9 AN ANALYSIS OF ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN TRANSLATION PROCESS AT VIETNAM ECONOMIC REVIEW UNDER VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

MINISTRY OF FINANCE
ACADEMY OF FINANCE
----⧫ - ⧫-----

Student: Đỗ Quỳnh Anh
Group:

CQ55/51.05

GRADUATION THESIS
TOPIC:
“AN ANALYSIS OF ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN
TRANSLATION PROCESS AT VIETNAM ECONOMIC REVIEW
UNDER VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES”

Major:

English for Finance and Accounting

Student code:

17522202010133

Supervisor:

Bui Thi Tuyet Mai ( Ms.)

Hanoi – 2021


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DECLARATION

I, Do Quynh Anh, declare that this thesis was researched and written by myself, that
the content contained herein is my own and that this work has not been submitted to
any other degree or qualification.
Thesis: " Analysis of advantages and disadvantages in translation process at Vietnam
Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences ".

Hanoi, May , 2021
Student

Đỗ Quỳnh Anh

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ABSTRACT

This study researched the factors affecting translation quality of magazines at
Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. The paper
aims at pointing out advantages and disadvantages in the translation process in
Journal. Then, suggesting some methods to improve the efficiency of magazine
translation at the journal. In order to achieve these aims, the graduation paper

surveys the current performance of magazines translation activities in the Journal
and points out whether it is advantageous or not. From received results, the study
argues the most practical implications to improve the efficiency of magazine
translation at the journal in the future years.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Firstly, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Faculty of Foreign
Languages for facilitating me during my 4-years study in the Academy of Finance
and now providing me a chance to practice my knowledge, skills and profession in
reality through this internship.
Secondly, I also want to deliver a special thanks to, M.A. Bui Tuyet Mai, lecturer of
Academy of Finance, for being my direct supervisor of my internship and for her
worthy suggestions and continuing support while I was conducting this work.
Thirdly, I wish to show my sincere thanks to all my teachers at Academy of
Finance, who have provided me with worthy lessons throughout 4 years of study.

Fourthly I am indebted to the staff of Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam
Academy of Social Sciences for their valuable support during the internship. I am
extremely thankful and indebted to them for sharing expertise, and sincere and
valuable guidance and encouragement extended to me.
Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family for always supporting me,

helping me walk through 4 years in the academy as well as in my graduation
internship.
Thank you all!

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LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES

List
Figure 2.1.3: Board of Vietnam Economic Review

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION.........................................................................................................i
ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..........................................................................................iii
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES............................................................................iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................v
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................3
1.1. Theoretical Review: Linguistics and Translation Study..................................3
1.2. Translation Theories.......................................................................................5
1.2.1. Definition of translation...........................................................................5
1.2.2. The importance of translation..................................................................6
1.2.3. Types of translation..................................................................................8
1.2.4. Translation strategies.............................................................................11
1.2.5.The factors influencing translation process.............................................17
CHAPTER 2: TRANSLATION OF BUSINESS MAGAZINES AT VIETNAM
ECONOMIC REVIEW UNDER VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES. . .24
2.1. Overview of Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of Social
Sciences............................................................................................................... 24
2.1.1. General information of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences..............24
2.1.2. Foundation and development of Vietnam Economic Review................28
2.1.3. Organization and management of Vietnam Economic Review..............30
2.1.4. The Journal’s main activity....................................................................31
2.2. The procedures of translation of business magazines at Vietnam Economic
Review under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences...........................................32
2.3. Analysis of advantages and disadvantages in translation process at Vietnam
Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences..........................35
2.3.1. Advantages in translation process at Vietnam Economic Review under
Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences..............................................................35

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2.3.2. Disadvantages in translation process at Vietnam Economic Review
under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences....................................................37
CHAPTER 3: RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................40
3.1. Orientations and objectives of translation at the Journal in the future..........40
3.2. Solutions to solve problems of translation at the Journal..............................41
3.2.1. Reorganizing the systems and processes................................................41
3.2.2. Improving the translator's knowledge....................................................42
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................43
REFERENCE...........................................................................................................45

