CANTHO UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE

TRANSLATION:
THEORY & PRACTICE

 

By NVSAU

For Internal Use Only

January, 2024

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Chapter 1: VIEWS ON TRANSLATION
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I. Introduction
This chapter is concerned with translation and, in particular, with proposing a new
orientation to the study of translation. Translation, as we all know, is an activity of enormous
importance in our modern world. Nowadays, translation has become a profession. It consists of staff
translators, freelancers, contract translators, terminologists, and pre- and post–editors in machine
translation. The format of translation has partly moved away from books to reports, contracts,
brochures, journals and magazines, instructions and advertisements; its topics range from literature
to every type of information with great emphasis to science and technology.
o Translation has been given greater prominence as a consequence of a number of international
developments. These include the increase in the number of international organizations, the
recognition of minority language groups in most countries in the world; world-wide trade and
international trade.
o Translation has been the subject of interest not only to linguists, professional and amateur
translators, and language teachers but also to electronic engineers and mathematicians. A great
number of books and articles have been written about this area of human knowledge. However,
“What is translation?” is still a question that needs to be considered.
II. What is Translation?
1. Definition
Translation, by dictionary definition, consists of changing from one state or form to another,
to turn into one’s own or another’s language.
Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by
equivalent textual material in another language (target language). (JC Catford)
Translation is the process of conveying messages across linguistic and cultural barriers. (Ian
Tudor).
Translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the
author intended the text. (Peter Newmark)
 The form from which the translation is made will be called the SOURCE/ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE.
 The form into which it is to be changed will be called the TARGET/RECEPTOR
LANGUAGE.

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In other words, translation is the transfer of meaning from one language to another language.
That is, translation is the expression in another language (target language) of what has been
expressed in another (source) language, preserving semantic and stylistic equivalences.
However, languages are different from each other; they are different in form having different
codes and rules regulating the construction of grammatical stretches of language and these forms
have different meanings. To shift from one language to another is, by definition, to change the
forms. Also, the contrasting forms convey meanings which cannot but fail to coincide totally; there
is no absolute synonym between words in the same language, why should anyone be surprised to
discover a lack synonym between languages.
Faced by a text in a language, we are able to work out not only the meaning of each word and
sentence but also its communicative value, its place in time and space and information about the
participants involved in its production and reception. We might take, as a light-hearted model of the
questions we can ask of the text:
 What? is the message contained in the text; the content of the signal.
 Why? orients us towards the intention of the sender, the purpose for which the text was is
used. (Informing, persuading, flattering, etc.)
 When? is concerned with the time of communication realized in the text and setting in its
historical context; contemporary or set in the recent or remote past or future.
 Where? is concerned with the place of communication, the physical location of the speech
event realized in the text.
 How? refers to whether the text is written in a formal or informal way.
 Who? refers to the participants involved in the communication; the sender and receiver.
Translation, then, consists of studying the lexicon, grammatical structure, communication
situation, and cultural context of the source language text, analyzing it in order to determine its
meaning, and then reconstructing this same meaning using the lexicon, grammatical structure which
is appropriate in the receptor language and its cultural context.
2. Translation versus Interpretation
Interpreting and translation are two closely related linguistic disciplines. Yet they are rarely
performed by the same people. The difference in skills, training, aptitude and even language
knowledge are so substantial that few people can do both successfully on a professional level.
 Translation is concerned with the written conversion of a text from one language (source
language) into another language (target or receptor language). A translator therefore is a person who
writes or transcribes the message from the source language to the target language.
 Interpreting is the oral rendering (representing) of the meaning of the spoken word from one
language into another language. An interpreter therefore is a person who orally renders the message
of the source language into the target language. In the case of sign language, interpreters render the
meaning of the spoken word by signing or rendering the meaning of sign language into the spoken
words.
On the surface, the difference between interpreting and translation is only the difference in the
medium: the interpreter translates orally, while a translator interprets written text. Both interpreting
and translation presuppose a certain love of language and deep knowledge of more than one
language.
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Even bilingual individuals can rarely express themselves in a given subject equally well in both
languages, and many excellent translators are not fully bilingual to begin with. Knowing this
limitation, a good translator will only translate documents into his or her native language
An interpreter, on the other hand, must be able to translate in both directions on the spot, without
using dictionaries or other supplemental reference materials. Interpreters must have extraordinary
listening abilities, especially for simultaneous interpreting. Simultaneous interpreters need to process
and memorize the words that the source-language speaker is saying now, while simultaneously
outputting in the target language the translation of words the speaker said 5-10 seconds ago.
Interpreters must also possess excellent public speaking skills and the intellectual capacity to
instantly transform idioms, colloquialisms and other culturally-specific references into analogous
statements the target audience will understand.
Interpreters and translators typically do the following:
 Convert concepts in the source language to equivalent concepts in the target language
 Compile information, such as technical terms used in legal settings, into glossaries and
terminology databases to be used in translations
 Speak, read, and write fluently in at least two languages, including English and one or more
others
 Relay the style and tone of the original language
 Manage work schedules to meet deadlines
 Render spoken messages accurately, quickly, and clearly
Interpreters and translators aid communication by converting message or text from one language
into another language. Although some people do both, interpreting and translating are different
professions: interpreters work with spoken communication, and translators work with written
communication.
Interpreters convert information from one spoken language into another—or, in the case of sign
language interpreters, between spoken language and sign language. The goal of an interpreter is to
have people hear the interpretation as if it were the original. Interpreters must usually be fluent
speakers or signers of both languages, because they communicate back and forth among the people
who do not share a common language.
There are three common modes of interpreting: simultaneous, consecutive, and whispered.
- Simultaneous. Simultaneous interpreters cannot begin interpreting until the general meaning of
the sentence is understood. Simultaneous interpreting requires interpreters to listen or watch and
speak or sign at the same time someone is speaking or signing. It requires a high level of
concentration. For that reason, simultaneous interpreters usually work in pairs, each interpreting for
about 20 to 30 minutes and then resting while the other interprets. Simultaneous interpreters are
often familiar with the subject matter, so they can anticipate the end of the speaker’s sentences.
- Consecutive. Consecutive interpreting begins only after the speaker has said or signed a group
of words or sentences. Consecutive interpreters may take notes while listening to or watching the
speakers before presenting their interpretation. Note taking is an essential part of consecutive
interpreting.
- Whispered. Interpreters in this mode sit very close to the listeners and provide a simultaneous
interpretation in a quiet voice. At least two interpreters take turns.
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The following are examples of types of interpreters and translators:
- Conference interpreters work at conferences that have non-English-speaking attendees. The
work is often in the field of international business or diplomacy, although conference interpreters
can interpret for any organization that works with speakers of foreign languages. Employers
generally prefer more experienced interpreters who have the ability to convert from at least two
languages into one native language—for example, the ability to interpret from Spanish and French
into English. For some positions, such as those with the United Nations, this qualification is
required.
- Guide or escort interpreters accompany either U.S. visitors abroad or foreign visitors in the
United States to ensure that they are able to communicate during their stay. These specialists
interpret in both formal and informal settings. Frequent travel is common for these workers.
- Health or medical interpreters and translators typically work in healthcare settings and help
patients communicate with doctors, nurses, technicians, and other medical staff. Interpreters and
translators must have knowledge of medical terminology and the common words for medical terms
in both languages.
- Legal or judiciary interpreters and translators typically work in courts and other legal
settings. At hearings, arraignments, depositions, and trials, they help people who have limited
English proficiency. As a result, they must understand legal terminology. Many court interpreters
must sometimes read documents aloud in a language other than that in which they were written, a
task known as sight translation. Both interpreters and translators must have strong understanding of
legal terminology in both languages.
- Literary translators convert journal articles, books, poetry, and short stories from one language
into another language. They work to keep the tone, style, and meaning of the author’s work.
Whenever possible, literary translators work closely with authors to capture the intended meaning as
well as the literary and cultural characteristics of the original.
In general, messages to be translated are written and translated versions are also written.
Messages to be interpreted are generally transmitted orally and the interpretations are rendered
orally. This difference in the vehicle of original message transmission implicates a difference in the
time that will be available for comprehending the original message and the time available for
rendering the message into another language. The time factor in turn affects the different skills and
strategies that will be called upon.
3. Translation: Process and Product
Translation is the process to transfer written or spoken source language (SL) texts to
equivalent written or spoken target language (TL) texts. The basic purpose of translation is to
reproduce various types of texts, comprising literary, religious, scientific, philosophical texts etc. in
another language and thus making them available to wider readers, to a greater number of target
audiences and to bring the world closer. There are three distinguishable meanings for the word
translation:
 Translating: the process (to translate; the activity rather than the tangible object);
 A translation: the product of the process of translating (i.e. the translated text);
 Translation: the abstract concept which encompasses both the process of translating and
the product of that process.
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4. Approaches to Translation: There are two approaches to translation:
 Formal equivalence: Formal equivalence implies word for word translation or literal
translation. It translates not only the exact appearance of vocabulary but also the idioms and
grammatical structure used in the original. This creates a problem because idioms are expressions
that have meaning which is quite different from the actual meaning of the words used in the idiom.
The drawback of formal equivalence is that idioms or phrases can mislead or confuse the reader.
 Dynamic equivalence: Dynamic equivalence, also referred to as functional equivalence,
implies the essential thought expressed in the source text. This includes, if necessary, literality,
original meaning and word order, the text's active vs. passive voice, etc. It is not following a word-
for- word translation but changing, adding, or subtracting from the original text to make it look as
the translator sees fit.
5. Principles of Translation
The first thing to remember is that translation is the transfer of meaning from one language
to another. It is not the transfer of words from one language to another. Different languages also
have different grammar rules, different word orders, sometimes even words for which other
languages do not have any equivalents. What makes a good translation? => THE IDEAL
TRANSLATION must be:
ACCURATE,
 Reproducing as exactly as possible the meaning of the source text.
BEAUTIFUL,
 Using natural forms of the receptor language (TL) in a way that is appropriate to the kind
of text being translated.
COMMUNICATIVE,
 Expressing all aspects of the meaning in a way that is really understandable to the intended
audience.
- The first criterion is rather obvious—it has to be accurate. Additionally, if a translation is
fraught with bad grammar or spelling errors, the reader tends to lose confidence in not only the
document, but also the company that produced it.
- Clarity is another important factor. A translation has to be easily comprehensible and well
written, regardless of how poor the original document may be. Good translations commonly read
much better than do the originals.
- Naturalness of the translation is the key factor in helping to prevent a translation from
sounding like one. For a translation to convey the same feeling to the reader, it must use words and
expressions which can transmit a similar spirit. Failure to express this accurately can easily mislead
the reader as to the writer’s true feelings and attitudes.
- A translation needs to be culturally appropriate for the target audience. References to
religious figures, sports or country–specific items may confuse or offend the reader.
- The audience needs to be taken into consideration. Sometimes this is a broad group of
people, but more often, it is a narrow, targeted audience.
 The translation should make sense.

 The translation should display the spirit and manner of the original.

 The translated document has a natural and easy form of expression.

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 The translated document produces a similar response.
 A good choice of equivalent structures in both languages

- It took us three days to finish the financial report. ☞

- It is not easy to persuade our foreign partner to sign a new contract. ☞
 A right choice of words - appropriate style / register

- Một số chủ cơ sở sản xuất ở quận Tân Phú đã khai thác quá mức lao động trẻ em. ☞
- The head of our human-resource department got married to his high school girlfriend
last week. ☞
 Avoid literal translation
- I have no close friends at the new job. ☞
- My old classmate invited me to have lunch at 11.00 and the company meeting didn’t
finish until 12.00. ☞
III. What is a translator?
1. Definition
A translator is a ‘bilingual mediating agent between monolingual communication
participants in two different language communities’, i.e., the translator decodes messages
transmitted in one language and re-encodes them in another.
2. Characteristics of a good translator
 The Translator: Knowledge and Skills
The translator, as a communicator, must possess the knowledge and skills (in two languages)
that are common to all communicators. That is, the translator must know:
(1) Semantic knowledge (how propositions are structured.)
(2) Syntactic knowledge (how clauses can be synthesized to carry propositional content
and analyzed to retrieve the content embedded in them.) and
(3) Pragmatic knowledge (how the clauses can be realized as information-bearing text
and the text decomposed into the clause.)
 Ideal Bilingual Competence
The competence of the ‘ideal translator’ or ‘ideal bilingual’ means that s/he knows both
languages perfectly and is not unaffected by such theoretically irrelevant conditions as memory
limitations, distractions, shifts of attention or interest, and errors in applying this knowledge in actual
performance.
 Expertise
This refers to the approach based on inferences drawn from the observation of translator
performance consists of two basic components:
(1) A knowledge base consisting of:
o source language knowledge; the syntactic rule systems of the code, its lexicon and
semantics and its text-creating systems,
o target language knowledge; equivalent to that in the source language,
o text-type knowledge
o domain knowledge
o contrastive knowledge of each of the above

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(2) An inference mechanism which permits:
o The decoding of texts, i.e. reading and comprehending source language texts
o The encoding of texts, i.e. writing target language texts
 Communicative Competence
(1) Grammatical competence: knowledge of the rules of the code, including vocabulary
and word-formation, pronunciation/spelling and sentence structure.
(2) Sociolinguistic competence: knowledge of and ability to produce and understand
utterances appropriately in context, i.e. as constrained by topic, the status of the
participants, purposes of the interaction, etc.
(3) Discourse competence: the ability to combine form and meaning to achieve unified
spoken and written texts in different genres. This unity depends on cohesion in form
(the way in which utterances are linked structurally to facilitate interpretation of text)
and coherence in meaning (the relationships among the different meanings in a text,
literal meanings, communicative functions or social meanings).
(4) Strategic competence: the mastery of communication strategies which may be used to
improved communication or to compensate for breakdowns (caused by limiting
factors in actual communication or to insufficient competence in one or more of the
other components of communicative competence).
 Memory, Meaning and Language
The translator, like any other communicator, lives in the world of the senses through which
perceptions are integrated as concepts, experiences can be ‘recalled’ and even ‘relived’ through the
systems of memory.
o Sensation: the act of receiving stimuli from the outside world through the senses.
o Perception: the organization of these impressions into an endlessly varied but stable
and consistent world with agreed dimensions of space and time.
 The Communication Process
The translator is by definition a communicator who is involved in written communication.
Below is the process of written communication in which translators are involved.
(1) The sender selects message and code
(2) Encodes message
(3) Selects channel
(4) Transmits signal containing message
(5) Receiver receives signal containing message
(6) Recognizes code
(7) Decodes signal
(8) Retrieves message and comprehends message
 The Translation Process
The translation processes imply an entire process of how a translator produces equivalences from
a text (portions of a text) into another language. The translation process can be described as:
 Comprehension of source text
a. parsing the text (grammar and lexis)
b. access to specialized knowledge
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c. access to intended meaning
 Transfer of meaning
d. relaying lexical meaning
e. relaying grammatical meaning
f. relaying rhetorical meaning, including applied or inferable meaning for potential
readers
 Assessment of target text
g. readability
h. conforming to generic and discoursal target language convention
i. judging adequacy of translation for specific purpose
In other words, the translation process can be briefly described as:
 Decoding the meaning of the source language text (The analysis of the source
language text-decomposition) and
 Re-encoding or translating this meaning in the target language (The synthesis of that
semantic representation into the target text-recomposition)

M
Memory
Source e
Language Analysis m
Text o
r
y
Semantic
Representation

Target
Synthesis Language text

IV. Perspectives on translation

The following quotes taken from different sources provide an overview of the range of diversity
of opinions on the concept of translation:
o Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by
equivalent textual material in another language (target language). (Catford: 1965)
o Translation is the replacement of a representation of a text in one language by a
representation of another equivalent text in a second language. (Hartmann & Stock: 1972)
o Translation is the expression in another language (target language) of what has been
expressed in another (source language), preserving semantic and stylistic equivalences.
(Dubois: 1973)
o Translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent
of the source language message, firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.
(Nida & Taber: 1974)

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o Translation is a procedure which leads from a written SL text to an optimally equivalent TL
text, and which requires the syntactic, semantic, stylist and text pragmatic comprehension
by the translator of the original text. (Wilss: 1982)
o Translation, as the process of conveying messages across linguistic and cultural barriers, is
an eminently communicative activity, one whose use could well be considered in a wider
range or teaching situations that may currently be the case. (Tudor, cited in Duff: 1989)
o Translating is a communicative process which takes place within a social context. (Hatim
& Mason: 1990)
o Translating is the transformation of a text originally in one language into an equivalent text
in a different language retaining, as far as possible, the content of the message, and the
formal features and the roles of the original text. (Bell: 1991)
Summary
In this chapter, we have looked at the significance of translation in reality and we have
discussed a number of translation theories as developed by various translation scholars in Europe
and North America. First, we started an eminent Bible translation and finished with the theory drawn
on various insights from modern linguistics, psychology, pragmatics, text-linguistics, and
communication theory. Up to this point, it is necessary to bring all the theories together to establish a
kind of starting point and a theoretical framework for that chapter that follows.

Discussion
Give your comments on the following issues.
1. Context and co-text are important factors in determining not only the meaning of the source
language text but also the structural arrangement or the target language text.
2. Meaning is the key issue in translation.
3. Depending on the type of text, the ultimate goal of translation can be communicative or
idiomatic (semantic).
4. Grammatical analysis of the source language text is important.
5. The mention of the text writer is an important factor that should be taken into account in the
translating process.
6. Equivalence is the key concept in translation.
7. Target readership should be an important factor in determining the legitimacy of a translated
text.
8. Translation is both an art and a science. It is an art in the sense that it is performed by human
beings and human beings are creative. It is a science in the sense that it is a process going
through different stages: analysis, transfer and restructuring.

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Chapter 2: KINDS OF TRANSLATION
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I. Introduction
It is often thought that when given a text, the translator’s task is to translate it from
beginning to end. But it is not always the case. In fact, as we can see, what the translator often
has to do is not always at his/her own will but on the order of the employer. This is concerned
with what is referred to in English as kinds of translation. In this chapter, we shall attempt to
explore in some detail a number of different kinds of translation.
II. Kinds of Translation
1. Literal versus Idiomatic
Because a given text has both form and meaning, there are two main kinds of
translation. One is form-based and the other is meaning-based. That is, literal translation is
form-based while idiomatic translation is meaning based.
 Form-based (Literal) translation is usually referred to as a literal translation, in which
translators are attempting to follow the form of the source language.
Ex: Vietnamese: Mời bạn về nhà tôi chơi.
Literal translation: Invite friend about house me play.
 Meaning-Based (Idiomatic) Translation is the one which is known as the idiomatic
translation – the meaning of the source text is expressed in the natural form of the target
language.
Ex: Vietnamese: Mời bạn về nhà tôi chơi
English: Would you like to come to my house?
 Literal translation is useful for purposes related to the study of the source language, it
however, is of little help to the speakers the of the receptor language who are interested in the
meaning of the source language text. Literal translation sounds like non sense and has very
little communicative value. For example:
o Vietnamese original: Thuyền ơi có nhớ bến chăng?
o Completely literal English translation: Boat, yes, remember wharf?
=> If two languages are related, the literal translation can often be understood, since the
general grammatical form may be similar. But they are not always related in reality. Therefore,
for some purposes, it is desirable to make the literal choice of grammatical and lexical to make
the translation sound foreign. In this respect, the above translation can be modified as follows:
o Modified literal English transition: Boat, do you remember wharf?
However, these kinds of translation make little sense in English. This appropriate
translation would be: Oh, my darling, do you miss me?
 As can be seen from above, idiomatic translation, in contrast to literal translation, uses
natural forms of 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 as if it
were written originally in the receptor language. For example:
o English original: What did you have for your breakfast?
o Completely literal Vietnamese translation: Cái gì anh có cho bữa sáng của anh?
o Partial literal Vietnamese translation: Anh đã có cái gì cho bữa sáng?
o Suggested appropriate Vietnamese translation: Sáng nay anh ăn/dùng gì?

