RATIONALE
I have a deep passion for reading stories, novels, and poems, and recently explored both classic and modern literature During this journey, I discovered the captivating works of young author Duong Thuy, who has garnered immense popularity among the younger generation Her engaging stories and novels resonate with readers across the globe, making her books widely available in bookstores, offices, and online platforms.
Duong Thuy is a prominent Vietnamese author celebrated for her portrayal of Vietnamese culture and the experiences of her compatriots living abroad Her notable works include "Oxford yêu thương," published in 2007, and its English translation "Beloved Oxford," released in 2014 Other significant titles are "Cung đường vàng nắng," published in 2012 with the English version "In the Golden Sun" following in 2016, and "Nhắm mắt thấy Paris," published in 2010, showcasing her ability to connect Vietnamese narratives with a global audience.
The English version of "Through Closed Eyes" was released in 2013, while "Tôi nghĩ tôi thích nước Mỹ" and its English counterpart, "Across America," were published in 2016 and 2017, respectively Additionally, "Chờ em đến San Francisco" and "We’ll meet again in San Francisco" are notable works in this collection.
Francisco” were published in 2014 and 2018, respectively Her original stories in
Vietnamese as well as the translational versions are best-selling Her stories have made her beloved by especially young readers
Language enables humans to communicate their feelings, emotions, and ideas effectively For writers to achieve their best work, they must employ a variety of linguistic techniques, particularly stylistic devices like compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions As a teacher at a vocational school and a foreign language center, I have encountered numerous challenges in translation while teaching English Both English and Vietnamese utilize compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in various materials, including stories and newspapers Successfully translating these equivalents between languages is crucial for providing readers with a clear understanding of their meanings, yet it remains a significant challenge.
This study focuses on the analysis of compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in the works of Duong Thuy, alongside their English translations By examining these stylistic devices, the research aims to enhance understanding of translation procedures and develop effective strategies for translating between Vietnamese and English The chosen title for this research is “A Study of Compound Synonyms and Synonymous Substitutions in Duong Thuy’s Stories and Their English Translational Equivalents.” The goal is to uncover the translation processes involved and apply these insights to improve English language teaching and translation practices.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Aims
This study aims to outline the procedures for translating Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy's stories into English It is designed to enhance English language learning and improve translation skills among Vietnamese learners of English.
Objectives
To achieve the aims of the study, the following objectives are intended to:
- identify, describe and analyze procedures for translating Vietnamese compound synonyms
- identify, describe and analyze procedures for translating Vietnamese synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy‟s stories into English
- Suggest some implications for teaching, learning and translating from source language to target.
SCOPE OF STUDY
This study examines the translation methods employed by native translator Elbert Bloom for Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions found in five stories by Duong Thuy.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To fulfill the objectives mentioned above, the study tries to seek the answers to the following questions:
1 What are procedures for translating Vietnamese compound synonyms in Duong Thuy‟s stories into English?
2 What are procedures for translating Vietnamese synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy‟s stories into English?
3 What are the occurrence frequencies of procedures for translating Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy‟s stories into English?
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research aims to explore Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy's stories, along with their English translations It seeks to equip learners with practical knowledge and effective translation techniques for these linguistic elements Additionally, the findings can enhance the study and teaching of English skills and translation, particularly concerning compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This study consists of 5 main chapters as follows:
- Chapter 1:“Introduction” includes the rationale, aims and objectives, the research questions, the scope of the study and organization of the study
Chapter 2, titled "Literature Review," examines previous research relevant to the thesis, offering a theoretical foundation that enhances our understanding of compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions It also discusses translation procedures and provides an overview of both the author and the English translator.
- Chapter 3: “Methodology and Procedures”states the methods and procedures of the study Methodology and Procedures
- Chapter 4: “Findings and Discussion” deals with the translation procedures of Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions found in Duong Thuy‟s stories and their English translational versions
- Chapter 5: “Conclusion and Implications” gives the main points discussed in chapter 4, provides some implications for teaching, learning and translating; simultaneously, shows the limitations and suggestions for further study
Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORECTICAL
LITERATURE REVIEW
In association with my thesis, we referred to the two stylistic devices, compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Vietnamese by Đinh Trọng
Lạc (2012: 134-137), the author of a well-known book entitled “99 Phương tiện và
Biện pháp Tu từ tiếng Việt” In English, we adapted the view points by Halliday
M.A.K & Hasan R (1994: 284-292, 339) in his prestigious book “Cohesion in
English ” that are related to collocation, such as lexicosemantic relation, synonyms and near synonyms, occurrence in proximity, pairs of cohesive effect or direction and distance of cohesion
In her 2017 M.A thesis at the University of Danang, Nguyen Thi Huyen Ngoc conducted a study titled “An Investigation into Translating Stylistic Devices in ‘Cung đường vàng nắng’ by Duong Thuy into English in ‘In the Golden Sun’ by Elbert Bloom,” focusing on the translation procedures involved While her research explored various stylistic devices, including simile, metonymy, and hyperbole, it was limited to a single story by Duong Thuy and its English translation.