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INTRODUCTION

1. Rationale of the study
Nowadays, English tends to become the most commonly used language

worldwide. Fields such as construction, healthcare, finance, tourism,etc are all
presented in both Vietnamese and other languages. Especially, in the period of
economic integration, translation plays an essential role in business and cultural
exchange. Firstly, it helps people to understand more about other cultural values.
Secondly, it also helps the country keep up with global standards in the process of
diplomatic relations, economic cooperation and other fields.
Vietnam Economic Review is the economic science journal. It publishes
the research results of scientists inside and outside the Institute on world economic
issues and international economic relations, world political issues, international
economic integration and reform. of Vietnam. The magazine is also a place that
regularly provides new information and documents on the situation and adjustment
of socio-economic policies of countries around the world, and Vietnam's foreign
economic policy and system. This helps readers at home and abroad to have
accurate and reliable information. Therefore, the translation quality of economic
articles plays an important role in the reputation of the newsroom in particular and
of Vietnam in general.
2. Aim of the study
The study aims at analyzing the current status of translation of business
magazines at VietNam Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of social
sciences. Then, it points out some advantages and disadvantages in the translation
process of business magazines from which a number of ways are recommended to
improve efficiency of translation of these magazines or researches in the future.
3. Scope of the study
The study is performed at Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam
Academy of Social Sciences, Floor 12A, Building B, No. 1 Lieu Giai, Ba Dinh,

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Hanoi, Vietnam. The study is based on the data provided by Vietnam Economic
Review under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and the object is the translation
of business magazines or researches at the Journal.
4. Methodology of the study
Based on knowledge at university, books, documents, magazines, researches
of Vietnam Economic Review and these above aims, some methods are applied to
fulfill this thesis as follows:
❖

Figure collection: from the Internet, Vietnam Economic Review

website, internal documents and reports
❖

Figure comparison, data evaluation and judgement

❖

Methods of analyzing, comparing and summarizing materials,

statistics and information provided by Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam
Academy of Social Sciences
5. Organization of the study
The thesis includes 3 main chapters as follows:
Chapter 1 – Literature Review: This chapter provides general

information about linguistics and translation theories in specific criteria.
Chapter 2 – Translation of business magazines at Vietnam
Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences : It is the main
part of the thesis consisting of an overview of Vietnam Economic Review under
Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the current situation of translation of
business magazines at the Journal as well as advantages and disadvantages in the
translation of these magazines or researches.
Chapter 3 – Ways to improve efficiency of translation of
business magazines at Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of Social
Sciences: The final chapter points out orientations and objectives of translation of
business magazines at Vietnam Economic Review under Vietnam Academy of
Social Sciences in the future and recommends some solutions to solve problems of
translation of these magazines or researches.

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CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

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1.1. Theoretical Review: Linguistics and Translation Study
i) Overview of Linguistics
There are many definitions of linguistics. But almost all of these definitions
show that linguistics is the discipline of language studies that includes how it is put
together and how it works. Linguistics is also the process of analyzing human
language as a system that associates sounds (or gestures) with meaning. In this
world there are many different languages but they are made up of the combination
of many building blocks of different types and sizes. The sounds are combined and
sometimes this happens, their appearance can be changed and the way they are
combined can create unexpected phenomena. Besides, words are arranged in a
certain order. Sometimes the beginning and end of a word are changed to give a
completely different meaning from the original. The placement of words as well as
the speaker's knowledge of what the listener will understand can influence its own
meaning. There are many opinions that the field of linguistics includes a number of
sub-areas such as phonetics, phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics and
pragmatics. Almost all professional linguists become experts in one or more of
these sub-areas. In more detail, phonology and phonetics study the sound system of
languages, referring to the basic pronunciations of speech. It can be investigated by
observing which physical properties of the vocal lines (including lips and tongue)
are used to produce different linguistic sounds to convey information. The form and
syntax of words and sentences involve studying the internal structure of words and
sentences. In addition to studying the sound system of language, word structures
and sentences, linguists also seek to identify the meaning behind words and
combinations of words called semantics . The semanticists also compare the
meaning of these associations when they interact with contextual information,
another subfield called pragmatics. After defining the semantics, the semanticists

also compare the meaning of these associations as they interact with contextual
information.

