INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Translation is essential for global development as it facilitates the exchange of information across different languages, enabling the sharing of experiences, science, and technology worldwide It encompasses both interpretation and written forms, with literary translation being particularly prominent In Vietnam, numerous foreign literary works have been translated into Vietnamese and incorporated into educational programs, captivating audiences of all ages The diverse genres and topics of these literary works have turned reading into a popular hobby for many, allowing Vietnamese readers to engage with international literature.
Literary work translation plays a crucial role in linguistics, highlighting its importance in the field Numerous studies have explored various challenges associated with translating literary texts Ninda and Taber (1982:33) define translation as the process of reproducing the closest natural equivalence in the receptor language.
Translation involves transforming the meaning of the source language (SL) text into an equivalent target language (TL) text This process becomes particularly challenging when dealing with literary works, requiring translators to adopt careful strategies to ensure high-quality translations.
Translation strategies vary among theorists, with Chesterman (1998) categorizing them into syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic strategies Newmark (1988) proposed eight distinct strategies, including word-for-word and communicative translation Additionally, Baker (1992) identified eight general strategies, such as cultural substitution and paraphrase Effective translation often involves the use of multiple strategies to achieve accuracy and convey meaning.
Cohesion is a crucial element that contributes to the consistency, coherence, and logic of a text, serving as the foundation for its overall texture In both literature and linguistics, cohesion refers to the set of linguistic tools that create connections between sentences and paragraphs, enhancing their semantic relationships and making the text more meaningful Without these cohesive units, sentences and paragraphs would remain isolated and disorganized Furthermore, cohesion relies on the interpretation of certain elements in the text being dependent on others, distinguishing a cohesive text from a non-text (Halliday and Hasan, 1976:2) Ultimately, cohesion enriches the reading experience by clearly illustrating the relationships within the text, allowing readers to easily navigate its structure.
Cohesive devices (CDs) are essential for unifying a text, enhancing its power and clarity The effectiveness of a text relies on cohesive markers that link its content, making it a coherent piece of information Therefore, attention to the translation of these devices is crucial when converting literary works from one language to another Halliday and Hasan (1976) categorize cohesion into grammatical and lexical types Grammatical cohesion involves connections through reference, substitution, ellipsis, and conjunction, while lexical cohesion links vocabulary through reiteration and collocation Unfortunately, some translators overlook these cohesive devices, resulting in translations that may appear awkward or meaningless, ultimately failing to convey the original author's intent.
This study was conducted to address several key issues regarding the translation of cultural dimensions (CD) in language Firstly, CD significantly influences translation practices, making it a crucial factor in the process of translating into Vietnamese Despite the abundance of translated works and research in various fields, there is a notable lack of studies focusing specifically on the translation of CDs into Vietnamese This research aims to explore the role of cohesion in written text and its impact on translation Additionally, O'Henry's short stories, which enjoy popularity in Vietnam, serve as valuable references for enhancing translation teaching methodologies.
O’Henry’s short stories
O Henry's short stories vividly capture the diversity of contemporary American social life, set against a rich backdrop that includes the bustling streets of New York City, expansive farms in Central and Southwest America, and the emerging towns of gold seekers The narrative often unfolds in confined, dimly lit spaces—such as cramped rooms, narrow doorways, small park corners, and winding streets—reflecting the complexities and contrasts of urban and rural experiences.
In O'Henry's artistic vision, the world is vividly portrayed through contrasting settings, from the bustling streets of urban life in "The Skylight Room," "The Green Door," and "The Last Leaf," to the serene landscapes of mountains, meadows, and villages in "Christmas by Injunction" and "A Chaparral Prince." His short stories explore diverse themes, capturing the vibrant world of wealth in "An Unfinished Story," the somber realities of misfortune in "Love Story" and "The Furnished Room," and the warm, illuminating essence of love that permeates his narratives.
O Henry's characters showcase a rich diversity, ranging from capitalist bosses and senior officials to police officers, reflecting the broad spectrum of society While many of his characters are ordinary individuals struggling to make a living through various professions—such as officials, secretaries, journalists, painters, musicians, actors, doctors, pharmacists, salespeople, barbers, and even criminals—their stories highlight the vast world O Henry inhabited This extensive backdrop not only enriched his narratives but also allowed him to craft a multitude of engaging and varied situations.
O'Henry's short stories, while rich in humor, adventure, and romance, also delve into themes of reality, kindness, and progressive ideals His work highlights the stark contrasts in contemporary American society, particularly the divide between the wealthy and the impoverished, and examines the dual nature of monetary power—its benefits and detrimental effects O'Henry consistently champions the poor, celebrating their compassion and shared struggles.
O Henry's distinctive artistic language features a clear narrative style that incorporates slang, local accents, and idioms for artistic effect His descriptions range from flexible and direct to exaggerated and personified, showcasing a blend of strict realism and elegant comparisons.