Despite existing studies on general translation and specific procedures for translating Vietnamese stylistic devices into English, there is a notable lack of research focusing on compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy's stories and their English translations This gap prompted me to undertake a study titled “A Study of Compound Synonyms and Synonymous Substitutions in Duong Thuy’s Stories and Their English Translational Equivalents.” The findings aim to provide English learners with valuable insights into these stylistic devices and their translation procedures, thereby contributing to the fields of language teaching, learning, and translation.
THEORECTICAL BACKGROUND
Compound synonym and synonymous substitutions
Dinh Trong Lac (2012: 134-137) defines "compound synonym" as a rhetorical technique that utilizes two or more synonyms to convey a specific meaning This method aims to fully characterize an object, as each synonym captures a unique nuance of meaning.
In language learning and practice, synonyms are defined as words that share similar meanings but differ in rhetorical nuances and emotional connotations Utilizing synonyms in speech not only refines the content but also enhances its emotional impact, allowing for more expressive communication.
In literary arts and literature, compound synonyms play a crucial role in conveying meaning However, in everyday conversations, scientific writing, and administrative communication, the options for creating and utilizing synonyms are significantly restricted.
Compound synonyms enable effective and appealing communication, allowing users to convey their feelings and attitudes subtly These terms serve as a unique code that readers must understand for accurate interpretation Understanding the classification of compound synonyms is essential for effective communication.
According to Dinh Trong Lac, compound synonyms are classified into two kinds based on their specific features and functions They are: b1 Pair of synonyms
It accurately adds the content of a spokesperson and contributes to the expression of additional information
E.g Nhưng đúng như dự đoán của bà tôi! Cuối cùng mẹ tôi đã trở về, sau bao nhiêu ngộ nhận, lầm lạc, sau những cơn trầm uất vì ân hận, vò xé nội tâm…
Nhưng có thể tóm tắt thế này: bà đẫ đuổi theo một cái bong bong, vì quẫn trí, mê lú
(Ma Văn Kháng) b2 Chain of synonyms and near synonyms
It enhances expressiveness Speaking people are conscious of choosing the most expressive language tools to achieve maximum benefit
E.g Bà bế bồng, dìu dắt chúng cháu đi qua những năm tháng cách trở, lọc lừa, phản trắc, bất công Bà đưa chúng cháu qua nơi hỗn độn đến sự an bằng Có mẹ, có cha mà hóa ra côi cút, bao oan khổ, đắng cay, thiệt thòi của chúng cháu đều được bà san lấp, đền bù, an ủi Những đau tủi, buồn khổ của tuổi ấu thơ đơn côi giữa cảnh đời, nhờ có bà, đã được gột rửa khỏi tâm hồn Nhờ bà, chúng cháu bước qua vùng tủi hổ đến với hi vọng và tin yêu Bà là sự nhẫn nhịn , là lòng hỉ xả là tuyệt sạch giá trong , là tình thương, là lẽ phải, là sự cứng cỏi, kiên trinh Bà là cổ tích Bà là bà mụ đỡ nâng trong linh hồn chúng cháu Bà là phật bà Hay chính bà là cô tiên giáng trần đã che chở cưu mang chúng cháu bằng tình thương yêu và các phép màu huyền nhiệm , thần kì! (Ma Văn Kháng)
Dinh Trong Lac defines synonymous substitution as a rhetorical technique that employs synonyms to describe an object, phenomenon, or action This method enhances the original term by adding new characteristics and perspectives.
