Scope of the study
This study explores the translation procedures employed to convey the semantic and syntactic features of lexicon, phrases, and sentences in Trinh Cong Son’s songs, sourced from the collection "Trịnh Công Sơn – Tuyển tập những bài ca không năm tháng" published in 1997 and the website http://www.tcs-home.org/songs-en/songs.
Design of the study
My graduation paper is divided into three parts :
The first part is the Introduction, including: the rationale, aims, scope, method and design of the study
The second part is the Development with 3 chapters:
Chapter I: Theoretical background: It focuses on the concepts of translation, terms relating to songs, including the popular construction of terms and some strategies applied in translation
Chapter II: Methodology outlines the research methodology, encompassing two interconnected phases This chapter provides a comprehensive explanation of the study design, sample description, and the methods and procedures used for data collection and analysis.
Chapter III: Finding and discuss: this chapter is divided into 2 parts:
+ Section 1: The semantic features of lexicon in Trinh Cong son’s songs when being translated from Vietnamese into English
+ Section 2: The syntactic features of phrases and sentences in Trinh Cong Son’s songs when being translated from Vietnamese into English
In the conclusion, the author summarizes the key points discussed in Chapter 4, addresses the limitations of the study, and offers recommendations for future research endeavors.
DEVELOPMENT
Translation is often defined as the process of converting text from one language (A) to another (B) However, this definition has evolved over time, reflecting the perspectives of various researchers At its core, translation aims to convey the original meaning of the text in a way that aligns with the author's intent General psychology suggests that this task should be straightforward, as it involves expressing ideas effectively in both the source and target languages.
Translation involves a complex conflict between free and literal approaches, highlighting its inherent challenges and essential role A translator must act as both an interpreter and an orator, ensuring that the essence of the original work resonates with native speakers of the target language While literal translations may preserve syntax and vocabulary, they can create barriers that hinder the flow and meaning of the original text Ultimately, a successful translation captures the original's merit, allowing it to be fully understood and appreciated in another language.
Historically, translation was perceived as a process of replacing textual material in a source language with equivalent material in a target language, where equivalence referred to the alignment of grammatical factors between the two languages.
5 view the grammatical equivalent became one of the criteria for assessing the quality of a translation
According to Newmark (1980), translation is a craft that involves replacing a written message in one language with an equivalent message in another language, transforming the textual material into a more communicative form.
According to the generalized grammatical translation theory, translators must look beyond simple text structures and view the text as a comparison of different frameworks This perspective highlights the understanding that language serves as a fundamental tool, enabling translators to develop effective text analysis techniques These techniques are essential not only for decoding the source text but also for choosing suitable structures in the target language.
Translation encompasses three distinct meanings: "translating," which refers to the process of converting text; "a translation," the tangible outcome of that process, such as the translated text itself; and "translation" as an abstract concept that includes both the act of translating and its resulting product.
Furthermore, translation is also a communication bridge of two languages Obviously, language is various and different from country to country as the sameness cannot exist between two languages
Danica Seleskovitch (2009) [7], a brilliant interpreter and writer, has said:
Translation serves as a vital tool for education and truth, enabling communication between cultures, regardless of their developmental stages The assertion that translation is only possible between languages from similarly developed cultures is misleading, as it overlooks the ability of translation to bridge cultural gaps and convey meaning to diverse audiences.
Translation has played a crucial role in cultural exchange between countries and languages, often occurring under unequal conditions that can lead to distorted and biased interpretations The understanding of translated texts can differ significantly from that of the original audience, highlighting the complexities involved in conveying meaning across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Translation serves as a vital communication tool in various contexts, including multilingual public notices, export company instructions, and tourist promotions, often reflecting national pride It is essential for official documents like treaties and contracts, as well as for disseminating information through reports, articles, and textbooks across different fields of knowledge Additionally, translation plays a dual role in foreign language learning, acting as a means to assess learners' proficiency and enhance their linguistic competence.
Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) view equivalence-oriented translation as a procedure which replicates the same situation as in the original, whilst using completely different wording
Vinay and Darbelnet assert that equivalent expressions between language pairs are valid if recognized as full equivalents in bilingual dictionaries However, they acknowledge that glossaries and idiomatic collections can never be comprehensive They emphasize that the necessity for creating equivalences is context-dependent, requiring translators to seek solutions based on the specific situation of the source language text They argue that even if a semantic equivalent exists for an expression in the source language, the translator must consider the situational context to find the most appropriate translation.
7 quoted in a dictionary or a glossary, it is not enough, and it does not guarantee a successful translation
Roman Jakobson's 1959 study on equivalence significantly advanced the theoretical analysis of translation by introducing the concept of 'equivalence in difference.' Grounded in his semiotic approach to language, he famously stated, 'there is no signatum without signum.' Jakobson identifies three distinct types of translation, emphasizing the complex relationship between signs and their meanings.