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 Translations fall on a continuum from very literal to literal, to modified literal, to near
idiomatic, to idiomatic, and may even move on to unduly free.
 It is recommended that a good translator should try to translate idiomatically. This is
his/her 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.
Very literal modified inconsistent near unduly
Literal literal mixture idiomatic idiomatic free

TRANSLATOR’S GOAL
2. Other Forms of Translation
In addition to these two main types of translation, different ways of rendering a text or a
message have been introduced by some authors. Below are a number of translation methods
generalized by famous writers.

 Word-for-word translation (Dịch từ đối từ)

This method is often called interlinear translation. The source language (SL) word order
is preserved and the words are translated singly by their most common meanings. The main use
of word-for-word translation is either to understand the structure of the source language or to
analyze a difficult text as a pre-translation process.
Examples:
- Khi xa nhà người ta cảm thấy nhớ nhà. ☞
- Từ phía đông thổi về một ngọn gió lạnh và ấm. ☞
- Anh thì gầy, nó thì béo. ☞
- Ăn mày đòi xôi gấc. ☞
- I saw a box of documents on the desk. ☞
- What’s your new secretary’s name? ☞
- It’s raining cats and dogs. ☞
 Literal translation (Dịch nguyên văn)
Literal translation is a form-based translation method which attempts to render the SL
grammatical constructions into their nearest target language (TL) equivalents, but the lexical
words are again translated singly, out of context. If the two languages are related, the literal
translation can often be understood, since the general grammatical form may be similar.
However, the literal choice of lexical items makes this translation method sound foreign and
has little communication value.
Examples:
- Học, học nữa, học mãi. ☞
- Mỹ muốn thay thế ông Arafat. ☞

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- He is as slow as a snail. ☞
- A lame duck congressman. ☞
- This program is sponsored by Panasonic. ☞
- Good morning ABC Corporation. May I help you? ☞
 Faithful translation (Dịch trung thành)
A faithful translation attempts to reproduce the exact contextual meaning of the original
language (source language) within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures. It
'transfers' cultural words and preserves the degree of grammatical and lexical 'abnormality' in
the translation. This kind of translation is completely faithful to the intentions of the SL write.
Examples:
- Sông Hương ☞
- Tôi cho rằng anh ta sẽ không đến. ☞
- The Forbidden City ☞
 Semantic translation (Dịch ngữ nghĩa)
This kind of translation tends to be dependent on the source language, so it usually sounds
unnatural. It includes literal and faithful translation methods.
Examples:
- Attached is a copy of the organizational chart for your company. Your immediate
supervision is your link to management, as you are the link to the subordinate
under your direction. ☞
- Nước Cộng hòa Xã hội Chủ nghĩa Việt Nam luôn đánh giá cao vai trò truyền
thống của Ấn Độ và ủng hộ Ấn Độ trở thành thành viên thường trực của Hội đồng
Bảo an Liên Hiệp Quốc. ☞
 Phonological / Graphological translation (Dịch phiên âm) is the replacement of
the source language phonology by the target phonology / graphology.
Ex: Marketing (ma-két-tinh); Filet (philê); Scandal (xì-căng-đan); Meeting (mít
tinh); Chauffeur (sốp phơ); Beijing (Bắc Kinh); Savon (xà phòng)
 Transliteration (Dịch chuyển chữ) refers to a complex translating process which
involves phonological translation with the addition of phonology-graphology correlation at
both ends of the process, i.e., in source language and target language.
Ex: Mockba (Moskva); logique (logic); ammonia (amoniac)
 Free Translation (Dịch tự do)
Free translation reproduces the content ignoring the form of the original language (the
matter without the manner, or the content without the style). It is a kind of meaning-based
translation and usually a paraphrase much longer than the original.
Examples:
- Bánh chưng ☞
- Lúc nào anh ấy cũng bận bù đầu bù cổ. ☞
- Anh cứ nói toạc móng heo ra đi. ☞
- Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. ☞
- You should stay in the office for a while. It’s raining cats and dogs. ☞

 Communicative Translation (Dịch truyền đạt):

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Communicative translation attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the
original in such a way that both the content and language are readily acceptable and
comprehensible to the readership. This type of translation transmits the thought expressed
in the SL by means of the nearest TL equivalents regardless of word-order, uses of words
and expressions, tenses, structures, and forms, on the condition that the translation does not
sound queer and awkard. Consider the following examples.
- You see that I am serious, that my motives are not altogether unworthy. ☞
- My dear man, if you want them that badly, you can have them for 5 dollars. ☞
- Gái thương chồng đương đông buổi chợ, trai thương vợ nắng quái chiều đông. ☞
- Ngân hàng ACB TP. Hồ Chí Minh triển khai dịch vụ gửi một nơi, rút nhiều nơi. ☞
 Adaptation
This is the ‘freest’ form of translation. It is used mainly for plays (comedies) and poetry:
the themes, characters, plots are usually preserved, the SL culture converted to the TL culture
and the text rewritten by an established dramatist or poet.
In short, it is obvious that translation is a complicated process. However, a translator
who is concerned with transferring the meaning will find that the receptor language has a way
in which the desired meaning can be expressed even though it may be very different from the
source language form. As mentioned earlier, a good translation requires three features and
principles: faithfulness; accuracy; and good form (naturalness).
Examples: Can’t you look where you’re going?
☞ Anh không thể nhìn nơi mà mình đang đi hay sao? (Word-for-word translation)
☞ Anh đi mà không nhìn đường hả? (Semantic translation)
☞ Bộ anh đi mà không nhìn hả? (với thái độ lịch sự) (Free translation)
☞ Mày đi mà mắt mũi để đâu vậy? (với thái độ bực tức) (Idiomatic translation)
Considering the complexity of language structures, how can a translator ever hope to
produce an adequate translation? Literal translation can only be avoided by careful analysis of
the source language: by, first of all, understanding clearly the message to be communicated. A
translator who takes the time to study carefully the source language text, to write analysis of it,
and then to look for the equivalent way in which the same message is expressed naturally in the
receptor language, will be able to provide an adequate, and sometimes brilliant translation. His
goal must be to avoid literalisms and to strive for a truly idiomatic receptor language text. He
will know he is successful if the receptor language readers do not recognize his work as a
translation at all, but simply as a text written in the receptor language for their information and
enjoyment.
Questions for discussion
1. What are the differences between a literal translation and an idiomatic translation?
2. What should you do to translate a text idiomatically?
3. Why do people say that idiomatic translation is the target the translator should reach at?
4. What grammatical / lexical features should be considered when you translate a text? Give
some examples to support your ideas.
5. Why do you have to take the time to read the source language text carefully before
translating it?
Exercises

14
A. In each of the following pairs of sentences, which is more idiomatic English, a or b? How
would the meaning be expressed idiomatically in the language you speak?
1. (a) The storekeeper said that we will refund your money.
(b) The storekeeper promised to refund our money.
2. (a) A certain boy told me this little story at a party.
(b) He is one boy. He told the one little story. This is a game he said.
3. (a) An International Alphabet would inevitably bring about a spelling reform as well. How
many children have shed hot tears about spelling?
(b) An International Alphabet would inevitably bring about a spelling reform, too. And
how many hot children’s tears have not been shed on spelling?
4. (a) He then reported his misfortune to the police, who are searching diligently for the thief.
(b) He then his mishap reported to the police, who are the thief searching intensively.
B. Translate the following sentence into English as idiomatically as possible.
1. Yêu cầu quý khách không sờ vào hiện vật.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Cám ơn bạn đã giúp đỡ tôi tận tình.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Cô ấy đang nằm trong tình trạng thập tử nhất sinh.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
4. Nhiều du khách nước ngoài đã giới thiệu cho chúng tôi về khách sạn Victoria.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Tôi vừa nhìn thấy một người phụ nữ ẵm em bé trên tay.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
6. Tôi rất biết ơn người bác sĩ, người đã cứu sống mẹ tôi.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Tôi không tin rằng anh ta sẽ không trở thành một nhạc sỹ tài năng.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Chúng tôi ở đó hai ngày. Người ta đã đối xử với chúng tôi tử tế hơn là chúng tôi tưởng.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
C. Translate the following extract into Vietnamese and make comments on the difficulties in
translating the text.
1. Despite the difficulties, he saw the job through to the end.
2. She is under the weather at the moment.
3. Janice didn’t feel at ease at the party because she didn’t know anyone there; they were all
complete strangers to her.
4. In many countries, food production cannot keep pace with population growth.
5. Environmental pollution is the terms which are used to refer to the ways by which man
pollutes his environment.
6. Pollution of soil reduces the amount of land which is available for growing foods.
7. The air travel company Air France has cancelled six flights to and from the US because of
what American officials say is a real terrorist threat.
8. US troops have attacked suspected guerrilla areas in Baghdad for a second night.
9. At least ten countries have banned imports of beef from the US.
10. Chinese officials say 191 people have been killed in an accident at a natural gas field.

15
11. At least eight people were killed when a passenger airplane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean
shortly after leaving an airport in Benin.
12. UN weapons inspectors have begun visiting areas in Libya linked to that country’s nuclear
weapons program.
13. Reports from China say 233 people are dead as a result of an explosion in a natural gas
field last week.
14. Four people have been killed in bomb attacks in Iraq.
15. The British government is warning air travelers to expect more delays and cancellations of
international flights.
16. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made a surprised visit to northern Iraq.
17. French search and rescue experts have arrived in Egypt to help investigate the deadly plane
crash on Saturday.
18. President Bush is expected to arrive on Monday in the Mexican city for the special summit
of American conference.
19. She was born on the outskirts of Paris, into a financially poor but musically rich family.
20. After receiving the official notification, Lagarde immediately posted on Twitter to express
her “honor as well as delight”.
21. Apple profits have risen a lot on the back of booming sales of its iPod music player.
22. You will get back your deposit once we have checked the consignment.
23. I would like to express my appreciation for your efforts in helping to resolve my case.
24. You will be permitted to use pocket calculators and dictionaries during the exam, but no
other articles, even handbags or briefcases, will be allowed in the testing room.
25. As of June 15th 2017, employees will be required to wear full company uniform when they
are on company premises. This applies to all employees who work in areas of the building
accessible by members of the public.
D. Look for literalism in the following translations into English and underline the words or
phrases that do not sound natural in English. Suggest a more idiomatic way of saying it.
1. Sir, the problems of before don’t forget.
2. If there is any means, send me a letter to Saigon.
3. I will think you time to time day and day.
4. I am very grateful to inform you with this letter.
5. I am a man who has been to Hanoi for 12 years.
6. The third-year students often visit the schools in the city for the attendance of the class.
7. Foreign tourists usually at Kinh Do Hotel for their friends have introduced to them very
much about this hotel.
8. Since the USA abolished the embargo against Vietnam, many foreign countries have been
investing in Vietnam.
9. After saying lies many times, he lost our belief in him.
10. Hue is famous about its delicious dishes and beautiful landscapes.
11. The participants discussed about the causes of pollution environment.
12. Every time my mother goes to work, I feel my house absent anybody.
13. One thing makes me proud of my village is a large green field that provides one part of life
for people.
14. A robbery took place of a motorcycle rider at Kampung early yesterday morning.
15. I left my village for three years, a time not long but like a century.

16
Chapter 3: STEPS IN A TRANSLATION PROJECT
---***---
So far, we have discussed an overview of the main aspects of translation. We have dealt
with what translation is, the kinds of translation, and some of the aspects of relationship between
grammar and semantics which affect the translation process. In order to complete this overview, we
turn now to a general discussion of the steps in a translation project. Before beginning an actual
translation, it is important to have in mind the total translation project and what is involved in
producing a good translation. Each of these steps will be elaborated on in more detail in the last
section of the book.
1. Establishing the project
Before one considers beginning a translation project, there are a number of matters which
need to be clearly understood by all who will be involved. These can be summarized under four T’s
- The text, the target, the team, and the tools.
 The text refers to the source language document which is to be translated. The
desirability of translating a particular text must be determined. Texts are chosen to be translated for
various reasons. Most often it is to communicate certain information to people speaking another
language, or it may be to share the enjoyment of the source text. The translator should examine his
reasons for choosing the text and the potential for its use by the receptor language audience.
 The target refers to the audience. For whom is the translation prepared? The form of
translation will be affected by questions of dialect, educational level, age level, bilingualism, and
people’s attitudes towards their languages. Will it be used in school, in business, or read orally in a
meeting or at home?
 The team refers to the people who will be involved in the project. If a person is a
competent speaker of both the source language and the receptor language, it may be that the project
can be done completely by one person. But even so there should be other available for evaluation
and consultation. Most translation projects require a team, a number of people who are going to
contribute to the translation at some stage in the project. The working relationship between these
people needs to be established before the project gets underway. It may, however, also change as
the project moves along and new factors come into focus.
☞ There are certain requirements for any translation project. Not all these need to be found in
one person. There are various kinds of programs which may be set up depending on the abilities and
backgrounds of those who will be involved. The team may consist of:
(1) Co-translators, where one is a specialist in the source language and the other a specialist
in the receptor language.
(2) A translator with capability to handle both source language and receptor language
matters and an advisor or consultant.
(3) A committee working together with specific responsibilities delegated to each one.
Which kind of program is developed will depend on who is available and qualified to determine the
meaning of the source language, who is most skilled at drafting in the receptor language, and who
has an understanding of translation principles. The team may also include the translators, a
consultant, testers, reviewers, and technical people to do typing and proofreading.

17
 Tools refer to the written source materials which will be used by the translators as helps.
These include, in addition to the document to be translated, any dictionaries, lexicons, grammars,
cultural descriptions. etc., of both the source language and receptor language which are available.
The team will want as much information available as possible while translating. All of these tools
should be brought to the translation site in preparation for the project. For some projects, there will
be a wealth of materials that can be used to help in interpreting the source language text and in
finding equivalents in the receptor language. For other projects, there may be a scarcity of such
material, but whatever is available should be there to make the work easier. Equipment and finances
are also tools needed to carry on an effective program.
☞ Once the matters of the text, the target audience, and the team relationships are cared for,
and the tools needed made available, the project is ready to begin. The project will follow a series
of steps which include preparation, analysis, transfer, initial draft, reworking the initial draft,
testing, polishing, and preparing the manuscript for the publisher
2. Exegesis
Exegesis is used to refer to the process of discovering the meaning of the source language
text which is to be translated. It is the step which includes the preparation and analysis which must
be done before anything at all can be written in the receptor language. The text must be understood
completely. This is the process which takes place in moving from the source language form to the
semantic structure, i.e. to the meaning of the text.
The translator(s) should begin by reading the text several times, then by reading other
materials that may help in understanding the culture or language of the source text. As he reads the
text, he will be looking for the author’s purpose and the theme of the text. He will look for the
larger groupings or sections. He may want to outline the text. The purpose is to understand the text
as a whole. Once he has done this, he is ready to work on the material a section at a time.
The analysis of the source text will include resolving ambiguity, identifying implicit
information, studying key words, interpreting figurative senses, recognizing when words are being
used in a secondary sense, when grammatical structures are being used in a secondary function, etc.
It will involve doing the kind of analysis which this book is all about.
☞ The goal of exegesis is to determine the meaning which is to be communicated in the
receptor language text. The translator carefully studies the source language text and using all the
available tools, determines the content of the source language message, the related communication
situation matters, and all other factors which will need to be understood in order to produce an
equivalent translation.
3. Transfer and initial draft
After a careful analysis of the source language text, as indicated above, the translator begins
drafting piece by piece, section by section. The transfer results in the initial draft. In preparing this
draft, the translator is transferring from the source language into the receptor language. As he does
so, he must always keep his target audience in mind.
Before any extensive drafting can be done, the key terms must be determined. Every text
has a set of words which are crucial to the content and correct communication of the theme. These
need to be decided upon and may need to be checked with other speakers of the receptor language.
In general, there are two ways of approaching the transfer and initial draft:

18
 Some translators prefer to do a quick rough translation so that the material flows naturally.
Then they go back and tighten up the details to be sure that there is no wrong information,
and no omissions or additions. In this way, the receptor language text is more apt to be in
the natural style of the receptor language.
 Others prefer to prepare a proposition-like semantic draft, being sure that all the information
all the information is accounted for, and then reword it for naturalness; that is, reword it in
the idiomatic form of the receptor language.
☞ It may be necessary to rework the initial draft several times before the team is satisfied that
all the adjustments needed have been made, that no information is wrong or omitted, that the text
communicates clearly in the receptor language, and that the form chosen will communicate to the
desired audience. While making and reworking this draft, the audience must always be kept in
mind. Once the translation team has sufficiently reworked the initial draft, they arrange for copies to
be made so that adequate evaluation can be carried on.
4. Evaluation
The purpose of evaluation is threefold: accuracy, clearness, and naturalness. The questions
to be answer are:
- Does the translation communicate the same meaning as the source language?
- Does the audience for whom the translation is intended understand it clearly?
- Is the form of the translation easy to read and natural in the receptor language grammar
and style?
☞ The translator will have to compare the translation with the source text at several points
during the translation process to be sure no additions, deletions or change of information have crept
in. Others may help with this work. It is especially advantageous to have a consultant check over
the material.
☞ The translator will have receptor language speakers read the text and then tell back what
the text communicated to them. As they read, there will be parts that are hard to read or hard to
understand. Any time there is an indication of a problem in reading, this should be noted for further
checking.
☞ The translator will also check by asking questions of those who read the text, or to whom
it is read. Questions need to be carefully formed so that they bring out the theme, the author’s
purpose, and the relevant facts of the text. Any wrong understanding should be noted and then
checked with others as well.
☞ It is best to have someone who has not worked on the translation, but know both the
source language and receptor language, translate back from the receptor language into the source
language without the reference to the original source language text. Does the back translation carry
the same information as the original source language text? Any difference will need to be checked
further.
=> It is very important that sufficient time and effort be given to evaluation. If many of the
people who will eventually be using the receptor language text can be involved in the evaluation
process, this will also create interest in the translated material when it is finally published.

