INTRODUCTION
Statement of the problem and rationale for the study
In the 21st century, globalization significantly impacts the evolution of translation, as highlighted by Munday (2005, p.5), who underscores the importance of both written and spoken translations in bridging cultural gaps This has led to a surge in the translation of novels across various genres into multiple languages One notable example is "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green, which has garnered acclaim from critics and readers alike for its contemporary writing style and profound insights into youth and humanity since its release in 2012 Consequently, this popular novel has been swiftly translated into Vietnamese, making it accessible to Vietnamese readers despite the presence of various versions by amateur translators.
"Khi lỗi thuộc về những vì sao" by Le Hoang Lan, published by Tre Publishing House in 2012, is recognized as the official version However, there is still no consensus on the quality of its Vietnamese translation.
The primary role of language is to facilitate communication and information exchange, but this process can be complex In literary works such as poems and novels, the intended meaning can vary significantly based on the author's or speaker's intent Context plays a crucial role in determining the meaning of words, which can lead to different interpretations For translators, it is essential to grasp both the explicit and implicit meanings of the source text to effectively convey messages in the target language A key challenge in translation is managing conversational implicature, where the nuances of linguistic and cultural features must be accurately reflected for the target audience.
The researcher was motivated to conduct a study titled "An Assessment of the Vietnamese Translation of Conversational Implicatures from the Main Male Character in 'The Fault in Our Stars'" due to several compelling reasons.
Research aims and research questions
The objectives of the study are:
1 to identify the particularized conversational implicatures made by the main male character in The Fault in our Stars
2 to show the main male character‘s perception of life implied in these particularized conversational implicatures
3 to assess the translation quality of these particularized conversational implicatures from English to Vietnamese on the model proposed by Newmark
These aims can be formulated into the following research questions
1) What PCIs are found in the original novel?
2) How does the main male character show his life perception via the PCIs?
3) How is the Vietnamese translation quality of PCIs according to Newmark’s model?
Significance of the study
The rising popularity of English in Vietnam has increased the demand for intercultural knowledge, driving growth in translation services However, assessing the quality of translations beyond established standards remains challenging This study serves as a valuable resource for both non-professionals and professionals seeking to enhance the translation of literary works The researcher aims to contribute to the understanding of conversational implicatures among language users by applying Grice's theory, taking into account cultural differences and personal backgrounds.
The study serves as a valuable guideline for researchers looking to explore the application of Newmark's model in evaluating literary translations and various other genres.
Research methodology
This study aims to assess the translated versions of conversational implicatures expressed by Augustus, the main male character in the novel "The Fault in Our Stars." In addition to applying Newmark's translation model, it is essential to consider various other translation quality assessment frameworks and Grice's theoretical insights.
The research applies the sequential explanatory mixed method design The
This article identifies and analyzes specific conversational implicatures from the novel, subsequently comparing them to their Vietnamese translations The comparison is conducted using Newmark's translation quality assessment model, which consists of five distinct steps.
- Step 1: A brief analysis of the SL text stressing its intention and its functional aspects
- Step 2: The translator‘s interpretation of the SL text‘s purpose, his translation method and the translation‘s likely readership
- Step 3: A selective but representative detailed comparison of the translation with the original in terms of both semantics and syntactic
- Step 4: An evaluation of the translation
- Step 5: Where appropriate, an assessment of the likely place of the translation in the target language culture or discipline
Design of the study
There are five parts presented in this section:
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION identifies the central problems and main aims of the study Research questions, methodology and significance of the study are also clearly stated in this part
CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW represents fundamental theoretical background that necessitates the formation of the research A brief overview on several previous studies is also indicated in this chapter
CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY covers the sources of data, research methods and analytical framework to collect and analyze the data
CHAPTER 4 – FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION gives the analysis, presentation and interpretation of the results
CHAPTER 5 – CONCLUSION reaches major conclusions, further implications and proposes recommendations for further research.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Translation theory
Diverse definitions of translation have been proposed; however, the study gets focused on the common and radical ones
Translation has historically been seen as the transformation of a text's content from a source language to a target language (Foster, 1958) This concept has evolved, with Nida and Tiber (1969) defining translation as the reproduction of textual material in the source language using the closest natural equivalent in the target language, focusing on both meaning and style Similarly, Peter Newmark (1981) describes translation as a "craft" that involves replacing a written message in one language with another while preserving the original meaning and the author's intent.
