VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN THỊ THU TRANSLATION ERRORS MADE BY FOURTH-YEAR ENGLISH-MAJOR STUDENTS IN SPECIALIZED TRANSLATION COURSE Lỗi dịch của sinh viên năm cuối – chuyên ngành ngôn ngữ Anh trong học phần Biên dịch chuyên ngành M. MAJOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field : English Teaching Methodology Code : 8140231.01 Hanoi, 2024 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN THỊ THU TRANSLATION ERRORS MADE BY FOURTH-YEAR ENGLISH-MAJOR STUDENTS IN SPECIALIZED TRANSLATION COURSE Lỗi dịch của sinh viên năm cuối – chuyên ngành ngôn ngữ Anh trong học phần Biên dịch chuyên ngành M. MAJOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field : English Teaching Methodology Code : 8140231. Lam Quang Dong Hanoi, 2024 DECLARATION I certify that this thesis entitled: “Translation errors made by fourth- year English-major students in the Specialized Translation course”, which is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, is the result of my own work.
I have provided fully documented references to the works of others. The material in this thesis has not been submitted for any other formal course of study. Signature Nguyễn Thị Thu Approved by SUPERVISOR (Signature and full name) Assoc. Lam Quang Dong Date:.
i 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. My deepest appreciation goes to my supervisor, Assoc. Lam Quang Dong, whose invaluable guidance illuminated my path throughout this arduous academic endeavor. His broad research perspective and insightful feedback were instrumental in shaping this study.
My second heartfelt thanks go to my mom, my husband, and my little daughter as well as other family members, for providing unwavering support and inspiration for me to finish this thesis even when I faced moments of self- doubt and considered abandoning the work. I am grateful to my beloved teachers, Ms. Lan Anh and Ms. Nhan, for their valuable input on research design and their willingness to address my questions.
I also want to extend my appreciation to my colleague, Ms. Yen, for her words of encouragement and the precious time she spent processing data with me. Last but not least, I would like to thank myself for being resilient till the last running-with-deadlines month as always. ii ABSTRACT Translation error analysis play a crucial role in enhancing translation competence, serving as valuable learning tools for both novice and experienced translators.
According to Pym (2011), error analysis is fundamental to translation pedagogy, providing concrete examples for improvement and self-reflection. Reflection on errors in authentic translation tasks can also bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice (Angelelli, 2009). This study investigates common translation errors committed by fourth-year English-major students in a translation project of the Specialized Translation course. The research aims to find out the most frequent types of translation errors made by the students and the primary causes of these errors.
Employing a mixed design and error analysis method, the study examined student translations using an adapted model of translation error analysis by Na (2005), which categorizes errors into comprehension, linguistic, and transfer errors. The research further explored the correlation between error types and their causes through a detailed matrix analysis. Findings revealed that transfer errors were the most common, with inaccurate renditions of lexical items being the most frequent sub-category. Regarding the causes of translation errors, translator-related factors such as lack of attention to detail, limited teamwork skills, insufficient contextual analysis and overreliance on machine translation were found to be significant contributors across various error categories.
iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Error analysis EA Source text ST Target text TT iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION. iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. iv LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES. vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.
Statement of research problems and rationale for the study. Significance of the study. Research aims, objectives and research questions. Scope of the study.
Design of the thesis. 7 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW. Definition of errors. Definition of error analysis.
The significance of error analysis. Steps to conduct error analysis. Definition of translation. Definition of translation errors.
Translation error taxonomies. Chosen error classification model. Error classification model by Na (2005). The adapted error classification model and justifications.
Conceptual framework for the causes of translation errors. Mixed methods research. Data collection tools. Research context and participants.
Data collection procedures. Data analysis procedures. Integrated analysis of both translation errors and causes. 51 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.
Addressing Research Question 1: The most common translation errors. Addressing Research Question 2: The causes of translation errors. Classification and frequency of error causes. Correlation between categories of translation errors and their causes.
Correlation between sub-categories of translation errors and their causes 70 4. Matrix of translation errors and their causes. Limitations and recommendations for further research. I vi LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Figure 1.
Model of translation error analysis (Na, 2005). Adapted model of translation error analysis. Error analysis procedures (modified from Corder‟s (1974) model) 45 Figure 4. An example of coding for translation errors.
An example of coding for causes of translation errors. Overview of studies on translation errors. Causes related to the source text. Causes related to the translators.
Causes related to classroom training. The Specialized Translation course‟s objectives. Translation Error and Cause Matrix. Translation Error and Cause Distribution Matrix.
Frequency and distribution of translation errors. Distribution of causes of translation errors. Correlation between error categories and their causes. Correlation between error sub-categories and their causes.
Frequency distribution of translation errors and causes. Percentage distribution of translation errors and causes. 75 vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This chapter introduces the study, providing an insight to guide readers from general information about the research problems to its direction and purpose. The section sets the context and significance of the study by summarizing current background knowledge of the topic and the aims of the work.
