VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Tạ Trí Đức EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX MA THESIS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE HO CHI MINH CITY, 2020 VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Tạ Trí Đức EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX Field: English Language Code: 8. Phạm Hữu Đức HO CHI MINH CITY, 2020 DECLARATION BY AUTHOR Except where reference has been made in the text, this thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person. I, Tạ Trí Đức, hereby state that this thesis is the result of my own research and the substance of the thesis has not, wholly or in part, been submitted for any degrees to any other universities or institutions. Author’s Signature Tạ Trí Đức Approved by SUPERVISOR Assoc.
Phạm Hữu Đức Date:…………………… i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this thesis is credited to many people’s contributions and support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all most sincerely, knowing that my thanks are never adequate. First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to Assoc. Phạm Hữu Đức, my supervisor, for his helpful and warm encouragement as well as his insightful comments on my work from the beginning to the end of the study.
In addition, I would like to thank all of the lecturers who gave me interesting lessons, dedication and advice during my study at Graduate Academy of Social Sciences. I also offer my special thanks to my beloved friends whose support and encouragement help me to have this thesis accomplished. Last but not least, I must express my gratitude to my family. It is their endless love and expectations that have motivated me to complete this thesis.
I am immensely thankful for all the assistance they have given me. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DECLARATION BY AUTHOR I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS II ABSTRACT V CHAPTER 1.2 AIM(S) OF THE STUDY 2 1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 3 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 3 1.7 STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY 4 CHAPTER 2.1 SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX 5 2.1 Subtitle and subtitle translation 7 2.3 EQUIVALENCE IN TRANSLATION 12 2.1 Different approaches to translation equivalence 13 2.2 Descriptive Translation Studies 16 2.4 Categories of Translation Universals 20 2.5 CHAPTER SUMMARY 28 CHAPTER 3.2 SAMPLING AND METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION 30 3.4 CHAPTER SUMMARY 33 iii CHAPTER 4. TRANSLATION UNIVERSALS AND TRANSLATION LAWS IN SHERLOCK 34 4.1 TRANSLATION UNIVERSALS IN SHERLOCK 34 4.4 Omission of repetition 50 4.5 Exaggeration of Target Language Features 52 4.2 TRANSLATION LAWS IN SHERLOCK 53 4.1 Law of growing standardization 53 4.2 Laws of interference 59 4.3 CHAPTER SUMMARY 62 CHAPTER 5.3 IMPLICATIONS FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION TEACHING AND LEARNING 66 5.4 LIMITATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES 68 REFERENCES 70 APPENDIX: SAMPLES OF ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT AND VIETNAMESE SUBTITLE OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX I iv ABSTRACT This study evaluated the equivalence in the Vietnamese translation of Sherlock on Netflix. Most previous studies used the formal equivalence approach, which focused mainly on the form and content relationship between source text and target text.
This study uses dynamic equivalence approach, which describes functional relationship in translation. Dynamic equivalence is considered to be a more suitable approach for evaluating equivalence in film subtitle translation because of the specific characteristics of subtitle translating. Subtitle translators must ensure that the translated text can be read within the exact duration of the scene as well as ensure that the audience still has time to watch the images while preserving the meaning and effect. Descriptive translation study of translation universals and laws is used as a theoretical framework applied to evaluate the dynamic equivalence in subtitle translation.
The Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix were analyzed on the basis of a theoretical framework derived from Baker's hypotheses on translation universals and Toury’s translation laws. Research has shown that there are translation universals and laws in Vietnamese subtitles, through which functional relationship between the original and Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix are found. Most of the translation universals is used to shorten or minimize the subtitles in order to meet the constraints of subtitle translation. The parts that are omitted are mostly repetitive words or can be understood through images on film.
This shortening hardly affects the content that the audience needs. On the other hand, some translation universals and laws are used to normalize grammar as well as explain cultural features that can be confusing to the audience. However, this research also pointed out some of the audience’s experiences are sometimes lost due to circumstances such as repetition or lack of grammar is intended by the filmmaker to create humor or represent the character.1 Rationale When more and more people watch movies not only to relax, but also to study foreign languages and cultures, subtitles translation has become a major problem. Translation was considered language macro skill.
Netflix is an American leading streaming service that allows members to watch a wide variety of television shows, movies, documentaries, etc. Netflix has over hundred million international subscribers, making it one of the world's largest entertainment services. The subtitles programs of Netflix are translated into many languages in the world including Vietnamese. Netflix-translated subtitles can be seen to have a major impact on the public and have played a large part in transmitting foreign languages and cultures to Vietnamese.
Sherlock is a British television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Sherlock has been praised for the quality of its writing, acting, and direction. Recent film subtitling research studies in European countries have concentrated primarily on content aspects, from a European viewpoint and as a representation of “a multi-talented challenge” (Gottlieb 2004). Scholars in the field of translation studies have founded the theoretical branches of Audio- Visual Translation, the most important of which are Chaume (2004), Diaz- Cintas (2004), Gambier (2009) and Gottlieb (2001).