(1991) is not different He states that the translation conveys the target language what is expressed in the source language without ruining semantic and stylistic equivalences
Translation can be defined as the process of converting text from a source language to a target language, performed by one or more translators This process aims to convey the meaning of the original language while providing the closest equivalent in the target language.
With regard to translation methods, Newmark‘s approach seems adopted more frequently He suggests eight translation methods in his book A text of translation (1988) as follows:
Word-for-word translation Adaptation
Faithful translation Idiomatic translation Semantic translation Communicative translation
(Newmark, 1988, p 45) Newmark puts methods above in the form of a flattened V diagram The methods are arranged from the simplest to the most complicated form on the author‘s own purpose
Word-for-word translation involves an interlinear approach where source language (SL) words are matched with target language (TL) words Each word is translated individually using its most frequent meaning, often disregarding context This method preserves the original word order of the SL.
- Literal translation considers no contexts and the words are singularly translated It converts the grammatical constructions to their nearest TL equivalents
- Faithful translation is ranked at the higher level that the SL text‘s precise contextual meaning is allowed ―within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures‖
- Semantic translation emphasizes the aesthetic value of the SL text This method admits the differences and respects ―the translator‘s intuitive empathy with the original‖
Adaptation is often viewed as the most flexible form of translation due to its dramatic purpose Translators use adaptation for plays, ensuring that the themes, characters, and plots remain intact, while the translation itself may resemble a rewritten work.
- Free translation refers to the TL text called ―intralingual translation‖ This
―free‖ style translation features the matter without the manner or the content without the SL form The original is much shorter than paraphrases
Idiomatic translation is employed when the nuances of meaning are altered without compromising the original text's underlying value This approach often involves using colloquialisms and idioms to convey concepts that are absent in the source material.
Communicative translation focuses on accurately conveying the contextual meaning of the source language (SL) text, ensuring that the target language (TL) text is easily understandable for readers This approach is commonly employed for translating complex documents and texts.
Newmark emphasizes the superiority of semantic and communicative translation methods, asserting that they effectively achieve the two primary goals of translation: accuracy and economy, more so than other approaches.
Avoiding the feasibility of the confusion between translation ―methods‖ and
In his 1988 work, Newmark distinguishes between "procedures," which relate to the overall text, and "techniques," which pertain to sentences and smaller language units To enhance understanding of these concepts, he introduced sixteen essential types of translation procedures in the 1995 edition of his book.
Transference transferring directly an SL word to a TL without any alternation
Naturalization adapting the SL word to the TL‘s normal pronunciation, and then the normal morphology
Cultural equivalent replacing a word in the SL with a TL one with the same function, referring to the different cultures or countries
Functional equivalent neutralizing or generalizing the SL word
Descriptive equivalent explaining word meaning in the TL
Componential analysis comparing an SL word with a TL word that has a similar meaning but not a certain one-to-one equivalent
Synonym finding a near TL equivalent
Through-translation being the literal translation of organizations‘ names, common collocations and compounds‘ components
Shift or transposition including a change from SL to TL regarding the grammar
Modulation in translation involves adapting the source language (SL) message to the target language (TL) text, considering differing perspectives This approach is particularly relevant when translators utilize officially recognized translations of institutional terms.
Compensation occurring as a part of a sentence makes up for the loss of meaning in another part Paraphrase explaining the meaning of the ST
Couplets combining two different procedures
Footnotes adding further information in a translation
Several authors have proposed various translation procedures Nida (1964) classifies his procedures into technical and organizational categories, with technical procedures encompassing three phases: analyzing the source language (SL) and target language (TL), studying the SL text, and identifying appropriate equivalents Additionally, Vinay and Darbelnet (1976) present seven procedures, including borrowing, claque, literal translation, transposition, modulation, equivalence, and adaptation Their approach emphasizes the first four procedures on linguistic differences, while the last three focus on cultural aspects of translation.
Translation scholars have engaged in extensive discussions that have led to a diversification of translation methods and procedures Nevertheless, for the purpose of this study, only the clearly defined procedures will be utilized.
In the Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, Baker and Sandanha
In 1998, authors such as Cartford, Nida, Taber, and Koller highlighted the importance of equivalence as a fundamental requirement in translation They argue that finding equivalents is essential, positioning equivalence as a key concept in the translation process When a translator conveys a message from the source language to another language, they engage in a complex task that bridges two distinct cultures This process involves not only the surface structures and words of the source text but also a deeper focus on semantic and functional aspects.