5. Revised draft

19
After evaluation is done carefully, there will need to be a revised draft made on the basis of
the feedback received. Those with whom the translator has checked may have suggested many
rewordings, may have expressed misunderstanding, etc. The translation team now works through
this material, honestly accepting the evaluation, and rewording the material accordingly.
If any key words are changed, the text will need to be checked carefully for consistency in
the change made. If some parts were hard for people to read, they may need to be made easier by
more redundancy (or less redundancy in another language), by adding more information to clarify
participants or theme or whatever. How much re-drafting will be needed will vary depending on the
results of the evaluation?
6. Consultation
In many translation projects, there are advisors or consultants who are willing to help the
translator. The translator(s) will expect that the consultant is interested in three matters:1) Accuracy
of content; 2) Naturalness of style; and 3) Effect on the receptor language audience.
☞ It is important that translators check their materials with a trained consultant after
completing a section or two of a long document. If they continue, and do large amounts of
translation work without this kind of a check, they will miss out on the training which a consultant
can give as they go over the material together.
☞ It is essential to ask a consultant to work through the material because s/he will give the
translator insights which will not only help his final draft of the material being worked on, but will
help him do better transfer drafts on the sections of the document remaining to be done.
7. Final draft
The translator incorporates into the translated text the suggestions made by the consultant,
checks them again with mother-tongue speakers to be sure they are warranted, and makes any other
minor changes which have come to his attention. However, before he prepares the final draft,
decisions about format need to be discussed with the whole translation team, the consultant, the
potential publisher and those who will promote distribution.
Some matters may need special testing before the final draft is prepared. If the publication is
to include pictures, these will need evaluation. If a special size of print is being recommended, it
will need to be tested. A final editing for spelling and punctuation will need to be made. When all
matters are cared for, a number of copies should be prepared and distributed for proofreading by
various people before the actual printing takes place. Every translator wants his final copy to be as
accurate as possible. The time spent in careful checking and preparation of the final draft will
improve quality and will make the translation more acceptable to the audience for whom it is being
prepared.
Questions for discussion
1. Name and discuss the four T’s of a translation project.
2. Explain what is meant by exegesis.
3. What are the goals of the translator as he prepares the initial draft?
4. What kinds of evaluation checks can be made?
5. What is the consultant concerned about when he checks a translation?
6. How will the final draft be different from the revision draft done earlier?
Chapter 4: TECHNIQUES IN TRANSLATION

20
--- ***---
1. TRANSFORMATIONS IN TRANSLATION
 LEXICAL TRANSFORMATION

In translation, the meaning of a single word in the SL can be expressed differently in the RL.
So, the translator sometimes has to make some lexical transformation depending on the context for
which equivalences should be represented in the translated version. For examples:
- We are disappointed to learn that our request has been turned down.
- I’m disappointed at his failure at the exam.
- Hopes for fine weather were not disappointed.
- My work keeps me busy all the morning.
- Shops are very busy at Christmas time.
- Markets are at their busiest during the near-Tet days.
- He is a busy lawyer.
- Victoria is one of London’s busiest stations.
- We passed through busy streets on the way to the airport.
- Big man
- To earn big money
- He had big ideas.
- That’s big of you.
- You’re a big liar.
- He’s not a big eater.
- The big people in the theater world.
- The big toe
- Big brother
- Trời nóng quá, mà chiếc máy điều hòa của tôi bị hỏng. (It’s very hot, yet my A.C.
_________.
- Đường nhiều ổ gà quá nên lốp xe bị hỏng. (The road is full of pot-holes, so the tyres -
________ right away.)
- Con cá này hỏng rồi, đừng ăn nữa. (This fish has_______, don’t eat it.)
- Tai nạn đã làm chiếc xe hỏng nhiều. (The accident has ___________ to the car.)
- Buổi biểu diển đã hỏng rồi. (The performance has _________.)
- Bộ phim hoàn toàn hỏng. (The film doesn’t quite _________.)
- Thằng bé được chiều quá đâm ra hỏng. (The child has become _________because of
overspoiling.)
Further practice
1. A busy street
2. A busy doctor
3. A busy design
4. A busy restaurant
5. He’s big plans.
6. It’s a big match
7. Do you do English at school?
21
8. Have you done any Shakespeare?
9. We’ve made 100 miles today.
10. I’m sorry I couldn’t make your party last night.
11. Her new novel has made the best seller lists.
12. The raw industrial wastes endanger the supply of drinking water.
 General => Specific Transformation
1. Chống Iraq – chống hòa bình chống nhân loại, trái với đạo lý. ☞ ________ against Iraq is
tantamount to opposing peace, ________ mankind and running counter to morality.
2. Về qui chế tổ chức biểu diển: đối tượng rộng, thủ tục thoáng nhưng quản lý chặt chẻ nội
dung. ☞ About the new artistic performance regulations: scope of performer is ________;
procedures are _________; but contents, strictly controlled.
 Specific => General Transformation
1. They go to the beach at weekend. ☞ Họ ________ đi ra biển vào cuối tuần.
2. It always gets me to see a woman crying. ☞ ________ có người đàn bà nào khóc tôi lại tìm
cách đến xem.
3. TV serials do not interest me. ☞ Tôi ________ thích xem phim truyền hình nhiều tập.
4. He is as good as his words. ☞ Hắn là người ________ lời hứa.
5. They looked at hundreds of houses; they climbed thousands of stairs. They inspected
innumerable kitchen. Ruth was exhausted and more than once lost her temper. ☞ Họ đã
________ hàng ngàn ngôi nhà; họ ________ hàng ngàn cầu thang, họ ________ vô số nhà
bếp. Ruth hẳn đã kiệt sức và đã hơn một lần nàng mất hết cả bình tĩnh.
6. All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights; among these are life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ☞ Tất cả ________ sinh
ra ________ có quyền bình đẳng. Tạo hóa đã cho họ những quyền không ai có thể xâm
phạm được; trong đó có quyền được sống, quyền tự do và quyền mưu cầu hạnh phúc.
 Synonymic Transformation
1. Vietnam thrashed Myanmar 4-2, qualifying for the semi-finals of the fourth Southeast Asia
soccer tournament Tiger Cup. Earlier, Vietnam had trounced Cambodia 9-2, the Philippines
4-1, and held a 2-2 draw with Indonesia. ☞ Đội tuyển bóng đá VN đã ________ trước đội
tuyển Myanmar với tỷ số 4-2, vào vòng bán kết Giải vô địch bóng đá Đông Nam Á lần thứ
tư. Trước đó, đội VN ________ đội tuyển Cam pu chia với tỷ số 9-2, ________đội tuyển
Philippines 4-1, ________đội Indonesia 2-2.
2. He finished asking me foolish questions. ☞ Nó ________tôi những câu hỏi ngớ ngẩn nữa.
(Negative => Positive)
3. Cục thuế TP.HCM: Công ty Phú Mỹ Hưng không nộp thuế là vi phạm pháp luật. ☞ HCM
Department of Taxation: Phu My Hung Company’s ________ to pay tax is a breach of law.
(Positive => Negative)
 Antonymic Transformation
1. Flattery will get you nowhere. ☞ Sự tâng bốc sẽ ____________.

22
2. Chỉ khi nào sức cạnh tranh tăng lên thì gạo mới trở thành mặt hàng xuất khẩu chiến lược
được. ☞ Rice would________ a strategic export unless its competitiveness was improved.
3. The child didn’t think there was any harm in doing it. ☞ Cậu bé cho rằng làm việc đó
________________.
4. Work time: when is it least inconvenient for participants to meet researcher? ☞ Thời gian
làm việc: khi nào là thời ____________________ cho người tham gia gặp các chuyên gia
nghiên cứu?
5. The article makes dull reading, the story is not less uninteresting. ☞ Bài báo thì tẻ nhạt,
truyện ______________.
6. As for the husband, having learnt his lesson, from that day on, he spared his younger brother
neither affection nor assistance. ☞ Còn người chồng, thấm thía bài học, từ hôm đó trở đi
anh ta ______________ em trai mình cả tình cảm lẫn sự giúp đỡ.
7. She didn’t arrive until yesterday. ☞______________ hôm qua cô ấy mới tới.
8. Nhiều nông dân còn thiếu các phương tiện bảo hộ khi cản xuất, không thực hiện đúng quy
trình sử dụng thuốc; không thu gom bao bì đựng thuốc, gây ô nhiểm môi trường xung
quanh. ☞ Many farmers still lack the means of protection in production, do not strictly
follow the utilization norms of the chemical and __________ its packing, which causes
environmental pollution.
9. Writing stories is a hard work, making poems is a no less difficult job. ☞ Viết truyện là một
công việc khó khăn, làm thơ là một công việc ______________.

 GRAMMATICAL TRANSFORMATION
1. Sau vụ án Trương Văn Cam và đồng bọn bị khởi tố, Nguyễn Văn Sỹ bị bắt, trường hợp tại
ngoại trước đó của y mới bị cơ quan chức năng phát hiện. ☞ Nguyen Van Sy should have
been imprisoned after the trial but be ______________the prosecution of Nam Cam and his
gang. (Structural transformation)
2. What do you intend by your words? ☞ Những _____________ của anh ngụ ý gì?
3. I find no savor left in life. ☞ Tôi thấy cuộc sống ______________.
4. Có 12.178 cặp đang sống chung với nhau mà không có đăng kí kết hôn ở thành phố HCM.
☞ HCM City is ______________to 12.178 couples who co-habited without marriage
certificates. (Adverb phrase → Noun phrase)
5. Thành phố HCM có 994 công ty, văn phòng đại diện của Việt kiều. ☞____________ 994
overseas Vietnamese’s companies and representative offices are operating in HCM City.
(Noun phrase→ Adverb phrase)
6. Tổ máy số 1 thủy điện Nậm Mu phát điện. Nhà máy có 3 tổ máy với công suất 12.000 Kw.
☞ Turbine No. 1 of the Nam Mu Hydroelectric Plant ______________. The three-turbine
plant has a combined capacity of 12.000 Kw. (Clause → Phrase)
7. It’s very nice to see you again. ☞ Gặp ______________.
8. Khách du lịch sẽ không được nhìn những dấu mốc như cổng Hải Vân ở trên đỉnh đầy mây
khi ô tô tắt qua con đường hầm sẽ được hoàn thiện năm sau. ☞ Landmarks like the Hai Van

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gate, standing on top of the cloudy Hai Van Pass, will ______________by tourists has buses
and cars are expected to opt for the short-cut through the tunnel when it opens next year.
(Object → Subject)
9. His other children he seldom saw. ☞ Ông ta ______________ của mình. (Inversion)
10. A suburban train was derailed in London last night. ☞______________, ở gần Luân Đôn,
một chuyến tàu ngoại ô bị trật bánh. (Different Word Orders)
11. Bộ phận bán hàng được ông giám đốc công ty đặc biệt khen ngợi vì đã làm tốt công tác tiếp
thị. ☞ The sale division ______________ special praise from the company director for
satisfactorily performing the marketing. (Passive → Active)
12. He was seen walking down the street. ☞ Người ta ______________ dọc theo phố. (Single
→ Complex)
13. Honda Vietnam was awarded a Prime Minister’s mention for its achievements in
implementing the Customs Law from 2000 to 2002. The presentation of the honor was made
by a Deputy Prime Minister at a ceremony on October 15 to review the company’s 20
months executing the Law. ☞ Với những thành tích trong thực hiện luật Hải quan từ năm
2000 đến 2002, ngày 15/10 vừa qua, ______________ đã vinh dự được một
______________ trao tặng băng khen của Thủ tướng Chính phủ nhân lễ sơ kết 20 tháng
thực hiện Luật Hải quan. (Splitting and Combining Sentences)
14. Bac Kan province, which is mostly inhabited by the H’mong ethnic minority, has made
success in preserving the Ba Be National Park’s biodiversity over the past three years. ☞
Tỉnh Bắc Kạn, nơi phần lớn ______________, trong ba năm qua đã bảo tồn thành công đa
dạng sinh học của Vườn Quốc gia Ba Bể. (Verb→Noun)
15. I’ve just had a throat operation, and my problem is not that I can’t hear, but that I can’t
speak. ☞ Tôi ______________ nên cái khó khăn của tôi không phải là không nghe được mà
là không nói được. (Noun → Verb)
16. Hoạt động tại VN từ 1994, Qũy Cựu Chiến binh Mỹ tại VN đã triển khai cùng Bộ Y tế VN
dự án phục hồi chức năng cho các nạn nhân chiến tranh và bệnh nhân khuyết tật.
☞______________in VN since 1994, the VN Veterans of American Foundation has,
together with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, carried out a project on functional
rehabilitation for victims of the war and handicapped people. (Verb → Adjective)
17. Cần phải có biện pháp để chống thất thoát trong đầu tư, xây dựng cơ bản.
☞_____________________ against losses in infrastructure construction investment. (Verb
→ Preposition)
18. Nó đến bất ngờ làm tôi ngạc nhiên. ☞ His ______________ took me unaware. (Adverb →
Adjective)
19. Ánh nắng già dặn buổi trưa nung đốt mặt cánh đồng dưới chân đồi, làm rung rinh lớp không
khí bốc từ mặt đất.
20. ☞ The intensive sun __________baked the field at the foot of the hill and vibrated the air
coming from the ground. (Noun → Preposition)
21. His returning so soon surprised his family. ☞______________làm gia đình ngạc nhiên.
(Noun phrase → Clause)
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22. Châu Âu đồng loạt phản đối đề nghị đình chiến được coi là của Bin Laden. ☞ Europe
______________ what is considered Bin Laden’s truce overtures. (Phrase → Clause)
23. Cách mạng tháng Tám thành công mang lại độc lập cho nước nhà. ☞ The _______August
Revolution brought about independence to the country. (Clause → Phrase)
24. That he wins is certain. ☞______________ chắc chắn. (Phrase → Clause)
 TRANSPOSITION

With transposition technique, translators can absolutely change the order of the structures:
words, phrases, clauses and sentences without altering the content of the utterance. Below are
clearly illustrated examples.
 “He spent the early part of the first evening talking alone with Miss Paddock in a corner of
the room. => ______________, anh nói chuyện riêng với cô Paddock ở góc phòng.”
 “Use your napkin to wipe the area around your mouth every few minutes. =>
______________ bạn hãy dùng khăn ăn lau quanh miệng.”
 “The train had already left when we arrived at the station.” => “______________thì xe lửa
đã rời ga rồi.”
 Trying not to show her sadness, she went into Johnny’s room, whistling. => Cô ta vừa đi
vào phòng của Johnny vừa huýt sáo ______________ nổi buồn.”
 “Nếu nó cứ lười biếng như thế mãi, thì về sau chắc sẽ phải khổ suốt đời. => He will be
unhappy all his life, if he ______________lazy.”
Further practice
1. I attended their wedding party yesterday.
2. It’s very nice to meet you.
3. It’s very kind of you to help him.
4. I’ve hardly met her recently.
5. It’s a sin to be late.
6. It is well with my mother.
7. The man was watching the boat through binoculars.
8. There is nothing wrong with being popular.
 REPLACEMENT

Replacements are the way, when translating, translators ought to get insights into two common
types of linguistic units: word forms and parts of speech, which have considerable influence on
grammatical transformations between the source language and the target language.
Special attention should be paid to singular and plural forms of word forms that are
commonly recognized in the rendering. In some cases, translators, to reach the fluency in the target
language, can convert the plural forms into the singular ones and vice versa. For examples:
 “To tell him an hour before your date is the epitome of bad manners. => Chỉ báo cho
người yêu trước cuộc hẹn một tiếng đồng hồ là biểu lộ lối cư xử tệ.”
 “Họ sẽ nằm trên cỏ trong vòng tay của nhau… => They would lie down on the grass in one
another’s arms...”
 “They would listen to the beating of their hearts. => “Họ sẽ lắng nghe nhịp đập của trái
tim.”

25
 She flew out of the room and down the stairs to the street. ☞ Cô ta lao khỏi phòng và chạy
xuống cầu thang dẫn ra phố.
 Many people who are interested in art come to Greenwich village, which is a section of
New York City. ☞ Nhiều người yêu thích nghệ thuật đến ngôi làng Greenwich. Đó là một
vùng đất nằm ở cạnh Nữu Ước.
Replacements of parts of speech are quite common in translation. Nouns in English, for
example, can be replaced by verbs or adjectives in Vietnamese and vice versa to obtain accuracy
and suitability of semantics in English and Vietnamese styles. The following examples illustrate
this part of the technique.
 “He was a failure in art. => Ông ấy ______________nghệ thuật.”
 “Our belief is that Vietnam’s economy will be at the top-ten of the world. =>
______________rằng nền kinh tế Việt Nam sẽ được xếp vào 10 nước đứng đầu thế giới.”
 “Trong buổi họp tổng kết, các chuyên gia đã tiếp chuyện một cách thân mật và sôi nổi với
các đại diện của chính phủ. => At the summing-up conference, the experts had friendly and
enthusiastic ___________ with government and representatives.”
 “Oh dear, never more could my love turn to him; for faith has been blighted... => Ôi,
không bao giờ tôi có thể ________ anh ấy được nữa; vì lòng chung thuỷ đã không còn...”
 He is a name writer. => Anh ta là ______________.
 - Is it your pleasure that I cancel the arrangements? => Anh có ______________những sắp
xếp này hay không?
Further practice
1. It’s my hope that you will get well soon.
2. He’s a great reader.
3. We were taken to the circus by our teacher last week.
4. They’ll make announcement next week.
5. He nodded his approval.
 ADDITION

Addition technique is the way, when translating, translators can add some words which are not
found in the source language so as to make the translation text increasingly fluent and coherent.
Hereafter are some sample versions translated from English into Vietnamese and vice versa.
 “A peace committee. => Uỷ ban bảo vệ hoà bình.”
 “Now, try to take some soups and let me get back to work. => Nào, hãy cố ăn một ít cháo
để anh yên tâm đi làm.
 “Bấy nhiêu người đều ùa nhau vào đẩy, thì hòn đá lăn ra bên đường... => All men eagerly
push the stone; it rolls out of the road immediately...”
 “He was always glad because he showed his gratitude to his parents. => Vậy mà lúc nào
ông cũng lấy làm vui vẻ trong lòng, vì có thế thì con mới tỏ hết lòng hiếu với cha mẹ.”
Further practice
1. It is a money talk.
2. Marriage certificate
3. Health services

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4. Wedding guests
5. Wind shield
6. Baggage check
7. Fire-boat
8. Lime wash
9. Duty staff office
10. For further information, please contact…
11. There was a run on the bank yesterday.
12. Drinking too much alcohol is very bad for you.
 OMISSION

The exact opposite of addition technique, omissions are the way, when translating, to reduce
the pleonastic words that can be unnecessary for the meaning in the translation text. In other words,
translators can make use of the omission technique to omit some redundant words, which does not
really change the meaning of the version. The following are some examples about this technique.
 “The right to rest and leisure”. => “Quyền nghỉ ngơi.”
 “... and he bent down over the bed and took his wife’s hand and began to caress her
forehead. =>... rồi anh cúi xuống cầm tay vợ và vuốt ve trán nàng.”
 “Với tư cách là những sinh viên mới, chúng ta phải học bài trước khi đến lớp học. => As
new students, we must study lessons before class.”
 “One day, a dog entered an inn, stole a piece of meat and ran away with it. => Một hôm, có
một con chó vào hàng cơm ngoạm trộm miếng thịt rồi bỏ chạy.”
Further practice
1. He drew himself up to his full height.
2. He is dull and uninteresting in his conversation.
3. He’s fond of the company of others.
4. We gave them a clear indication of good will.
5. I’m on the side of him.
 VOICING IN TRANSLATION

1. The mouse was caught by the cat.

2. The thief was arrested an hour ago.
3. The building was built in 1980 by my grandfather.
4. That student was awarded a scholarship in 2009.
5. The final results will be announced by the Board of the contest.
6. “Happy New Year” performed by the quartet ABBA is composed by its members.
7. The scandal was created by the freshmen at Thang Long University.
8. Environmental pollution is caused by the exhaust from mainly factories and vehicles.
9. Obesity is partly caused by fat.
10. English is spoken throughout the world because it is an international language.
11. In Vietnam coffee is drunk by most adults every morning.
12. Are you frightened of spiders?
13. He is believed to be innocent.
14. Coca-Cola is enjoyed all over the world. Over 3.5 billion bottles are drunk every year.

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Translation of “có”
1. In northern Vietnam, there are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
2. There is a stranger at the gate of our school / college.
3. There are a lot of canned food and instant food in the fridge.
4. She has an Oxford dictionary.
5. They have a villa in Da Lat.
6. His mother is a woman with a heart of gold.
7. Do you know the man with brown hair?
8. This is a villa with five bedrooms, two reading rooms, one outdoor swimming pool, one
kitchen and three bathrooms.
9. He is a lion-hearted man.
10. Where there is a will, there is a way.
11. She is married.
12. She is pregnant. / is going to have a baby.
13. He is a talented man.
14. He is a man of power.
Suggested to translate “OF” from English into Vietnamese.
1.He is a close friend of mine.
2.It is a story about the love of a mother for a child.
3.Can you throw out that old bike of Jimmy?
4.She would like a glass of cocktail.
5.She took out a piece of paper to note something down.
6.He belongs to the School of Social Sciences and Humanities.
7.It is very kind of you to help me complete this task.
8.It is very stupid of him to ask such a question.
9.The secretary has to write a report at the end of the month.
10. Are you proud of yourself?
11. This book consists of five chapters.
12. Have you ever read the news of his latest book?
13. He is one of the best students of this university.
14. You can choose one of these solutions to the problem.
15. She is wearing a dress of silk.
16. It will cost the government millions of dollars to restore the bridges.
17. The presidential election of 2000 in the US was a great political event.
18. He will invite his circle of friends to his wedding party.
19. It is one of the long-standing cathedrals that we have been to.
20. To the left of the sofa is a table.

