-English translation pairs that included 50 idioms The evaluation focused on the quality of a Chinese-English neural MT system, revealing that Google Translate (GT) produced relatively poor translations for Chinese idioms, with literal translation errors being a prevalent issue The study introduced the "blacklist method" as a novel approach for evaluating idiom translation performance, suggesting that neural MT could potentially expand the network vocabulary size.
In Viet Nam, there are several studies on the use of machine translation in translation, in particular to Google Translate
In her 2013 study, Trần Lê Tâm Linh analyzed the common errors found in English to Vietnamese translations by Google in the context of business contracts She identified four primary categories of machine translation errors: missing words, redundant words, incorrect word order, and inappropriate word choices The research revealed that syntax-related errors were the most prevalent, followed by semantic issues, while pragmatic and lexical errors were less frequent Linh recommended that future studies should provide a more detailed examination of various types of machine translation errors, along with explanations and evaluations, to enhance the effectiveness of English-Vietnamese machine translation.
While many studies have assessed the quality of machine translation, most have concentrated on comparing entire sentences or texts between language pairs with similar linguistic characteristics, such as English-French and English-Russian Few studies specifically evaluate Google Translate's performance with idioms, particularly in the English-Vietnamese language pair Thus, researching "the quality of Google Translate’s Vietnamese translations of English idioms related to time" presents a compelling and valuable topic for further investigation.
METHODOLOGY
Research methods
This research aims to address three key questions regarding Google Translate's Vietnamese translations of English idioms related to time Firstly, it seeks to identify the specific errors present in these translations Secondly, it categorizes the types of errors encountered Lastly, the study examines the frequency of each error type found in the translations.
This research aims to evaluate the quality of Google Translate in translating English-Vietnamese idioms by examining translation errors Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods, along with content analysis, the study systematically collects, classifies, and analyzes data to draw meaningful conclusions.
Content analysis is a widely utilized research method in social science, designed to analyze written, verbal, or visual communication (Cole, 1988) This tool helps researchers identify specific words, themes, or concepts within qualitative data, making it essential for understanding various forms of communication.
Content analysis, as highlighted by Bryman (2004), underscores the investigator's crucial role in interpreting the meanings within texts This methodology facilitates the categorization of data while emphasizing the importance of understanding the contextual significance of the items being analyzed.
Content analysis offers significant advantages, as it enables researchers to prepare, code, and interpret data meticulously, which can lead to the development of new theories and models, validate existing ones, and provide in-depth descriptions of specific settings or phenomena (Zhang & Wildemuth, 2009) This versatile research method can be effectively integrated with both qualitative and quantitative approaches, enhancing the credibility of qualitative analysis results Consequently, content analysis plays a crucial role in supporting both data collection and analysis processes.
In qualitative research, the researcher serves as the main instrument for data collection, directly observing and gathering a diverse array of information This immediate engagement enables researchers to reflect on their findings in real-time, facilitating prompt clarification of ideas and enhancing the accuracy of their interpretations (Lamb, 2011).
As the researchers collect and analyze data, they identify categories, themes, and patterns that help explain the phenomena under consideration and the contexts in which they occur
Qualitative research focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of a specific issue rather than on numerical representation In this approach, the researcher plays a dual role as both the subject and the object of the study The primary goal of qualitative methodology is to generate comprehensive and illustrative insights that explore the various dimensions of the problem being investigated (Almeida et al., 2017).
Noble and Smith (2015) evaluated the validity and reliability and generalizability in qualitative research and proved that they can be valid qualitative studies
This research utilized a qualitative approach to describe and analyze the quality of Google Translate, specifically focusing on translation errors in English-Vietnamese idioms The researcher systematically collected and classified various types of translation errors made by Google Translate Additionally, a quantitative method was employed to quantify the frequency of these errors, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the data and a discussion of the findings.
Data collection
This study evaluates the effectiveness of Google Translate in translating English idioms into Vietnamese, focusing specifically on idioms related to time expressions A total of 128 English sentences were sourced from the reputable "Oxford Dictionary of Idioms" by Judith Siefring (2004) and various online platforms, including The Idioms, Cambridge Dictionary, The Free Dictionary, and Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, for comprehensive data analysis.
The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms is the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource for idiomatic expressions, featuring over 5,000 idioms with detailed explanations of their meanings and origins This essential reference tool, based on Oxford's unique language research program, is invaluable for both students and teachers of English It includes a diverse range of idioms, from traditional phrases to contemporary additions, organized thematically by topics such as color, love, time, and age, while also presenting entries alphabetically for ease of use.
The Oxford dictionary of idioms provides the researcher with the available source of idioms where idioms with words denoting time were alphabetically chosen based on the keywords
The four online dictionary sources—The Idioms, The Free Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and Oxford Learner's Dictionaries—offer users an effective interface to explore contemporary idioms using keywords The first two specialize in English idioms, while the latter two feature idioms in a dedicated section at the end of each word entry, ensuring users can quickly and accurately find the idioms they need These online resources serve as valuable references for comparing and selecting example sentences that incorporate idioms, while also providing access to more recent idioms not found in traditional paper dictionaries like the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms.
The researcher conducted a comprehensive examination of idioms related to time by utilizing both online and offline dictionaries This investigation resulted in the collection of 128 English sentences that incorporate various time-related idioms, adhering to specific criteria for data selection.