Translation equivalence remains a contentious topic among language theorists, who interpret the concept in diverse ways influenced by various theories There are three primary perspectives on this issue The first group views translation equivalence as the process of conveying a source language (SL) message into a target language (TL) based on its communicative function The second group emphasizes the linguistic aspects, focusing on the mechanical transfer of meaning units from the SL to the TL Conversely, the third group outright rejects the notion of translation equivalence, arguing that translation effectively facilitates communication between speakers of different languages, even if equivalence is not achieved Despite these differing viewpoints, all groups acknowledge the importance of both communicative and linguistic aspects in the process of translation.
Equivalence in translation can be examined from a form-oriented perspective, as outlined by Baker (1992), who asserts that equivalence can be attained at both the word level and above He further elaborates on the similarities between the source language (SL) and target text (TT), emphasizing their significance within the context of texts These concepts contribute to a broader understanding of translation equivalence.
Koller (1992) advocates for a meaning-based approach to translation, emphasizing the importance of preserving the quality of both the source language (SL) and target text (TT) According to Chesterman's "Readings in Translation Theory" (1989), Koller asserts that equivalence should maintain the integrity of the original text, stating that "Quality X in the source language text must be preserved." He further classifies equivalence into denotative, which pertains to real-world similarities and the extra-linguistic content of a text, and connotative aspects.
Literary translation
Literary translation stands apart from other translation categories as it primarily focuses on the poetic, communicative, and aesthetic functions of language According to Reiss (1989), literary texts represent a unique expressive text type, where the author employs aesthetic preferences in their language choices.
Literary translation involves a complex interplay of various features, as highlighted by Belhagg (1997), who identifies nine key traits including expressiveness, connotation, and a focus on both form and content The challenge of translating literary works lies in capturing the unique characteristics of the source language text, such as word choice and figurative language (Riffaterre, 1992) Furthermore, Bush (1998) emphasizes that a literary translator not only reflects the original author's imagination and intellect but also creates a new linguistic pattern that invites diverse interpretations, often transcending the original intentions of both the author and the translator.
Lamberts (1998, p.130) describes a published translation as the result of significant creative effort by the translator, who plays a crucial role in navigating the subjective and social aspects of translation This underscores the importance of the literary translator's ability to make independent decisions regarding translation quality, ensuring that the work resonates with readers despite social and cultural constraints.
Literary translation is a complex endeavor that necessitates various strategies to achieve equivalence in works such as poetry and fiction An effective translation must maintain aesthetic appeal while preserving the informative functions of language, as well as the original's style, thought, emphasis, rhythm, and sound (Newmark, 1998, p 201) According to Toury (1995, p 12-13), equivalence in literary translation should be examined through two concepts: first, the translation of texts considered 'literary' in the source culture, and second, the translation of a text recognized as a 'literary' product within the recipient culture The first concept highlights the similarities between the original literary work and its translation based on the source culture, while the second focuses on the context, traditions, and tastes of the target culture.
Literary translation is a creative endeavor that varies in interpretation among different authors, shaped by the specific work being translated This process is influenced by diverse theoretical foundations that emerge during translation.
Literary translation presents unique challenges due to its inherent indirectness and the hidden meanings within texts As Bassnett (2005) suggests, a translator lacking an understanding of the translation process is akin to a driver of a Rolls Royce unaware of how the car operates Translators often struggle with literary works because they overlook the complex systems that interconnect with external contexts Finlay (1971) highlights that literary translators face greater pressure than those translating technical or commercial texts, as they prioritize linguistic style and expression over mere factual accuracy Additionally, the difficulty of translating literary texts is exacerbated by language and cultural barriers To effectively evaluate text quality prior to translation, translators should enhance their knowledge of both literary and non-literary textual criticism (Newmark).
Cultural transference is known as a daunting task of the translators because
Different cultures emphasize distinct aspects of communication, making it challenging to achieve perfect translations of culturally-bound texts As noted by Harivanto (2003), the inherent disparities between languages and their varying cultural contexts create obstacles in conveying meaning accurately.