However, in this paper, O’Henry's story will be used as a data source to examine CDs in them without performing an analysis of the story's content or characters
Aims and objectives of the study
This study is to examine the translation strategies used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents The following are the specific objectives of the research:
To examine the types of translation strategies used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents;
To discover the most common types of translation strategies used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents;
To analyze the functions of translation strategies used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents.
Research questions
To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the following research questions must be addressed:
1) What types of translation strategies are used to translate cohesive devices in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents?
2) What are the most common types of translation strategies used to translate cohesive devices in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents?
3) What are the functions of translation strategies used to translate cohesive devices in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents?
Scope of the study
This article explores the translation strategies (TSs) utilized in translating cultural details (CDs) within three short stories by O Henry: "The Furnished Room," "An Unfinished Story," and "The Last Leaf," as published in "Selected Short Stories From O Henry" by The Odyssey Press Inc The study examines the frequency of these TSs and analyzes their functions, using data sourced from the translations found in "Tuyển Tập O Henry," published by Literary Publisher in 2017.
Mạnh Chương, m t c u chuyện d dang, and chi c l cuối c ng both translated by translated by Ngô Vĩnh Viễn
This study primarily investigates the types and frequencies of translation strategies (TSs) utilized in translating comic dialogues (CDs) from O Henry's stories, focusing exclusively on the CDs and excluding other sentence components Additionally, it does not address other elements of O Henry's work, such as figurative language, content, plot, or character development Consequently, the research is conducted through document analysis.
Significance of the study
This study explores the translation strategies employed in translating cultural dimensions (CDs) within O’Henry's short stories The results aim to serve as a valuable resource for English learners, enhancing their understanding of cohesion in translation.
The study's findings are highly valuable for the field of translation, as they provide essential insights that can enhance vocabulary cohesion for Vietnamese-English learners.
This study aims to enhance the available data sources for analyzing O Henry's works, establishing a foundation for future research on his short stories and their translations.
For teachers who teach literature translation, it is a helpful teaching material to teach CDs, translation strategies, and to contrast the use of cohesion in English and Vietnamese.
Definitions of key terms
Cohesive device refers to the connection between the related elements within a text to make it unity
Short story refers to a short, narrative prose that is usually centered on one single event
Translation in this study means a process that the translator conveys the SL to other languages
Translation strategy was defined as a set of processes used to solve the difficulties of language and culture during doing translation tasks
Vietnamese equivalent in this study refers to a Vietnamese word that is equal in meaning to an English word
Source language: the language in which the original text is written
Target language: refers to the language into which the original text is translated.
The overview of thesis
This study is organized into five chapters: Chapter 1 outlines the study's background, research questions, objectives, significance, and an overview; Chapter 2 defines key terms such as short stories, cohesion, and translation strategies while reviewing relevant literature; Chapter 3 details the methodology, including research design, materials, data collection and analysis procedures, and considerations for validity and reliability; Chapter 4 presents data descriptions, analysis, comparisons with Vietnamese translations, and offers implications and recommendations for translation learning; finally, Chapter 5 concludes the findings of the study.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This chapter explores five key areas to establish the theoretical framework and prior research for the thesis It begins with definitions and characteristics of short stories, followed by an examination of cohesive devices (CDs) based on Halliday and Hasan's (1976) theory The discussion then shifts to translation, addressing translation challenges and strategies informed by Newmark (1988), Chesterman (1998), and Barker (1992) Additionally, it reviews the language used in O Henry's stories Finally, the chapter concludes with a summary of previous studies to glean insights from pioneering research and identify existing gaps.
Short story
Short stories have a long-standing presence in literature, prompting various researchers to define them Edgar Allan Poe (1896) emphasized that the reading duration distinguishes short stories from other literary forms, arguing that if a work takes longer than one sitting, it loses the critical unity of impression He believed that the impact of a story is best experienced in a single session, allowing short stories and poems to harness this unique quality In contrast, Jones (1968) defined a short story as an imaginative expression of feelings, focusing on the unity of characterization, theme, and effect Ultimately, short stories are concise fictional works that aim to create a cohesive emotional experience for the reader.
A short story is a concise narrative, typically featuring imaginary characters and events, that can be read in one sitting According to Yatma (2015:3), a short story is defined as a work of fiction containing fewer than 10,000 words, focusing on a singular image and a single character within a specific situation This literary form, usually written in prose and narrative style, emphasizes one incident, has a single plot and setting, a limited number of characters, and spans a brief timeframe Overall, while interpretations may vary, a short story is generally recognized as a brief and engaging prose piece, making Yatma's definition particularly relevant for this study.
Literature encompasses various forms, including drama, poetry, novels, and short stories Among these, poetry and short stories are characterized by their brevity, allowing readers to engage with them in a single sitting Poetry is distinguished by its use of rhyme, rhythm, and couplets, while dramas and novels often feature intricate plots with multiple characters and thrilling details In contrast, short stories present a simpler narrative, typically centered around a single character According to Southey (2009), short stories consist of five essential elements.
