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

DOCTORAL THESIS INFORMATION

1. Full name of the researcher:Chen Bilan

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: January 13, 1973

4. Place of birth: Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 2386/SDH dated June 29, 2007 of the Director of Hanoi National University

6. Changes in training process: none

7. Thesis topic name:Survey of Chinese-Vietnamese translation (on Chinese-Vietnamese commercial document translations)

8. Major: Vietnamese LinguisticsCode: 62.22.01.20

9. Scientific instructor:Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Con, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tan

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

The thesis has conducted a survey of the linguistic, stylistic and functional characteristics of Chinese and Vietnamese commercial texts (abbreviated as VBTM). Although Vietnamese and Chinese have similarities in terms of type, vocabulary and grammar, translating Chinese-Vietnamese VBTM is still a difficult task. German functional translation theory emphasizes function/text, consistent with the genre characteristics and communicative purposes of Chinese-Vietnamese VBTM. Therefore, translating Chinese-Vietnamese VBTM can be carried out under the light of functional translation theory, in which C. Nord's theory of function plus loyalty is a guide for translating Chinese-Vietnamese VBTM. Equivalent translation is the ultimate goal that translators must strive to pursue. Translating Chinese-Vietnamese VBTM should strive to convey the meaning and style of the original text completely, achieve equivalence between the original text and the target text, and fulfill the communicative purpose of the drafter or the person commissioning the translation. In the framework of typical translation theory, the thesis examines the translation of words in Chinese-Vietnamese commercial documents. Accurate translation of terms is important for the success of translation. Translation of formal words is useful for the successful establishment of bilateral communication relationships. Translation of polite words is entirely based on cultural context and communication situation. Accurate translation of fixed phrases reflects the cultural level of the translator. The thesis examines the translation of 5 groups of speech acts that appear with high frequency in Chinese-Vietnamese commercial documents, namely imperative utterances, interrogative utterances, informative utterances, committed utterances and expressive utterances, pointing out typical linguistic signs of the groups of utterances. Through the survey, it is shown that the purpose of communication must be given utmost importance to obtain accurate and easy-to-understand translations. Based on the analysis of common errors in documents, the thesis has pointed out the causes of errors and proposed solutions to overcome the errors.

11. Practical application:

The results of the thesis, through the analysis of Chinese-Vietnamese commercial documents, will help translators and translation students understand the nature of translation, grasp some operations and techniques in translating Chinese-Vietnamese commercial documents, 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 Chinese-Vietnamese terminology dictionaries specializing in economics and trade.

12. Further research directions:

Deeper linguistic analysis according to other trends to develop research on translating commercial documents. Building a bilingual Chinese-Vietnamese terminology system for the foreign economic sector. Building a series of typical commercial documents, bilingual Chinese-Vietnamese standards. Based on the documents, help translators understand the characteristics of the documents and the method of translating the documents, with a template for reference.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

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

Tran Bich Lan (2010), “Linguistic characteristics of Chinese-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 functional translation theory”,Language and Life Magazine(3), pp. 16-18, 37 and (4), pp. 17-21.

- Tran Bich Lan (2011), “Survey of commercial compensation request letters from the interpersonal functional perspective (based on Chinese-Vietnamese translation documents)”,Proceedings of the International Conference on Linguistics Training and Research in Vietnam: Theoretical and Practical Issues, Hanoi National University 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”,Other(11), pp. 56-61.

Tran Bich Lan, Long Giai Le (2013), “On the similarities and differences between polite forms of address 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”,The old man was very angry., 黑龙江人民出版社, 哈尔滨, 163-170页.

Tran Bich Lan, Chiem Tran (2014), “Linguistic characteristics of three-element fixed phrases in Chinese and their translation into Vietnamese”,Translation theory and practice, 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:January 13, 1973                        4. Place of birth:Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Admission of decision number:2386/SDH,on June 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:VietnameseLinguistics                         Code: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.