Synonymous substitutions are classified into four kinds based on their specific features and functions They are: b1 Dictionary synonymous substitutions
Both linking elements are synonyms (usually fixed in thesaurus) In addition to the main function of the link, this type of function provides additional information about the evaluation
E.g Một cái mũ len xanh nếu chị sinh con gái Chiếc mũ sẽ dỏ tươi nếu chị đẻ con trai (Anh Đức) b2 Negative synonymous substitutions Either of two linking elements is the words formed from the antithesis plus a negative word In addition to the main function of linking, this kind of function also provides additional information about nuances that repetition cannot be expressed
E.g Nó phải đi hết chỗ này chỗ nọ, để kiếm cái nhét vào dạ dày Để nó sống
In "Vì nó chưa chết" by Nguyễn Công Hoan, descriptive synonymous substitutions serve as linking elements that effectively represent the object in question This approach enables us to characterize the object from multiple perspectives, enhancing the presentation of feedback information.
E.g Nó (ngôn ngữ) là cái “cây đời” trong câu thơ của Gớt , câu mà Lê Nin rất thích, mà tôi cũng rất thích Nhà thơ lớn của nhân dân Đức đã viết: “Mọi lí thuyết, bạn ơi, là màu xám Nhưng cây đời của cuộc sống mãi xanh tươi” (Phạm Văn Đồng) b4 Temporary synonymous substitutions The two linking elements are not synonymous; however, they convey a general semantic relation, e.g general words denoting breeds or species, in which the word has a narrower extension (indicating breeds)is the main element; otherwise, the word has a broader extension (indicating species) is the replacement Temporary synonymous substitutions can avoid reiteration; simultaneously provide readers with an amount of new information and evaluation about the mentioned object
E.g Một số phường săn đến thăm dò để giăng bẫy bắt con cọp xám Nhưng con ác thú tinh lắm, đặt mồi to và ngon đến đâu cũng không lừa nổi nó.
Theory of translation
Peter Newmark (1981) defined translation as a craft focused on replacing a written message in one language with an equivalent message in another language.
Peter Newmark (1988) defined translation as a craft that involves the effort to convey a written message or statement from one language to another while maintaining its original meaning.
Literary translation involves the translation of various literary forms, including novels, short stories, poems, and plays Its primary purpose is to connect the emotional nuances of different cultures and languages, enhancing our understanding of humanity across global boundaries.
Baker (1992) explored various forms of equivalence in translation, while Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) emphasized an equivalence-oriented approach Nida and Taber (1964) introduced the concepts of formal and dynamic equivalence, which they refined over time Additionally, House (1977) proposed that equivalence can be classified as either overt or covert, forming the basis of her translation theory on this distinction.
Jakobson (1959) presents the idea of equivalence in difference, identifying three types: intralingua, interlingua, and intersemiotic Meanwhile, Baker (1992) expands on this by defining four types of equivalence, which include word-level and above-word-level equivalents such as grammatical, textual, and pragmatic equivalence.
Peter Newmark's study highlights that translation methods pertain to entire texts, while translation procedures focus on sentences and smaller language units One common method of translation is word-for-word translation.
Word-for-word translation, often shown as interlinear translation, features the target language directly beneath the source language while maintaining the original word order This method translates each word individually using their most common meanings without considering context, and cultural terms are rendered literally Its primary purposes are to grasp the mechanics of the source language and to interpret challenging texts as a preliminary step in the translation process.
Literal translation differs from other methods by converting grammatical structures from the source language to their closest equivalents in the target language while translating individual lexical words out of context This pre-translation process highlights potential issues that need to be addressed in faithful translation.
Faithful translation seeks to accurately convey the original text's contextual meaning while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language This approach involves transferring cultural terms and maintaining the level of grammatical and lexical deviation from the norms of the source language The primary goal is to remain true to the intentions and textual expression of the original writer.
Semantic translation prioritizes the aesthetic value of the source text, focusing on its beauty and natural sound, in contrast to faithful translation This approach may involve using culturally neutral terms for less significant cultural words instead of direct equivalents, such as translating "a nun ironing a corporal cloth." Additionally, semantic translation may make minor adjustments to cater to the audience's understanding.
The difference between "faithful" and "semantic" translation lies in their approaches; faithful translation is rigid and strict, whereas semantic translation offers flexibility and allows for creative interpretations This flexibility enables translators to connect intuitively with the original text, making room for adaptation and deeper understanding.
Free translation is the most flexible form of translation, primarily utilized for plays and poetry It focuses on preserving themes, characters, and plots while adapting the source culture to fit the target culture While the unfortunate practice of literal translation followed by rewriting by established dramatists or poets has led to subpar adaptations, there are instances where such adaptations have successfully revitalized period plays.
