VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ***** TRIỆU THU HẰNG ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION ASSESSMENT OF CULTURE-SPECIFIC REFERENCES IN A LITERARY TEXT: A FUNCTIONAL-PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE (Đánh giá dịch Anh-Việt các yếu tố mang đặc trƣng văn hoá trong văn học: Bình diện chức năng-dụng học) MAJOR: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS CODE: 9220201.01 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics Supervisor: Assoc. LÊ HÙNG TIẾN HANOI – 2019 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ***** TRIỆU THU HẰNG ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION ASSESSMENT OF CULTURE-SPECIFIC REFERENCES IN A LITERARY TEXT: A FUNCTIONAL-PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE (Đánh giá dịch Anh-Việt các yếu tố mang đặc trƣng văn hoá trong văn học: Bình diện chức năng-dụng học) MAJOR: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS CODE: 9220201.01 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics Supervisor: Assoc. LÊ HÙNG TIẾN HANOI – 2019 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP The thesis entitled: “English-Vietnamese translation assessment of culture- specific references in a literary text: A functional-pragmatic perspective” has been submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. I, the undersigned, hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis, I have fully acknowledged and referenced the ideas and work of others, whether published or unpublished, in my thesis.
The thesis does not contain work extracted from a thesis, dissertation or research paper previously presented for another degree or diploma at this or any other university. Signature TRIỆU THU HẰNG i LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ABSTRACT This descriptive, comparative, and evaluative study attempts to assess the English-Vietnamese translation of culture-specific references (CSRs) in a literary text from the functional-pragmatic perspective of House‟s model (2015). After operating House‟s model (2015) in the context of English- Vietnamese translation, the supplementation for the model in this context is drawn out. This study focuses on the three categories of CSRs, namely proper names, person reference forms, and regional dialects in a literary text.
The qualitative analysis approach, with descriptive and comparative procedures, was primarily adopted in this study. The quantitative analysis was employed to count the frequency of translation strategies adopted by the translator in translating the chosen CSRs. The primary sources of data include the Source Text (ST – “Harry Potter and the Philosopher‟s Stone”, 2014), the Target Text (TT – “Harry Potter và Hòn đá phù thuỷ”, 2016), the three categories of proper names, person reference forms and regional dialects in the ST and their equivalents in the TT. The primary sources of data were analyzed and assessed from the functional-pragmatic perspective of House (2015).
The secondary sources of data, employed to triangulate with the textual analysis of the primary sources of data from the functional-pragmatic perspective, include the interview transcripts of the ST author, the translator, and interviews with two other literary translators and an expert in the field. Such triangulation was deployed to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. The study yields the following findings. As far as proper names are concerned, the non-translation strategy is adopted for 35 loaded proper names, which entails “partially functional equivalence” in the TT as compared to those in the ST.
Accordingly, compensation strategy (non- translation plus end-of-book glossary) is recommended to compensate the linguistic and cultural differences. Regarding person reference forms, the neutral “I-you” dyad has been translated into 50 equivalent variants in Vietnamese, which reveals functional equivalence in accordance with the ii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com examined situational and cultural contexts. Concerning regional dialects, regional dialects in the ST have virtually been neutralized in the TT, which results in “partially functional equivalence” in the TT as compared to those in the ST. Accordingly, compensation strategy is recommended with the choice of “neutralization” in combination with “colloquial language” to convey the social status and the friendliness of the protagonist.
It is revealed that cultural filter is inevitable in translating across cultures. Based on the findings of the three CSR groups, several reasons underlying the translation strategies adopted by the translator are also pointed out. Reflecting on the findings of three CSRs categories in relation to the theoretical framework, the supplementation for House‟s functional-pragmatic model is drawn out. This study offers evidence on the adoption of Attitudinal resources of Appraisal Theory (Martin & White, 2005) to uncover the author‟s attitudes embedded in CSRs in the text, which helps to fulfill the aim of translation assessment.