 TRANSLATION OF IDIOMS (FIXED EXPRESSIONS)

There exist expressions of various types, but mainly proverbs, short well-known statements or
wise sayings giving people practical advice about life, which are discussed later. It should be noted
that translators, when applying the expressions to proverbs, ought to find in the target language

28
utterances or word combinations which have an equivalent meaning to those in the source language.
The following are some examples about this technique.
 “No guide, no realization.” => “Không thầy đố mày làm nên.”
 “Có tiền mua tiên cũng được.” => “Money makes many things.”
 “Practice makes perfect.” => “Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim.”
 “They know which side their bread was buttered on.” => “Họ biết ăn cây nào rào cây ấy”.
Further practice
1. I called you yesterday, but there was no answer. =>
2. The choosy does not often get the best.
3. They are well matched.
4. He’s a flirtatious guy.
5. The film is beyond any words.
6. I wasn’t born yesterday.
7. He used to beat his wife black and blue.
8. She is in her teens.
9. She is a teacher’s pet of his.
10. That guy is as poor as a church mouse.
11. He came from a very well – off family.
12. The decree still holds good.
13. I haven’t got in touch with her for ages.
14. Drop me a line to say when you’re coming.
15. His words are neither here nor there.
16. He stands a chance of passing the exam.
17. She often makes faces at me.
18. She got on the wrong side of her boss.
19. 500 workers were laid off when the factory was closed after the fire.
20. I can’t afford a motorbike, let alone a car.
21. She was really taken in by an old trick.
22. Let’s drop in on him tonight.
23. The feeling of strangeness began wearing off.
24. The question of public housing should be taken up with the Minister concerned.
25. If you fall behind with the rent, you will be asked to leave.
26. Some students play up to their teachers to get good marks.
27. What’s he going off the deep end for now?
28. The boss wants you; you’d better get upstairs on the double.
29. He had to go to prison for a month, to say nothing of the fine.
30. Being out of work and having two young children, they found it impossible to make ends meet.
31. The match had to be called off because of rain.
32. Thanks for the invitation, but I’ll have to take a rain – check on it.
33. Be more discreet or you’ll get yourself talked about.
34. What the hell does she have on?
35. He wanted to go to the pub on the spur of the moment.

29
36. This beautiful autumn is making up for the west summer.
37. I’ll stay here and keep you company.
38. He’s a home bird.
39. From the plane he had a bird’s eye view of London.
40. She’s no chicken.
41. She felt like a fish out of water at the party.
42. The news of his death came like a bolt from the blue.
43. He does his housework once in a blue moon.
44. The boss gave him the axe.
45. He came into a lot of money when his father died.
46. They are seldom at once with each other.
47. I haven’t had time to arrange everything, so I’m all at sixes from and sevens.
48. He lives from hand to mouth.
49. We arrived there in the nick of time.
50. The boss had me on the carpet over my expenses claim.
51. The policy would prove very costly in the long run.
52. This name rings bell.
53. I took the words right out of my mouth.
54. Get to the point. Don’t beat around the bush.
55. I don’t think much of his behavior.
56. I got it for next to nothing in a junk shop.
57. I don’t want to push my luck.
58. He’s on the make.
59. He got wind of our plan.
60. He thought he could beat anyone at tennis, t he’s had his match in her.
 TRANSLATION OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

 Metonymy
 The kettle is boiling. => Nước đang sôi.
 He has a good head for business. => Ông ta là người rất có tài về kinh doanh.
Further practice
1. He’s the captain of his soul.
2. The Whitehouse has denied the report.
3. They all had a loyalty to the crown.
4. Have you ever read Mark Twain?
5. The visit would strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
6. He employed twenty hands on his farm.
7. He lives by his pen.
8. How does he earn his bread and butter?
9. He never had a private house from the cradle to the grave.
10. She has a good ear for languages.
 Euphemism
 His parents passed away a long time ago. => Cha mẹ nó đã qua đời cách đây đã lâu.

30
 The boy wants to pass water. => Thằng bé muốn đi tè.
Further practice
1. He’s waiting for a job.
2. Oh, eff off! I’m tired of your complaints.
3. He’s a little hard of hearing.
4. He’s a funeral director.
5. The powder room is over there.
6. He is intoxicated.
 Simile & Metaphor
 Tom eats like a horse. => Tom ăn khỏe như trâu.
 Her words stabbed at his heart. => Lời nói của cô ta đã thấu tim đen anh ta.
Further practice
1. My hands are as cold as ice.
2. He’s as brave as a lion.
3. She has a face like a mask.
4. His face is as pale as a ghost.
5. He’s as gentle as a lamb.
6. He’s sleeping as soundly as a log.
7. It’s as easy as ABC.
8. Childhood is like a swiftly passing dream.
9. She has a heart of stone.
10. Jane is a peach.
11. Rock isn’t really my cup of tea.
12. He’s a good egg.
 Hyperbole & Synecdoche
 I’ve invited millions of people to my party. => Tôi đã mời cả triệu người tới dự bữa tiệc.
 Although divorced, they continued to live under the same roof. => Mặc dù đã ly dị, họ vẫn
sống chung trong một nhà.
Further practice
1. I’m starving to death.
2. The boxer slaughtered his opponent.
3. Long film bored me to death.
4. A thousand thanks for your advice.
5. That’s how I earn my daily bread.
6. They used to be farm – hands.
7. There wasn’t a sail in sight.

 Personification & Zoomsemy

 The moon with her sweet light dyed nature yellow. => Vầng trăng với ánh sáng dịu dàng đã
nhuộm vàng cảnh vật.

31
 She shed crocodile tears when she dismissed him for his job. => Bà ta rơi nước mắt cá sấu
khi anh ta thôi việc.
Further practice
1. Wars leave his victim on the battlefield.
2. “Do you remember the cat? She had kittens last week.”
3. This is a poor nation. She has to attract foreign capital to revitalize industry.
4. The boat is rather a handsome sight, too. She is long, sharp, trim and pretty; She has two tall
chimneys with a gilded device of some kinds swung between them and a fancy pilot house.
5. He’s a sly old fox.
6. He’s made a dog’s breakfast of these accounts.
7. She’s no chicken.
8. He’s a bit of an odd fish.
9. His wife is a mouse.
10. He’s the black sheep of his family.
2. PROBEMS OF UNTRANSLATABILLITY
The problems of untranslatability can be described as linguistic and cultural. On the
linguistic level, untranslatability occurs when there is no lexical or syntactical substitute in the TL
for an SL item. Linguistic untranslatability is due to differences in the SL and the TL, whereas
cultural untranslatability is due to the absence in the TL culture of a relevant situational feature for
the SL text. To define untranslatability without making a separation between the linguistic and the
cultural, it is essential to distinguish two types of situation.
 A situation in which the linguistic elements of the original cannot be replaced adequately in
structural, linear, functional or semantic terms in consequence of lack of denotation or connotation.
 A situation where the relation of expressing the meaning, i.e. the relation between the
creative subject and its linguistic expression in the original does not find an adequate linguistic
expression in the translation.
Example:
If ‘I'm going home’ is translated as Je vais chez moi, the content meaning of the SL sentence
(i.e. self-assertive statement of intention to proceed to place of residence and/or origin) is only
loosely reproduced. And if, for example, the phrase is spoken by an American resident temporarily
in London, it could either imply a return to the immediate ‘home' or a return across the Atlantic,
depending on the context in which is used, a distinction that would have to be spelled out in French.
 Linguistic untranslatability - when the target language has no corresponding words,
tenses, phonetic or grammatical entities that occur in the source language.
Examples:
- Iron sinks = sắt chìm, chậu sắt
- Singapore is a fine country. ('fine’ = đẹp, tiền phạt?)
- A heavenly Piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken (Heavenly = delicious)
- 'Heavenly Piece' sounds like 'Gate of Heavenly Peace' (Thiên An Môn)
- Canh toàn quốc (the word 'quốc' is untranslatable?!)
- Bà già đi chợ cầu đông. /Xem một quẻ bói có chồng lợi chăng. /Thầy bói gieo quẻ nói
rằng. /Lợi thì có lợi nhưng răng không còn.

32
☞ The old woman goes to the market of the Eastern Bridge where she asks a soothsayer
about the “lợi” that may come to her through marriage. The soothsayer consults his oracular
coins and says: There may be some gum staying with you but no teeth.???!!!
- Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh xem xét khả năng sản xuất điện từ rác thải. ☞ HCM City
examines the possibility of generating power from rubbish. (‘Power’ = điện, quyền lực, sức
mạnh…)
- A: Waiter, what do you call this?
B: It’s ____ (bean / been) soup, sir.
A: I don’t care what it’s ____ (bean / been). What is it now?
- A: Have you hunted ____ (bear / bare)?
B: No, I always hunt with my clothes on.
- A teacher saw two boys fighting in the playground.
Teacher: Stop! You know the school rules – No fighting ____ (allowed /
aloud).
Student: But, sir, we weren’t fighting ____ (allowed / aloud).
We were fighting quietly.
- A: How can I get rid of my headache?
B: Hit your head against a window and the ____ (pain / pane) will disappear.
- Thời gian trôi nhanh làm sao.
- Time flies ☞
- Hãy quan sát tốc độ của ruồi.
 Technical terms

 A tropical cyclone tends to develop an eye, a small, circular, cloud-free spot. Surrounding
the eye is the eyeball, an area about 16-80 km wide in which the strongest thunderstorms
and winds circulate around the storm’s center.
 “Vietnam will apply the Technical Barriers to Trade, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures agreements without a transition period”. → Việt Nam sẽ áp dụng Hiệp định Hàng
rào kỹ thuật đối với thương mại và Hiệp định về các biện pháp vệ sinh kiểm dịch động thực
vật mà không yêu cầu thời gian quá độ.
 Online English

 Wall Street Journal: “Leetspeak Is Hot Button With Games, Scholars; One Campus Isn’t
LOL”. Leetspeak = Elite speak; LOL = lawl = laughing out loud
 Tehcool = very cool
 ttyl = talk to you later; bbl = be back later; cu = see you
 pwned liked noob = destroyed with the quickness and ease with which on would destroy a
new player.
 10q = thank you; 10x = thanks; 2L8 = too late; 404 = I haven’t a clue.
 Misconceptions

 Thuế giá trị gia tăng: Value-added tax (Vietnam & Europe), Sales tax (the US), Goods and
services tax (Australia & Others) or Excise tax (commonly used)
 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: Hiệp định chung về thuế quan và thương mại

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 PNTR – Permanent Normal Trade Relations: Qui chế thương mại bình thường vĩnh viễn.
 House Ways and Means Committee: Ủy ban Tài chính và Thuế vụ (Ủy ban chính sách
thương mại, Ủy ban Phương tiện và Chính sách, Ủy ban Ngân sách tài chính, Ủy ban Tiện
ích, Ủy ban Ngân sách tài chính, Ủy ban Đường lối và Phương cách…)
 Appropriations Committee: Ủy ban Chuẩn chi, Ủy ban Phân bổ ngân sách.
 “Do you work out?” – “Oh, no. I don’t have time.” Cô có thường tập thể dục không (tập bài
bản có dụng cụ? (Cô có làm việc bên ngoài không?)
 Misunderstandings

“… Malaysia and Indonesia have problems with the Chinese (người Hoa sống ở Indonesia &
Malaysia chứ không phải người Trung Quốc). They are successful, they are hardworking, and
therefore, they are systematically marginalized (bị gạt ra khỏi đời sống văn hóa, chính trị… một
cách có hệ thống. (By Singaporean PM Ly Quang Dieu)
 Cultural untranslatability - when the target language and its culture lack a relevant
situational feature for the source language text (allusions, symbols, puns). Cultural
untranslatability falls on the cultural terms and idiomatic expressions which have no
equivalents in the TL culture.
- Gallon, acre, kimono, yukata, kimchi, pizza, yumcha, de facto...
- Phở, áo dài, cải lương, chèo, tuồng...
Where’re you going? / Hello or Hi!
- Anh đi đâu đấy? ☞
Où allez-vous? / Bonjour!
- Thân em vừa trắng lại vừa trò.
(My body white, my shape, round)
Bảy nổi ba chìm với nước non.
(Many and many a time, I emerge and sink in the water.)
Rắn nát mặt dầu tay kẻ nặn.
(The hand, that kneaded me, made me hard or soft at will.)
Mà em vẫn giữ tắm long son.
(But I always keep my heart vermillion.)
 Referential Untranslatability occurs when a referential element in the source message is
not known or readily comparable to a particular item in the target language. The
Vietnamese language, for example, has different names for several different kinds of stuffed
wheaten food: Bánh bao, bánh ngọt, bánh khọt … But to the English speaker, all these have
but one name  dumpling (a small piece of dough, boiled or baked, often enclosing meat,
fruit, etc.): the contrasts between these different kinds of stuffed food are not lexically
represented in English. Of course, circumlocution or description may often help bridge the
lexical gap.
 Pragmatic Untranslatability arises where some pragmatic meaning encoded in a source
item is not encoded likewise in a functionally comparable unit in the target language, or
where the exact pragmatic meaning(s) carried by the source sign is/are unclear or
indeterminable due to historical reasons or to the intentional equivocation on the part of the
author.
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 Intralingua Untranslatability: By intralingua untranslatability we mean any situation in
which the source expression is apparently not transferable due to some communicatively
foregrounded linguistic peculiarity it contains. It differs from “linguistic untranslatability”
as defined by Catford in that instead of including those conventionally followed rules of the
language, it pertains only to those linguistic features that are foregrounded somehow in the
context. Intralingua untranslatability accounts for a majority of cases of untranslatability.
Look at the following example.
 The Clerk: Are you engaged?
 Augustus: What business is that of yours? However, if you will take the trouble
to read the society papers for this week, you will see that I am engaged to the
Honorable Lucy Popham, youngest daughter of 
 The Clerk: That isn’t what I mean. Can you see a female?
 Augustus: Of course, I can see a female as easily as a male. Do you suppose
I’m blind?
 The Clerk: I don’t seem to follow me somehow. There’s a female downstairs:
what you might call a lady. She wants to know can you see her if I let her up.
 Augustus: Oh, you mean am I disengaged. Tell the lady I’m busy. (My
emphases)
3. LOSS AND GAIN IN TRANSLATION
Once the principle is accepted that sameness cannot exist between two languages, it
becomes possible to approach the question of loss (leaving something) and gain (adding something)
in the translation processes.
Ex: Loss and gain in meaning
- The university of CF  Trường ĐH (tổng hợp, đa ngành) CF <~ loss
- Trường ĐH Kinh tế  College of economics / University of economics<~ gain
- Trường đời  The university of life <~ loss
- A spinster  (An unmarried woman) <~ gain
Ex: Loss and gain in lexis/ structure
- Trường đời  The university of life. (The, of: gain in lexis – functional words)
- Mình đi xem film đi  Let us go to the cinema, shall we? (Let, shall: gain)
- Một chiếc thuyền câu bé tẻo teo  A tiny fishing boat (tẻo teo: loss)
It is again an indication of the low status of translation that so much time should have been
spent on discussing what is lost in the transfer of a text from SL to TL whilst ignoring what can also
be gained, for the translator can at times enrich or clarify the SL text as a direct result of the
translation process. Moreover, what is often seen as `lost' from the SL context may be replaced in
the TL context.

EXERCISE
Provide an equivalent translation into the target language.
1. Elizabeth II ………………………………………………………………………………. …..
2. Thames ……………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Nguyễn Văn Thìn …………………………………………………………………………….
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4. Sông Cửu Long………………………………………………….…………………………….
5. Ngày Quốc Khánh ………………………….…………………………………………………
6. Ngày Quốc tế lao động……………………….……………………………………………….
7. Civil war………………………………….……………………………………………………
8. The War of Rose………………………….……………………………………………………
9. Valentine’s Day…………………….………………………………………………………….
10. Canh chua cá lóc ………………….…………………………………………………………
11. Boxing Day………………………………………………………………………………….
12. Đình làng…………………………………………………………………………………….
13. Baby shower …………………………………………………………………………………
14. Nước mắm …………………….…………………………………………………………….
15. Tết Đoan ngọ…………….…………………………………………………………………...
16. Prince of Wales……………….………………………………………………………………
17. Ông Ba Mươi………………….………………………………………………………………
18. Uncle Sam ……………………...…………………………………………………………….
19. Lễ đầy tháng ……………….…………………………………………………………………
20. Áo dài……………………….………………………………………………………………...

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Chapter 5: PROBLEMS & STRATEGIES IN TRANSLATION
---***---
We have already seen in the previous chapters that translating is a complex process. It is
complex because it involves a number of problem-solving and decision-making tasks which seem
to strike the translator’s mind simultaneously during the translating process. What seems to be more
problematic for the translator is that when translating a text, s/he will have to create in the target
language an equivalent context which is foreign to target language itself. With regard to translating
activities, there are various problems worthy of special consideration.
I. Lexical Problems
1. Word Choice
 The context itself determines the meaning of words.
Examples:
- Clergy (giáo sĩ, giới tăng đồ)
- Death (cái chết, băng hà, viên tịch)
- Kha Luân Bố đã tìm ra Tân thế giới vào năm 1842.
→ The New World was discovered by Christopher.
- Tôi đang tìm cuốn sách.
→ I am looking for my book.
- Michael Faraday đã tìm ra máy phát điện. (invent)
→ Michael Faraday invented the generator.
 It is characteristic of word that a single lexical item may have several meanings.
Ex 1:
- He is the former head of the Chemistry Section of the Australian Atomic Energy
Commission. (leader)
- Although he is the head of the company, he has no head. (leader-intelligence)
Ex 2:
- The Prime Minister has also assigned relevant agencies to formulate a law on
industrial zones to provide a complete legal background/frame for the operation of IZs and
EPZs in Vietnam. (Thủ tướng đã giao cho các cơ quan có liên quan ban hành bộ luật về khu
công nghiệp nhằm cung cấp một số cơ sở pháp lý hoàn chỉnh cho việc hoạt động của khu
công nghiệp và khu chế xuất ở Việt Nam.)
☞ In order to avoid committing errors of context, words should be solved in context and
the analysis of their meaning has to be made carefully to pick out the most appropriate
equivalent.
2. Lack of Equivalent Concepts
- “Gentleman" = "trí thức, lịch lãm, có tư cách",
- "Lady" = "lịch sự, đoan trang, duyên dáng"
- The word "quân tử" = "người tài đức xuất chúng, người phẩm hạnh ngay thẳng, người
có nhân cách" is different from "gentleman" in English.
- The concept "de facto relationship" is not available in Vietnamese. In Vietnamese, we
have "bà bé, bà nhỏ" or "lấy làm bé, làm vợ bé, làm vợ ". Can it be translated as
"concubine" or "wife" in English?
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3. Lack of Superordinates
- "Flower"- the superordinate which has the semantic field of "rose, daffodil, lily, orchid,
tulip, sunflower, chrysanthemum..." (hồng, thủy tiên, huệ, lan, tuy líp, hướng dương,
cúc...) as hyponyms.
- "Problems" means "vấn đề (issues), vấn nạn/tệ nạn (irregularities), khó khăn
(difficulties), trở ngại (obstacles), trục trặc ([mechanical] troubles), biến chứng
(complications), thắc mắc (queries). lỗi (fault), lỗi tại tinh trùng (sperm problems),
chứng khó thở" (breathing problems).
- "Rice" = "mạ, lúa, thóc, gạo, cơm, cốm, bỏng", Sở Túc mễ (Rice Service). Phrases such
as "imported rice", "rice fields", "green rice", rice bubbles, "boiled/steamed rice" may
cause problems in translation.
- Kinship terms: "uncle" generally means "chú, bác, cậu, dượng" and "aunt" "cô, bác, dì,
già, thím, mợ". => How would we translate the phrase "Dượng Năm" into English?
4. Lack of Hyponyms in the Receptor Language
- "House" = "bungalow, cottage, croft, chalet, lodge, hut, mansion, manor, villa, hall ...".
In Vietnamese we have "nhà sàn, nhà tranh, nhà tranh vách đất, nhà lá, nhà ngói, nhà
gạch, nhà cây, biệt thự, vila, nhà chòi, túp lều, nhà trệt ..."
- "Cooking" = "boil, roast, bake, brew, stew, braise, simmer, poach, grill, seal, glaze,
prick, brown ". We have "luộc, xào, chiên, rang, bác, rán, tráng, dim, nướng, nướng vỉ,
hấp, hấp cách thủy, hầm..."
- "To wear,"= "để (tóc, râu), đi (giầy, vớ, bít tất, hia, hài), mặc (áo, quần), đội (nón, mũ,
tóc giả), chít (khăn), đeo (kính, nhẫn, dây chuyền, cà vạt), thắt (dây lưng, cà vạt),
đánh/giồi (phấn), thoa (son, kem chống ắng), tô (son), bôi (son, nước hoa), xức (thuốc,
dầu), xịt (dầu thơm)", đóng (khố). In English we can translate “to wear" hoặc "to put
on", nhưng không dùng "to put on" cho "hair" (tóc), ngoại trừ "to put on a wig", "to
apply", "to apply make-up"
- "To lose" = "mất, thua, lạc, thất, sụt, bại, chết" (money), mất bạn (friends), mất mặt
(face), mất niềm tin (faith) ...", "thua" "thua trận (a battle), thua cuộc (a contest) ...", (the
way), lạc hướng (direction) ...", " thất" như trong " thất tình (one’s love), "thất vọng
(one’s hope)... ", "sụt" như trong " sụt cân/kí (weight)...", " bại" như trong " bại trận (a
war)", "chết" (lose one’s life).
- "To carry" = "đem, đưa, mang, vác, xách, đội, cõng, cầm, ôm, bồng, ôm, khiêng, gánh,
quảy, đeo, đèo, chở, lai, thồ, điụ, bưng, bế, kiệu,
- "Áo" = "shirt, blouse, sweater, windcheater, pullover, cardigan, coat, jacket, slip, shawl,
cape, smock, dress, tunic ...". In Vietnamese, we have "áo sơ mi, áo lạnh, áo ấm, áo
bông, áo choàng, áo tơi, áo dài ..."
5. Different Word Collocations
Ex 1:
Vietnamese English
Trà đặc Strong tea
Gội đầu To wash one’s hair
Đánh răng To clean one’s teeth