Intralingual (within one language, i.e rewording or paraphrase)
Jakobson asserts that interlingual translation relies on synonyms to convey the source text (ST) message, highlighting the absence of full equivalence between code units He posits that translation comprises two equivalent messages expressed in different languages, acknowledging that grammatical differences can complicate the process However, this does not preclude the possibility of translation When faced with a lack of direct equivalents, translators can utilize techniques such as loanwords, neologisms, semantic shifts, or circumlocutions to enhance terminology Jakobson illustrates this with examples comparing English and Russian, demonstrating that when literal equivalents are unavailable, the translator must select the most appropriate method for rendering the content.
Vinay and Darbelnet's translation procedures share similarities with Jakobson's translation theory, as both emphasize that when a linguistic approach proves inadequate for translation, the translator can utilize alternative methods, including loan translation.
Both Vinay and Darbelnet, along with Jakobson, assert that translation is inherently feasible, as various methods are available for translators to choose from They highlight the translator's pivotal role in determining the approach to translation, emphasizing that the task can always be executed between languages, despite cultural and grammatical disparities between the source text (ST) and the target language.
Nida identified two types of equivalence in translation: formal equivalence, referred to as formal correspondence in the second edition of his work with Taber (1969/1982), and dynamic equivalence Formal correspondence emphasizes the message's form and content, while dynamic equivalence focuses on achieving an equivalent effect The 1982 edition offers a more comprehensive explanation of these two equivalence types.
METHODOLOGY
This chapter aims to clarify the research methodology, encompassing two interrelated phases It provides a comprehensive explanation of the study design, sample description, and the methods and procedures for data collection and analysis.
This study aims to explore the semantic and lexical characteristics of phrases and sentences in the Vietnamese and English translations of Trinh Cong Son's songs Utilizing a descriptive and contrastive methodology, the research is designed to achieve significant insights into the linguistic features of these translations.
- Provides some basic theoretical concepts related to translation, semantics, and syntax
- Collect and classify the semantic features of the vocabulary and syntactic features of phrases and sentences by taking Trinh Cong Son's songs as data
- Describe and analyze data collected to understand the semantic features of the vocabulary and syntactic features of phrases and sentences based on translation theory
In this case study, the researcher primarily employed a survey method to efficiently gather data from participants, resulting in a quicker and more extensive data collection process compared to traditional interviews.
To achieve this goal, research will have the following specific objectives:
- Checking the semantic features of the vocabulary as they are translated
- Checking the syntax features of phrases and sentences as they are translated
- Checking out some of Trinh Cong Son's songs and their English translations that focus on the semantic features of the vocabulary and syntactic features of phrases and sentences
- Identify similarities and differences in the semantic and syntactical features between the English and Vietnamese versions of Trinh Cong Son's songs
- To some considerations and generalizations to translate Trinh Cong Son's songs
The study employs a descriptive method to analyze the semantic characteristics of the lexicon, as well as the syntactic structures of phrases and sentences in Trinh Cong Son's songs, both in their original Vietnamese and English translations.
This study employs a contrastive method to analyze the similarities and differences in semantic features of the lexicon and syntactic structures of phrases and sentences in the Vietnamese and English versions of Trinh Cong Son's songs.
This study aims to identify and analyze the most popular strategies and methods used in translating Trinh Cong Son's songs, focusing on both linguistic and non-linguistic factors that consciously and unconsciously influence the selection of these strategies.
Vocabulary (words and phrases) as well as phrases and sentences will be tested and identified according to the strategies proposed by Baker, Newmark and Catford
The collection features 14 timeless songs by Trinh Cong Son, highlighted in the 1997 anthology "Trinh Cong Son - Anthem of Music." Additionally, over 40 songs are accessible through the website http://www.tcs-home.org/songs-en/songs, with all versions available in both Vietnamese and English, performed by various artists.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
This article analyzes the semantic and syntactic features of 14 English translations of Trinh Cong Son's songs compared to the original Vietnamese texts, utilizing strategies proposed by Newmark, Baker, and Catford The study highlights the various translation strategies employed, ranking them from most to least typical Additionally, the findings are visually summarized through graphs, providing a clear representation of the metrics involved.
3.1 SEMANTIC FEATURES OF WORDS AND PHRASES IN TRINH CONG SON 'S SONGS
In my analysis of Trinh Cong Son's collections, I explored both the Vietnamese and English versions, which feature 1,569 Vietnamese words and 1,585 English words This examination led to the identification of seven distinct strategies In the following section, I will present and discuss each strategy, accompanied by relevant examples.
This strategy was present in all 14 songs with the highest occurrences, totaling 83 tokens and representing nearly 48.5% of all strategies used Additionally, the translation employing the missing strategy exhibits distinct characteristics.
In this section, I am interested in the lack of words and phrases in English translation versions as opposed to Vietnamese lyrics
Translating readable texts differs significantly from other types, as it poses challenges in preserving the original meaning while aligning with the rhythm of the language In the analyzed data warehouse, a prevalent issue observed is the omission of meanings in words and phrases.
In the song "CÁT BỤI – DUSTY SAND," the phrase "trên cao" appears prominently, highlighting its significance within the lyrics This phrase is featured in various contexts throughout the song, illustrating the themes of elevation and perspective As we explore the examples from this track and others, the recurring use of "trên cao" serves to deepen the emotional resonance and meaning within the music.