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Moreover, the linguistic discipline focuses on the theories of linguistic
structure, transformation and use, description and documentation of contemporary
languages, and the significance of linguistic theories for understanding of the mind
and brain, human culture, social behavior and language learning and teaching. Like
all disciplines, linguistics plays an important role in human development. The
development of linguistics will expand our knowledge and understanding of the
outside world. Language is an important vehicle for human exchange and interaction.
The knowledge gained in linguistics has many practical applications in life.
ii) The relationship between linguistics and translation study
All relationships cannot always be harmonious. The same is true of the
relationship between translation and linguistics. In particular, translation scholars
have accused linguists of misapprehending translation “as a mere transcoding
process” (Snell-Hornby 1988:3) and of being obsessed with a notion of equivalence
which does not itself remain stable with variation in the terms used to denote it in
different languages.
Besides, the relationship of linguistics towards translation studies can be
twofold: linguistic findings can be applied to the practice of translation, and a
linguistic theory of translation can be created. In the first example, a branch of

linguistics like sociolinguistics can give information about the connection of
language with the social situation and this something can then be applied in the act
of translating.In the second example, instead of applying linguistic theory to parts of
the text which we are translating, we apply it to the whole 7 concepts of translation.
The translator focuses the translation on the target text receiver, who is distinct from
the source text receiver in terms of language, culture, world knowledge and text
expectations, then adapting the source language text to a different social group with
what Marián Kabát, for the sake of terminological comparability, which is called
“natiolect”. Both of these examples can be found in a number of writings on
linguistics and translation studies. Many authors list the main parts of a linguistic
theory and then show what it can do to elements in the translation process.

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1.2. Translation Theories
1.2.1. Definition of translation
Translation has been defined in numerous ways according to the view of
each writer, translator and reader. However, there are some typical definitions which
are used popularly. Lewis (1958:265) points out that “ "translate" is formed from
the Latin ``trans+latus", which means "carried across"”. For Wills (1982),
translation is a transfer process, which aims at the transformation of written source
language text into an optimally equivalent target language text, and which requires
the syntactic, the semantic and the pragmatic understanding and analytical

processing of the source language. According to Foster (1958:1), translation is the
act of transferring through which the content of a text is transferred from the SL
(source language) into the TL (target language). Besides, Tu Anh (2005) wrote that
“Translation is the transmission of a thought expressed in one language by means of
another language. The language used to express the thought directly is called the
source language, and the language used to translate that thought is called the target
language” Translation, by the dictionary definition, is something that is translated,
or the process of translating something, from one language to another. (Cambridge
English Dictionary). According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, 1974,
translation consists of changing from one state or form to another, to turn into one’s
own or another’s language. Therefore, translation is basically a change of form.
From all of the definitions above, we can conclude that translation is the action of
designing equivalent “version” in the TL to preserve all the surface and hidden
values of the work in SL.

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According to the dictionary, there are also a number of different ways to
define “translation”. In the Oxford dictionary, translation is known as the process of
translating words or text from one language into another. Therefore, translation is
basically a change in form . That means we are referring to words, phrases,
sentences, paragraphs, etc. The forms mentioned are considered to be the surface
structures of a language. It is the structural part of language actually seen in print or

heard in speech. In translation, the form of the source language is replaced by that
of the target language. In The Merriam Webster Dictionary (1974), translation is
known as the process of changing from one state or form to another, to turn into
one’s own or another’s language .
From the notions above, translation is the process of conveying messages
from the source text to the target text. Translation is used for the purpose of
presenting the equivalent meaning of the source language in the target language. We
can claim that meaning is of the utmost importance in translation and it has to be
held in place for whatever happens. Furthermore, translating a literary work into
another language also means creating a new literary work in another language.
Taking a work of poetry as an example, it is a book of poetry whose language is
different from the original text but has the spirit of the original text. It also aroused a
similar response from readers between the two languages.
1.2.2. The importance of translation
Nowadays, we live in a globalized world, where numerous countries and
cultures are connected, whether by commercial or political relations, or merely
cultural exchanges. However, there are barriers that can often create difficult
relations. These barriers are mainly linguistic, since these relations and exchanges
are often established between countries and people that don’t speak the same
language, thus complicating the communication.