Literature faces inherent limitations in translating source texts into target texts, as highlighted by Newmark (2004), who compares the translation quality between literary French and Spanish He notes that translations from French to Spanish tend to be more accurate due to the closer interrelation of the languages Similarly, Nida (1969) illustrates the challenges of translation with the phrase "Lamb of God" from the Bible, which proves difficult to translate into Eskimo due to the absence of a corresponding term for "lamb." To convey the intended message, Nida opts for "Seal of God," demonstrating the necessity of adapting translations to fit cultural contexts These examples underscore the complexities and nuances involved in literary translation.
―translating without understanding text is non-sense, and understanding text without understanding its culture is impossible.‖ (Harivanto, 2003)
Literature serves as a cultural reflection of a country or community, presenting significant challenges for translators who must balance the aesthetic and cultural elements of both the source language (SL) and target language (TL) To effectively translate literary works, a translator must grasp the essence of the SL culture before recreating the text in another language, considering various factors such as linguistic, musical, rhythmic, and visual aspects (Schulte, 2010).
Every author possesses a unique writing style that distinguishes them from others, such as the poetic flair of Shakespeare or the contemporary voice of John Green This individuality in writing creates a lasting impression on readers Therefore, when translating a text, it is essential for the translator to recognize and incorporate the original author's style to maintain the integrity and essence of the work.
Stylistic translation presents significant challenges, as illustrated by Lander (2001), who emphasizes that while the order of elements in technical translation may be irrelevant as long as the content remains intact, the same does not hold true for stylistic translation Here, the original style is crucial; a translation that neglects the artistic and aesthetic qualities of the source text can result in a poor rendering that lacks emotional depth This highlights the importance of the relationship between the source language (SL) author and the target language (TL) translator, as their emotional and attitudinal connections are essential for achieving true equivalence Thus, a text may be transformed from unqualified to high-quality through appropriate stylistic adaptation, whereas a good original can easily degrade into a poor translation if its style is not preserved.
To achieve the primary objective of translation and fully convey the original work's content, translators should adopt the author's style while ensuring that the translated text remains faithful to the context.
The primary challenge for translators is achieving equivalence between the source language (SL) and target language (TL) texts However, this equivalence is difficult to attain without ensuring that linguistic elements are properly addressed in the translation Nida (1964) highlights that linguistic issues can lead to numerous translation challenges, primarily stemming from differences in language structure and the arrangement of grammatical elements, syntax, punctuation, semantic prosody, and vocabulary Therefore, the effectiveness of a translation heavily depends on the attention given to these linguistic aspects.
Translating literary texts demands a higher level of knowledge and responsibility from translators, as they must recognize that these texts consist of complex systems interacting with external elements Many translators fail to grasp this complexity, leading them to prioritize certain aspects of a text while neglecting others It is crucial for translators to focus not only on linguistic elements but also on the diverse modes of thinking and perception inherent in the cultural contexts of the language being translated.
Implicature
2.3.1 Definition of implicature and literary implicature
Implicature, introduced by Herbert Paul Grice in 1967, refers to the underlying meanings in communication that extend beyond the literal words spoken Grice defines implicature as the ability to convey what a speaker implies, suggests, or means, distinct from their literal statements (Brown & Yule, 1983) This concept has inspired various definitions from linguists, such as Thomas (1996), who describes implicature as an additional meaning that indirectly hints or expresses ideas through language, emphasizing that it pertains to utterances rather than sentences and can vary in different contexts Laurence (2006) also notes that implicature is a crucial component of speaker meaning, substituting what is intended without being explicitly stated Yule (1996) outlines four features of implicature: studying contextual meaning, understanding complexities beyond the spoken words, expressing relative closeness, and revealing the speaker's meaning Overall, implicature highlights the depth of communication, indicating that speakers often convey more than what is overtly expressed.
Implicature remains a fundamental aspect of literature, influencing how authors and readers collaborate in understanding written communication Literary authors often employ figurative language, requiring readers to infer meanings independently This process can be challenging, as readers may struggle to grasp the author's intended message, resulting in the potential for implicature to emerge, particularly in novels.
In Grice‘s book Logic and Conversation (1975), Grice discusses two types of implicatures, conventional implicature and conversational implicature
Grice illustrates implicature with two examples: "He’s an Englishman; he is, therefore, brave," suggesting that the man's bravery stems from his English heritage, and "She is poor, but she is honest," indicating that her poverty does not compromise her honesty Both sentences highlight the significance of word meanings and their lexical independence from contextual messages Additionally, Yule (1996, p.45) contributes another example to this discussion.