Their respective studies have formed the theoretical structure for subtitle translation and integrated successful translation strategies. There have also been a few studies on translation and equivalence in the translation of subtitles in Vietnam such as the study by Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà on subtitles for translating some selected films from the website kst.vn, the 1 research by Lê Thị Nhung about the equivalence in translating English subtitles of some documentary films. However, there are no research studies on translation and dynamic equivalence based on descriptive translation study in the translated subtitles by Netflix, an American service, as well as a famous TV series like Sherlock. Therefore, I chose to do a thesis on “EQUIVALENCE IN THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF SHERLOCK FROM NETFLIX” 1.2 Aim(s) of the Study The thesis goal is to examine the dynamic equivalence in the Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock series on Netflix.
To achieve the goal of this thesis, three main targets need to be implemented include finding out the existence of translation universals and laws in translating subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix, investigating the behavior of translation universals in Vietnamese subtitles, evaluating the relationship between English and Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock based on the descriptive translation study theory.3 Research Questions This thesis is implemented to answer the following questions: - What are the translation universals and laws used in translating subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix? - What are the behaviors of translation universals in Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix? - What is the relationship between English and Vietnamese subtitles of Sherlock on Netflix? 2 1.4 Scope of the Study This thesis focuses on equivalence of original English transcript and Vietnamese subtitle version of Sherlock on Netflix. Samples were taken from 9 episodes throughout 3 seasons of the series. The research only focuses on dynamic equivalence, which is evaluated based on translation universal and law analysis of descriptive translation study. Therefore only the most outstanding representative samples were selected for dynamic equivalence analysis.5 Significance of the Study Theoretical significance: This thesis gives an overview of subtitle translation.
This thesis also strengthened the theory of descriptive translation study and the theory of dynamic equivalence. Practical significance: This thesis supports subtitle translators by giving the translation universals and laws used for subtitle translation as well as providing the behavior of translation universals, which draw the relationship, equivalent, in translating movie subtitles. This thesis also aims to arouse the interest of English translation students with subtitle translation in particular and translation study in general.6 Research Methods Qualitative methods were applied to implement this thesis. The data obtained were evaluated on the basis of a theoretical framework derived from Baker's hypotheses on translation universals and Toury’s translation laws.
Subtitle translation equivalence assessment would be explored by using dynamic equivalence framework combining with descriptive translation study in subtiles. One-by-one translation universals and laws will be discussed by looking at their behaviors in nine episodes of Sherlock. Only the most striking instances of each 3 translation universals or laws will be investigated because the scope of this thesis does not allow a detailed examination of every single occurrence.7 Structure of the Study The thesis consists of five chapters: Chapter 1 is the Introduction which describes the reasons for the choice of the topic, the aims, the scope, method, significance, and organization of the study. Chapter 2 provides the literature review of subtitle translation, equivalence in translation and descriptive translation study.
Chapter 3 gives the translation universals used in translating Sherlock on Netflix. Chapter 4 gives the translation laws used in translating Sherlock on Netflix. Chapter 5 is the Conclusion and suggestion for further study.1 Sherlock from Netflix Netflix, an American streaming application with over hundred million international subscribers, becoming one of the world's largest entertainment services. Sherlock, a modern adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is a 90-minute, incredibly fast-paced television show created and written by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and occasional guest writers.
Sherlock Holmes is a brilliant consulting detective who excels in solving crimes by deducing clues from apparently insignificant matters. His brilliant intellect, however, is countered by his poor social skills. The stories are narrated by his friend, Dr. John Watson, a general practitioner who was injured when he was an army doctor.
Sherlock has been praised for the quality of its writing, acting, and direction. It has been nominated for numerous awards including Emmys, BAFTAs and a Golden Globe, winning several awards across a variety of categories. Sherlock has been sold to 180 territories. On Netflix, Sherlock is translated into many languages in the world including Vietnamese.
Out of all the odd habits of Sherlock, deductions are likely to give the most trouble to a subtitle translator. They are littered with marked words. The sentences are remarkably long, and they are delivered at an impressive pace. Since the word count in these deductions is extremely high, the subtitles will most likely be forced to omit details.
Most likely, important information that drives the story forward will be retained in the subtitles, while non-essential information will be the first to be removed. Sherlock's companion, John Watson, on the other hand, seems to be a simpler man than Sherlock. He is humble and 5 thoughtful, and he aims to change people’s lives by healing the sick as a general practitioner. The “opposites attract” language certainly refers to these two men because, despite their obvious disagreements, Sherlock and John are best friends.
John Watson, unlike Sherlock, can be seen as a “normal man”. His personality will probably hardly influence his language, and so the subtitler would have no extra trouble to contend with. However, John is the storyteller, and so the viewer is simply John Watson. It will be fascinating to see if John's position in the narrative will lead to subtitling issues.
Therefore, this thesis selects the famous series Sherlock on the world’s largest service platform Netflix as one of the most typical examples in subtitling translation to evaluate the equivalence in subtitle translation.