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In a world with over 7000 spoken languages, translation is important because
it allows people to communicate and understand each other’s ideas and cultures,
without having to learn a second language. Furthermore, even if people know more
than one language, we tend to understand and express ourselves better with our
native language.
However, the importance of translation in today’s world goes way beyond
that.
According to Ethnologue, English is the most spoken language in the world
if you count both native and non-native speakers . English is also the language with
a more prominent presence in our day to day lives, whether it is on the media, the
Internet, among others. Consequently, we sometimes forget that, in reality, not
everyone can speak English, or even understand it. Thereby, the translator’s quest is
to adapt all these linguistic and cultural particularities into the target language and
culture. Ultimately, the main goal is to ensure that everyone understands the original
content, preserving its essence.
Due to the increasing globalization and technological advancements,
physical distance is becoming a smaller concern when it comes to establishing
political, commercial or governmental relations. Today’s world is dominated by the
exponential increase of relations between foreign countries, since these bring
countless advantages.
Thus, it is crucial that each country ensures excellent translation and
interpretation services, performed by competent and qualified professionals,
because one tiny mistake could mean the complete failure of extremely important
relations. In addition, we are beginning to see the growth of other markets, outside
of the English language spectrum, like the Chinese market, for example, which has
been growing exponentially over the last few years, which leads to the pursuit of
native translators.

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We live in a world where it is becoming more and more important to
establish international relations, and where we consume information and
entertainment from all over the world. We witness the creation of “a global village”,
where everyone shares ideas, habits and cultures. It is practically impossible to
escape from this globalization. We must accept that it is here to stay, fortunately.
That being said, we must adapt to it and enjoy it as much as we can. Translation is
something indispensable. It breaks down barriers and borders. Thanks to it, we live
in an extremely educated society, with access to all kinds of content. All in all,
translation is a necessity that must be acknowledged.
1.2.3. Types of translation
i) Literal translation versus idiomatic translation
Because a text has both form and meaning, there are two main kinds of
translation. One is form-based and the other is meaning-based. Form-based
translation attempts to follow the form of the source language and is known as
literal translation. Meaning-based translation makes every effort to communicate
the meaning of the source language text in the natural forms of the receptor
language. Such translation is called idiomatic translation. An interlinear translation
is a completely literal translation.
For some purposes, it is desirable to reproduce the linguistic features of the
source text; as for example, in a linguistic study of that language. Literal translation
can be considered as a very low level of translation. A literal translation sounds like
nonsense and has little communication value. For Example:
Vietnamese: Mời bạn cùng tôi đi biển.

Literal translation: Invite a friend with me to go to the beach. (nonsense)
This literal translation makes little sense in English.
The appropriate translation could be a question:
Would you like to go to the beach with me?

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Idiomatic translations use the natural forms of the receptor language, both in
the grammatical constructions and in the choice of lexical items. A truly idiomatic
translation does not sound like a translation. It sounds like it was written originally
in the receptor language. Therefore, a good translator will try to translate
idiomatically. This is his goal. However, translations are often a mixture of a literal
transfer of the grammatical units along with some idiomatic translation of the
meaning of the text. It is not easy to consistently translate.
In one translation, the source text said,
“Nhiều du khách nước ngoài đã giới thiệu cho chúng tôi về nhà hàng Hải Âu”.
It was translated,
“Many foreign tourists have introduced us to Hai Au Restaurant.” (literal
translation)
It would have been translated idiomatically, “Hai Au Restaurant has been
recommended to us by a number of foreign tourists.”
The translator’s goal should be to reproduce in a receptor language a text
which communicates the same message as the source language but using the natural

grammatical and lexical choices of the receptor language. The basic overriding
principle is that an idiomatic translation reproduces the meaning of the source
language in the natural form of the receptor language.
ii) Translating grammatical features
Each language has its own division of the lexicon into classes such as nouns,
verbs, adjectives and so on. Different languages will have different classes and
subclasses. It will not always be possible to translate a source language noun with a
noun in the receptor language. Grammatical constructions vary between the source
language and the receptor language. The order of the words in the sentence may be
completely reserved.
The following Vietnamese simple sentence is given with a literal English
translation:
Vietnamese: Chú học ở đâu?