Ana has not improved yet, indicating her ongoing illness This example illustrates the concept of conventional implicature, which operates independently of contextual conditions Grice and Yule highlight that conventional implicature is activated by specific words, leading to additional meanings in conversations Common conjunctions such as "but," "therefore," and "yet" often accompany this type of implicature.
In addition to Grice and Yule, other linguists, such as Levison (1983), have explored the concept of conventional implicature Levison argues that conventional implicatures are not derived from overarching pragmatic principles but are instead linked to specific lexical items or expressions by convention, highlighting their non-truth conditional nature.
According to Verschueren (1995, p.47) and Verschueren (1999, p.34), implicature conventions are not derived from conversational rules but are instead linked to specific lexical items, which communicate inherent meanings.
Grice (1975) introduces the concept of conversational implicature, highlighting how speakers convey meanings beyond their literal words within specific contexts According to Paltridge (2006, p.70), this implicature involves the listener's ability to infer the speaker's intended meaning, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between both parties for effective communication.
Grice emphasizes the importance of a shared set of principles for both the speaker and the listener to effectively navigate conversational implicature, enhancing the overall communication process.
The Cooperative Principle, as defined by Grice (1991), ensures that conversational contributions are appropriate to the context and purpose of the dialogue It encompasses four fundamental maxims: quality, quantity, relevance, and manner, which function as guidelines to generate implicatures in communication.
- The maxim of Quantity : It supports your contribution as informative as required and limits the informative overload
- The maxim of Quality: This maxim allows the language users not to say what is believed to be false and convey inadequate evidence
- The maxim of Relation : The speakers‘ contributions are relevant
- The maxim of Manner: The expressions are assured not to be ambiguous and obscure It should be orderly and brief
To ensure a successful conversation, participants must adhere to certain maxims, which require respect for authenticity, quantity, relevance, and the manner of information transfer (Grice, 1975) However, in everyday communication, the Cooperative Principle is often not upheld, as individuals may intentionally or unintentionally neglect these maxims (Neito).
Communication difficulties can arise from various factors, such as a speaker's challenges in conveying information or psychological barriers that hinder fluency Additionally, the listener plays a crucial role in understanding the speaker's message, and ineffective interaction can lead to misunderstandings To enhance comprehension, listeners are encouraged to infer the intended meaning when speakers do not adhere to conversational maxims Conversational implicature can be categorized into two types: Generalized Conversational Implicature (GCI) and Particularized Conversational Implicature.
Pragmatic Conversational Implicatures (PCI) do not require participants to possess specialized contextual knowledge to understand the implied meanings This type of implicature arises in situations devoid of unique contextual circumstances (Levison, 1983; Yule, 1996) In contrast, PCI relies on specific contexts where recognized inferences are assumed by the participants (Yule).
Translators must understand the implied meanings in the original text when translating conversational implicatures, as highlighted by Baker (1992), who warns that literal translations can lead to incorrect interpretations Hatim and Mason (1990) emphasize that linguistic differences should not hinder translators; instead, they should focus on the communicative goals of the translation According to Thomas (as cited in Baker, 1992), certain implicatures, like quality implicature, may not be easily conveyed across different languages due to contextual variations Ultimately, the effectiveness of the translation lies in how the message is delivered, requiring translators to choose methods that accurately convey content while preserving the intended impact.
Translators face the challenge of effectively conveying the author's intended meaning, often needing to choose between direct and indirect methods of implicature transfer To achieve this, they must comprehend the discourse and cultural nuances inherent in both the source and target languages This complexity is heightened when translating conversational implicatures, as adjustments may be necessary to align the text with the cultural context of the target audience The focus of this work is specifically on English and Vietnamese, emphasizing acceptability in translation over strict accuracy.
Taken from Yule (2006, p.131), the following conversation is regarded as the particular example for the second type of conversational implicature – Particularized conversational implicature (PCI)
Woman: Do you want to test the potatoes?
Man: Can I just finish this sentence?
In a kitchen setting, a married couple engages in a conversation while reading books and preparing dinner The husband's question appears unrelated to the task at hand, but his wife infers that he will check the potatoes after completing a sentence This scenario highlights how a listener outside the context may lack crucial information, leading to potential misunderstandings of the speaker's intent.