Besides, compensation strategy is recommended to compensate the linguistic and cultural differences in translating CSRs. Theoretically, this study provides evidence on the adoption of Attitudinal resources (Martin & White, 2005) to explore the author‟s attitudes embedded in CSRs in the text, which serves the translation assessment purpose. Methodologically, the contribution lies in the triangulation of textual analysis from the functional-pragmatic perspective with the interviews of the author, the translator, other translators, and an expert in the field. Practically, compensation strategy is recommended in dealing with CSRs from English to Vietnamese.
iii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been made possible without the guidance and the support of individuals who contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Assoc. Lê Hùng Tiến who inflames the fervent passion inside me towards the research topic and research progress. Without his continuously constructive feedback and encouragement, the graduation paper could not come into being.
Besides, I am deeply grateful to Dr. Huỳnh Anh Tuấn whose guidance and insightful comments are of profound significance during my research journey. I also wish to extend my gratitude to Prof. Nguyễn Hoà and Prof.
Nguyễn Quang whose orientations and feedback are absolutely invaluable to me. My profound thanks extend to Prof. Hoàng Văn Vân, Assoc. Lâm Quang Đông, Assoc.
Phan Văn Hoà, Assoc. Nguyễn Văn Trào, Assoc. Trương Viên, Assoc. Phan Văn Quế, Assoc.
Hoàng Tuyết Minh, Assoc. Lê Văn Canh, Dr. Trương Bạch Lê, Dr. Trần Bá Tiến, Dr.
Nguyễn Đức Hoạt, Dr. Nguyễn Thu Hạnh, Dr. Đỗ Thanh Hà, Dr. Hoàng Thị Hạnh, Dr.
Đỗ Minh Hoàng, Dr. Phạm Thị Thuỷ who commented on my research proposal and presentations and provided me with many valuable ideas to develop my research from the beginning of my journey. My sincere thanks also go to the colleagues and friends at the Faculty of English Language Teacher Education, the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) - Vietnam National University (VNU) for their continuous motivation, support, and valuable advice for me throughout this journey. I will never forget strong support from Ms.
Linh, and Ms. They have always supported me through thick and thin of my PhD Journey. Last but not least, I wish to thank my warm-hearted parents, my husband and my son for their immense tenderness, deep empathy, inspiration, and support to guide me throughout upheavals and realize tremendous ambition. iv LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP ……………………………………………… i ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………….
iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………. v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS …………………………………………………… ix LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ……………………………………………. Statement of the problem ……………. Research aim and question …………………………………………….
Scope of the study ……………………………………………………………. Contributions of the study ……………………………………………………. Organization of the thesis ……………………………………………………. 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………….1 Culture-specific references …………….1 Notion of culture-specific references ……………………………………… 7 2.3 Person reference forms …………………………………………………….2 Translation assessment approaches ……………………………………….1 Translation assessment approaches ……………………………………….1 Response-based approach …………………………………………… 23 2.2 Linguistics-based approach ………………………………………….2 Translation assessment models …………………………………………….4 Discussion on TQA models ………………………………………….