- All the idioms in the sentences must contain words denoting time expressions which may be one of these keywords:
+ Words denoting units of time: second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, century, millennium, era
+ Words denoting time period in a day: morning, afternoon, night, midnight, dawn, dusk
+ Words denoting days in a week: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
+ Words denoting dates in a month: 15 th , 3 rd , etc
+ Words denoting seasons in a year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Idioms are of British or American variants with both formal and informal usage
- Idioms can be in the forms of noun phrases, prepositional phrases, compound, simile, binomial, trinomial, or sentence
Specifically, keywords related to time expressions were used for searching idioms in the paper dictionary “Oxford dictionary of idioms”
(Siefring, 2004), and the four online dictionaries https://www.theidioms.com, https://dictionary.cambridge.org, https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/, and https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
- Then sentences enclosed with these idioms were picked up
After collecting the raw data, it was organized into a table showcasing 128 English idioms alongside their Vietnamese translations Column (2) features the idioms and their usage in sentences sourced from online dictionaries, while column (4) presents the corresponding English meanings Each English sentence was translated into Vietnamese using Google Translate, with the results placed in column (5) To enhance systematic storage, the data was alphabetically arranged and numbered, as illustrated in Table 3.1 This table includes five columns: (1) the order of data, (2) idioms and their contextual sentences, (3) the identified idiom types (PI for pure idioms, SI for semi-idioms, and LI for literal idioms), (4) original meanings of the idioms, and (5) the Vietnamese translations derived from Google Translate.
Table 3.1 Sample data storage (English idioms and Vietnamese translations from
No English idiom Idiom type
Newsthat David Bowie had died,we knew it was going to be a black day for all of his loyal fans https://idioms.thefreedi ctionary.com/a+Black+
A day that marks a sad or unfortunate event một ngày đen đủi
Khi hay tin David Bowie qua đời, chúng tôi nhận ra rằng đó là một ngày buồn bã cho tất cả những người hâm mộ trung thành của ông.
Elaine set me up on a blind date with a colleague from her office A blind date is a social meeting aimed at sparking romance between two individuals who have never met before.
Elaine sắp xếp cho tôi đi hẹn hò mù quáng với một chàng trai từ văn phòng của cô ấy.
Data analysis
This study evaluates the quality of Google Translate in translating English-Vietnamese idioms, emphasizing the importance of preserving the intended meanings of source idioms Various translation strategies are examined, with a focus on semantic and pragmatic classifications of idioms rather than syntactic ones.
This study categorizes idioms according to Fernando's (1996) theory, classifying them into three sub-types: pure idioms, semi-idioms, and literal idioms The findings regarding the types of idioms identified are detailed in column (3).
The researcher proposed Vietnamese translations for each English idiom, listing them in column (6) These suggested translations were then compared with the Vietnamese versions generated by Google Translate to identify potential errors.
Then, using the conceptual framework on the classification of translation errors of Nord (1997) to identify and classify the translation errors
The five types of translation errors include (1) Pragmatic translation errors,
(2) Cultural translation errors, (3) Linguistics translation errors, (4) Text- specific translation errors and (5) No translation errors
These five types are marked by the following error codes for further analyzing:
4 TE (Text-specific translation errors)
5 NE (No translation errors) and Table 2.2 were used to recognize error types for each idiom From Table 3.1, the researcher developed a more detailed table with seven columns for translation error analysis Specifically, two more columns were added into Table 3.1, in which column (6) refers to the error type with five common types (PE, CE, LE, TE, and NE) Accordingly, each Vietnamese translation of English sentences containing idioms picked from GT was examined and compared to the suggested translation from the researcher in column (6) to identify errors of any kind
The model for analyzing translation errors was presented as in Table 3.2
Table 3.2 Translation errors for analyzing with reference examples
No English idiom Idiom type
When we heard the news that David
Bowie had died,we knew it was going to be a black day for all of his loyal fans https://idioms.thefr eedictionary.com/a
SI A day that marks a sad or unfortunate event một ngày đen đủi
Khi nhận được tin David Bowie qua đời, chúng tôi hiểu rằng đó sẽ là một ngày buồn bã cho tất cả những người hâm mộ trung thành của ông.
David Bowie qua đời, chúng tôi biết đó sẽ là một ngày đau buồn đối với tất cả những người hâm mộ trung thành của anh ấy
Elaine arranged for me to go on a blind date with a guy from her office https://dictionary.c ambridge.org/dicti onary/english/blind
PI a social meeting, usually with the objective of starting a romance, between two people who have not met each other before hẹn hò mù quáng
Elaine sắp xếp cho tôi đi hẹn hò mù quáng với một chàng trai từ văn phòng của cô ấy
PE/CE Elaine sắp xếp cho tôi đi xem mắt một chàng trai làm cùng văn phòng với cô ấy
Next, counting the occurrences of translation errors according to each group of idioms was conducted Accordingly, the researcher counted the number of
The study identifies five categories of translation errors: pragmatic, cultural, linguistic, text-specific, and instances with no errors By employing a counting technique, the researcher effectively quantifies the frequency of translation errors across various idiom types generated by Google Translate This analysis includes a detailed tally of errors in each category for every translated idiom, facilitating comprehensive comparisons.
The results with numbers were described as the following table
Table 3.3 The numbers of errors translation in each idiom type committed by GT Idioms types Pure idioms Semi- idioms literal idioms
Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage pragmatic translation errors cultural translation errors linguistic translation errors text-specific translation errors
The data presented in this table highlights the types of idioms that exhibit the fewest and most translation errors The subsequent tables and charts further substantiate the findings of this study As a result, an evaluation of the quality of Google Translate for translating idioms from English to Vietnamese has been conducted.