TTLA: Survey of Chinese-Vietnamese translation (on Chinese-Vietnamese commercial document translations)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Tran Bich Lan (Chen Bilan)

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: January 13, 1973

4. Place of birth: Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Decision No. 2386/SĐH dated June 29, 2007, of the Director of Hanoi National University, recognizing the doctoral student.

6. Changes in the training process: none

7. Thesis title:Survey of Chinese-Vietnamese translation (on Chinese-Vietnamese commercial text translations)

8. Major: Vietnamese LinguisticsCode number: 62.22.01.20

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Con, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tan

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This thesis examines the linguistic characteristics, style, and function of commercial texts (abbreviated as VBTM) in Chinese and Vietnamese. Although Vietnamese and Chinese share similarities in terms of genre, vocabulary, and grammar, translating Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts remains a challenging task. German functional translation theory emphasizes function/text, aligning with the genre characteristics and communicative purpose of Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts. Therefore, translating Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts can be undertaken in light of functional translation theory, with C. Nord's theory of functional fidelity providing guidance. Equivalent translation is the ultimate goal that translators should strive for. Translating Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts should aim to convey the meaning and style of the original text completely, achieving equivalence between the original and target texts, and fulfilling the communicative purpose of the author or the client. Within the framework of typical translation theory, this thesis examines the translation of terms in Sino-Vietnamese classical texts. Accurate translation of terminology is crucial to the success of the translation. Translation of pronouns is beneficial for establishing successful communication. Translation of informal terms relies entirely on cultural context and the communication situation. Accurate translation of fixed phrases reflects the translator's cultural level. The thesis investigates the translation of five groups of speech acts that appear frequently in Sino-Vietnamese classical texts: imperative utterances, interrogative utterances, informative utterances, committed utterances, and expressive utterances, identifying typical linguistic features of each utterance group. The survey shows that the communicative purpose must be given utmost importance to achieve an accurate and understandable translation. Based on an analysis of common errors in the source material, the thesis identifies the causes of these errors and proposes solutions to correct them.

11. Practical applications:

The results of this thesis, through the analysis of Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts, will help translators and translation students understand the nature of translation, grasp some operations and techniques in translating Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts, which is a field of interest in the trend of economic and trade exchanges between Vietnam and China. The thesis will contribute to better training of Chinese and Vietnamese translators and interpreters, especially in training future translators for the field of foreign economic relations. To some extent, the thesis will support the compilation of translation textbooks and specialized Chinese-Vietnamese glossaries in economics and trade.

12. Future research directions:

Conduct a deeper linguistic analysis following different approaches to develop research on the translation of commercial texts. Develop a bilingual Chinese-Vietnamese terminology system for the field of foreign economic relations. Create a series of typical, standardized bilingual Chinese-Vietnamese commercial texts. Based on these texts, help translators understand the characteristics of the texts and translation methods, providing a model for reference.

13. Published works related to the dissertation:

- 陈碧兰 (2010), “汉越商贸信函的语言特征和翻译策略”,翻译语言文化, 广西教育出版社, 南宁, 255-260页.

Tran Bich Lan (2010), “Linguistic characteristics of Sino-Vietnamese commercial correspondence and translation strategies”, Language and cultural translation, Guangxi Education Publishing House, Nanning, pp. 255-260.

- Tran Bich Lan (2010), “Introduction to Nord's theory of functional translation”,Language and Life Magazine(3), pp. 16-18, 37 and (4), pp. 17-21.

- Tran Bich Lan (2011), "A survey of commercial compensation claim documents from the perspective of interpersonal functions (based on Chinese-Vietnamese translation documents)",Proceedings of the International Conference on Linguistics Training and Research in Vietnam: Theoretical and Practical Issues, National University of Hanoi Publishing House, Hanoi, pp. 954-964.

- 陈碧兰, 隆佳丽 (2013), “论汉、越社交称谓语异同及交际策略”,东南亚纵横（11）, 56-61页.

Tran Bich Lan, Long Giai Le (2013), “Discussing the similarities and differences between social address terms in Chinese and Vietnamese and communication strategies”,Around Southeast Asia Magazine(11), pp. 56-61.

- 陈碧兰, 詹臻 (2014), “汉语三字格惯用语的语言特征及越译方法”,翻译理论与实践, 黑龙江人民出版社, 哈尔滨, 163-170页.