28 v LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.3 House’s functional-pragmatic model …………………………………….1 Theoretical bases of House‟s model (2015) ……………………………….2 Context of situation and context of culture …………………….3 Function of language and function of text …………………….2 Operation of House‟s model (2015) ……………………………….3 A functional-pragmatic model ……………………………………….4 Overt and covert translation ………………………………………….3 Strengths and limitations of House‟s model (2015) ……………………….4 Adaptation of House‟s model for the research aim ……………………….5 Attitudinal resources of Appraisal theory (2005) in House‟s model (2015) 48 2.4 Previous studies on translation assessment of culture-specific references 52 2.1 Previous studies on culture-specific references …………………………… 53 2.2 Previous studies on translation assessment ………………………………. 61 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY …………………………….3 Analytical framework of the study ………………………………………….4 Data collection procedures ………………………………………………….2 Culture-specific references in the text ………………………………….3 Interview transcripts of author and translator ………………………….4 Interviews of two translators and an expert in the field ……………….2 Analysis of interview data ……………………………………………… 82 vi LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. 89 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ……………………………… 91 4.1 Findings of English-Vietnamese translation assessment of proper names 92 4.2 Discussion of the findings ……….1 Revisiting the research question .2 Reflecting on the findings in relation to the theoretical framework .2 Person reference forms …………………………….1 Findings of English-Vietnamese translation assessment of person 127 reference forms ……….2 Discussion of the findings .1 Revisiting the research question .2 Reflecting on the findings in relation to the theoretical framework .1 Findings of English-Vietnamese translation assessment of regional 153 dialects …………….2 Discussion of the findings ……….1 Revisiting the research question .2 Reflecting on the findings in relation to the theoretical framework .4 Supplementation for House’s model .1 Recapitulation of the study ….1 English-Vietnamese translation assessment of Proper names …………… 178 5.2 English-Vietnamese translation assessment of Person reference forms … 179 vii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.3 English-Vietnamese translation assessment of Regional dialects ……….2 Contributions of the study …………………………….1 Implications for theory …………………….2 Implications for research …………………….3 Implications for practice ………………….4 Limitations and further research avenues. 188 RESEARCHER’S ARTICLES RELATED TO THE THESIS …………….
I APPENDIX A: Proper names in the ST and TT ………………………………… III APPENDIX B: Person reference forms in the ST and TT ………………………. XII APPENDIX C: Regional dialects in the ST and TT ……………………………. XXVI APPENDIX D: Interview scripts of the author of “HPPS” ……………………… XXXVII APPENDIX E: Interview scripts of the translator of “HPPS” …………………. LXIV APPENDIX F: Guided questions for interviewing other translators and an expert LXXVIII APPENDIX G: Minutes of interviewing other translators and an expert ……….
XCIII viii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS Source Language SL Target Language TL Source Text ST Target Text TT Culture-Specific References CSRs Translation Quality Assessment TQA Harry Potter and the Philosopher‟s Stone HPPS Positive (Attitude) + Negative (Attitude) - ix LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com FIGURES AND TABLES CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Figure 1.1 Holmes‟ map of translation studies (cited in Toury, 1995, p.2 Applied branch in Holmes‟ map of translation studies 2 (cited in Toury, 1995, p. 10) CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW Figure 2.1 Iceberg model of culture 8 (adapted from Hall, 1995; Katan, 2014, p.2 Iceberg model of culture (Nguyễn Quang, 2008, p.1 Circular relationship: Kinship terms in social addressing 16 (Nguyễn Quang, 2018, p.2 Horizontal relationship - Type I (Nguyễn Quang, 2018, p.3 Horizontal relationship - Type II (Nguyễn Quang, 2018, p.4 Dynamic relationship - Type I (Nguyễn Quang, 2018, p.5 Dynamic relationship - Type II (Nguyễn Quang, 2018, p.6 Dynamic relationship - Type III (Nguyễn Quang, 2018, p.3 Three levels of text analysis (adapted from Martin & Rose, 2008, p.4 Relation between language and social context 32 (Martin & Rose, 2008, p.5 House‟s TQA model (2015, p.6 Extent of equivalence of the study 42 Figure 2.7 Theoretical framework of the study (adapted from House‟s model, 2015) 44 Table 2.1 Affect of Attitudinal resources (Martin & White, 2005, p.2 Judgment - social esteem of Attitudinal resources 50 (Martin & White, 2005, p.3 Judgment - social sanction of Attitudinal resources 51 (Martin & White, 2005, p.4 Appreciation of Attitudinal resources 51 (Martin & White, 2005, p.1 Review of previous studies on CSRs 54 Table 2.2 Review of previous studies on TQA 61 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY Table 3.1 Description of the ST and TT 73 Table 3.