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Đỡ đẻ To deliver a baby
Xóm chị em ta Red-light district
Phạm luật To break the law
Chữa thẹn To beat shyness
Bỏ thói quen To kick the habit
Chiếu khán đi đến chổ phục hồi The passport to recovery
Ex 2:
“Giả" = "fake, false, bogus, counterfeit, sham, imitation, reproduction, artificial,
forged, assumed, replica, glass, prosthetic...".
=> Tiền giả (counterfeit notes/coins); nữ trang giả (imitation jewelry); thuốc giả
(fake pharmaceutical products); hôn nhân giả (bogus/sham/fake marriage); giấy tờ giả
(forged/fake papers); chữ kí giả (forged/fake signature); chân tay giả (artificial/prosthetic
limbs); mắt giả (glass eye); răng giả (false teeth); tên giả (assumed/false name); cục vàng
giả (replica gold nugget); bức tranh giả (reproduction painting)…

Ex 3: Cash (tiền mặt trả liền)

Coffee (cà phê pha nhanh)
Fame (nổi danh / tiếng liền)
Lawn (thảm cỏ mua sẳn trải liền)
Love (có tình yêu liền)
- Instant Noodle (mì ăn liền)
Scratchies (vé số cạo trúng lấy tiền liền)
Sellout (hàng hoá bán ra hết liền)
Signs (bản vẽ lấy liền)
Success (thành công tức thì)
Boiling water (nước sôi nấu nhanh)
- Heavy + smoker (hút liên tu bất tận); drinker (sâu rượu); sleeper (ngủ say như chết);
eater (ăn khoẻ như trâu); gambler (kẻ ghiền cờ bạc) …
chim/ cừu (A flock of birds/ sheep)
gia súc/ trâu (A herd of cattle/ buffaloes)
- Đàn chó/ bê (A pack of dogs/ calves)
cá/ gà (A school of fish/ chickens)
sư tử/ nai (A pride of lions/ deer
☞ It is inevitable for the translators to obey the principles of English and Vietnamese word
collocations. In order to avoid this type of errors, the translator should read as many English books
and magazines to take notes of collocated words under the English standard.
6. Personal Pronouns and Prepositions
 In Vietnamese, there are many ways to express the thoughts and feelings or attitude which
differ from those in English. The social status, age, sex, and the family order are distinguished
clearly and systematically. This is reflected in a distinguished clearly and systematically. This is
reflected in a number of words for addressing such as “cụ, ông, bà, bác, cô, chú, thím, dì, dượng,

39
cậu, anh, chị, ngài, quí vị, mày, em, ...” such words are generally expressed by English people in
one word “you”.
 In Vietnamese, each preposition has a fixed meaning which does not change regardless of
the noun, adjective or verb preceding it. On the contrary, the meaning of a preposition in English
depends on its preceding word.
Examples:
- a talk on history: một cuộc nói chuyện về lịch sử
- be disappointed in: thất vọng về
- be interested in: quan tâm về
- lay emphasis/ stress on: => nhấn mạnh về
- be worried about: lo lắng về
- be proud of/ take pride in: tự halo về
- be famous for: nổi tiếng về
☞ In order to avoid this type of errors the translators should learn the prepositions going with
nouns, adjectives or verbs by heart. If they do not know how to use prepositions exactly, they tend
to the Vietnamese ones into English or vice versa. As a result, the translators should be provided
with as many structures with prepositions systematically as possible to help them take notes and
draw out the formation and rules.
7. Synonymy
Some translators depend largely on the meaning in dictionary picking out the synonyms
without paying much to the context. In fact, the pairs of synonyms share at least one sense in
common but do not share all their senses. To some extent, they can hardly substitute for each other.
The misuse of synonyms makes the meaning of one of the following sentences unacceptable.
- You have my deep/ profound sympathy. (acceptable)
- The river is deep. (acceptable)
- The river is very profound. *(unacceptable)
Another example shows that some translators do not realize the connotative meaning, which
leads to the distorting of the meaning of the sentence. Take “famous” (nổi tiếng) and “notorious”
(khét tiếng) as an example. While “famous” means “well-known/ celebrated”, and therefore
contains some features of positive meaning, “notorious” means “well-known” especially for
unfavorable reason & negative meaning.
The following can be seen as the misuse of the synonyms by some of the inexperienced
translators.
o “Cậu bé này rất bướng bỉnh.” (This boy is very stubborn/unyielding.) (right)
o “Người Việt Nam có tinh thần bất khuất.” (The Vietnamese people are really stubborn.)
(wrong)
o Chính phủ có kế hoạch xây hàng ngàn ngôi nhà cho người vô gia cư.” (The government
plans to build thousands of homes for homeless people.) (wrong)
Most of the synonyms have the same meaning in certain context. If a translator uses
synonyms without referring to the context, (s)he can make wrong & funny for his readers. In order
to avoid the misuse, the translator should carefully take the synonyms into consideration before

40
using them. In addition, it would be better for the translator to consider the differences of the pairs
of synonyms when translating.

8. Idioms & terminologies

The meanings of idioms are not definitely related to grammatical rules or the lexical
meaning of each word because they feature the metaphor and figures of speech. For example, “wet
blanket” should be translated “người rầu rĩ” instead of “cái chăn ướt” or “to read one’s palm”
translated as “xem chỉ tay” instead of “đọc cái gì ở lòng bàn tay”.
In fact, idioms can be translated satisfactorily by considering the context, if not, it is difficult
to find the exact meaning. An English idiom must be translated into Vietnamese by an equivalent
one. It is very important to be aware that we must not choose the equivalents of every word forming
the idiom but we do find the equivalent ways of expression which exist in both languages. If we
stick to each word, the meaning becomes strange, unnatural and funny. For instance, “to sell like a
hot cake” is usually translated as “bán đắt như tôm tươi.” Instead of “bán như bánh nóng”. “There
is no time like present.” is usually translated as “việc hôm nay chớ để ngày mai” instead of “không
có thời gian như bây giờ”. “Live and learn” is usually translated as “còn sống còn học” instead of
“sống và học”.
The following errors were found in some of the translated texts and should be corrected.
- “Every time, we have our children’s birth certificates signed at the local People’s
committee, we have to go through a lot of red tape.” was translated as (“Mỗi khi nhờ họ ký
giấy khai sinh tại ủy ban nhân dân phường, chúng tôi phải đi qua nhiều băng đỏ.”
- “At first we intended to stay at home. On the second thought, we decided to go out.”
was translated as “Thoạt đầu chúng tôi có ý định ở nhà. Trong lần suy nghĩ thứ hai chúng
tôi quyết định đi ra ngoài.”
- “She rarely saves her time to do her homework. She often lets the grass grow under
her feet.” was translated as “Cô ấy hiếm khi tiết kiệm thời gian để làm bài tập ở nhà. Cô
thường để cỏ mọc dưối chân.”

II. Problems related to Structural Differences

1. Parts of Speech
Each language has its own division of lexicon into classes such as nouns, verbs, adjectives,
adverbs, etc. It is not always possible to translate a SL noun with a noun in TL. In English, there is
a tendency of using more nominal structures while verbal structures are used more in Vietnamese.
Some translators keep the same structures when translating, leading to vagueness in TL texts. For
example, “Thank you for your pretty present.” was translated as “Cám ơn anh vì món quà đáng
yêu.” instead of “Cám ơn anh đã tặng em món quà đáng yêu.”

2. Voice
There is a tendency of using more passive constructions in English than in Vietnamese. For
instance, “The USA is said to be a powerful country.” was translated as: “Mỹ được nói là một
cường quốc.” instead of “Người ta nói rằng Mỹ là một cường quốc.”
The following examples of structural errors were made by some of translators.

41
- The Vietnamese Airlines has coped with difficulties due to the regional financial crisis.
(Hàng không Việt Nam gặp phải những khó khăn do cuộc khủng hoảng tài chính vùng
trầm trọng.)
- Schools teach mathematics because of its very important roles. (Trường học dạy toán vì
tầm quan trọng của nó.)
- Thank you for your letter. (Cám ơn lá thư của em.)
- Hue was recognized as the world’s cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1994. (Huế được
xem là di sản văn hóa thế giới bởi UNESCO vào năm 1994.)
- I was rewarded with a trip to Nha Trang by my parents after a year of hard work. (Tôi
đã được thưởng một chuyến đi Nha Trang bởi bố mẹ tôi sau một năm làm việc vất vả.)
The above-mentioned translations do not sound natural in Vietnamese, lacking the
coherence and smoothness, and not conveying the desired meaning of the SL sentences. It would be
more idiomatic to translate as follows.
2. Do ảnh hưởng của cuộc khủng hoảng tài chính trầm trọng trong khu vực, nên Hãng
Hàng Không VN phải đương đầu với những khó khăn.
3. Trường học dạy toán vì toán học đóng vai trò rất quan trọng.
4. Cảm ơn em đã viết thư cho em.
5. UNESCO đã công nhận Huế là di sản văn hóa thế giới vào năm 1994.
6. Sau một năm học hành chăm chỉ, bố mẹ đã thưởng cho tôi một chuyến du lịch đến
thành phố Nha Trang.
It is clear that translators sometimes focus on the structures of SL so much that they fail to
convey all the implicit meanings of TL. In fact, it is not necessary to keep the form at all. The most
important thing is that the translations must be done on the basis of the TL grammar that is familiar
to the readers.
Another problem is that some translators are not aware of the relationship between form and
function of language. It is commonly known that in some languages, one function can be expressed
by many forms and vice versa. For example, in English the way of giving an advice could be
expressed by a number of structures: “Why don’t you..?”, “You should/ ought to..”, “If I were you,
I’d..”, “You’d better” or “ I advise you to.”. In addition, some translators did not realize the
conversational implicature understood implicitly as follows.
1. What’s the time? (Why are you so late?)
2. Are you my teacher? (You want to teach me.)
3. Why don’t we go to the cinema? (a suggestion)
4. Why did you say so? (You should not have said so)
5. Unless he has done the work to my satisfaction, I will not pay him for this. (If he has
not done, …)
As mentioned in the previous parts, the structural differences between the SL and the TL are
likely to make it difficult for the translators. Below are the translated sentences with their structural
errors made by some of inexperienced translators. Please, give your comments on the following:
1.“The dividing gap between the rich and the poor as well as corruption and social unrest
caused by the relocation of people in industrialized areas, have made many people hesitate
in further changes.” (Khoảng cách lớn giữa người giàu và người nghèo cũng như sự tham

42
nhũng và tình trạng bất an của xã hội gây ra do sự phân bố lại dân cư ở các khu công
nghiệp đã làm cho nhiều người phải do dự khi chấp nhận những thay đổi lớn.)
2.“It is also necessary to invest in increasing capability of battery production establishments to
meet the demand for automobile and motorbike manufacturing and assembling in
accordance with the localization program.”(Nó cũng rất cần thiết để đầu tư vào việc tăng
năng suất của những cơ sở sản xuất ắc qui để đáp ứng nhu cầu dây chuyền sản xuất vào
việc chế tạo ô tô và xe máy phù hợp với chương trình ở trong nước.)
3.“It takes much time to deliver goods to remote areas by backward means of transport.” (Nó
lấy nhiều thời gian để phân phối hàng hóa đến các vùng xa xôi bằng các phương tiện giao
thông lạc hậu.)

III. Problems related to style differences

Styles play an important role in translation and strongly affect the process of translation.
Due to the context, text-type and audience, the levels of language in translation can be different -
the informal language used in informal situations; colloquials used in spoken language; familiar
language used among friends, relatives, and family members; formal language used in formal texts
like speeches in conferences, legal documents, business letters & documents, research papers, etc.
The examples given below clearly indicate that the same message could be expressed in
different styles.

1. Drop me a line. (informal language)

2. Remember to write me a letter. (neutral)
3. I look forward to your letter. (informal language)
4. They can escape from family supervision. (formal)
5. Their parents can’t keep an eye on them. (colloquial)
6. They are completely armed. (formal)
7. They are armed to teeth. (colloquial)

Style error is an acute problem to the translators. As translators, we should be aware of the
differences when using various styles such as conversational, academic, scientific, literary styles.
Unfortunately, many translators fail to do so when coming across the unfamiliar styles lacking
awareness of the degree of formality (informal or formal style), usage of vocabulary (informal,
colloquial, formal).
These are some style errors taken out from some Vietnamese- English translations. Please, give
your comments on the following:
- Nếu chúng tôi đặt hàng với số lượng lớn, liệu doanh nghiệp anh có bán với giá rẻ
không? (If we place substantial orders, can your enterprise get us with soft price?)
☞ It is impossible to use informal style in a business letter. Instead of using “soft price”, the
translator should use “cheaper price”.
- Thời tiết ở Huế không thích hợp cho người già. Mùa hè trời nóng như thiêu đốt, trong
khi mùa đông lạnh đến xương tủy. (The weather in Hue is favorable for the old. It is
burning hot in summer while it chills to the bones in winter.)

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☞ It is impossible to use informal style to translate a formal text. Instead of using “burning hot”,
the translator should use “exceedingly hot”.

IV. Cultural Differences

Culture could be understood as the total set of beliefs, attitude, customs, behavior, and
habits etc. of the member of a particular society. In the broad sense, it includes modes of
production, production activities, community organization, spiritual life, knowledge of nature and
society, emotions, and moral conceptions. Language is regarded as both a component of a culture
and network through which other elements of culture operate. Language, therefore, uses almost all
other cultural elements so as to perfect its universal and self-sufficient nature. It could be said that
we will not translate from this to that language perfectly unless we know its relation to its culture.
For example, it is commonly known that “ao dai” is a traditional costume of the Vietnamese
women and we never find an equivalent word in English to translate “ao dai”. However, some
translators translated mechanically “ao dai” into “a dress”. How funny it is! It would be preferred to
writing down “ao dai” to express the cultural feature to making foreign people misunderstand “ao
dai” as “a dress”.
Therefore, “Trang phục truyền thống của người phụ nữ Việt Nam là chiếc áo dài tượng
trưng cho sự duyên dáng.” should be translated as “The traditional costume of the Vietnamese
women is “ao dai” which symbolizes the grace.

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STRATEGIES FOR TRANSLATORS
 How to deal with non-equivalence at lexical level?
 Translating by a more specific word
Examples:
- “to carry” => mang, vác, bưng, bê, khiêng … (depending on the size and shape of the object;
and how it is carried (e.g. in the hand, or in the arms...).
- “rice” => lúa, thóc, gạo, cơm, …. (depending on whether one is planting it, harvesting it,
cooking it, or eating it.)
 Translating by a more general word
Examples:
- “mopeds”, “scooters”, “Honda”, “Airblade” => Xe máy
- “paw”, “foot”, or “leg” => Chân
 Translating by omission / addition
Example:
- “Much can be done even without being physically present in the meeting.” => “nhiều việc
có thể làm ngày cả khi không có mặt tại cuộc họp” (“Physically” is omitted.)

 How to deal with idioms and set expressions

 Using an idiom or a set expression of similar meaning and form
1. “to fight like cats and dogs” => “đánh / cãi nhau kịch liệt”
2. “Better than never.”, which is translated: “Thà muộn còn hơn không đến”
 Translating by using a loan word plus explanation (ORS - oral dehydration salts
=> muối bù mất nước)
 Translating by using a paraphrase
Example:
- “Pregnant women should avoid alcohol.” => … bia /rượu
- “Children should be protected from abuse and neglect.” => … sự lạm dụng và lơ là?!=>
mọi hình thức bạo lực, gây tổn thương hay xúc phạm, bỏ mặc hoặc xao nhãng trong việc
chăm sóc”
- “Being Positive-Living with HIV/AIDS” => “Hãy Sống Yêu Đời Dù Nhiễm HIV”.
 Using an idiom or a set expression of similar meaning but different form
Example: “to carry coals to Newcastle” => “Chở củi về rừng."

 How to deal with voice, number and person

 Voice
a. English: A is/was/has been done by B
=> Vietnamese: (1) A được+ động từ+ (bởi B)
A được/do+(B)+động từ
(ii) A bị +động từ + bởi B
A bị +(B) + động từ
Examples:
 This house was built by Frank in 1930. => Ngôi nhà này do Frank xây năm 1930.
 Tom is given a present by Mary. => Tom được Mary tặng một món quà.
 Tom was attacked by a stranger last night. => Tom bị .... tối hôm qua.
b. English: A is/was/has been done.
=> Vietnamese: (i) A được+ động từ
(ii) A bị+ động từ
(iii) Người ta/ai đó + động từ + A
Examples:
 Tom has been promoted recently. => Tom mới được đề bạt gần đây.