1 Character: There are one or a couple of characters in a short story It always has a protagonist and sometimes antagonist The characters may be people or even animals
2 Setting: The setting of a short story is the time and place in which the story takes place It is often related to the theme The writer often uses descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting Knowing about the context of the story allows readers to have a good connection to the character to follow the story better
3 Plot: The plot is what the writer arranges for his characters to develop his basic idea It is a logical sequence of events including beginning,
10 middle, and end There are five essential parts of plots: 1) introduction,
2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, 5) denouement A short story usually has one plot
4 Conflict: In a short story, there are two sides, one protagonist and one antagonist The conflict in short story is struggle between the protagonist and the other party, sometimes the fight with some people, or the fight with nature, the fight with society or even the fight with the character his own
5 Theme: The theme or subject is the central idea or belief in a short story that the writer is trying to convey The theme may be the writer’s thought about a topic or view of the short story that usually points to what the writer is saying and may use various figures of speech to emphasize the theme, such as symbol, simile, metaphor, hyperbole and other
Short stories often feature a singular theme and limited length, resulting in abrupt beginnings and endings This format leaves little room for plot expansion or character development, often leading to a main character that remains underdeveloped.
Language use in O’Henry’s short stories
O Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), is a renowned American short story author celebrated for his captivating narratives Among his notable works are "The Last Leaf," "The Gift of the Magi," and "The Skylight Room," along with other stories like "Twenty Years" and "Cabbages and Kings," which have left a lasting impact on literature.
O Henry employed various literary techniques in his stories, including narrative style, surprising endings, and allusions His narrative method prominently featured real-life characters and situations, drawing inspiration from the world around him This approach often led readers to believe they had unraveled the plot, only to be met with unexpected twists at the conclusion Ultimately, O Henry's hallmark was his ability to deliver surprising endings that left a lasting impression.
The use of figurative language is common in O’Henry story, Aritonang
(2018) shown that there are 13 figurative languages found in O’henry’s short stories, they are pleonasm, simile, hyperbole, metaphor, metonymy, litotes, asyndeton, rhetoric, personification, euphemism, patronym, ellipsis, and repetition
O Henry's distinctive use of language features a rich vocabulary filled with slang and simple phrases, making his work accessible to a broad audience He intentionally avoids academic speech, which enhances his popularity among readers Unlike many authors who rely on suspense, O Henry presents events straightforwardly, with the exception of his signature surprise endings that leave a lasting impression.
This study focuses on a specific aspect of O Henry's language, particularly the use of colloquial devices (CDs), to compare them with Vietnamese translations The analysis does not delve into the technical or figurative elements of his short stories but highlights examples such as "transients in abode" and "transients in heart," as well as imagery like "his lean hand baggage upon the step" and "wiped the dust from his hatband and forehead." Additionally, phrases like "the bell sounded faint" and "had eaten its nut to a hollow shell" illustrate the unique use of language in O Henry's narratives, emphasizing the presence of moss growing in patches along the staircase.
In a dimly lit hall, a young man inquired about a rooming situation, noting the unsettling presence of imps and devils that might have dragged previous occupants away Despite the eerie atmosphere, he was assured that the gas was functional and that the room had been prepared, even down to the towels As he wiped the dust from his hatband, the faint sound of a bell echoed in the distance The air felt heavy and tainted, reminiscent of organic decay, while the housekeeper mentioned that many lodgers came and went frequently After inspecting the room and noting the ample closet space, he decided to engage the room, paying in advance and preparing to move in immediately.
(The furnished room – Conjunction “and”)
At the twelfth mansion, the bell rang as the weary traveler sought refuge, paying for a week in advance He was eager to take possession of the room, despite the lingering doubts that haunted him The housekeeper provided the necessary towels and water, but he couldn't shake the feeling of dread as he pondered the music halls that echoed with memories of love lost As he settled in, the sounds and scents of the furnished room enveloped him, while a cat yowled mournfully from a nearby fence, reminding him of the connections he once cherished.
He asked if there was a room to let "
He engaged the room, paying for a week in
He was tired, he said, and would take possession he said, and would take possession at once He
He meticulously counted the money, grappling with a question that lingered in his mind for what felt like the thousandth time He dreaded discovering the truth, even as it was what he secretly longed for the most—his deep love for her.
He who had loved her best had tried to
He was sure that since her disappearance from home
He heard in one room a tittering and incontinent, he breathed the breath of the house
(The furnished room – Personal Reference “he”)
Cohesive device
Cohesion, a key concept in discourse analysis, is essential for achieving semantic coherence within a text According to Rohim (2010), cohesion refers to the meaningful relationships that exist between elements in a discourse, where the understanding of one element relies on another It represents the formal connections within a text, linking clauses grammatically and lexically As an internal aspect of language, cohesion encompasses grammatical and lexical elements that contribute to the unity of the text, highlighting the relevance of language in constructing meaningful discourse.
Cohesion is defined as the relationships between sentences and clauses within a text, as noted by Gutwiniski (1976:26) Matthews (1997:62) emphasizes the importance of the connections that exist between successive sentences, highlighting how these links contribute to the overall coherence of the text.