Free translation focuses on conveying the content without preserving the original's form, often resulting in a lengthy paraphrase known as "intralingual translation." This approach can be excessively wordy and may come across as pretentious, straying from the true essence of translation, such as in idiomatic translation.
Idiomatic translation conveys the essence of the original message but often alters subtle meanings by favoring colloquialisms and idioms not present in the source text Esteemed figures like Seleskovitch and Stuart Gilbert advocate for this dynamic and "natural" approach to translation Communicative translation also plays a significant role in effectively conveying meaning.
Newmark's (1988) communicative translation method aims to convey the original's contextual meaning while ensuring that both the content and language are easily understood by the target audience This approach prioritizes the readership's comprehension, making it particularly effective for informative and vocative texts.
According to Newmark (1988a, p 85) translation procedures involve a change in grammar from source language into target language
The following are the different translation procedures that are proposed by Newmark (1988b: 83, 114) a Literal translation
Linguistic features
As noted by Quirk et al (1988: 207), every verb is expressed through a verb phrase, which is consistently found in all types of clauses, including imperative clauses where the subject is usually omitted The verb plays a crucial role in determining the presence and necessity of other elements within the clause, aside from the subject.
The subject of a sentence is usually a noun phrase that appears before the verb in declarative clauses and follows the operator in yes-no questions It plays a crucial role in determining the verb's number and person in finite clauses and necessitates the use of the subjective form for pronouns with distinct case forms.
In a sentence, the object is usually a noun phrase that follows the subject and verb When both an indirect and direct object are present, the indirect object typically appears before the direct object Additionally, the object can often be transformed into the subject of a corresponding passive clause In finite clauses, pronouns that have distinct case forms must be used in their objective form.
A complement is usually a noun phrase or an adjective phrase that follows the subject and verb when it acts as a subject complement, or follows the direct object when it serves as an object complement It relates to the subject in the case of a subject complement, or to the direct object in the case of an object complement Complements do not have a corresponding passive subject In finite clauses, formal usage (particularly in American English) requires the subjective form of pronouns, while the objective form is used in other contexts.
An adverbial can be an adverb phrase, prepositional phrase, clause, or even a noun phrase It often appears in various positions within a clause, although its placement is influenced by its type and form While adverbials are generally optional, they are required in SVA and SVOA clause structures.
Armstrong N (2005: 150) wrote: “Linguistic transposition concerns the grammar, and involves replacing the source language word or structure with a target language word or structure with different category.”
In linguistics, the term describes a sequence of linguistic units that are related to each other For instance, a noun phrase can be structured as "article + adjective + noun," exemplified by the phrase "the friendly ape" (Richards J C et al, 2002: 358).
Halliday and Hasan (1994) assert that lexical relationships serve as a cohesive force in language, establishing cohesion between lexical items based on recognizable lexicosemantic relations However, this does not extend to synonyms or near-synonyms, such as "climb" and "ascent." Lexical items that share similar collocational patterns can create cohesion when they appear in adjacent sentences Cohesion in English texts can be immediate, occurring in contiguous sentences, or mediate, involving one or more intervening sentences that maintain a chain of presupposition.
„remote‟ (having one or more intervening sentences not involved in presupposition), or both.
The study of morphemes focuses on their various forms, known as allomorphs, and how they combine to create words An example of this is the English word "unfriendly," which is constructed from the root "friend," the adjective-forming suffix "-ly," and the negative prefix "un-."
Overview of the stories by Duong Thuy
Duong Thuy, born in 1975 in Ho Chi Minh City, is a prolific female writer known for her bestselling novels, including "Beloved Oxford" and "Paris Through Closed Eyes." Coming from a studious family, she showcased her literary talent early, debuting with the short story "Ice Dolls" in the 10th grade Duong Thuy holds a BA in French Literature from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City and an MBA from the French-Vietnamese Center for Management Training In 2002, she furthered her education with a scholarship from the Belgian government, earning another MBA from the University of Liege.
Duong Thuy, an experienced traveler and scholar, has spent several years studying in Europe, gaining a deep understanding of various cultures beyond her native Vietnam She skillfully integrates both Western and Eastern influences into her artistic creations.
Duong Thuy's literature is renowned for its romantic and gentle feminine qualities, captivating readers with beautiful love stories that resonate deeply Her poetic narratives and vivid storytelling create a dreamlike atmosphere, drawing in audiences and garnering enthusiastic support for her works.