The research problem, rationale, objectives, and importance, as well as the organization of the study, are clarified respectively. Statement of research problems and rationale for the study Due to the rapid growth of world-wide trade and international organizations as well as the greater demand for cultural exchange, translation and interpreting services have been pivotal than ever before. This critical role of translation in the globalized world was underscored by Newmark (2003, p. 55), who asserted that there would be “no global communication without translation”.
The 21st-century with the burgeoning integration among different countries and languages enables translators and interpreters to leave their footprints in a wide range of fields such as industrial technology, healthcare, education, tourism, etc. While they benefit from precious educational and occupational opportunities, they also face huge challenges in enhancing professional competence and qualifications. The challenges may include the breakneck pace of technological advancements, particularly in machine translation and AI-powered tools (Bowker & Buitrago Ciro, 2019), the need for deep subject matter expertise in addition to their linguistic skills (Neubert, 2000), and rapidly evolving cultural nuances and shifts in communication styles across different societies (Bassnett, 2013). Such circumstance has imposed a heavy burden on training institutes of translation and interpreting for generating high-skilled practitioners, especially in the context that most training procedures, from course design and management to 1 teaching together with testing and assessment have not been implemented in a professional and systematic manner with a solid theoretical framework.
Error analysis has been widely recognized as a crucial method for enhancing translation competence, offering valuable insights into the challenges faced by translators and the cognitive processes involved in translation (Klaudy, 2010). This systematic approach to identifying, categorizing, and understanding translation errors not only highlights common mistakes but also reveals underlying patterns in error occurrence, thereby informing more effective teaching and learning strategies (Wongranu, 2017). As Pym (2010) argued, error analysis serves as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application in translation studies, enabling translators to develop a more critical and reflective approach to their work. Moreover, Kussmaul (1995) emphasized that by examining errors, translators can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of cross- linguistic transfer, leading to improved accuracy and quality in their translations.
Recent studies have further demonstrated that integrating error analysis into translation training programs significantly enhances students‟ awareness of potential pitfalls and fosters the development of problem- solving skills essential for professional translation practice (Gabr, 2007; (Albir & Olalla-Soler, 2016). Thus, error analysis emerges as a fundamental tool in boosting translation competence, contributing to the continuous improvement of both novice and experienced translators in an increasingly globalized and specialized translation market. 1 In this thesis, all Vietnamese authors were cited using their first names with diacritical marks (e. This deviates from the standard APA 7th edition guidelines, which recommend using the author‟s family name.
There are two main reasons for my choice. Firstly, many Vietnamese individuals share the same family name, making it difficult to distinguish between different authors without consulting the reference list. Secondly, retaining diacritical marks preserves the cultural integrity of Vietnamese names and ensures accurate pronunciation. 2 The researched participants have undergone two years of boosting their language competence together with accumulating valuable knowledge of linguistics, literature, cross-cultural communication as well as necessary skills such as presentation, teamwork, debate and research.
Also, they have learned three translation courses including Translation, Advanced translation and Translation Theory in advance. It means that they have been early equipped with both language proficiency as well as fundamental translation knowledge and skills. However, they are still green to the professional world with specialized translation projects of great length and high difficulty level, which makes them more vulnerable to translation errors. In the light of such context, the researcher decided to conduct the study entitled “Translation errors made by fourth-year English-major students in Specialized Translation course”.
Significance of the study Firstly, this research distinguishes itself from previous domestic studies by analyzing students‟ translation errors within the context of a translation project rather than a conventional translation test. This approach offers a more authentic representation of the translation process, mirroring real-world conditions where translators have access to diverse resources and are not constrained by rigid time limitations. Furthermore, it provides students with the opportunity to hone their teamwork skills and practice time and workload management, thereby better preparing them for their future professional endeavors. Secondly, this study aims to make a significant contribution to the enhancement of translator training.
That is, by identifying and categorizing errors, lecturers can pinpoint common pitfalls and challenging areas for translation students. This knowledge forms the foundation for implementing 3 targeted error correction activities and developing tailored learning strategies. Moreover, understanding common error patterns can foster increased self- awareness and self-improvement among students, encouraging reflective practice and continuous learning. Additionally, comprehending the root causes of errors facilitates the development of preventive measures, enabling students to anticipate and circumvent common mistakes proactively.
Thirdly, the study is expected to contribute to the evolution and refinement of translation quality assessment models. This assertion is supported by House (2015), who contends that a nuanced understanding of errors enables the creation of more sophisticated, equitable, and context-sensitive evaluation frameworks. Fourthly, in an era characterized by rapidly advancing language technologies, the analysis of translation errors can inform and improve machine translation systems. Popović and Ney (2011) argue that error patterns identified in human translations can guide the development and refinement of algorithms used in machine translation.
Lastly, the study‟s outcomes can serve as a valuable resource for Unit 6 in Translation Theory course, which focuses on translation errors.