Cohesion in text refers to the grammatical and lexical relationships that connect different parts of a text, as defined by Schmidt (2010) It can occur both within and between sentences, facilitating a coherent flow of ideas Widdowson (2007) emphasizes that recognizing these linguistically signaled connections, such as those between pronouns and their antecedents, is crucial for understanding textual cohesion This concept is further elaborated by Halliday and Hasan, highlighting the importance of cohesive ties in effective communication.
Cohesion, as defined by Halliday and Hasan (1976), refers to the linguistic mechanisms that create unity within a text, ensuring that meaning is grammatically and lexically interconnected They categorize cohesion into two primary types: grammatical cohesion, which includes reference, substitution, ellipsis, and conjunction, and lexical cohesion, which encompasses reiteration and collocation Grammatical cohesion establishes connections across sentence boundaries, while lexical cohesion links various parts of a text through vocabulary Together, these elements work to maintain the coherence and unity of written discourse.
In summary, cohesion refers to the grammatical and lexical connections between sentences in a discourse, with cohesive devices (CDs) serving as key elements that unify the text This study investigates how CDs are translated from O'Henry's stories into Vietnamese Utilizing the definitions and classifications provided by Halliday and Hasan, this research aims to facilitate the identification of cohesive devices within these narratives.
Reference is a form of grammatical cohesion that focuses on semantic relationships within a text It addresses the connections between elements in discourse, linking them to preceding or subsequent elements According to Halliday and Hasan (1976), this concept plays a crucial role in understanding the coherence of a text.
14 term for situational reference They refer to as EXPOHORA or EXPHORIC reference, and they contrast it with ENDOPHORIC as general terms of reference within the text
Here are some examples of exophoric and endophoric reference
There were two wrens upon the tree
Another came, and there were three
(said while indicating the direction of the wrens referred to)
Three blind mice, three blind mice See how they run, see how they run (Halliday and Hasan, 1976:31) [to preceding text]
There are three types of reference: personal reference, demonstrative reference, and comparative reference
The personal reference cohesion is summarized in Diagram 2.1 as follows
Diagram 2.1 Types of personal reference cohesion
In addion, the second type of reference cohesion is demonstrative reference cohesion Its categories were presented in the following table
Table 2.1 Demonstrative reference cohesion (Halliday and Hasan, 1976:38)
Semantic categories Selective Non-selective
Grammatical function Modifier/Head Adjunct Modifier
Neutral this-these that- those here (now) there (then)
(human) addressee(s) (you) specific Generalized
(one) OTHER ROLES speaker only
(I) speaker plus (we) singular plural
(It) male (he) female (she)
Lastly, the categories of comparative reference cohesion were sumarized in diagram 2.2 as follows
Diagram 2.2 Types of comparative reference cohesion b Substitution
Substitution is another kind of grammatical cohesion Substitution is a relation between linguistic items or it is as replacement of one item by another For example,
Leaves On the ivy vine When the last one falls I must go, too (The Last Leaf – O’Henry)
One is substitutes for leaves
Substitution is a grammatical relationship defined by its types rather than semantics In English, substitutes can serve as nouns, verbs, or clauses, leading to three distinct types of substitution: nominal, verbal, and clausal Additionally, ellipsis plays a significant role in this context.
Ellipsis is the omission of a word or part of a sentence Halliday and
Understanding the nuances of identity and similarity is crucial in effective communication Terms such as "same," "equal," and "identical" highlight similarities, while "different," "else," and "differently" indicate distinctions Comparative adjectives and adverbs, such as "better," "more," and "less," play a vital role in expressing these relationships For instance, using quantifiers like "so many" or "fewer" can enhance clarity when comparing quantities By mastering these linguistic tools, one can convey meaning more precisely and engage readers effectively.
Diagram 2.1 Types of Comparative Reference Cohesion
Hasan explained that ellipsis functions as a form of substitution by zero, distinguishing it from traditional substitution, which involves replacing a word with another term, such as "one" or "do." In contrast, ellipsis leaves the slot empty without inserting any words.
There could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests (The furnished room- O’Henry)
In the phrase "ghost or two ghosts," the term "or" indicates a definitive choice between two options, specifically interpreted as two ghosts This structure typically occurs in clauses where one element, the predicator (ghost), is expected to be inferred from the preceding context.
There are three types of ellipsis: Nominal ellipsis, Verbal ellipsis, and Clausal ellipsis d Conjunction
Conjunctions play a crucial role in establishing relationships between sentences or clauses, linking them coherently They can be categorized as hypotactic, connecting a main clause with a subordinate clause, or paratactic, which involves two main clauses According to Halliday and Hasan, conjunctions are classified into four types: additive, adversative, causal, and temporal, each serving a distinct purpose in enhancing textual cohesion.
Additive Conjunction: The bell sounded faint and far away in some remote, hollow depths (the furnished room – O’Henry)
In the east, a formidable ravager boldly advanced, striking down his victims in large numbers; however, he moved slowly through the intricate, narrow paths covered in moss.