(1) Lá úa trên cao rụng đầy
Dead leaves ỉ are falling down
Translators often condense Vietnamese phrases into just two words in English, which can lead to the omission of nuances For instance, the adverbial phrase “trên cao,” meaning “from above,” is absent in the English translation However, the verb phrase “fall down” implicitly conveys the idea of something descending from a high position, subtly retaining the essence of the original phrase.
Listen to the song “ĐỜI GỌI EM BIẾT BAO LẦN – LIFE HAS
The phrase "CALLED YOU MANY TIMES" highlights the rhythmic balance between the Vietnamese lyrics and their English translation The translator effectively conveys the meaning of specific words and phrases, ensuring clarity and coherence in the translation.
(2) Bước chân không chờ ai đón ỉ No one is waiting for (you) ỉ
In the song “LẶNG LẼ NƠI NÀY - THE QUIET WORLD OF
MINE”, the phrase “xa vắng” is also omitted:
(3) Tan theo chút tình xa vắng
Flies along a little love ỉ [line 12, Appendix 8]
In the song “MỘT CÕI ĐI VỀ - MY OWN LONELY WORLD”, the phrase “vô tình” is omitted in this sentence:
(4) Con tinh yêu thương vô tình chợt gọi
A lover-demon ỉ has just called
In the song “QUỲNH HƯƠNG - A LITTLE ROSE, A LITTLE
LOVE”, the phrase “miệng cười” is omitted in this sentence:
(5) Miệng cười khúc khích trên lưng ỉ A chuckle on your lips
In the song “TUỔI ĐỜI MÊNH MÔNG - IN TOO LARGE
LIFE”, the verb “ôm” is omitted in this case:
(6) Ôm cuộc sống trong tay ỉ (With) full love in hands
The examples above are typical examples of the occurrences of this strategy
Translating from Vietnamese to English often results in the loss of meaning, as many words and phrases cannot be fully conveyed This leads to significant omissions in the translation process.
There are three instances where words and phrases are translated with a single meaning, highlighting specific limitations in nouns, verbs, and adjectives or adverbs.
3.1.1.2 Partial omission a Omission of adjective
In this strategy, the translator omits the Adjective
Source text Target text Back translation Omission tình sâu love tình sâu
In this example, the translator uses only one word in love which means love
= places gratitude to set the English equivalent, making the target text out of character
(7)tình sâu(trả nợ một đời chưa hết tình sâu)
love(a debt of love has not been paid)
This is also considered a typical feature Here are some examples to illustrate
(8) ngày vui (nơi em về ngày vui không em)
all joys (where you are, are there all joys)
Source text Target text Back translation Omission ngày vui all joys tất cả niềm vui ngày
In this example, the translator uses only one word “all joys” = “tất cả niềm vui” to set the English equivalent, which makes the target text drop out the word
(9) nợ người (xin trả nợ người)
my debt (I pay my debt)
Source text Target text Back translation Omission nợ người my debt nợ của tôi người
In translating the phrase "nợ người," the translator simplifies it to "my debt" or "nợ của tôi," resulting in the omission of the word "người." This highlights the tendency to streamline translations by excluding certain elements, such as verbs, to achieve clarity and conciseness in the target text.
(10) xin làm quán đợi (tôi xin làm quán đợi)
serve as an inn (I serve as an inn)
Source text Target text Back translation Omission xin làm quán đợi serve as an inn phục vụ như quán trọ xin / đợi
The translation of the phrase “xin làm quán đợi” simplifies to “serve as an inn,” resulting in the omission of the verbs “xin” and “đợi.” This reduction highlights the challenge of capturing the full meaning in the target language while maintaining coherence.
Nearly 50% of the strategies employed in translating the 14 songs of Trinh Cong Son involve omission, a prevalent technique in translation However, achieving a complete and accurate conveyance of the source text remains a significant challenge that has yet to be fully realized.
3.1.2 Translation by using a more neutral/less expressive word
In situations where an exact equivalent is unavailable, translators may struggle to convey the true meaning of the source text in the target language This approach aims to enhance the reader's comprehension of specific words or phrases from the original text.
(11) trắng như vôi(chợt một chiều tóc trắng như vôi)
turn white(just one day my hair turn white)
Source text Target text Back translation trắng như vôi turn white trở nên trắng
The Vietnamese idiom "trắng như vôi," which translates to "as white as lime," captures a vivid comparison of whiteness However, the English translation "turn white" does not fully convey the richness of the original phrase, though it does partially communicate the intended meaning.
(12) xuân thì (trong xuân thì thấy bóng trăm năm)
early years ((In) early years is seen a whole life)
Source text Target text Back translation xuân thì early years những năm đầu
In translation, a neutral or less expressive word may be used to convey part of a phrase's meaning, as seen in the English equivalent of “xuân thì.” This noun phrase combines the adjective “xuân,” which connotes “young” rather than simply meaning “Spring,” and the noun “thì,” which translates to “time.” By connecting these meanings, the phrase can be interpreted as “the young time.” If the translator opts for “early” instead of “young,” the richness of the original meaning is only partially captured.
3.1.3 Translation by using a more general word