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Literal English translation: You study where? Understandable translation
into English requires a complete reversal of the word order: Where do you study?
The above translated sentences are only examples to show some types of
grammatical adjustments which will result if a translator translates idiomatically in
the source language. Certainly, there will be times by coincidence they match, but a
translator should translate the meaning not concern himself with whether the forms
turn out the same or not.

iii) Translating lexical features
Each language has its own idiomatic way of expressing lexical items.
Languages abound in idioms, secondary meanings, metaphors and other figurative
meanings. All languages have idioms – the string of words whose meaning is
different than the meaning conveyed by the individual words.
In English to say that someone is “bullheaded” means that the person is
“stubborn”. The meaning has little to do with “bull” or “head”. Similarly, in
Vietnamese to say that someone is “cứng đầu, cứng cổ” means that the person is
“stubborn”. The meaning has little to do with “đầu” or “cổ”. Languages abound in
such idioms.
The following are a few English idioms using in and into: run into debt, rush
into print, step into a practice, jump into a fight, dive into a book, stumble into
acquaintance, fall in love, break into society, etc.
In spite of all these combinations, one cannot say the following: break into
debt, fall into print, rush into a fight or dive into debt. The combinations are fixed as
to form and their meaning comes from their combination. A literal word for-word
translation of these idioms into another language will not make sense. The form
cannot be kept, but the receptor language word or phrase which has the equivalent
meaning will be the correct one to use in the translation.

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For example, the Vietnamese idiom “mạnh như trâu” is literally translated

into English as in the first column and is idiomatically as in the second column. The
literal English is misleading. Literal Idiomatic He is as strong as a buffalo. He is as
strong as a horse. Translators who want to make a good idiomatic translation often
find figures of speech especially challenging. A little translation of “strong as a
horse” might sound really strange in a language where the comparison between a
strong person and a horse has never been used as a figure of speech. In Vietnamese
it would be more natural to say “strong as a buffalo”. Similarly, a literal translation
of “blind as a bat” might sound really strange in a language where the comparison
between a blind person and a bat has never been used as a figure of speech. Names
of animals are used metaphorically in most languages. But the comparison is often
different and so the figure will be misunderstood unless some adjustment is made.
For example, when someone is called a pig in English, it usually means he is
dirty or a greedy eater. In Vietnamese, it has different meanings. It could means that
the person is stupid or that the person is a greedy. Some lexical combinations of the
source language may be ambiguous. The meaning is not clear.
For example, “It is too hot to eat”, could mean any of the following: The
food is too hot to eat; the weather is too hot for us to feel like eating; the horse is
too hot after running a race and does not want to eat. In the process of making an
idiomatic translation, such ambiguities must often be resolved to keep the intended
meaning in the context of communication.
In short, there are four typical types of translation: literal translation,
idiomatic translation, translation grammatical features, and translation lexical
features. However, one of them, literal translation, should be avoided because it will
make the translation meaningless or nonsense. Idiomatic translation, in contrast, is
considered to be a strongly recommended means.
1.2.4. Translation strategies
i)Strategy 1: How to deal with non-equivalence at word level
It is often the case that no direct equivalents can be found in Vietnamese for

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English words. It may be that the concept or idea is new to Vietnam, as is the case
with “gender”, which is in fact a relatively new concept in general, and a difficult
one to understand and explain in many languages. Or, it may be that the concept is
known or readily understood but there is no specific word in Vietnamese to express
it. The strategies listed below can be used to handle cases of non-equivalence.
- Translating by a more specific word
In some cases, it may be appropriate or necessary to use a more specific
word to translate an English word into Vietnamese. This usually involves choosing
among several different words, as there may be many Vietnamese words that
correspond to the general category or meaning expressed by the English term. For
example, the English word for “rice” can be translated by many different
Vietnamese words (hạt lúa, hạt thóc, hạt gạo, cơm), depending on whether one is
planning it, harvesting it, cooking it, or eating it. In these cases, the English word
alone is not enough to determine the appropriate Vietnamese translation, and it is
necessary to examine the English context in deciding which Vietnamese word is to
be used.
- Translating by a more general word
In other cases, it may be appropriate to use a more general word to translate
English with no specific Vietnamese equivalent. For instance, English makes
distinctions among mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles, the latter having larger
wheels and engines than both mopeds and scooters; Vietnamese, on the order hand,
refers to all two-wheel, motorized vehicles as “xe máy”. Similarly, the English

words “hand”, and “arm” may all be translated by the Vietnamese word “tay”,
which does not suggest any problem of comprehension in Vietnamese, as it should
be clear from the context which of these words is meant.
- Translating by paraphrase
This strategy can be used when translating an English word or concept that
does not exist in Vietnamese, or when the Vietnamese term for it does not include
all the meanings conveyed by the English term for the same concept. For example,