In O'Henry's "The Last Leaf," Sudie returns to her drawing to sell it to the editor, enabling her to buy port wine for her ailing child Meanwhile, the phrase "the baseless fabric of a vision" suggests a deeper theme, filled with apologies and regrets, moving beyond the superficiality of Pretty Polly's small talk.
Lexical cohesion focuses on the relationships formed through word usage rather than grammatical or semantic connections It can be categorized into two main types: reiteration and collocation Reiteration involves the repetition of words or phrases to create unity within a text.
Reiteration is a key aspect of lexical cohesion, characterized by the repetition of a lexical item, the use of general terms to refer back to specific items, and the inclusion of synonyms or superordinate terms It encompasses four main types: repetition, synonyms, superordinate terms, and general words Understanding these types of reiteration enhances clarity and coherence in writing.
Translation
Translation has been defined in various ways by theorists Newmark (1982) describes it as a craft that replaces a written message in one language with the same message in another Larson (1998) emphasizes the transfer of meaning from the source language to the receptor language while retaining the original's essence Hatim and Mason (1997) view translation as a communicative act that bridges cultural and linguistic gaps Tianmin (2006) introduces a perspective of translation as simultaneous decontextualization and recontextualization, highlighting its productive nature Weber (2005) uses the terms "decoding" and "encoding" to describe the process of interpreting the source text and converting it into the receptor language Finally, Frank (2007) asserts that translation produces a text that holds equivalence to the original, serving as a substitute in another language.
Translation is the process of human communication that involves interpreting and writing to convey the meaning of one language into another Its primary goal is to accurately reflect the original tone and intent of the message while considering cultural and regional differences.
20 source and target languages Translation helps people in different language areas can communicate with others
This study investigates how Vietnamese translators convey the meaning of cultural details (CDs) in O'Henry's stories To support this analysis, the definitions of translation provided by Newmark (1982) and Frank (2007) are applied.
Translation can be categorized into two main types: literal translation and free translation Literal translation, often referred to as word-for-word translation, strictly follows the grammatical structure of the source language In contrast, free translation focuses on conveying the core message of the original text while utilizing the natural grammatical forms of the target language, which may lead to variations in structure compared to the source.
Basil Hasim and Ian Mason (1997:219) define literal translation as a method that closely adheres to the source text's semantic and syntactic structure, preserving its surface aspects In contrast, free translation alters the surface expression while maintaining the deeper meanings of the text The decision to use either translation method depends on the text's characteristics, including its type, style, and intended purpose.
The same opinion with Hasim and Ian Mason, but putting in other words, Sumol Ariyapitipan (2001:2) considers that translation is divided into two important types as follows:
1 A literal translation means changing the form of the source text to the target text, while maintaining the original form, meaning, phrase, sentence, and writing style as much as possible It is often used in translating novels, autobiographies, and contracts
2 A free translation focuses on transferring the source message by adapting its appearance It aims to present the subject matter of the source text to target readers as much as possible The translators may converse, expand, or omit the source message to maintain the original meaning The free translation is
21 often employed in translating news, business correspondences, and written columns in magazines
In summary, the type of translation used is based on the purpose of the translator, but a good translation often cannot use only a type of translation
Translators encounter various challenges during the translation process, particularly with non-equivalent words and cultural differences between the source and target languages These challenges revolve around achieving equivalence in the translated messages Nida and Taber (1969) define the message as the overall meaning and emotional content that the writer aims for the reader to grasp Christiane Nord (1991) identifies several categories of translation issues, including language, culture, text, and pragmatics Additionally, Baker (1992) highlights that non-equivalence at the word level arises when a translator struggles to find an appropriate term in the target language, outlining 11 specific problems related to this issue.
Source languages have culture-specific concepts
In Vietnamese culture, the term "ông mãnh" refers to a young deceased man, embodying a significant religious belief or social custom This concept can be challenging to translate into other languages, particularly for those unfamiliar with Vietnamese traditions.
The SL concept is not lexicalized in the TL
Certain words in the source language can convey concepts that are easily understood by target readers, yet lack direct equivalents in the target language For instance, the term "airlock" refers to "a small room used for transitioning between areas with different air pressure, such as in a spacecraft" (Longman, 2003: 33) Despite the clarity of the concept, many target languages do not possess a corresponding term.
The SL is semantically complex
Certain concepts in the source language may lack direct equivalents in the target language, making translation challenging For instance, the term "anhedonia" describes the inability to find joy in activities that once brought pleasure, yet there is no Vietnamese word that conveys this specific meaning.
The SL and TL language make a different distinction in meaning
The target language may differentiate meanings more or less than the source language For example, the English term "grandfather" denotes the father of either one's father or mother, whereas in Vietnamese, it is translated as "ông nội" or "ông ngoại," depending on the context.
In translation, vocabulary can be understood as a collection of words organized within specific conceptual fields, known as "super-ordinate" categories Most languages encompass various fields such as food, distance, shape, time, and emotion The individual words that fall under each of these categories are referred to as subordinates.