Duong Thuy currently lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City
2.2.4.2 Elbert Bloom - The native translator
Elbert Bloom has been a computer chip designer for most of his working career When he was young, he worked in Vietnam for 5 years as a Communications Field Engineer
During my years living in Vietnam, I learned the Vietnamese language and collaborated with author Duong Thuy My process involved translating each chapter, submitting my translations for her review, and refining my work based on her feedback I sincerely hope my translation honors her original writing.
Chapter Three METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES
RESEARCH METHODS
In order to reach the goal of the investigation, both qualitative and quantitative approaches were dealt with to answer the research questions
This article explores the qualitative approach to analyzing the rendering of Vietnamese stylistic devices, specifically compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions, in Duong Thuy's stories and their English translations by Elbert Bloom It focuses on the linguistic features, including syntactic, structural, cohesive, and morphological aspects, in both the source and target languages.
The quantitative approach was applied to calculate the occurrence frequency of procedures in the process of translating Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions into the English language
To achieve the thesis goal, multiple methods were employed, as a single approach proved insufficient Initially, the descriptive method provided a detailed examination of Vietnamese compound synonyms and their English equivalents Additionally, the analytic method was crucial for clarifying and justifying the linguistic features of both compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in the source and target languages.
In summary, various methods guided the research process, but the choice of qualitative and quantitative methods emerged as the primary approaches, aligning with the specific goals of the thesis.
SAMPLING
The study analyzes compound synonyms and their English translations from five stories by Duong Thuy, translated by Elbert Bloom Samples were categorized into adjectives, nouns, verbs, and adverbs to enhance the research's depth The focus will be on the English equivalents of these stylistic devices, examining their syntactic, structural, cohesive, and morphological characteristics to understand the translation process better.
DATA COLLECTION
This study examines 70 samples of Vietnamese compound synonyms and their English translational equivalents, focusing on various stylistic devices The research categorizes these synonyms into sub-groups, including pairs of synonyms, chains of synonyms, and near synonyms Additionally, it explores synonymous substitutions, which are classified into four types: dictionary synonymous substitution, negative synonymous substitution, descriptive synonymous substitution, and temporary synonymous substitution.
The research data were gathered from five stories by Duong Thuy, including "Oxford yêu thương" (2007), "Nhắm mắt thấy Paris" (2010), "Cung đường vàng nắng" (2012), "Chờ em đến San Francisco" (2014), and "Tôi nghĩ tôi thích nước Mỹ" (2016) Additionally, the data analyzed included English translations of these works.
“Beloved Oxford” was published in 2011, “Paris Through Closed Eyes” published in 2013, “In the Golden Sun” was published in 2016, “We‟ll meet again in San
Francisco” published in 2018 and “Across America” in 2017, respectively.
DATA ANALYSIS
Seventy samples of compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions, along with their sub-types, were selected for analysis The investigation focused on linguistic features, including structural and syntactic aspects, to identify the translation procedures for these synonyms and their English equivalents The data analysis was grounded in theories of stylistic devices, translation, and linguistics, following a systematic approach to ensure comprehensive results.
- Collecting samples in the stories by Duong Thuy and their English translational equivalents by Elbert Bloom
- Identifying and grouping into categories depending on the two stylistic devices in the stories by Duong Thuy
- Analyzing to find out how each stylistic device is translated into English according to translation procedures
- Suggesting some implications for translation as well as studying and teaching English.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY
The research data were sourced from Duong Thuy's stories and their English translations by native translator Elbert Bloom, ensuring authenticity and reliability No examples were fabricated, reinforcing the quality of the data The study analyzed the translation procedures of Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions into English, grounded in the theoretical frameworks of esteemed translation and linguistics scholars The findings effectively addressed the research questions, confirming the reliability and validity of the research.
Chapter Four FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter aims to explore the procedures for translating compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy's stories into English It will address three key questions: the methods used for translating compound synonyms, the techniques for translating synonymous substitutions, and the frequency of these translation procedures in Duong Thuy's works.
Armstrong (2005) and Newmark (1988) highlight the significance of syntactic levels, cohesion, and language structures in the translation process, particularly regarding translation procedures This framework underpins our research, which aims to explore the translation methods used for Vietnamese compound synonyms and synonymous substitutions in Duong Thuy's series of stories and their English translations.