Translation quality assessment (TQA)
Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) has garnered significant attention from prominent scholars such as House (1997), Nord (1997), Lauscher (2000), Brunette (2000), Colina (2008), and William (2009) This highlights the necessity for comprehensive and updated approaches to translation evaluations, emphasizing the undeniable need for translations to be assessed as "good," "satisfactory," and "acceptable."
Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) clarifies the criteria for value judgments in translation, focusing on the interpretative potential derived from the source text within a defined framework (Lawson, 2012, p.6) In essence, TQA serves as an evaluative tool that employs specific standards to assess the quality of translated works.
Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) plays a crucial role in translation courses, as highlighted by Peter Newmark (1998), due to its link between theory and practice It enhances translators' skills through the critique of others' work, providing valuable professional experience TQA also broadens translators' linguistic knowledge and understanding of both their native and foreign languages within specific topics Furthermore, it allows translators to refine their grasp of translation theories and principles, positioning them as professionals in the field Schiaffino (2005) emphasizes additional benefits of TQA, including improved language proficiency, a deeper understanding of translation-related topics, reduced instances of poor quality, and increased customer satisfaction.
2.4.2 Different approaches to access TQA
TQA models are produced from the different schools of thoughts Scholars are thus divided into different groups of TQA approaches
Following this approach, the common names such as Reiss (1971), Skopos Theories (1991), E Steiner (1998), House (1977, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2009,
The functionalist approach in intercultural communication emphasizes that the purpose of the text producer influences translation methods, as the aim of a text in the target culture is crucial Reiss (1971) argues that assessing a translated product should start with identifying text types, as different types of texts result in varying functions and treatments She categorizes texts into four principal types: content-focused (such as news and scientific-technical texts), form-focused (including poems and literary works), appeal-focused (like advertisements and rhetorical texts), and audio-medical texts (such as operas and songs) While Reiss acknowledges the importance of text types for translation equivalence, she does not provide specific steps to achieve the desired function in translation.
The Skopos theory, developed by German scholar Hans Vermeer in 1978, is a prominent functionalist approach in translation studies Vermeer posits that the source text (ST) is created for a specific context in the source culture, which may differ from that of the target culture Consequently, translations should be tailored to meet the intended purpose within the target culture, as emphasized by Nord's interpretation of the Skopos theory.
In 1991, it was recognized that the decision to maintain all semantic and formal features of the original text or to adapt the source text depends on the function of the target text and the specific demands of the translation Consequently, translations can be categorized on a scale that ranges from extreme fidelity to extreme liberty.
The use of "literal" to "free" statements is essential for minimizing errors in the translation process An analytical framework consisting of four steps is proposed for literary documents First, the target text (TT) is examined for intra- and extra-textual factors, including grammatical and lexical coherence, as well as pragmatic aspects like time and place Next, the source text (ST) is analyzed based on a model for translation-relevant text analysis, which is effective only if potential issues, such as coherence gaps or inconsistent terminology, are thoroughly evaluated The third step involves comparing the TT and ST, creating a profile for this comparison However, this model raises the challenge of how to conduct an overall evaluation when judgments are based on error types rather than quantifiable data.
Functionalist approaches emphasize the importance of the extra-linguistic context and the role of "skopos" in translation However, this methodology may fall short when it comes to effectively assessing the quality of a translation.
The quantitative approach to quality measurement, developed by Sical (1986), evaluates texts based on the frequency of minor and major errors Major errors occur when words are mistranslated or when the language is unclear and inappropriate (Williams, 1989, p.26) Quality ratings are categorized as follows: A indicates superior quality (0 major errors and a maximum of 6 minor errors), B signifies fully acceptable quality (0 major errors and up to 12 minor errors), C denotes revisable quality (1 major error and up to 18 minor errors), and D represents unacceptable quality.
Waddington (2001) presents four methods for exploring Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) Method A categorizes feasible errors into three types, focusing on their impact on the understanding of the source text (ST) and the target text (TT), as well as the transmission of the ST's main and secondary functions Method B, building on Kussmaul's (1995) work, evaluates errors by assigning points for language mistakes (-1 point) and translation mistakes (-2 points), with the final assessment mirroring Method A's approach Method C introduces a holistic assessment method, while the final method combines the analyses of Methods B and C in a 70/30 ratio.
Despite their usefulness, these methods have limitations that have led to dissatisfaction among scholars They often exhibit a highly academic approach, overlook translation shifts, and display varying judgments, resulting in an over-assessment of the target text (TT).