A hyponym refers to a specific word that falls under a broader semantic category For instance, the term "meal" serves as a superordinate concept that encompasses various types of food, illustrating how hyponyms function within a semantic field.
Cultural differences influence the terminology used for meals such as "breakfast," "lunch," "dinner," and "supper," leading to varied expectations in different societies This can result in translation challenges due to the absence of equivalent terms at the word level For example, while Vietnamese possesses specific terms for certain meals, it lacks a general term to encompass the broader concept of meals, highlighting the complexities of cross-cultural communication.
―rice‖ It is usually translated into ―cơm, gạo, lúa" based on the context
The TL lacks a specific term (hyponym)
Review of related studies
There is a notable absence of Vietnamese research focused on translation strategies specifically for translating CDs However, numerous studies have been conducted that utilize Baker's Translation Strategies, highlighting the relevance of these methodologies in the field.
(1992) to deal with the lack of lexical choice at word level The following studies address the TS study with different data
Luong Van Nhan's 2016 research analyzes the translation of proper names in "Romeo and Juliet" into Vietnamese, aiming to assess the frequency of translation strategies used within a corpus of 63,030 words Utilizing qualitative, quantitative, descriptive, and contrastive methods, the study evaluates both the strengths and limitations of the Vietnamese translation Grounded in the theories of translation strategies by Baker (1992) and Newmark (1998), the findings reveal seven predominant strategies employed in the translation of proper names, ranked as follows: translation by omission, translation by a more neutral or less expensive word, translation by a more general word, cultural substitution, unrelated word usage, hyponym or superordinate usage, and modulation.
The study found that the omission strategy in translation accounts for over half of the decisions made, raising questions about the translator's abilities Nonetheless, it was concluded that Dang The Binh's translation is exceptional.
Luong Van Nhan's 2011 research examines the translation of Trinh Cong Son's songs, focusing on semantic and syntactic features The study analyzes 14 songs from the collection "Trịnh Công Sơn – Tuyển tập những bài ca không năm tháng" and the website http://www.tcs-home.org/songs-en/songs Using a descriptive and contrastive analysis based on strategies from Baker, Newmark, and Catford, the research reveals that all suggested methods were utilized, often overlapping in the translation process Notably, translation by omission was the most frequently employed method Additionally, the study explored Catford's translation shifts, identifying four types: Class-shifts, Intra-system shifts, Structural shifts, and Unit-shifts, with varying frequencies and popularity among them.
In her 2012 study, Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà analyzed the translation procedures and strategies used in English-Vietnamese subtitles for ten selected films, including "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II," "Captain America: The First Avenger," and "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," among others The research focused on identifying visible errors in the translations and proposed methods for correction Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study was grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Newmark and Baker regarding translation procedures.
A study of 31 strategies revealed that the predominant methods for translating films included literal translation and modulation Notably, translation by omission and collocation translation emerged as the most frequently employed strategies in this process.
With the same idea about translation of CDs, Khoshsima and Moghadam
A 2017 descriptive research study examined the translation of cultural references (CDs) from English to Persian, focusing on the most frequent translation norms over the 2000s The researchers analyzed three randomly selected chapters from George Orwell's "Animal Farm" (2005) and applied Baker’s framework for norms The findings revealed that 54% of references, 75% of substitutions, 88% of ellipses, 79% of conjunctions, and 100% of reiterations and collocations were translated into Persian using equivalent words The study concluded that translators can effectively convey cultural references into Persian in most instances.
Iranmanesh and Azadmanesh (2014) conducted a study on the translation strategies (TS) of collocations, specifically focusing on Adjective-Noun and Noun-Noun pairs from English to Persian in the novel "Great Gatsby." Utilizing Vinay and Darbelnet's theoretical framework, they analyzed the frequency and percentage of various translation strategies employed Through a comparative analysis of 340 collocations, the researchers identified five strategies used by the translator: literal, modulation, equivalence, transposition, and borrowing, with the literal strategy being the most prevalent They concluded that while the equivalent strategy is optimal for achieving a natural and familiar translation, literal and borrowing strategies should be avoided, as they often fail to produce an acceptable translation.
32 were translated from one type into another type or they have been changed into a statement
This study explores the translation of cohesion within political opinion texts, drawing on the frameworks of Ninda (1964) and Lulu (2013) to provide diverse insights It aims to analyze the frequency of cohesive markers in both Arabic and English political texts, while also examining the translation techniques employed when converting these cohesive markers from English to Arabic The research focuses on English-Arabic political texts sourced from online platforms, specifically from the year [insert year].
The study analyzed seven texts from "The New York Times" and "The Washington Post," along with their Arabic translations from "Asharq Al-Awsat," using Halliday and Hasan's cohesive analysis model and Nida's translation techniques Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the research compared the source language (SL) texts with their target language (TL) translations The findings revealed that while different grammatical cohesive devices (CDs) were utilized in both texts, their frequency varied significantly Additionally, the study highlighted the use of three of Nida's translation techniques—Alteration, Addition, and Subtraction—to modify the meaning in the Arabic translations Notably, it introduced two new techniques, Sustaining and Mix, further contributing to the understanding of translation practices.