45
 The CD has been broken.
=> Chiếc đĩa CD đã bị vỡ/ Ai đó đã làm vỡ chiếc đĩa CD.
 The children were given injections.
=> Các cháu được tiêm.” or “Các cháu bị tiêm.”
 The H’Mong people do not like to be called Meo. They prefer to be called H’Mong.
=> Người dân tộc Hơ Mông không thích bị gọi là dân tộc Mèo. Họ thích được gọi là
dân tộc Hơ Mông.
 Number
Examples:
- Phụ nữ: woman / women
- Con: children /child / son / daughter…
- Students: các / những / tất cả / mọi / mỗi … (depending on the individuality of the
items and the totality of the category.)
 Person
Examples:
- “you” => bạn / chú / bác / anh / chị / em /chúng ta ... (depending on age, sex,
familiarity, social status, and even one’s particular mood or attitude in a given
situation.)
 How to deal with non-subject sentences (Vietnamese- English translation)
 Passive voice
 It + to be + Adj + to infinitive
 There + to be...
 Use the subject that is found in the previous sentence(s)
Example:
- Cần đẩy mạnh công nghiệp hóa, hiện đại hóa.
=> Industrialization and modernization should be promoted.
Or: It is necessary to promote industrialization and modernization.
- Vẫn chưa có cách chữa khỏi bệnh AIDS. => There has been no cure for AIDS.
 How to deal with newspaper headlines
 Present tense = past events
 Present participle = event in progress
 To infinitive = future events
 Past participle = passive voice
 Nouns / Verb + noun
Examples:
1. Chinese Professors Turn To Business
=> Các giáo sư Trung Quốc chuyển sang kinh doanh
2. US President Visiting Vietnam
=> Tổng thống Hoa Kỳ đang thăm Việt Nam
3. Oil Price To Rise?
=> Giá dầu sẽ tăng
4. Three More Investment Projects Licensed This Year
=> Thêm ba dự án đầu tư nữa được cấp giấy phép trong năm nay
5. Investment Boom
=> Bùng nổ đầu tư

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ORAL TRANSLATION
TOPIC CARD 1
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Tôi luôn nhớ những kĩ niệm êm đềm của thời niên thiếu.
2. Trận lũ lụt ở Bangkok, Thái Lan vừa qua đã khiến cho hàng ngàn người lâm
vào cảnh màn trời chiếu đất
3. Trang phục truyền thống của người phụ nữ Việt Nam là chiếc áo dài tượng
trưng cho sự duyên dáng.
4. Để hội nhập thế giới, Việt Nam đã áp dụng một chính sách đổi mới và nền
kinh tế thị trường.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who ‘travel
to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one
consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the
exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited’. Tourism has
become a popular global leisure activity.
--- The end ---

TOPIC CARD 2
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Hàng trăm và có thể hàng ngàn người đã trải qua cả năm trời hoặc lâu hơn
làm việc cực khổ để sản xuất một bộ phim chỉ kéo dài một tiếng rưỡi đồng
hồ.
2. Giáo dục công chúng về an toàn giao thông là hết sức cần thiết.
3. Chúng ta phải lái xe cẩn thận trong thành phố vào ban đêm để không xãy ra
tai nạn.
4. Vào ngày 20 tháng 11 hàng năm, sinh viên chúng tôi thường tặng thầy cô
giáo của mình những đóa hoa hồng tươi thắm để kỉ niệm ngày nhà giáo.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

Every day of our lives we can see examples of travel and tourism marketing
around us – adverts on TV, adverts in newspapers and magazines, brochures in
travel agencies, internet pages, posters in stations, etc. This is because all
tourism businesses need to market their products if they hope to be successful.
But marketing is not just advertising; it is about researching and identifying the
needs of a specific group of customers and then creating a product that satisfy
them. Before we look at promotion and sales in detail, we must first place them
within the broader context of marketing.
--- The end ---

47
TOPIC CARD 3
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Các tân sinh viên rất hồi hộp về cuộc sống ở ký túc xá.
2. Mary thất vọng khi biết rằng anh sẽ không đến dự tiệc sinh nhật của cô ấy.
3. Buổi lể khai mạc hội trợ thương mại quốc tế diễn ra trong một bầu không
khí trang nghiêm.
4. Việc phát triển đất nước ta còn tùy thuộc ở chổ mọi công dân có chú trọng
đến lợi ích chung hơn quyền lợi riêng hay không.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

In the last 30 years, the volume of travel has increased tremendously.
Partly the result of improvements in transport, this increase is also
attributable to economic prosperity and social changes. In general, the more
education a person receives, the more likely he or she is to travel. Average
citizens in industrialized societies also have more money to spend on travel.
--- The end ---

TOPIC CARD 4

 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Quyển sách mới xuất bản đó rồi sẽ được bày bán khắp các nhà sách trên cả
nước.
2. Anh phải tự lực cánh sinh và đừng bao giờ lệ thuộc vào kẻ khác.
3. Chúng ta không thể lấp đầy khoảng cách giữa hai thế hệ.
4. Chị không sợ phải đi ra ngoài một mình ban đêm à?

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

One of the best things about bikes is the fact that cycling is a great method
of exercise. On top of all the other benefits they offer you can stay fit at the
same time. Simply cycling to and from work or to the shops every day is
enough to keep you happy and healthy. Bikes can also create hours of fun.
Bike rides with friends or family are a great way of exploring, keeping fit and
having fun. It is also cheaper than paying to go to tourist attractions yet you
are likely to discover something new as well.
--- The end ---

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TOPIC CARD 5

 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Do sự bùng nổ về du lịch, nhiều khách sạn đã được xây cất nhưng tỉ lệ
thuê phòng chỉ chiểm khoảng 30%.
2. Ngày nay du lịch là ngành kinh doanh rất có lãi.
3. Trong một năm qua chúng tôi bán được 30.000 con búp bê.
4. Ông hiệu trưởng không ngớt lời khen ngợi cậu sinh viên xuất sắc đó.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

A guide takes on a number of roles for the tourist: teacher, entertainer,
ambassador, nurse, and ‘the boss’. As ‘teacher’ the guide is passing on
information, as we’ve discussed. Most tour groups are on holiday so they want
to enjoy themselves and want to be entertained to a certain extent. People also
need looking after, so you sometimes have to be a nurse.
--- The end ---

TOPIC CARD 6
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Chúng ta có thể coi cầu Mỹ Thuận là một công trình xây dựng vĩ đại do
các kỹ sư Việt Nam và chuyên gia Úc hợp tác thực hiện.
2. Đi du lịch khắp đó đây có thể mang lại cho chúng ta nhiều kiến thức bổ
ích.
3. Ông hiệu trưởng nhấn mạnh rằng trường đại học sẽ không tuyển dụng
thêm nhân lực nữa.
4. Nguồn tin đoàn thám hiểm gặp nạn khiến chúng tôi quá xúc động.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

In order for travel to flourish, there must be an efficient transportation
system and an atmosphere of peace and political stability. Travel – especially
travel for pleasure – also requires economic prosperity and leisure time. It was
not until the Industrial Revolution, which began in the mid-1700s that travel
started to be more common. In fact, developments in transport really opened
up the tourist industry. A series of advances in transport – firstly the
development of the stage-coach and coaching inns, then steamboat, and
railroad – made travel easier. In addition to technological changes, social
changes contributed to the growth of travel.
--- The end ---

49
TOPIC CARD 7
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Chúng tôi không quan tâm đến những gì họ đang nghĩ về chúng tôi.
2. Tôi hoài nghi không biết ông ta có thật sự muốn cộng tác với chúng ta
không.
3. Có chứng cứ gì về việc anh ta lấy cấp tiền của ông chủ nhà không?
4. Đôi khi cô ấy tự hỏi không biết cô có nên lập gia đình năm nay không.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

A guide’s commentary should be interesting, lively and above all,
enthusiastic. It shouldn’t be too academic and ‘heavy’, but neither should it
be frivolous. A sense of humor is also important, but again one should only
be humorous where appropriate. ‘Getting the balance right’ is the main skill
of guiding and commentaries should vary according to each group. A group
of schoolchildren and a group of architects require a very different approach.

--- The end ---

TOPIC CARD 8
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Tôi cực lực phản đối việc công ty cắt giảm biên chế.
2. Mục đích của chương trình này là tạo công ăn việc làm cho những người
thất nghiệp.
3. Một trong những cách tôi làm để cải thiện tiếng Anh của mình là xem
TV.
4. Đây rõ ràng là một trong những kỹ thuật phổ biến nhất mà gần như tất cả
sinh viên ngoại quốc đều áp dụng.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

Another great advantage of bikes is the fact that if you do choose to go to
work this way, you know that you won't get stuck in any traffic. Most busy
city centers now have cycle lanes so even if there is heavy congestion, you
don't have to get stuck in the middle of it. As a result, it is a much more
relaxing way of commuting to and from work and you don't have to worry
about hours of extra time being added onto your journey if you get stuck in
major traffic.

--- The end ---

50
TOPIC CARD 9
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Khi chúng tôi đến thì xe lửa đã rời ga rồi.
2. Bà ta may mắn có được một người chồng tốt như vậy.
3. Điều đáng tiếc là giới trẻ đang chú ý quá nhiều đến mỹ phẩm mà không ý thức
được cái đẹp của nhân cách.
4. Mọi người ai cũng mong bạn chấp nhận chức vụ đó.

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

So, you want to be a tour guide? Although I work mainly in London and
England, I’m sure the job’s more or less the same wherever you do your guiding.
So, let me give you some advice … Most guides are freelance and are hired for
particular jobs. Tour operators and other people employ guides mainly to inform
tourist about the places they are visiting. Therefore, a guide has to have a good
sound knowledge not only of a particular place but also of other things which are
generally relevant – for example, architecture, history, and local customs.
--- The end ---

TOPIC CARD 10
 Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Xưa nay người ta đồng ý rằng sự thành công ở đời không phải chỉ đạt được
nhờ khả năng chuyên môn mà còn nhờ nhân cách tốt nữa.
2. Người ta tưởng tượng rằng sống trên mặt trăng có thể giải quyết được tình
trạng khan hiếm thực phẩm trên địa cầu.
3. Điều chắc chắn là không ai muốn mất tự do.
4. Ngồi trong rạp hát xem phim chiếu trên màng ảnh, bạn có bao giờ nghĩ đến
cách người ta làm phim không?

 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese.

It is said that Vietnam is standing new chances of accelerating foreign
investment flow and enhancing the investment effectiveness. A new wave of
investment is heading for Vietnam. To strike while the iron is hot, the Ministry of
Planning and Investment is preparing a draft Directive on measures to promote the
new wave of foreign investment into Vietnam.

--- The end ---

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REVISION
TRANSLATION THEORY & PRACTICE
----∞***∞----
PART I: SHORT ANSWERS
Write a short essay (about 500 words) as your response on one of the following topics.
1. What is translation? Is it the same as or different from interpretation? It is said that to
translate is sometimes to betray? Do you agree or disagree?
2. What is the most important feature of a good translation?
3. Is it always possibe to find an exact equivelent of a source-text word or sentence in a target
text?
4. How important is the issue of style in translation? Write a short essay as your response.
5. Write a short essay contrasting the form-based translation approach and the meaning-based
translation approach.
6. The method of word-for-word translation has been proven to be unsuccessful and has to be
revised using the second, sense-for-sense method? To what extend do you agree with this
opinion?
7. What features should be considered when you translate a text? Give some examples to
support your ideas.
8. In the theory of translation, the translator is considered to be the expert of intercultural
transfer, although not always a trained expert in the subject-specific area of the target text.
How far do you agree with this assessment and what does it imply for the role of the
translator in modern-day communications?
9. The translator should have a perfect knowledge of both SL and RL, so as not to lessen the
majesty of the language. Do you agree or disagree?
10. Communicative translation attempts to produce on its readers an effect as close as possible
to that obtained on the readers of the original. Discuss and support your point of view.

PART II: GAP – FILLING

TASK 1. Read the following statements and fill in each of the blanks with appropriate
words / phrases. The first one is done as an example.
1. _________ is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an
equivalent target-language text.
2. Translation is _________ of meaning from one language to another language, preserving
semantic and stylistic equivalences.
3. _________ is the oral rendering (representing) of the meaning of the spoken word from
one language into another language.
4. __________ uses natural forms of receptor language, both in the grammatical
constructions and in the choice of lexical items.
5. A _________ is a bilingual mediating agent between monolingual communication
participants in two different language communities.

52
6. With ___________ technique, translators can absolutely change the order of the
structures: words, phrases, clauses and sentences without altering the content of the
utterance.
7. You should characterize the __________ of the original and then of the translation, and to
decide how much attention you have to pay to the TL readers.
8. For the vast majority of texts, you have to ensure: (a) that your translation
makes___________; (b) that it reads __________, that it is written in ordinary language,
the common grammar, idioms and words that meet that kind of situation.
9. In ____________, the person usually sits in a soundproof booth, listens to the speaker
through earphones and, speaks into a microphone, and reproduces the speech in the target
language as it is being delivered in the source language.
10. After evaluation is done carefully, there will need to be a revised draft made on the basis
of the _________ received.
11. In translation, the form of the _________ language (the language of the text that is to be
translated) is replaced by the form of the _________language (the language of the
translated text).
12. Translators can make use of the _______ technique to leave out some redundant words,
which does not really change the meaning of the version.
13. It is suggested that the translator should _________ the literal translation to avoid
complete nonsense and to improve communication.
14. The fact that there exist _________ to understanding whenever man tries to communicate
across a great distance of space or across a great interval of time requires translation.
15. The translation processes imply an entire process of how a translator produces _________
from a text (portions of a text) into another language.
16. The main use / purpose of ___________ translation is either to understand the structure of
the source language or to analyze a difficult text as a pre-translation process.
17. Translation consists in reproducing in the __________ language the closest natural
equivalent of the source language message, firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in
terms of style.
18. Literal translation is a ____________ translation method which attempts to render the SL
grammatical constructions into their nearest target language (TL) equivalents, but the
lexical words are again translated singly, out of context.
19. __________ are important factors in determining not only the meaning of the source
language text but also the structural arrangement or the target language text.
20. As he prepares the final draft, the translator should have his final copy _________ to make
sure it is accurate and flawless.
21. In translation, the translator sometimes has to make some lexical _________ depending on
the context for which equivalences should be represented in the translated version.
22. Translation is the ________ in which a written communication or a text in a first language
is produced as the written communication or text in the second language interpreting the
same meaning.
53
23. When we are translating, we translate with four levels in mind: (a) the SL text level; (b)
the ___________ level; (c) the cohesive level; (c) and the level of naturalness.
24. The translator’s goal should be to _________ 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.
25. __________ translations make every effort to communicate the meaning of the source
language text in the natural forms of the receptor language.
26. In __________ interpretation, the interpreter starts to translate only after the speaker has
finished his/her utterance. Often used at smaller conferences etc., generally used in
courtroom settings, speeches. Just one interpreter is often enough.
27. A faithful translation attempts to __________ the exact contextual meaning of the original
language (source language) within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures.
28. Before a translation project, the translator should examine his reasons for choosing the
___________ and the potential for its use by the receptor language audience.
29. There are _________ who are willing to help the translator check the accuracy of content,
the naturalness of style and the effect on the receptor language audience.
30. Exegesis is used to refer to the process of __________ the meaning of the source language
text which is to be translated.
31. The translation project usually follows a series of steps which include preparation,
__________, transfer, initial draft, reworking the initial draft, testing, polishing, and
preparing the manuscript for the publisher.
32. The fact that one person is a specialist in the source language and the other a specialist in
the receptor language in translation is known as ___________.
33. The written source materials which will be used by the translators are referred to as
__________.
34. The __________translation is the one which is known as the idiomatic translation – the
meaning of the source text is expressed in the natural form of the target language.
35. In preparing the __________, the translator is transferring from the source language into
the receptor language.
36. The translation should reflect accurately the __________ of original text. Nothing should
be arbitrarily added or removed.
37. Translating is a __________ process which takes place within a social context.
38. Translating is the __________ of a text originally in one language into an equivalent text
in a different language.
39. __________technique is the way, when translating, translators can add some words which
are not found in the source language so as to make the translation text increasingly fluent
and coherent.
40. The ___________ of the text represents the SL (source language) writer’s attitude to the
subject matter.
41. We should characterize the __________of the original and then of the translation, and to
decide how much attention you have to pay to the TL readers.
54
42. The ideal translation should be accurate (reproducing as exactly as possible), natural
(using natural forms of the receptor language), and __________ (expressing all aspects of
the meaning in a way that is readily understandable to the intended audience).
43. ___________ is a property of a text, or of any utterance, in one language, for which no
equivalent text or utterance can be found in another language when translated.
44. A ___________ is a translation of a translated text back into the language of the original
text, made without reference to the original text.
45. The notion of __________ is used to refer to the fact there is a general agreement on the
need for an ethical code of practice providing some guiding principles to reduce
uncertainties and improve professionalism.

TASK 2: Read the following passage and fill in each of the blanks with one word starting
with the provided letter. The first one is done as an example.
Translation is the process in which a w___________ (1) communication or a text in a first
language is produced as the written communication or a text in a s__________ (2) interpreting
the same meaning. Here the text in the first language is the ‘source language’ and the
equivalent text that communicates the same message is the ‘t___________ (3) text’ or
‘translated text’. Initially translation has been a manual activity.
Today, together with manual translation, there is also a___________ (4) translation of
natural language texts, which is referred to as m___________ (5) translation or computer-
assisted translation and which uses computers as an aid to translation. It is presumed that the
translation has the same meaning as the o___________ (6) text. No c___________ (7) of
information as possible.
The presumption of semantic identity between the s___________ (8) text and the
target text is based on the various degrees of e___________ (9) of their meanings. The
translator usually tries to produce in the target language the closest possible e___________
(10) to the source text.

TASK 3: Read the following passage and fill in each of the blanks with one word starting
with the provided words. The first one is done as an example.
Written medium corrected few
transformed same text translation
Both interpreting language spoken

Interpreting and translation (0) are two closely related linguistic disciplines. Yet they are
rarely performed by the __________ (1) people. The difference in skills, training, aptitude
and even language knowledge are so substantial that __________ (2) people can do both
successfully on a professional level.
On the surface, the difference between interpreting and translation is only the difference in
the __________ (3): the interpreter translates orally, while a translator interprets __________
(4) texts. __________ (5) interpreting and translation presuppose a certain love of
__________ (6) and deep knowledge of more than one tongue.
55
In translation, a fixed, permanently available __________ (7) in one language is changed
into a text in another language which can be __________ (8) as often as the translator sees fit.
In __________ (9), on the other hand, a text is __________ (10) into a new text in another
language, which is orally available only once.

TASK 4: Read the following passage and fill in each of the blanks with one word starting
with the provided letter. The first one is done as an example.

The key skills of the translator (0) are the ability to understand the source language and
the culture of the country where the text originated and the ability to render that text clearly
and accurately into the t___________ (1) language, using a good library of d___________ (2)
and reference materials. In order words, while the linguistic and culture skills are still critical,
the most important mark of a good translator is the ability to w___________ (3) well in the
target language.

An interpreter has to be able to translate in both d___________ (4) on the spot, without
using dictionaries or other supplementary reference materials. Interpreters must have
extraordinary l___________ (5) abilities, especially for simultaneous interpreting.
Simultaneous interpreters need to process and m___________(6) the words that the source-
language s___________(7) is saying now, while simultaneously outputting in the target
language the translation of words the speaker said 5-10 seconds a___________(8). In
addition, interpreters have to possess excellent p___________ (9) speaking skills, and the
intellectual capacity to instantly transform idioms, colloquialisms and other culturally-specific
references into analogous statements the target a___________ (10) will understand.

TASK 5: Read the following passage and fill in each of the blanks with one word starting
with the provided letter. The first one is done as an example.

Typically, while doing simultaneous (0) interpreting, the interpreter sits is a b__________
(1) wearing a pair of h__________ (2) and speaks into a m__________ (3). The interpreter
cannot start interpreting u__________ (4) he understands the general meaning of a sentence.
Depending, for example, on how far apart in the sentence to be interpreted the subject and the
verb are located, the i__________ (5) may not be able to utter even a single word until he has
h__________(6) the entire sentence.

This fact should make it evident how difficult the task of the interpreter really is: he needs
to translate a sentence into the target language while s__________ (7) listening to and
comprehending the next sentence. You can experience the d__________ (8) of the task even if
you only speak one language: try paraphrasing someone’s speech with a half-sentence delay,
making sure you understand the n__________ (9) sentence while p__________(10) the
previous one.
56
TASK 6: Read the following passage and fill in each of the blanks with one word starting
with the provided words. The first one is done as an example.

sentence segments translating sense

words text literal translation
smaller free language spoken

The argument about the length of a unit of translation (0) dates back to the conflict
between __________ (1) and literal translation. Literal translation is much focused on
individual words, or even sometimes morphemes. Therefore, in free translation, units of
translation are as short as __________ (2). On the other hand, a free translation ‘aims at
capturing the __________ (3) of a longer stretch of language’. It always chooses the
__________ (4). Of course, by the rising of text linguistics, the concentration of free
translation has moved from the sentence to the whole __________ (5).