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in the sentence “Children should not drink alcohol.” In English the word “alcohol”
includes all alcoholic beverages in its meaning. However, the Vietnamese word for
alcohol, “rượu”, does not include beer in its definition, so the Vietnamese
translation should add the word beer to reflect the full meaning of the source
language sentence “Trẻ em không nên uống rượu, bia.”
ii)Strategy 2: How to deal with idioms and fixed expressions
According to English Idioms in Use (McCarthy & O‟Dell, 2004, p.6), an
idiom is defined as a fixed expression which “has a meaning that is not obvious
from the individual words”. In other words, words have lost their individual identity
in the idiom. The structure of the idiom is, to a large extent, fixed and
unchangeable. Every language has a set of idioms and fixed expressions of its own,
which has been created and developed throughout history. It is profoundly
influenced by the geographical position, natural and social conditions of the culture

in which the language is used. Thus, the sets of idioms and fixed expressions in
different languages vary in many ways. Idioms and fixed expressions can be dealt
with in ways similar to those discussed above. With idioms, however, there is the
added difficulty that the translator may not realize that she is dealing with an
idiomatic expression, since more idioms may make sense when translated literally.
Using an idiom or fixed expression of similar meaning and form It is sometimes
possible to find a Vietnamese idiom or expression with a similar meaning to an
English idiom or expression, and which is expressed in the same way. One example
is the idiom “It is raining cats and dogs”. This idiom does not have any meaning
related to the pets (cats or dogs), but it just means “It is raining heavily” – “Trời
đang mưa to.” or “Mưa tầm tã.” In Vietnamese. If this English idiom is translated in
the way of literal translation which just focuses on the meaning in dictionary of the
word “cat”- “con mèo” and the word “dog” – “con chó” like “Trời đang mưa những
con mèo và chó”, the sentence is totally nonsense. Thus, it is clear that no
Vietnamese idiom or expression with a similar meaning to this English idiom can be
found. Using an idiom or fixed expression of similar meaning but dissimilar form It

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is also possible, and usually easier to find a Vietnamese idiom with a similar
meaning to an English idiom or set expression, but which is expressed differently. A
good example is the translation for “chở củi về rừng”, which is translated as “to
carry firewood to the forest”. However, in English “to carry firewood to the forest”

is not an idiom and does not have the meaning as the Vietnamese idiom “chở củi về
rừng”. The correct English equivalent of the Vietnamese idiom is “to carry coals to
Newcastle”. The meaning here is clearly the same for both idioms - to bring
something to a place that already has an abundance of that thing - but the way in
which each language expresses it is bound to the culture of that language. It would
be far more cumbersome to translate this idiom word-for-word into Vietnamese
with an explanation that Newcastle is a well-known coal-producing city in England
(as was suggested by some Vietnamese translators), which would unduly interrupt
the flow of the text and greatly diminish the idiom‟s impact. By substituting a
similar Vietnamese idiom, then, the flow and the impact of the original text are
retained in the translation.
- Translating by paraphrase
When Vietnamese equivalents cannot be found, paraphrasing may be the best
way to deal with an idiom or fixed expression. A good example can be found in an
article on maternal mortality, which includes the sentence, “But before the new
estimates replace the old as a way of packaging up the problem, it should be said
that a mistake has been made in allowing statistics such as these to slip into easy
language”. The expression “packaging up the problem” presented problems in
translation, as it was misinterpreted to mean “assembling” or “gathering together”.
However, even if this phrase were clearly understood, it would be difficult to find a
concise equivalent in Vietnamese; in fact, it would be difficult to re-state concisely
in English. This phrase is best dealt with by paraphrasing, which in English should
read something like, “summing up the problem by referring to it simply as a
number, which does not reflect its true magnitude or impact”. The expression “to

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slip into easy usage” is problematic for the same reasons, and is also best dealt with
by paraphrasing, as a direct translation into Vietnamese would be nonsensical.
iii)