Summary
This chapter defines key terminology such as short stories, CDs, translation, translation issues, and TSs It explores the characteristics of short stories and the linguistic style found in O Henry's works, while also addressing translation challenges Additionally, it reviews prior research conducted by scholars with similar focuses.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
To clarify the research questions of the thesis, including
1) What types of translation strategies are used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents?
2) What are the most common types of translation strategies used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents?
3) What are the functions of translation strategies used to translate CDs in O’Henry’s selected short stories into Vietnamese equivalents?
This study employs specific methodologies tailored to the case, encompassing research design, materials, and data collection procedures It also details the data analysis framework and addresses the validity and reliability of the findings.
Research design
Discourse analysis employs various research methods, including qualitative, descriptive, contrastive, and document analysis methods This study focuses on investigating the translation strategies (TS) of contrastive discourse (CD) between Vietnamese and English, utilizing document analysis of O'Henry's stories as data According to Crossman (2017), qualitative research involves the collection and interpretation of non-numerical data to understand social life through specific populations or contexts Bowen (2009) describes document analysis as a qualitative research approach where researchers interpret documents to derive meaning related to an assessment topic, highlighting its effectiveness as a data collection method due to the controllability of documents.
Document analysis is a practical and efficient research method that involves the compilation and examination of existing organizational records and various forms of documentation, such as written texts, photographs, and audio-visual materials This approach is stable and non-reactive, allowing for multiple revisions without being influenced by the research process Additionally, it is often more cost-effective and time-efficient compared to collecting new data through experiments or surveys As noted by Bryman (2012), utilizing existing information can minimize disruption to daily routines and typically incurs little to no cost, making document analysis the most suitable method for this study.
The research design is planned to carry out such important things as
Providing some basic theoretical concepts related to the story, CD as well as translation
Collecting and classify CDs by taking O'Henry’s stories as the data
Contrasting to Vietnamese translations then describing and analyzing the collected data to find out the TSs based on translation theory.
Materials
This study utilizes data from original English stories by O'Henry and their Vietnamese translations published by Literature Publisher A random sampling method was employed to select from 100 short stories by O'Henry (1989) and their Vietnamese counterparts from Tuyển tập truyện ngắn O'Henry (2017), translated by various translators The selection criteria focused on stories with a minimum length of 2000 words to ensure sufficient data for analysis and rich language content.
The data was collected from 3 short stories of O’Henry in Selected Short Stories from O’Henry Stories published by The Odyssey Press Inc Then the data
35 was contrasted with their translations in tuy n t p O’Henry published by Literary Publisher (2017) These are the stories:
Table 3.1 Size of the Stories
Number of words page Vietnamese equivalent
2494 83-90 Căn phòng đầy đủ tiện nghi
The stories consist of 7,132 words including 1,617 CDs, their frequency is presented as in table 3.2 and figure 3.1
Table 3.2 Frequency of CDs used in three selected stories by O'Henry
The analysis of the table reveals that a total of 1,617 cohesive devices (CDs) were identified across three stories While the types of CDs are somewhat similar, there is a significant disparity between the most prevalent type, reference, which accounts for 1,204 instances, and the least common types, ellipsis and collocation, with only 7 and 9 occurrences, respectively The remaining CDs include conjunctions with 339 instances, substitutions totaling 30, and reiterations with 26 The distribution of each type of cohesion relative to the total is detailed in Table 3.2 and visually represented in Figure 3.1.
Figure 3.1 Percentage of CDs used in three selected stories by O'Henry
An Unfinished Story The Furnished Room The Last Leaf
Reference Substitution Ellipsis Conjunction Reiteration Collocation
The analysis reveals that reference is the most prevalent cohesive device, comprising 1,204 instances, or 74.46% of the total Conjunctions follow with 339 occurrences, representing 20.96% Substitution ranks third, with 30 cases accounting for 1.86% Reiteration and collocation appear less frequently, at 1.61% and 0.68%, respectively Lastly, ellipsis is the least utilized cohesive device, with only 7 occurrences, making up 0.43%.
Moreover, reference is the highest frequency in the three stories with 0.017% per 1000 words The next order of used cohesions is still conjunction, substitution, reiteration with turn ratio 0.0047%, 0.00042%, and 0.00036% per
1000 words Collocation got the fifth frequency with 0.00015% per 1000 words The least appears cohesion with 0.000098% per 1000 words is ellipsis
Figure 3.2 Occurrence of CDs used
Data collection procedures
The data is taken from three short stories by O'Henry that meet the following criteria:
0.018 reference substitution ellipsis conjunction reiteration collocation
The length of the stories To do this, articles which are too short or too long were all ignored The stories which contain about 2000 words are considered suitable samples
Articles focused on the same subject often share common themes, particularly when addressing the challenges faced by unfortunate individuals This similarity in topic leads to a consistent use of language, making it easier to draw comparisons between different narratives within the same storyline.