Once a translator decided to work on larger __________ (6) than is necessary to convey
the meaning of the source text, this is __________ (7) translation which is at work. In the
same way, while translating smaller segments than is needed, __________ (8) translation is
under discussion. __________ (9) from a source language which is not much related to a
target language usually results in choosing larger units, while closeness of a source language
and a target language involves __________ (10) units of translation.

57
PART III: MATCHING
TASK 1: Match the halves in column A with the second ones in column B to make complete
statements.
Column A Column B
1.____Simultaneous interpreting requires A. listen and speak at the same time.
equipment such as… B. their technical knowledge or
2.____Note taking should be made in… linguistic ability.
3.____In simultaneous interpreting, the C. in all situations.
interpreter has to … D. maintain composure and continue
4.____Interpreters should act professionally… interpreting.
5.____A translator should have… E. microphones, headsets, and in
6.____If an interpreter makes a mistake, he some instances, booths.
should try to… F. an attributer to memory in
7.____Interpreter should decline any interpreting.
assignments they believe to be G. the target language.
beyond… H. speak for a few minutes, and then
8.____Translators must be aware of… pause.
9.____Note-taking is… I. the culture of the audience.
10.____In consecutive interpreting, the speaker J. good writing skills.
will…

TASK 2: Match the halves in column A with the second ones in column B to make complete
statements.

Column A Column B
1.____People can get the help of… A. translate well
2.____A person good at language cannot B. a good translation skill.
always … C. machines in translation.
3.____Interpreters should neither add to … D. the meaning of the original text.
4.____Interpreters aren’t permitted to make E. what is said nor provide unsolicited
some ... explanation.
5.____The translation should accurately F. note-taking in simultaneous
reflect … interpretation.
6.____A unit of translation is the smallest G. that is used in interpretation.
entity in a text … H. further explanation on certain points
7.____There is no time for … on behalf of the speaker.
8.____An interpreter should have … I. be translated.
9.____It is note-taking, not shorthand … J. that carries a discrete meaning.
10.____Names of private firms, institutions,
schools, hospitals, etc., should not …

58
TASK 3: Match the halves in column A with the second ones in column B to make complete
statements.

Column A Column B
1.____A successful translation should ... A. maintain and improve their interpreting
2.____It is not necessary to note skills and knowledge.
everything you … B. the better chance there is for an
3.____Whispering interpreting is idiomatic translation.
usually … C. read as if it were originally written in
4.____Community interpreting is … the new language.
5.____Interpreters should always … D. a form of consecutive interpreting.
6.____Interpreters should share skills E. squares are not usually translated.
and experiences with others to ... F. hear in interpreting.
7.____The larger unit of translation it G. develop their careers.
is.… H. used in conferences of which
8.____The unit of translation … participants speak different languages.
9.____Names of streets and … I. match the original’s.
10.____The ordering of words and ideas J. is the sentence.
normally does not …

TASK 4: Match the halves in column A with the second ones in column B to make complete
statements.

Column A Column B
1.____The best translation is always … A. is in contrast to their complexion.
2.____Whispering interpreting is … B. a series of transformations.
3.____Interpreters should wear suits of C. test the microphone before working.
which color … D. a less formal type of language
4.____Simultaneous interpreters should interpreting.
... E. different ways of note-taking.
5.____Interpreters should never … F. the smallest entity in a text that carries
6.____Interpreters should have … a discrete meaning.
7.____Different interpreters can have, G. the culture of not only the SL but also
8.____The translator should take into the TL.
account… H. performed primarily by human beings.
9.____The translating process may be I. a good short-term memory.
described as… J. wear strong perfumes.
10.___A unit of translation is …

59
TASK 5: Match the halves in column A with the second ones in column B to make complete
statements.
Column A Column B
1.____In consecutive interpreting, the speaker A. for a few minutes, then pause.
will speak … B. note everything you hear in
2.____Consecutive interpreting is commonly interpreting.
used… C. to be introduced to trainee
3.____Proper names in fairy stories, folk tales interpreters.
and children’s literature… D. any comment or recommendation
4.____Machine translation is not… while interpreting.
5.____Some people argue that… E. adaptation is not really translation.
6.____The memory skill is the first one… F. for meetings, conferences or
7.____Interpreters should not wear colorful and lectures.
beautiful costumes because it may… G. should be translated.
8. ____Names of known saints, kings, and H. should not be translated.
popes … I. as good as what is done by human.
9.____Interpreters aren’t permitted to make… J. distract the attention of the audience
10. ____It is not necessary to… to the speaker.

VIETNAMESE – ENGLISH TRANSLATION

PART 1: TRANSLATION OF PATTERNS
 Translation of Passive Verbs
1. Người ta cho rằng thất nghiệp là hậu quả của một nền giáo dục lỗi thời.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Người ta nên ý thức rằng giáo dục thực tiễn phải giúp được giới trẻ chuẩn bị bản thân
để vào đời.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Xưa nay người ta đồng ý rằng sự thành công ở đời không phải chỉ đạt được nhờ khả
năng chuyên môn mà còn nhờ nhân cách tốt nữa.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Người ta nhìn nhận rằng dân số thế giới đang gia tăng theo cấp số nhân trong khi thực
phẩm gia tăng theo cấp số cộng.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Người ta tưởng tượng rằng sống trên mặt trăng có thể giải quyết được tình trạng khan
hiếm thực phẩm trên địa cầu.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………

60
 Translation of Clauses
 Noun Clauses
1. Có thể một ngày nào đó loài người sống được trên mặt trăng.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Điều chắc chắn là không ai muốn mất tự do.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Hình như giới trẻ đang bị thời trang quyến rũ.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Điều đáng tiếc là giới trẻ đang chú ý quá nhiều đến mỹ phẩm mà không ý thức được cái
đẹp của nhân cách.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Có bằng chứng cho rằng Christopher Columbus không phải là người Âu Châu đầu tiên
đặt chân lên Châu Mỹ.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
 Adjective Clauses
1. Ông ấy chẳng những có nhiều sách chứng tỏ ông có kiến thức rộng mà còn có nhiều
bạn chứng tỏ ông giao dịch đứng đắn.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Lí do khiến nước biển mặn là vì muối và các khoáng chất bị mưa cuốn đi từ các miền
đá trên mặt đất được sông ngòi đưa ra biển.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
…...………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Các phóng viên báo chí lũ lượt kéo đến bãi phóng không gian, nơi các kỹ thuật gia đang
kiểm soát lại lần cuối chiếc phi thuyền sắp đưa ba phi hành gia lên mặt trăng.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
.…...………………………………………………………………………………....
4. Người ta không thể tìm thấy nơi nào trên thế giới này một dân tộc mà lòng dũng cảm và
sự kiên trì đã làm xúc động mọi người trên thế giới như dân tộc Việt Nam.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
.…....………………………………………………………………………………...
5. Người thiếu nữ ấy rất tự tin và chân thành, điểm đẹp nhất ở cô ấy lại là cô không bao
giờ than trách ai cả.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
.…....………………………………………………………………………………...
 Adverb Clauses
1. Bất cứ nơi nào mà không khí trong lành để thở và đất đai mà còn màu mở để gieo
trồng, dân ta còn có cơ hội tạo dựng một cuộc sống tốt đẹp hơn.
 ……………………………………………………………………………………….
..……………………………………………………………………………………...

61
2. Rất nhiều quốc gia nghèo trên thế giới buộc phải từ chối viện trợ nưới ngoài chỉ vì
muốn được độc lập thật sự.
 ……………………………………………………………………………………….........
……………………………………………….…………………………………...............
3. Nếu việc giáo dục giới tính được đưa và chương trình trung học, giới trẻ sẽ tiến đến
nhôn nhân bằng sự hiểu biết và niềm tin rằng hôn nhân sẽ bền vững hơn.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………….....
……………………………………………………………………………….....................
4. Chắc hẳn có gì đó sai sót trong khâu tổ chức học đường ở nhiều quốc gia, nên hiện nay
có rất nhiều học sinh trốn hoặc bỏ học.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………….....
.………………………………………………………………………………...................
5. Hiện nay tại nhiều quốc gia, việc tăng lương vẫn đều đặn, nhưng vì giá sinh hoạt không
ngừng leo thang nên tăng lương vẫn không thay đổi được gì.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………….....
..………………………………………………………………………………..................
 Translation of Phrases
 Noun Phrases
1. Every day man feels the increasing impact of science on his life.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Your walking every day improves your health.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
3. To accept discipline proves maturity.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Sự áp dụng xoa bóp vào điều trị y khoa đã được chứng minh là có hiệu quả.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Người hàng xóm mở máy phát thanh lớn gây cho tôi nhiều phiền toái.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Tôn trọng pháp luật là nhiệm vụ (trách nhiệm) của mọi công dân.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
 Adjective Phrases
1. Knowing little algebra, she found the equation difficult.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Friends to share joys and sorrows are a precious treasure.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
3. The dangers of cigarette smoking have been proved.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Chúng tôi muốn sống trong một đất nước độc lập không bị ngoại bang thống trị.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Các nhà khoa học sẽ tìm ra một nhiên liệu mới mạnh đủ để phóng một hỏa tiễn qua
không gian với tốc độ ánh sáng.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
…...………………………………………………………………………………….
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6. Khả năng quyết định và chấp nhận kỹ luật cho thấy sự khác biệt giữa một đứa bé và
một người trưởng thành.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
.….....………………………………………………………………………………...
 Adverb Phrases
1. The man is rich enough to send his son abroad for higher education.
 …………………………………………………………………………………
2. Bacterian are too tiny to be seen with naked eyes.
 …………………………………………………………………………………
3. Gun control was proposed after the assassination of President Kennedy.
 …………………………………………………………………………………
4. Người này sẽ thay tôi trong trường hợp tôi vắng mặt.
 …………………………………………………………………………………
5. Những khám phá của Pasteaur rất quan trọng có thể thay đổi lịch sử y học.
 …………………………………………………………………………………
6. Chương trình của ông bị dân Pháp khước từ, De Gaulle từ nhiệm chức tổng thống.
 …………………………………………………………………………………
PART 2: TRANSLATION OF PHRASES

1. Thay lời cho Ban giám đốc và toàn thể nhân viên, tôi xin gửi đến quí khách lời chào nồng
nhiệt và cầu chúc cho phái đoàn gặt hái nhiều quả tốt đẹp trong chuyến viếng thăm nay.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Muốn có được ngoại tệ cần phải gia tăng hàng xuất khẩu trên một qui mô lớn cả về số
lượng lẫn chất lượng.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. Người ta sẽ áp dụng nhiều biện pháp kinh tế để có lợi cho nền sản xuất trong nước.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Tiến trình thành lập một danh nghiệp không khác gì tạo dựng một nhân cách. Khởi động
bằng tự chủ, tập trung và tự tin, tiến trình còn đòi hỏi khả năng tự lập và liên kết.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Sự thành công của các công ty có tầm cỡ quốc tế thường do một hay nhiều trong số những
đặc điểm sau: quản trị giỏi; sản phẩm và dịch vụ chất lượng cao; tính sáng tạo; giá trị đầu
tư lâu dài; mạnh về tài chính; khả năng lôi cuốn, phát triển và duy trì người có tài; khéo sử
dụng sản phẩm của công ty.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

63
6. Ở các nước phát triển, ngân hàng là cơ quan có đủ khả năng thẩm định và chịu trách nhiệm
về tính khả thi của một dự án doanh nghiệp.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Vì khó khăn ta thất bại, vì thất bại ta đau khổ, vì đau khổ ta trưởng thành, nhờ trưởng thành
ta coi thường mọi khó khăn.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Con người không thể có ý niệm gì về đoàn kết và hợp tác vào thời còn ăn lông ở lỗ.
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. Nước uống trở thành vấn đề nan giải ở nhiều quốc gia, các nhà khoa học đang miệt mài
nghiên cứu nhằm biến nước biển thành nước ngọt.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. Đề phòng các tranh chấp quốc tế, những căn thẳng ở biên giới luôn được xoa dịu kịp
thời.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
11. Bằng sức mạnh của vũ khí ta có thể chiếm được mọi lãnh thổ, nhưng ta chỉ thu phục
được nhân tâm bằng sức mạnh của đạo lý.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
12. Một khía cạnh về cái đẹp của người phụ nữ Việt Nam là chỗ cam phận cảnh cô đơn thờ
chồng nuôi con trong lúc có chiến tranh hoặc đang gặp nghịch cảnh.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
13. Cũng giống như mọi sinh vật xung quanh ta, con người phải tùy thuộc và phản ứng lại
những thay đổi trong nhịp sống thiên nhiên. Bốn mùa thay đổi có thể là nguyên nhân khiên
con người thay đổi.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
14. Nhờ có tiếng là người liêm khiết, ông ấy đã tạo được niềm tin ở các cộng sự và gây ảnh
hưởng trong giới danh nghiệp.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
15. Mặc dù tiền bạc không phải và giải pháp chung để giải quyết mọi khó khăn, nạn tham
nhũng có thể từng bước được diệt trừ bằng một chính sách hợp lí về lương công chức.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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ENGLISH – VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION
PART 1: TRANSLATION OF SIMPLE SENTENCES / PARAGRAPHS

1. The concept of health holds different meanings for different people and groups.

2. Odours affect us on a physical, psychological and social level.

3. The history of today's plastics begins with the discovery of a series of semi-synthetic
thermoplastic materials in the mid-nineteenth century.

4. Trains and cars initially allowed people to live at greater distances without taking longer
to reach their destination.

5. The emergent nations of Europe developed competitive interests in world exploration

and the development of trade.

6. The port city provides a fascinating and rich understanding of the movement of people
and goods around the world.

7. The research so far has focused on socioeconomic factors, or the effectiveness of

'traditional' versus 'modern' teaching techniques.

8. Child language development is an instinct – something as natural as eating or sleeping.

9. Once over the age of three, children continue to expand on existing knowledge of the
world.

10. More people than ever before are going abroad for their holidays this year.

11. The Moon goes around the Earth about every 27⅓ days, and reflects light from the Sun.

12. The president is paying a state visit to this country next month.

13. For many environmentalists, the world seems to be getting worse.

14. International trade is growing at a startling pace.

15. Local farmers are concerned about the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in this
area.

16. One effect of realism was to educate the world about itself.

17. The inspectors issued administrative fines of more than 430 million VND to violators.

18. About 20 species are being seriously considered for zoo conservation programs.

19. Among two left-handed parents, perhaps 40 per cent of the children will also be left-
handed.

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20. The role of the professional is to cater for the needs and tastes of the tourists in
accordance with their overall expectations.

21. Larger firms appear to be more willing to experiment with flexible working
arrangements.

22. Women tend to research thoroughly before applying for positions or attending
interviews.

23. Tourism today has grown significantly in both economic and social importance.

24. The world's leaders will meet in Paris later this year to agree on a new plan to curb global
warming.

25. According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), some 2,300 white tigers are raised in captivity.

26. Georgia loves singing and is determined to make it her career. She is one of about 450
people who are in the running for young Australian of the Year Awards.

27. A vast majority of individuals and businesses in the United States have answering
machines now. Some people even choose to get all their calls answered electrically, of by
a receptionist rather than answering the calls themselves.

28. Americans are raised both to have and respect other people’s opinions. Students in
school are asked to form their own opinions about everything they are taught and
everything they read rather than just believe everything they hear or read.

29. Being successful is very important to many people in the United States. Many Americans
are driven more by the need to be successful than by their interest in whatever it is they
want to do. Owning a successful business is the American dream for many people.
However, a large proportion of start-up businesses in the United States never make it to
even their second year.

30. American society, although highly regulated in many ways, doesn’t have as many rules
and regulations governing social interactions as some cultures have. This can cause
problems as dealing with uncomfortable or awkward situations for which no clear way of
handling things has been established.

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PART 2: TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS / EXCERPTS

1. The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per
capita GDP of $49,800. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business
firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods
and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater
flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital
plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face
higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets.
US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in
medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of
World War II.

2. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor
market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills
of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance
coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have
gone to the top 20% of households. Since 1996, dividends and capital gains have grown faster
than wages or any other category of after-tax income. Imported oil accounts for nearly 55% of
US consumption. Crude oil prices doubled between 2001 and 2006, the year home prices
peaked; higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets and many individuals fell behind in
their mortgage payments.

3. Oil prices climbed another 50% between 2006 and 2008, and bank foreclosures more than
doubled in the same period. Besides dampening the housing market, soaring oil prices caused
a drop in the value of the dollar and a deterioration in the US merchandise trade deficit, which
peaked at $840 billion in 2008. The sub-prime mortgage crisis, falling home prices,
investment bank failures, tight credit, and the global economic downturn pushed the United
States into a recession by mid-2008. GDP contracted until the third quarter of 2009, making
this the deepest and longest downturn since the Great Depression. To help stabilize financial
markets, in October 2008 the US Congress established a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief
Program (TARP). The government used some of these funds to purchase equity in US banks
and industrial corporations, much of which had been returned to the government by early
2011.

4. In January 2009 the US Congress passed and President Barack OBAMA signed a bill
providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over 10 years - two-thirds on
additional spending and one-third on tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover.
In 2010 and 2011, the federal budget deficit reached nearly 9% of GDP. In 2012 the federal
government reduced the growth of spending and the deficit shrank to 7.6% of GDP. Wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan required major shifts in national resources from civilian to military
purposes and contributed to the growth of the budget deficit and public debt. Through 2011,
the direct costs of the wars totaled nearly $900 billion, according to US government figures.

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US revenues from taxes and other sources are lower, as a percentage of GDP, than those of
most other countries.

5. With their high academic standards and curriculums tailored to suit students from all
countries, international schools are recognized by many Vietnamese parents as a destination
for their children. But high cost of such schooling leaves most parents wishing they earned
more. The few parents who can afford an international standard education for their children
usually work for foreign companies with a monthly salary of at least US$1,000 – 1,500. They
have a determination that what they do today goes toward a better life for their children
tomorrow.

6. The Central Highland city, Da Lat city, moves to position itself as an ecotourism destination
in the country. During the 110th anniversary of Da Lat city, participants had an opportunity to
enjoy ruou can (wine drunk out of a jar through bamboo pipes – very popular among the
highlanders), gong dances, folk games and traditional dances and songs. There was also a
carnival night of music and dance performance, cooking, competitions, miniature aircraft
shows and treks to Lang Bian peak. The festival was aimed at honoring values of the cultural
tradition, attracting the local residents back to their original point and helping to learn more
about the historical and cultural values of Lam Dong.

7. Beijing has been chosen to stage the 2008 Olympic Games. The city is very proud to be the
venue of such an important sports meeting, but much preparation will be required before the
Games are held and much money will have to be spent on these preparations. For a start, a
great amount of construction work will have to be undertaken. A large stadium will have to be
built for the main events, such as the track and field events, and facilities will also have to be
provided for the many other sports which are now part of the Olympic Games.

8. Each year more and more sports seem to be included. Attention will have to be paid also to the
infrastructure required. New roads will have to be built and communication services
increased. The airport will have to be prepared to deal with a vastly greater number of
travelers than usual, and increased public transport will be necessary to take the spectators and
competitors to the Games. Many more people than usual will visit the city to see the
successful athletes cross the finishing line in winning positions and gain gold, silver or bronze
medals.

9. People have lived on earth for at least 2 million years. For most of that time, the population
remained small, because the number of people born was roughly the same as the number who
died, disease and famine ensured that the size of the population did not overtake the supplies
of food and other resources. However, as farming methods became more efficient and medical
knowledge improved, the population rapidly began to grow. It now stands in excess of 6.4
billion people, with more than one million babies born every four days. In many parts of the
world, rapid population growth can create serious problems, such as shortage of food or
overcrowding in cities.

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10. As planned, in the next five years, Vietnam will need 140 billion US dollars of investment for
development, of which one third will be mobilized from external sources. In addition to the
ODA, the country will also need USD 25 billion of the FDI. On average, every year it needs
five billion dollars and this figure implies that Vietnam needs to attract more foreign
investment. Foreign investment into Vietnam, both direct and indirect, has been on a
remarkable rise. However, the achievement is considered to understate the potential and far
from meeting the requirement of mobilizing capital resources for a rapid and sustainable
economic development.