TRANSLATION PROCEDURES OF VIETNAMESE COMPOUND
Translation Procedures of Vietnamese Pairs of Synonyms into English 22 4.1.2 Chain of synonyms and near synonyms
4.1.1.1 Translation procedures of Vietnamese pairs of synonyms as adjectives into English
In the example below, Vietnamese pair of synonyms as adjectives and their English translational version can be used
Tại Mỹ, nhân viên dịch vụ thể hiện sự thân thiện rõ rệt, với dáng dấp năng động và khỏe mạnh, mặc dù một số có thể có thân hình vượt mức cân nặng thông thường.
1b However, I found the service personnel friendlier and more dynamic and healthy attitude, even though they may have been a bit overweight
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.58 Across America, p.59
In this chapter, examples are labeled with the letter 'a' to denote the source language (e.g., 1a.), while the letter 'b' indicates the target language (e.g., 1b.).
Regarding the source version and the target one, the Vietnamese compound synonyms adjectives „năng động‟ and „khỏe mạnh‟ are transferred into English as
In both Vietnamese and English, the adjectives "dynamic" and "healthy" serve different syntactic roles In Vietnamese, "năng động" and "khỏe mạnh" act as post-modifiers to the noun "dáng dấp," while in English, "dynamic" and "healthy" function as pre-modifiers to the noun "attitude." This highlights the distinct syntactic structures of adjectives in the two languages.
In relation to the structure, the Vietnamese compound synonyms adjectives
The terms "năng động" and "khỏe mạnh" are connected by the coordinator "and," which can be directly translated into English This indicates that there is no structural change between the source language and the target language, maintaining coherence in both versions.
In consequence, translation procedures of this type is called as class shift as stated by Peter Newark (1988) because the syntactic functions of the related ranks of language are different
The following is the next example of Vietnamese pair of synonyms as adjectives and their target languages
Vào sáng Chủ Nhật, bầu không khí tại Wall Street trở nên thong dong và bình yên, khác hẳn với sự sôi động và chuyên nghiệp thường thấy trong giới tài chính Tuy nhiên, nơi đây vẫn không thiếu phần ồn ào do dòng khách du lịch liên tục đổ về tham quan.
2b Instead of being a vibrant, bustling scene with financial professionals, Wall Street on Sunday morning extremely leisurely, although a bit noisy because tourists were continuously pouring in
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.15 Across America, p.16
The Vietnamese synonyms "sôi động" and "náo nhiệt" function as post-modifiers, while their English counterparts serve as pre-modifiers for the same nouns Both languages exhibit a similar structural pattern, as the adjectives are separated by commas Therefore, the translation process in this case is classified as a class shift.
Halliday and Hasan (1994) emphasize that cohesion in texts extends beyond simple lexical relationships, asserting that any two lexical items connected by a recognizable lexicosemantic relationship exhibit cohesion However, this definition does not encompass synonyms or near-synonyms, such as "climb" and "ascent," "beam" and "rafter," or "disease" and "illness."
In the following example, the Vietnamese pair of synonyms functions as adjectives, and their translations maintain the same syntactic role as complements However, unlike previous examples, the structural composition of the two compound synonyms differs between the two languages.
3a Chúng trở nên quạu cọ, cáu gắt với ba mẹ và tỏ thái độ chống đối ra mặt
3b They became irritable and moody with their parents, and displayed hostile attitudes
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.102 Across America, p.101
In the given example, Vietnamese synonyms are separated by a comma, while their English equivalents are joined by the coordinator "and." Consequently, this translation method is identified as a structure shift.
In the coming example, the Vietnamese adjectives of compound synonym
“sôi động và náo nhiệt” are also interpreted into English as vibrant and animated Formally, Vietnamese adjectives of compound synonym are coordinated và and
English equivalent adjectives as “vibrant and animated” are linked with the coordinator and Besides, Vietnamese adjectives of compound synonym and their
English translational equivalents share the same syntactic function as Cs Thus, the translation procedure in this context is literal
4a Bình tĩnh ngắm lại đại lộ Hollywood, tôi cũng thấy không đến nổi nào, thậm chí còn sôi động và náo nhiệt hơn tôi hình dung
4b I wasn‟t very enthusiastic over seeing Hollywood Boulevard, even though it was more vibrant and animated than I had expected
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.166 Across America, p.169
Newmark P (1988) stated that source language grammatical constructions that are converted to their nearest target language, normally the same unit of language in target language is considered as Literal
Similarly, the same case with the foregoing examples can be seen in the following examples of Vietnamese pair of compound synonym and their translational equivalents in English language
Nếu nhà của Thủ Tướng Anh nhỏ nhắn trên một con phố xinh đẹp, thì nhà của Tổng Thống Mỹ lại lớn lao và lộng lẫy nằm trên một ngọn đồi xanh.
