MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NGUYEN THI VAN ANH PHENIKAA UNIVERSITY GRADUATION PAPER A STUDY ON ENGLISH TYPES OF SENTENCES IN “THE GIFT OF THE MAGI” WITH REFERENCE TO VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS (Nghiên cứu về các loại câu tiếng Anh trong truyện ngắn “The Gift Of The Magi” (“Món quà Giáng Sinh”) và tương đương trong tiếng Việt) ENGLISH LANGUAGE Student: Nguyễn Thị Vân Anh Student ID: 20010036 Course: 2020-2024 Field: English Language Mode of study: Full-time Supervisor: MA. Dao Phuong Bao Linh Ha Noi - 2024 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING PHENIKAA UNIVERSITY GRADUATION PAPER A STUDY ON ENGLISH TYPES OF SENTENCES IN “THE GIFT OF THE MAGI” WITH REFERENCE TO VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS (Nghiên cứu về các loại câu tiếng Anh trong truyện ngắn “The Gift Of The Magi” (“Món quà Giáng Sinh”) và tương đương trong tiếng Việt) Student: Nguyễn Thị Vân Anh Student ID: 20010036 Course: 2020-2024 Field: English Language Mode of study: Full-time Supervisor: MA. Dao Phuong Bao Linh Ha Noi – 2024 i ABSTRACT This research looks at the different kinds of sentences in O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi”, with an emphasis on giving their Vietnamese equivalents.
The structure and constituents of English sentences - complex, compound, and simple are all examined in detail. This study clarifies the language used and any difficulties in translating the story into Vietnamese by examining sentence patterns and other story aspects. Due to the different sentence structure of Vietnamese compared to English, translation can be challenging because verbs are frequently placed at the conclusion of phrases. The study illustrates the variations in word order and sentence structure using comparable Vietnamese examples.
It also discusses the difficulties in translating idioms, adverbs, and adjectives that may not have exact Vietnamese equivalents and necessitate careful selection of acceptable substitutes that maintain the original text's tone and meaning. It is imperative for precise translation and efficient communication to comprehend the subtle differences between Vietnamese sentence structures and kinds and English sentence types. This study advances the subject of translation studies by examining sentence patterns and highlighting linguistic difficulties within the framework of a particular literary work. The results of this study highlight how crucial it is to take language and cultural circumstances into account when translating literary works.
Translators can negotiate the complications of accurately translating the intended meaning and encapsulating the spirit of the source material in the target language by understanding the subtleties and complexities of sentence patterns and elements. ii DECLARATION I, Nguyen Thi Van Anh - Student ID 20010036, certificate that no part of the above report has been copied or reproduced by me from any other person’s work without acknowledgements and that the report is originally written by me under strict guidance of my supervisor. Hanoi, 1st July, 2024. Supervisor Student MA.
Dao Phuong Bao Linh Nguyen Thi Van Anh iii ACKNOWLEDGE With reference to their Vietnamese equivalents, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped to complete this research on the English sentence types and sentence elements in “The Gift of the Magi”. First and foremost, I express my gratitude to O. Henry, the writer of “The Gift of the Magi” for crafting a literary masterpiece that is both engaging and thought- provoking. His smart narrative served as the basis for this research and encouraged further investigation of the English language.
My supervisor, MA. Dao Phuong Bao Linh, provided me with essential advice, support, and knowledge throughout the research process, for which I am incredibly grateful. Their helpful critiques and perceptive comments had a big impact on how this study turned out. In addition, I would like to thank the faculty members of Phenikaa University, whose knowledge and experience have greatly influenced my comprehension of translation studies and linguistics.
I have greatly benefited from their dedication to academic achievement as I have developed my research skills. In conclusion, I express my gratitude to all authors, academics, and researchers whose papers and efforts acted as invaluable sources of information for this investigation. The foundation for scholarly investigation and intellectual development has been established by their contributions to the fields of linguistics and translation studies. I cannot thank each and every one of you personally, but please accept my sincere gratitude for all of your support and contributions that have helped to develop this study.
Its completion has been greatly aided by your help. We are grateful to each and every one of you for your priceless encouragement, support, and contributions along this study adventure. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. Rationale for the study.
Aims and objectives of the study. Scope of the study. Significance of the study. Design of the study.
3 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW .1 Overview of English Sentence Structures. Overview of Vietnamese Sentence Structures. Comparative Analysis of English and Vietnamese Sentence Structures. The similarities between English and Vietnamese Sentence Structures:.
Considering sentence structure in Vietnamese and English. Previous Studies on Sentence Types. Overview of “The Gift of the Magi”. Overview of translator and Vietnamese Version .1 Overview of translator – Than Trong Son .2 Overview of Vietnamese Version.
23 CHAPTER 3: ANALYSIS TO COMPARE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL AND THE TRANSLATION OF “THE GIFT OF THE MAGI” WITH REFERENCE TO VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS .1 Identification of Sentence Types and compare the two English-Vietnamese versions. vii v LIST OF TABLES Number of tables Title of tables Page Analyze expressions between English and Table 1. The variation in complex sentences in Table 1.2 15-16 Vietnamese and English. Identification of Sentence Types and Table 3.1 compare the two English-Vietnamese 26-48 versions.
vi LIST OF ABBREVIATION 1. SVO: Subject-Verb-Object 2. RO: Retained Objected 1 INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale for the study Analyzing the various sentence structures used in O.
Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” can provide valuable insights not only into the literary techniques employed by the author but also facilitate a deeper understanding of how the story may be interpreted and appreciated by readers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, such as those familiar with the Vietnamese language. Studying English sentence types in “The Gift of the Magi” with Vietnamese equivalents can enhance cross-cultural understanding by highlighting subtleties in meaning, tone, and rhetorical techniques. English and Vietnamese have different grammatical structures, with English having more diversified sentence patterns and Vietnamese being a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) language. Comparing these sentence structures can help language learners and translators better understand the challenges involved in translating different English sentence structures.
This can also help educators create more effective learning resources and instructional practices for cross-cultural communication. Comparing the English and Vietnamese interpretations of the story can help people understand the diversity of human expression and experience. Aims and objectives of the study The study aims to examine the English sentence forms in O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” and their Vietnamese equivalents.
It investigates the use of simple, compound, and complex sentence patterns, their translation into Vietnamese, and the linguistic influences on the narrative style. The study also aims to enhance knowledge of cross-cultural literary analysis and the challenges of translating literary works from English into Vietnamese. The 2 comparative analysis has educational implications for teaching English and Vietnamese literature and promotes understanding of cultural exchange. Scope of the study This study compares the Vietnamese counterparts of the English sentence patterns used in O.
Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi”: This study compares the English sentence patterns used in O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” in Vietnamese and English. It examines the original English text and its translation into Vietnamese, analyzing sentence structure and word choices. The research also compares the Vietnamese and English translations, identifying any translation-related difficulties and changes.
The study’s pedagogical implications include its application in literary analysis, translation studies, and English-Vietnamese instruction. The findings could provide insights into the interpretation and value of literary works in a more nuanced manner. The research focuses on linguistic and cultural elements affecting sentence patterns in the two languages, offering valuable insights for translation studies and cross-cultural literary analysis. Significance of the study The study of English sentence types in O.
Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi” aims to advance knowledge of linguistic and cross-cultural understanding, highlighting the difficulties and complexities of cross-cultural communication and literary exchange. The findings can be used to improve teaching methods, course materials, and evaluation instruments for Vietnamese and English students. The study also enriches literary scholarship by providing a more complex understanding of the literary devices used by author O. It also advances translation studies by guiding the creation of more efficient techniques and understanding the challenges of maintaining the aesthetic and cultural authenticity of literary works.
The study also fosters cross-cultural 3 dialogue by examining the linguistic and cultural distinctions in sentence patterns. Design of the study The thesis consists of 3 parts: Part I: Introduction: States the reasons for choosing the topic, the aim, its scope, and the significance of the study. Part II: Development consists 3 chapters: Chapter 1: Theoretical Framework. Chapter 2: Literature review of “The Gift of the Magi”.
Chapter 3: Analysis to compare similarities and differences between the original and the translation of “The Gift of the Magi” with reference to Vietnamese equivalents. Part III: Conclusions: Summarize the main points of the thesis, states.” 4 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Overview of English Sentence Structures 1.1 Simple Sentences: One subject and one predicate make up the main clause or independent clause of a simple sentence. A simple phrase may have complements and objects in addition to the main clause. As was previously said, sentences are categorized into five patterns according to their functional components.
However, there are other classifications, PhD. Example: She eats (slowly). In Pattern I, The verbs used as predicators are intransitive verbs. Intransitive verbs are action verbs without an object that is the recipient of the action.
Pattern II: Subject – Predicator – Subject Complement. Examples: He became a teacher. Tom seems kind. Linking verbs are employed as predictors in Pattern II.
Verbs that define the subject of the sentence by tying it to a subject complement - a noun phrase, adjective phrase, finite clause, non-finite clause, or prepositional phrase - are known as linking verbs. It should be noted that Pattern II sentences cannot be converted to passive voice. 5 Some frequent linking verbs are: am/ is/ are, will be, can be, should be, appear, become, grow, seem, feel, look, smell, sound, taste, fall, and make. Pattern III: Subject – Predicator – Object.
Example: Quang plays badminton. She writes poems. Transitive verbs are employed as predictors in Pattern III. Action verbs with a direct object that receives the action are known as transitive verbs.
Except for sentences in which the object is a reflexive pronoun, the majority of pattern III phrases can be rendered in the passive voice. Examples of transformable statements are: Poem is written by her. Sentences such as “I cut myself”, “He saw himself” and “They heard themselves” are non-transformable. Pattern IV: Subject – Predicator – Indirect Object – Direct Object.
Example: Alex bought her a gift. His neighbor passed him the keys. Ditransitive verbs are the verbs that Pattern IV uses as predictors. Verbs that take or demand a subject and two objects - an indirect and a direct object - are known as ditransitive verbs.
Common ditransitive verbs include: bring, purchase, call, catch, charge, cut, deal, deliver, do, afford, ask, bet, accord, drop, draw, earn, feed, locate, name, offer, order, pass, pay, permit, play, profit, read, decline, save, sell, send, set, take, instruct, toss, win, want, write. Passive voice can be added to Pattern IV sentences by making the direct or indirect object the sentence’s subject. Retained objects (RO) are any objects that continue to exist as objects in the passive voice. 6 For example: Mina gave Lucy a beautiful bag.
– Active Lucy was given a beautiful bag.