ST difficulties and so forth
The evolution of Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) has been significantly influenced by linguistically oriented studies Notable contributions from scholars such as Baker (1992), Steiner (1998), and Munday and Hatim (2004), along with Munday (2008), have reshaped perspectives on TQA, highlighting its importance in the field of translation studies.
When evaluating a translated text, three key factors must be considered: Field, Tenor, and Mode Field pertains to the subject matter, social activities, and objectives, while Tenor focuses on the social roles, effects, and the degree of social distance between participants Lastly, Mode addresses the role of language, the discourse channel, and the medium used for communication.
The success of House's model, introduced in 1977, is attributed to its integration of Field, Tenor, and Mode within Textual Quality Assessment (TQA), alongside other assessment elements like register theory, stylistics, discourse analysis, pragmatics, and systemic linguistics Grounded in Halliday's 1973 view on language function and the situational dimensions of texts from Crystal and Davy's 1969 work, House has since refined her TQA model into six updated versions, maintaining the core principles The central focus remains on comparing the functions of the Source Text (ST) and Target Text (TT), with House establishing two distinct dimensions to effectively categorize the text's functions.
The model proposed by House categorizes translation into two types: covert translation and overt translation Covert translation involves adapting original source texts for the target culture, ensuring that the translated work resonates with its audience in a similar manner To analyze a text effectively, House emphasizes four key categories: Function, Register, Language, and Genre, which help in understanding the communicative purpose and source of the material This comprehensive approach enhances the examination of texts at a deeper level.
ST to its source culture community On the basis of covert translation, the concept
Related studies and literary gaps
Several researchers attempted to explore the issue of TQA based on Newmark‘s model and TQA on implicatures:
- Challenging issues in translating conversational implicature from English into Arabic Vol 5, No 2 Muna Ahmad Al-Shawi, 2017
- Interpretable implicatures in the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung‘s speech at the 62 nd un general assembly session Trần Thanh Tú, 2010
- A translation quality assessment of the Vietnamese version of the novel the notebook by petal Lê (2010) using peter Newmark's model Bùi Thị Mai Anh,
- Research on translating metaphor in Martin Luther King s speeches from English into Vietnamese Đặng Vinh, 2015
- Implications conversation in Vietnam folk jokes in relation to the maxim of quantity Nguyễn Hoàng Yến, 2014
- An investigation into some Pragmatic and cultural problems in translating Arabic implicature into English A case study of Jaradat's" Habilat Bishra " Muntaha Samardali, 2013
- The pragmatic equivalence of the implicature in the English translation of the Prophet Muhammad‘s jokes Fahman Amin, 2013
- Problems Encountered in Translating Conversational Implicatures in the Holy Qurʾān into English Mohammed Saad Al Ananzeh, 2015
Exploring the same issue, this research is hopefully an attempt to contribute to previous studies due to three grounds
This research explores the intersection of translation quality assessment and conversational implicatures, an area that has been largely overlooked by scholars Focusing on the novel "The Fault in Our Stars," the study employs Newmark's model to assess the translation quality of specific implicatures The findings aim to contribute valuable insights for enhancing translation practices.
The critical review of previous TQA approaches highlights the need for adopting Newmark's model Nida's (1964) evaluation methods primarily overlook the source text, while Sical's (1986) quantitative approach lacks practicality Reiss's (1971, 1973) functionalist theory fails to clearly define functions, and the "skopos" concept does not facilitate effective critique Although the linguistically oriented approach offers advantages, its complexity is ill-suited for studies focused on practical applications and conversational implicatures.
This study uniquely addresses the research questions by integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods, unlike previous studies that often overlooked research methodology and rarely utilized mixed methods This distinctive approach highlights a significant feature of this research, which will be further elaborated in the next chapter.
METHODOLOGY
A brief introduction of The Fault in Our Stars
"The Fault in Our Stars," a poignant novel by John Green published in 2012, explores the tragic romance between two teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who are both battling cancer Set across 25 chapters and 313 pages, the story begins when Hazel, struggling with thyroid cancer, meets Augustus at a support group for cancer survivors Their shared love for literature deepens their bond as they exchange favorite books and develop a close relationship Augustus plans a memorable trip to Amsterdam to fulfill Hazel's dream of meeting her favorite author, leading to unforgettable romantic moments However, their happiness is short-lived as Augustus relapses, and Hazel must cope with the profound loss of his death, finding solace in the love of her family and a heartfelt letter he left behind.