5b The British Prime Minister lived in a petite house on a small street, but the American President‟s house was huge and monumental on a grassy hill
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.67 Across America, p.69
The translation of compound synonyms between the source and target languages often employs a literal procedure, reflecting their syntactic and structural characteristics.
Or other similar samples of adjective pair of compound synonym in Vietnamese and their translational equivalents in English can be seen in the next praxis
6a Người Boston trông cũng nho nhã và lịch duyệt
6b The Bostonians also seem refined and are experienced
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.104 Across America, p 104
The translation of compound synonyms between Vietnamese and English is characterized as literal, as the syntactic and structural features remain unchanged throughout the translation process.
According to Halliday and Hassan (1994), lexical items that share similar collocational patterns tend to create a cohesive force when placed in adjacent sentences This means that words that commonly appear together in similar contexts can enhance the coherence of a text by reinforcing connections between ideas.
The next example of Vietnamese pair of synonym as adjectives and their
English equivalent can be seen underneath
7a Washington D.C vẫn chưa thoát khỏi cơn ác mộng Alexis Aaron nên tại cửa khẩu hải quan của sân bay quốc tế
Washington Dulles, khách quốc tế nhập cư vào bị kiểm tra lạnh lùng và gắt gao
7b.Washington, D.C wasn‟t yet over the Alexis Aaron nightmare, so at the Washington Dulles International Airport customs gate, international arrivals were being checked very coldly and harshly by immigration
Tôi nghĩ tôi thich nước Mỹ, p.71 Across America, p.72
In Vietnamese, the adjectives "lạnh lùng" and "gắt gao" serve as modifiers for the verb "bị kiểm tra," enhancing its meaning (Diep Quang Ban 2005: 506, 517; Hoang Phe 1995: 360, 525) In contrast, their English counterparts "coldly" and "harshly" function as adjuncts to the verb "checked" (Quirk et al 1988: 204-207) This highlights a notable difference in the structural form of the synonym pairs between Vietnamese and English.
As a result, the translation procedure in this case is called structure shift Newmark P
(1988) said that the ranks of language (words, phrase, clauses, or sentences) or their structures are different is considered as structure shift
Occasionally, Vietnamese pair of synonym as adjectives and their English translational equivalents are written in quotation marks as follows
8a Nhận xét "quê quê và mộc mạc" cô phán đêm qua thật "hố hàng"
8b She „Look down on him‟ as
“unrefined and simple” last night her judgment was really „way off‟
Nhắm mắt thấy Paris, p.25 Paris through closed eyes, p.31
In terms of syntactic features, the Vietnamese adjectives "quê" and "mộc mạc" serve as objects to the verb "nhận xét," while their English equivalents "unrefined" and "simple" function as complements to the preposition "as." Both the source and target languages exhibit similar structures, with pairs of synonymous adjectives connected by a coordinator and enclosed in quotation marks According to Newmark (1988: 90), the use of inverted commas or quotation marks during the translation process is considered a translation label or provisional translation.
Summary
Below is the summary of translation procedures of compound synonyms that include two sub-types, i.e pairs of synonyms and chains of synonyms and near synonyms
Table 4.1 Procedures of translating Vietnamese compound synonyms into English
Total Adjective Verb Adverb Noun
The translation of Vietnamese pairs of synonyms into English involves six key procedures: class shift, structure shift, literal translation, provisional translation, reduction, and couplet The couplet procedure dominates with a significant 36.1% share, where class shift combined with structure shift accounts for an impressive 84.6% In contrast, the combination of structure shift and expansion represents only 15.4% Following couplet, literal translation holds the second position at 22.2%, while class shift and structure shift are tied for third and fourth at 19.4% and 16.7%, respectively Lastly, provisional translation and reduction both have the lowest rate, each at 2.8%.
Among these 36 Vietnamese compound synonyms, there are 20 pairs of synonyms are adjectives (equivalent to 55.6%), 10 pairs as verbs (27.8%), 2 pairs as adverbs (5.5%) and 4 pairs as nouns (11.1%).