All of them have both Vietnamese and English versions
The CDs are categorized and organized based on Halliday and Hasan's theory, utilizing Antconc software for analysis To enhance reliability, the data underwent multiple verification checks prior to the analysis.
Data analysis procedures
For the research to be carried out properly, the steps below were taken:
Select stories that match the criteria and find equivalent translations in Vietnamese
The selected short stories, "An Unfinished Story," "The Furnished Room," and "The Last Leaf," are coded as SE1, SE2, and SE3, respectively Their Vietnamese translations are "Một câu chuyện dở dang," "Căn phòng đầy đủ tiện nghi," and "Lá cuối cùng."
Chiếc lá cuối cùng is also coded as SV1, SV2, SV3
The frequency of each type of communicative device (CD) was analyzed using Antconc, a free word analysis software Subsequently, these frequencies were converted into percentages to facilitate a comparative analysis of the occurrence of different CDs.
The CDs were contrasted to their Vietnamese translation, and the methods of translation were investigated
The frequencies and percentages of TSs are then estimated
Finally, the functions of each TSs were analyzed
Framework for data analysis
This study utilizes document analysis to collect and analyze data with two main objectives: first, to examine the cohesions employed in three stories, and second, to identify the translation strategies used to convert these cohesions into Vietnamese.
This study analyzes the cohesion found in O Henry's stories, utilizing the original English versions published by Washington Square Press Inc and their Vietnamese translations from Tuy n Truyện Ngắn O’Henry by various translators The analysis is grounded in Halliday and Hasan's (1976) theory, which identifies two primary types of cohesion: grammatical and lexical A comprehensive overview of the cohesive elements examined in this research is presented in the accompanying table.
Table 3.3 Cohesive Devices (Halliday and Hasan, 1976)
I, me, my, myself, we, us, our, ours, ourselves, you, your, yours, yourself, yourselves, he, him, his, himself, she, her, hers, herself, it, its, itself, they, them, their, themselves
- this, that, these, those, here, there
- same, equal, identical, similar, similarly, difference, different, most, more, fewer, less, like, as
Ellipsis - basing on the context Additive
- and, furthermore, moreover, addition, besides, by the way, or, nor, neither, likewise
- but, however, in fact, nevertheless, instead, although, even though, though, despite, in spite of, yet, nonetheless Causal
- so, thus, hence, therefore, consequently, accordingly, because, since, as, because of, due to, as a result, inconsequence Temporal
Reiteration - basing on the context Collocation - basing on the context
This article explores the translation of cohesion and the translator's approach to handling non-equivalences, utilizing Mona Baker's framework from 1992 Furthermore, it interprets the function of translation in accordance with Baker's theoretical insights.
Table 3.4 Translation strategies and their functions (Baker, 1992)
1 Translation by using general word (superordinate)
to overcome a relative lack of specificity in the TL
2 Translation by using a more neutral/less expressive word
to avoid the writer’s personal feelings that may reflect on the text
to gives the reader a concept with which he or she can identify,
4 Translation by using a loan word or a loan word plus explanation
to clarify the meaning of a specific word which cannot explain by a TL equivalent word
5 Translation by paraphrase using an unrelated word
to clarify the meaning of words with complex meanings in SL
6 Translation by paraphrase using a related word
to avoid duplication, and stereotype in translation
to change the expressive nuance
7 Translation by omission to make the text more concise
to make the reading rhythm smoother
8 Translation by illustration to provide words that help clearly describe the object in SL.
Validity and reliability
Validity and reliability are crucial considerations for qualitative researchers in study design, result analysis, and overall study quality assessment According to Joppe (2000), reliability refers to the consistency of results over time and their accurate representation of the entire population being studied If a study's results can be reproduced using similar methodologies, the research instrument is deemed reliable.
To ensure sufficient cohesion for research, a determination of cohesion types in five of O'Henry's stories was conducted, revealing similarities in types but variations in frequency Due to thesis length constraints, three stories were selected for analysis To enhance the reliability of the thesis, data collection was performed twice, first in May 2018 and again in October.
2018 The frequency and percentage were calculated in Excel twice Besides, she
A colleague with a Master's degree in English reviewed random samples from the data set and re-evaluated the findings, confirming consistent results Therefore, the data presented in this thesis is deemed both valid and reliable.
Summary
This chapter comprises seven key sections: introduction, research design, materials, data collection procedure, data analysis procedure, framework for data analysis, validity and reliability, and summary The introduction offers an overview of the chapter, while the research design outlines the methodology and procedures of the thesis The materials section details the cohesion tools used for analyzing thematic structures (TSs) The data collection procedure describes the sampling process, and the analysis procedure outlines the steps taken in the study The analysis framework is based on the cohesion framework by Halliday and Hasan (1976) and the TSs model proposed by Barker (1992) Validity and reliability discuss the measures implemented to enhance the study's reliability The findings from the data analysis are presented in Chapter 4.