Since its release, "The Fault in Our Stars" has captivated readers globally and earned numerous prestigious accolades, including #1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller Its popularity has led to various republished editions and translations in multiple languages, particularly appealing to young audiences Despite the abundance of translated copies, there is a notable lack of scholarly studies assessing the translations or analyzing character excerpts within their implicatures Therefore, a thorough examination of the novel and its Vietnamese translation, "Khi lỗi thuộc về những vì sao," as well as other related aspects, would be highly valuable.
Research approach
The researcher employs a mixed-method approach, which has gained popularity due to its effectiveness in addressing research questions This method combines quantitative and qualitative techniques, allowing for comprehensive data collection and analysis By integrating these approaches, mixed methods emphasize the significance of both statistical data and descriptive insights, facilitating a deeper understanding of complex systems and outcomes The quantitative aspect utilizes mathematical tools for statistical analysis, while qualitative research focuses on logical descriptions through various mediums such as texts and images Ultimately, this blending of traditional methods enhances the overall understanding of the study's challenges.
In various fields, different types of mixed methods are developed to enhance research outcomes This study aims to provide richer explanations for the primary male character's PCIs and improve the initial assessment of their translation, leading the researcher to adopt a sequential explanatory mixed method design This approach is advantageous due to its logical structure, allowing each stage of the study to be clear and accessible The results from one data collection phase inform the next, facilitating the drawing of conclusions from the findings (Fetters et al., 2013) Additionally, this method is particularly useful when the researcher seeks to delve deeper into quantitative results, categorize them, and explore these groups through a qualitative phase, ultimately yielding new insights and a more profound understanding of the findings.
In this approach, the quantitative phase usually holds greater importance, unless the researcher chooses to focus more on the qualitative phase, which is recognized as a valuable variant.
To effectively examine a phenomenon, researchers often begin with initial quantitative results to identify and select the most relevant participants (Creswell & Plano Clark, p.86) This approach allows for a greater emphasis on qualitative procedures, enabling a comprehensive exploration of the findings Ultimately, through this detailed interpretation, researchers can arrive at a conclusive evaluation.
The researcher utilizes a two-phase approach, beginning with the analysis of quantitative data to inform the subsequent qualitative stage (Creswell et al 2003) Initially, quantitative data is collected and analyzed, followed by the acquisition and examination of qualitative data that builds upon the initial findings This study not only investigates both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the novel but also assesses the quality of its translated version Consequently, the researcher has adapted the mixed-method model, which will be detailed in the fourth section of this chapter.
Research question
What particularized conversational implicatures are found in the original novel?
How does the main male character show his life perception via the PCIs?
How is the Vietnamese translation quality of PCIs according to Newmark‘s model?
Data collection procedures and analysis
The modified process of the research was diagramed, as follows:
Diagram 1: Data collection procedure and analysis
Adapted from Explanatory Mixed Method Design from Qualitative Inquiry
& Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, by J W Creswell, 2007, p.73 Copyright 2007 by J.W Creswell Reprinted with permission
The mixed-method design initiates with quantitative data collection and analysis, focusing on listing the main male character's utterances in both monologues and dialogues To analyze this data, the Cooperative Principle and its maxims are employed to identify specific conversational implicatures throughout the novel's chapters This analysis extends to translated excerpts of these utterances, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the character's communication.
To systematically analyze the data, all PCIs from the previous phase were qualitatively classified into three groups for both English and Vietnamese languages The data analysis involved organizing the extracts of the PCIs into two-column tables, with one column for English and the other for its translation To enhance data accuracy, the Double Entry method was subsequently applied by the researcher.
The character's utterances are collected
The utterances are analyzed to achieve PCIs
PCIs are categorized into three groups
The quality assessment of the translation involved collaboration with Lã Thị Phương Loan, a partner with a Master's degree in Linguistics, who re-entered the data for verification The researcher then analyzed the identified Pragmatic Conversational Implicatures (PCIs) to understand Augustus's life perception A comparison of these PCIs with their translated excerpts was conducted using Newmark's Translation Quality Assessment model, focusing particularly on the second and third steps The research critically examined how the translator addressed challenges related to conversational implicatures, including sentence connectives, metaphors, and cultural terms, while also evaluating referential and pragmatic accuracy based on PCI theory Ultimately, the researcher concluded with an assessment of the translation's quality.