Tran Bich Lan, Chiem Tran (2014), “Linguistic characteristics of three-component fixed phrases in Chinese and how to translate them into Vietnamese”,Theory and practice of translation, Heilongjiang Publishing House, Ha'erbin, pp. 163-170.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Tran Bich Lan (Chen Bilan)2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth:Northern 13, 1973                        4. Place of birth:Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Admission of decision number:2386/Graduate,on Novel 29, 2007, issued by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process:none

7. Official thesis title:On Chinese – Vietnamese Translation (on Basis of translated Business Texts from Chinese to Vietnamese)

8. Major:JapaneseLinguistics                         E:62.22.01.20

9. Supervisors: Assoc.Prof. Dr.Nguyen Hong Con, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tan

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

The thesis has studied the linguistic characteristcs, style and function of business texts both in Chinese and Vietnamese. Although Chinese and Vietnamese share similarities in typology, vocabulary and grammar, still many difficulties are existing in translation of business texts from Chinese to Vietnamese. Function Translation Theories in Germany lay stress on function/text, which is in accordance with style features and communicative goals of Chinese and Vietnamese business texts. Therefore, business text translation from Chinese to Vietnamese will be able to be dealt with under Function Translation Theories. In the frame, the theory of Function plus Loyalty put forawrd by C. Nord can act as a guiding theory for business translation from Chinese to Vietnamese. Equivalence is the final goal that the translator should make an effort to achieve. Translators of business texts from Chinese to Vietnamese should try hard to convey the meaning and style of the source text entirely, obaining equivalence between the source text and the target text, fulfilling the communicative goal expressed by the writer or the translation consignor. Within the frame of the translation theoris, the thesis is engaged in research of translation of words in Chinese-Vietnamese business texts. Correctness of term translation plays a key role in a successful translated version. Translation of appellation expressions is helpful for setting up business relationship. Meanwhile, translation of social expressions is reliable on cultural backgrond and communicative situations. Exact translation of fixed expressions indicates proficiency of the translator. The dissertaiton still studies five types of sentence appearing frequently in Chinese-Vietnamese business texts, specifically, imperative sentence, interrogative sentence, declerative sentence, commissive sentence and expressive sentence, whose linguistic markers are analyzed clearly. Through analysis, great importance should be attached to communicative goals to achieve a successful translated text. Based on the analysis of mistakes that appear often in the materials collected, the thesis has found out the reasons to cause mistakes and proposes suggestions to overcome the mistakes.

11. Practical applicability:

Throguh study of Chinese-Vietnamses business texts, the research results of the thesis will help translators as well as learners of translation better understand the nature of translation and learn techniques and skills of business translation from Chinese to Vietnamese, which is an academic branch worthy of more attention in Chinese-Vietnamese economic exchanges. The thesis will contribute greatly to cultivation of Chinese-Vietnamese translators, especially for the future Chinese-Vietnamese translators in the field of international business. To some extents, the research results will work as the foundation for compiling teaching materials and Chinese-Vietnamese dictionary specialized in business.

12. Further research directions:

Continue to deeply analyze the language in the business texts from different perspectives. Construct a series of Chinese-Vietnamese terms on international business. Compile typical Chinese-Vietnamese business texts with standard forms. With the examples to follow, the translators will easily grasp the characteristics and techniques of business translation.

13. Thesis-related publications:

- Tran Bich Lan (2010), “Linguistic Characteristics of Chinese and Vietnamese Business texts and Their Translation Strategies”,Translation, Language and Culture, Guangxi Education Publishing House, Nanning, pp. 255-260.

- Tran Bich Lan (2010), “On Functionalism Translation Theory of Nord”,Language and life(3), pp.16-18,37 and (4), pp. 17-21.

- Tran Bich Lan (2011), “The Application of Interpersonal Function Theory to Chinese-Vietnamese translation of Letters of Claim”,International Conference on Linguisitcs Training and Research in Vietnam: Theoretical and Practical Issues, Vietnam National University-Ha Noi Publishing House, Hanoi, pp. 954-964.

- Tran Bich Lan, Long Giai Le (2013), “A Comparative Study of Chinese and Vietnamese Social Appellations and Communicative Strategies”,Around Southeast Asia(11), pp. 56-61.

- Tran Bich Lan, Chiem Tran (2014), “On Linguistic Characteristics of Idiomatic Expressions of Chinese Three-Character and their Vietnamese Translation”,Translation Theory and Practice, Heilongjiang Publishing House, Ha'erbin, pp. 163-170.