Strategy 3: How to deal with voice, number and person

VOICE: The passive voice is used very frequently in English and poses some
problems for translation from English into Vietnamese and vice versa in the
following ways:
(a) - Vietnamese: (i) A được + động từ + (bởi B) (positive meaning)
A được/do +(B) + động từ
(ii) A bị + động từ + (bởi B) (negative meaning)
A bị + (B) + động từ
- English: A to be done (by B) = A be + V3/ed (by B)
For example: (1) Jack được Tim tặng một chiếc đồng hồ
= Jack is given a clock by Tim.
(2) Ngôi nhà này do Mark xây năm 2014.
= This house was built by Mark in 2014.
(b) - Vietnamese: (i) A được + động từ (positive meaning)
(ii) A bị + động từ (negative meaning)
(iii) Người ta/ai đó + động từ + A
- English: A to be done = A be + V3/ed or A has/have been + V3/ed
For example: (1) Mark mới được động viên gần đây.
= Mark has been encouraged recently.
The positive and negative connotation is often conveyed in English, it can be
difficult to know which verb to use in the Vietnamese.

For example: English: The children were given beats.
Vietnamese: “Các cháu được đánh” or “Các cháu bị đánh.”
Depending on whether receiving shots was considered a positive or negative
experience. On the other hand, when the positive or negative connotation of the
sentence is clear, it is more appropriate to retain the passive voice in the
Vietnamese.
For example:
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- Cô ấy bị ngã = She falls.
- Chị Quỳnh bị đau bụng = Quynh has a stomachache.
NUMBER: Through both languages have similar notions of number and
countability, each language expresses this in very different ways. In Vietnamese,
numbers are often not expressed at all. In English, number is expressed as a
grammatical category, that is, there are different grammatical forms for the singular
and plural nouns. In Vietnamese, however, no such distinction is made
grammatically. For example, “Phụ nữ” can mean either woman or women. In
Vietnamese, some plural makers such as “các”, “những”,”tất cả”,”mọi”,”mỗi”…
can be used in addition to the noun. If it is clear from the English context which of
these plural markets should be used in the Vietnamese, then the translator should
choose accordingly.
Note: some words that can be countable in Vietnamese but are uncountable in
English.

For example: information, equipment, furniture, potential, advice …
PERSON: Participants roles and forms of address are expressed in Vietnamese
through a very complicated system of personal pronouns based largely on kinship
(mối quan hệ họ hàng) terms. Unlike their distinctions, depending on relationship
within the family, familiarity, social status, and even one‟s particular mood or
attitude in a given situation. These distinctions are not always clear in English and
can usually be determined by the context, if at all. If it is not possible to determine
the distinctions of the English pronouns, the decision should be based on
consideration of tone and overall purpose of the document.
For example: A manual on health care contains sections written specifically
for children and adults. In the section for children, “you” should be translated as
“chúng ta”, which is the inclusive “we” – that is, the speaker is including the
listener in a group with him/herself. And in different contexts, “we” can be
translated as “chúng tôi” meaning “other people and I, but not you” or “chúng ta”
meaning “you and I”.

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Note: In English, age is often not important in the addressing system. And
There is no distinction between the relatives of mother‟s side or father‟s side.
Hai anh em = two brothers
Chú, bác = uncle
Cơ, dì, bác gái = aunt

iv)Strategy 4: How to deal with proper names
Geographical terms: either translated into another word in English or
translated phonologically s‟ becomes x‟) or remained unchanged.
Example:
- Bắc Kinh = Beijing
- Singapore or Xingapo = Singapore
- Xã hội chủ nghĩa = Socialist
- Braxin = Brazil
Names of organizations: Translation from Vietnamese into English: often
using the reverse order or adjective + noun or noun +preposition + noun.
“Bộ”, “Sở” = Ministry of …, Department of …
“Ngân hàng” = Bank for …, or Adjective + Bank
Example:
Ngân hàng phục vụ người nghèo = Bank for the poor
Ngân hàng công thương Việt Nam = Vietnam industrial and Commercial Bank
Văn phịng chính phủ = Government office
Strategy 5: How to deal with non-subject sentences
In Vietnamese-written passages, some non-subject sentences are often come
across. In this case, the following techniques of translation can be used:
1. Passive voice
2. It to be + adjective + to do something
3. There is/are …
4. Ving (s) + V + O
5. Put in the real subject that is often found in the previous

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