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PART 3: TRANSLATION OF ARTICLES / SPEECHES
TASK 1:

REPORTS ON SCIENTIFIC ISSUES

WHY SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS COULD HELP YOUR CHILD'S EYESIGHT

Kids seem to spend endless hours on smartphones, games consoles, computers

and tablets these days.

Playing on electronic devices certainly doesn't help their waistlines, but do you
ever wonder what regular device use is doing to their eyesight? While there isn't
much research out there yet about the impact of screens on eyesight - after all the
iPhone was first unveiled by Apple in only 2007 - experts are concerned about
growing levels of short-sightedness in children. And they suggest the best thing
parents can do to prevent it is to encourage youngsters to spend more time
outdoors in the sunlight.

How short-sightedness is on the rise

There has been a massive rise around the globe in short-sightedness - or myopia as
it's officially known - over recent decades. "We know that myopia or short-
sightedness is becoming more common," says Chris Hammond, professor of
ophthalmology at King's College London and consultant ophthalmic surgeon at St
Thomas' Hospital. "It has reached epidemic levels in East Asia, Singapore, Taiwan,
South Korea, where approaching 90% of 18-year-olds are now short-sighted.

Why has it become so much more common?

Annegret Dalman-Noor, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfield’s Eye Hospital in

London says lack of natural light seems to be the key issue.

"The main factor seems to be a lack of exposure to direct sunlight, because

children who study a lot and who use computers or smartphones or tablet
computers a lot have less opportunity to run around outside and are less exposed
to sunshine and because of that seem to be at more risk of developing short-
sightedness."

"These kids are being pushed with very intensive education from a very young age
and spend a lot of time indoors studying everything close up and very little time
outdoors. "Therefore, the concern is that all close work - like playing with the iPad
and iPhone - carries the potential that it could make them more short-sighted."

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So, should we stop or limit screen use?

Well that's much easier said than done! Any parent will know that youngsters are
like dogs with bones when it comes to their beloved phones and trying to get them
off their devices is pretty much impossible - certainly without a massive argument.
Dr Dalman-Noor, who is a mother of three, says trying to stop screen use is
probably an unrealistic aspiration.

"You can only tell them that it might make their eyes uncomfortable, it might
make them short-sighted and they should not use it as much as they like to. "But,
hand on heart, I don't think we can get away from this because they also have to
do their school homework on laptops and iPads and they do their searches for
background information on screens.”

Time outdoors is the key

The best thing to do, say the experts, is to get children playing outside as much as
possible. "Protective of myopia development is time outdoors - sport and leisure
outdoors are protective of eyesight," says Prof Hammond. "In a perfect world,
probably on average across the week and the weekend, two hours a day outdoors
is protective of becoming short-sighted in children."

How would I know if my child was becoming short-sighted?

According to NHS Choices, signs that your child may be short-sighted include:

needing to sit near the front of the class at school because they find it difficult to
read the whiteboard sitting close to the television complaining of headaches or
tired eyes regularly rubbing their eyes.

When someone's short-sighted, the eyes have grown slightly too long, which
means light rays focus just in front of the retina, at the back of the eye, so distant
objects to appear blurred, but close objects are seen clearly.

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TASK 2: FORMER UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN DIES AT AGE 80

GENEVA (AP) — Kofi Annan, one of the world’s most celebrated diplomats and a
charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the
first black African secretary-general, has died. He was 80.

His foundation announced his death in Switzerland on Saturday in a twitter, saying he

died after a short unspecified illness.

“Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and touched many people
with his deep compassion and empathy,” the foundation said.

Annan spent virtually his entire career as an administrator in the United Nations. His
aristocratic style, cool-tempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent
to become its seventh secretary-general, and the first hired from within. He served
two terms from Jan. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2006, capped nearly mid-way when he and
the U.N. were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

During his tenure, Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the
world body, one of its most turbulent periods since its founding in 1945. Challenges
from the outset forced him to spend much of his time struggling to restore its
tarnished reputation. His enduring moral prestige remained largely undented,
however, both through charisma and by virtue of having negotiated with most of the
powers in the world.

When he departed from the United Nations, he left behind a global organization far
more aggressively engaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty, setting the
framework for the U.N.’s 21st-century response to mass atrocities and its emphasis
on human rights and development.

“Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good,” current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres said. “It is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways,
Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the
organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.”

Even out of office, Annan never completely left the U.N. orbit. He returned in special
roles, including as the U.N.-Arab League’s special envoy to Syria in 2012. He remained
a powerful advocate for global causes through his eponymous foundation.

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Annan took on the top U.N. post six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and
presided during a decade when the world united against terrorism after the Sept. 11
attacks — then divided deeply over the U.S.-led war against Iraq. The U.S. relationship
tested him as a world diplomatic leader.

“I think that my darkest moment was the Iraq war, and the fact that we could not
stop it,” Annan said in a February 2013 interview with TIME magazine to mark the
publication of his memoir, “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace.”

“I worked very hard — I was working the phone, talking to leaders around the world.
The U.S. did not have the support in the Security Council,” Annan recalled in the
videotaped interview posted on The Kofi Annan Foundation’s website. “So, they
decided to go without the council. But I think the council was right in not sanctioning
the war,” he said. “Could you imagine if the U.N. had endorsed the war in Iraq, what
our reputation would be like? Although at that point, President (George W.) Bush said
the U.N. was headed toward irrelevance, because we had not supported the war. But
now we know better.”

Despite his well-honed diplomatic skills, Annan was never afraid to speak candidly.
That didn’t always win him fans, particularly in the case of Bush’s administration, with
whom Annan’s camp spent much time bickering. Much of his second term was spent
at odds with the United States, the U.N.’s biggest contributor, as he tried to lean on
the nation to pay almost $2 billion in arrears.

Kofi Atta Annan was born April 8, 1938, into an elite family in Kumasi, Ghana, the son
of a provincial governor and grandson of two tribal chiefs. He shared his middle name
Atta — “twin” in Ghana’s Akan language — with a twin sister, Efua. He became fluent
in English, French and several African languages, attending an elite boarding school
and the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He finished his
undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in
1961. From there he went to Geneva, where he began his graduate studies in
international affairs and launched his U.N. career.

Annan married Titi Alakija, a Nigerian woman, in 1965, and they had a daughter, Ama,
and a son, Kojo. He returned to the U.S. in 1971 and earned a master’s degree at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. The couple
separated during the 1970s and, while working in Geneva, Annan met his second
wife, Swedish lawyer Nane Laguerre. They married in 1984.
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TASK 3: A WORKAHOLIC ECONOMY

For the first century or so of the industrial revolution, increased productivity led to
decreases in working hours. Employees who had been putting in 12-hour days, six days a
week, found their time on the job shrinking to 10 hours daily, then finally to eight hours, five
days a week. Only a generation ago social planners worried about what people would do
with all this new-found free time. In the US, at least it seems they need not have bothered.

Although the output per hour of work has more than doubled since 1945, leisure seems
reserved largely for the unemployed and underemployed. Those who work full-time spend
as much time on the job as they did at the end of World War II. In fact, working hours have
increased noticeably since 1970 — perhaps because real wages have stagnated since that
year. Bookstores now abound with manuals describing how to manage time and cope with
stress.

There are several reasons for lost leisure. Since 1979, companies have responded to
improvements in the business climate by having employees work overtime rather than by
hiring extra personnel, says economist Juliet B. Schor of Harvard University. Indeed, the
current economic recovery has gained a certain amount of notoriety for its “jobless” nature:
increased production has been almost entirely decoupled from employment. Some firms are
even downsizing as their profits climb. “All things being equal, we'd be better off spreading
around the work," observes labor economist Ronald G. Ehrenberg of Cornell University.

Yet a host of factors pushes employers to hire fewer workers for more hours and at the
same time compels workers to spend more time on the job. Most of those incentives involve
what Ehrenberg calls the structure of compensation: quirks in the way salaries and benefits
are organized that make it more profitable to ask 40 employees to labor an extra hour each
than to hire one more worker to do the same 40-hour job.

Professional and managerial employees supply the most obvious lesson along these lines.
Once people are on salary, their cost to a firm is the same whether they spend 35 hours a
week in the office or 70. Diminishing returns may eventually set in as overworked employees
lose efficiency or leave for more arable pastures. But in the short run, the employer’s
incentive is clear. Even hourly employees receive benefits - such as pension contributions
and medical insurance - that are not tied to the number of hours they work. Therefore, it is
more profitable for employers to work their existing employees harder.

For all that employees complain about long hours, they too have reasons not to trade money
for leisure. “People who work reduced hours pay a huge penalty in career terms,” Schor
maintains. “It's taken as a negative signal’ about their commitment to the firm.’ [Lotte]
Bailyn [of Massachusetts Institute of Technology] adds that many corporate managers find it
74
difficult to measure the contribution of their underlings to a firm’s well-being, so they use
the number of hours worked as a proxy for output. “Employees know this,” she says, and
they adjust their behavior accordingly.

“Although the image of the good worker is the one whose life belongs to the company,”
Bailyn says, “it doesn't fit the facts.’ She cites both quantitative and qualitative studies that
show increased productivity for part-time workers: they make better use of the time they
have and they are less likely to succumb to fatigue in stressful jobs. Companies that employ
more workers for less time also gain from the resulting redundancy, she asserts. "The extra
people can cover the contingencies that you know are going to happen, such as when crises
take people away from the workplace." Positive experiences with reduced hours have begun
to change the more-is-better culture at some companies, Schor reports. Larger firms, in
particular, appear to be more willing to experiment with flexible working arrangements...

It may take even more than changes in the financial and cultural structures of employment
for workers successfully to trade increased productivity and money for leisure time, Schor
contends. She says the U.S. market for goods has become skewed by the assumption of full-
time, two-career households. Automobile makers no longer manufacture cheap models, and
developers do not build the tiny bungalows that served the first postwar generation of home
buyers. Not even the humblest household object is made without a microprocessor. As
Schor notes, the situation is a curious inversion of the “appropriate technology” vision that
designers have had for developing countries: U.S. goods are appropriate only for high
incomes and long hours. --- Paul Walluh.

TASK 4: OBAMA’S SPEECH

… This brings me to the second area where we can work together, and that is
ensuring our mutual security. With this visit, we have agreed to elevate our security
cooperation and build more trust between our men and women in uniform. We'll
continue to offer training and equipment to your Coast Guard to enhance Vietnam's
maritime capabilities. We will partner to deliver humanitarian aid in times of
disaster. With the announcement I made yesterday to fully lift the ban on defense
sales, Vietnam will have greater access to the military equipment you need to ensure
your security. And the United States is demonstrating our commitment to fully
normalize our relationship with Vietnam.
More broadly, the 20th century has taught all of us -- including the United States and
Vietnam -- that the international order upon which our mutual security depends is
rooted in certain rules and norms. Nations are sovereign, and no matter how large or
small a nation may be, its sovereignty should be respected, and its territory should
not be violated. Big nations should not bully smaller ones. Disputes should be
75
resolved peacefully. And regional institutions, like ASEAN and the East Asia Summit,
should continue to be strengthened. That's what I believe. That's what the United
States believes. That's the kind of partnership America offers this region. I look
forward to advancing this spirit of respect and reconciliation later this year when I
become the first U.S. President to visit Laos.
In the South China Sea, the United States is not a claimant in current disputes. But we
will stand with partners in upholding core principles, like freedom of navigation and
overflight, and lawful commerce that is not impeded, and the peaceful resolution of
disputes, through legal means, in accordance with international law. As we go
forward, the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever
international law allows, and we will support the right of all countries to do the same.
Even as we cooperate more closely in the areas I’ve described, our partnership
includes a third element -- addressing areas where our governments disagree,
including on human rights. I say this not to single out Vietnam. No nation is perfect.
Two centuries on, the United States is still striving to live up to our founding ideals.
We still deal with our shortcomings -- too much money in our politics, and rising
economic inequality, racial bias in our criminal justice system, women still not being
paid as much as men doing the same job. We still have problems. And we're not
immune from criticism, I promise you. I hear it every day. But that scrutiny, that
open debate, confronting our imperfections, and allowing everybody to have their say
has helped us grow stronger and more prosperous and more just.
I’ve said this before -- the United States does not seek to impose our form of
government on Vietnam. The rights I speak of I believe are not American values; I
think they're universal values written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
They're written into the Vietnamese constitution, which states that “citizens have the
right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and have the right of access to
information, the right to assembly, the right to association, and the right to
demonstrate.” That’s in the Vietnamese constitution. So really, this is an issue about
all of us, each country, trying to consistently apply these principles, making sure that
we -- those of us in government -- are being true to these ideals…

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TASK 5:

77
78
TASK6:

79
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TEXT ANALYSIS
Text 1: Survey the text and answer the questions according to the criteria given below and
produce an appropriate translation into Vietnamese.
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
The recognition of the significance of the concept of cultural landscapes is now widely
accepted around the world in cultural heritage conservation practice. Reflecting this world-
wide trend, UNESCO’s Operation Guidelines for Word Heritage listing were amended in
1993 to include cultural landscape. There is often the tendency to assume that only rural areas
are included in the concept of cultural landscapes. But it does really embrace urban areas. In
the context the AWPNUC Symposium in Hanoi the cultural landscape construct is
particularly germane because it proposes a contextual view of human settings where the
material cultural and human values are inextricably associated.
The concept of cultural landscapes demands that human settings, urban and rural, are seen
as composite entities where inter-relationships between people, events, and place exist
through historic periods. Hence cultural landscapes have continuity because they are imprint
of human history. They are the results of human intervention and present of a record of human
activity and human values. They reflect our, and our predecessors’, relationships with our
surrounds. They are a record of who we are and of our experiences, customs, and ideologies.
Thus, cultural landscapes are a social construct. They are not what we see, but a way of seeing
where we interpret what we see through cultural conditioning.
Given that people value their past, both its physical manifestations and meanings inherent
in places which we are bound up in the world ‘heritage’, there are two fundamental canons
which apply to the cultural landscape idea:
1. The first canon is the existence of layers in the landscape which can be read and
their meaning interpreted. It is the layers which reflect human values and significance.
2. The second, and following from 1, is that heritage is not a matter of separate dots on
a map where individual sites or buildings are separately listed. The cultural landscape idea
means that everything is interconnected because of the composite nature of cultural
landscapes. People find attachment, and therefore heritage values, in these interconnections.
There is a connection here with one of the focuses of the Symposium, that is the
comprehensive value in the heritage listing of Urban Conservation Areas where the
transaction between urban patterns, specific components and cultural traditions are integrated
so that conservation of social value is awarded due recognition. It also embraces that fact that
there are two categories of cultural landscape. These are:
(i) The icons or special places, and
(ii) Ordinary, everyday places.
It is important to remember that the latter are just as important as the former when it
comes to deciphering heritage significance. Conservation is not about protecting only the
Great White House.
81
A. Read through the text above and answer the following questions.
1. What is the topic?
2. What is the main idea?
3. Where is the text probably taken from?
4. What is the writer’s main purpose?
5. Who is the intended reader?
6. In what style is it written?

Text 2: Survey the text and answer the questions according to the criteria given below and
produce an appropriate translation into Vietnamese.
Extreme Weather
Global Warming Is a Cause of This Year’s Extreme Weather
By Sharon Begley
It's almost a point of pride with climatologists. Whenever someplace is hit with a heat
wave, drought, killer storm or other extreme weather, scientists trip over themselves to
absolve global warming. No particular weather event, goes the mantra, can be blamed on
something so general. Extreme weather occurred before humans began loading up the
atmosphere with heat-trapping greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. So, this storm or that
heat wave could be the result of the same natural forces that prevailed 100 years ago—random
movements of air masses, unlucky confluences of high- and low-pressure systems—rather
than global warming.
Global warming has left its clearest fingerprint on heat waves. Since the record scorcher of
1998, the average annual temperatures in the United States in six of the past 10 years have
been among the hottest 10 percent on record. Climatologists predict that days so hot they now
arrive only once every 20 years will, by midcentury, hit the continental United States once
every three years. Scientists also discern a greenhouse fingerprint in downpours, which in the
continental United States have increased 20 percent over the past century.
Hurricanes have become more powerful due to global warming. For every rise of 1 degree
Celsius (most of it man-made) in surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic, rainfall from a
tropical storm increases 6 to 18 percent and wind speeds of the strongest hurricanes increase
by up to 8 percent. As the new report acknowledged, "the strongest storms are becoming even
stronger." Atmospheric conditions that bring severe thunderstorms (with hail two inches
across and wind gusts of at least 70 miles an hour) and tornadoes with a force of F2 or greater
have been on the rise since the 1970s, occurring about 8 percent more often every decade. Get
used to it, and don't blame Mother Nature.
Read the text above carefully and analyze the text according to the following criteria:
1. Title: 2. Author:
3. Theme / topic: 4. Audience:
5. Setting: 6. Purpose:
7. Text-type: 8. Level of language:
9. Source: 10. Translate the text into Vietnamese
82
Text 3: Survey the text and answer the questions according to the criteria given below:
Deforestation
Population growth is one factor in rainforest destruction. However, it is a myth to
assume that the expansion of subsistence agriculture to feed more mouths is the main factor.
The majority of deforestation in Latin America, South-east Asia and the Pacific is caused by
clearing land to grow cash crops for export and by commercial logging operations, and not by
‘shifting’ cultivators or landless peasants. Each year commercial logging eliminates 45000
square kilometers of forest, much of the timber being exported to the United States and Japan.
No clearer connection between deforestation and the demands of affluent societies can
be found than in Central America and Brazil, where tropical forest has been converted to
grazing land because cattle raising offers export earnings that help with external debt
payments. These heavy payments, which affect the poor the most, have arisen largely from
external loans taken out to finance the purchase of luxury items and arms by military and
governing elite. The establishment of large ranch-style cattle grazing properties is the
principal reason for the elimination of 20000 square kilometers of rainforest each year in
Central or South America. The cleared land is mainly devoted to the export of beef for the
fast-food industries in North America, Europe and Japan- the aptly named ‘hamburger
connection’.
1. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?
……………………………………………………………………………………….………
2. What is the text about?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Suggest the Vietnamese meaning of the English words (phrases):
- Subsistence agriculture: ………………………………………………………………….
- Cash crops: ……………………………………………………………………………….
- Commercial logging operations: …………………………………………………………
- Shifting cultivators: ………………………………………………………………………
- Landless peasants: ………………………………………………………………………...
- Affluent society: …………………………………………………………………………
- External debt payment: …………………………………………………………………...
- Military and governing elites: ……………………………………………………………
4. Provide the equivalent Vietnamese translation version of the above text.

83
Appendix 1: COMMON PATTERNS FOR TRANSLATION PRACTICE
Pattern 1 Subject + be + adjective + to + verb …
It + be + adjective + to + verb…
1. Now it is possible to fly around the world in comfort and safety.
2. It was pleasant to be out on a lake on a warm summer evening.

Pattern 2 It + be + adjective + for + object + to + verb

1. It will be better for you to go back with us.

2. It is important for every student to have an English dictionary.

Pattern 3 Subject + be + too + adjective + to + verb.

1. You’re too young to go on a trip without your parents.

2. There were also several thick coats, but they were too hot to wear.

Pattern 4 Subject + be + too + ADV/ADJ + for + Object + to + Verb

1. The sack was too heavy for him to lift.

2. The print of that newspaper is too small for me to read.

Pattern 5 It + be + ADJ + that-clause

1. It is a fact that Eskimos have a hard life.

2. It is true that the manufacturing of automobiles is a major industry.

Pattern 6 It + be + ….
It + verb + that ….

1. It was after nine o’clock before it started to get dark.

2. How far is it from the shore of the Atlantic to the mountain?

Pattern 7 It + takes + time + to + Verb …

It + takes + object + time + to +Verb …
1. It takes a long time and a lot of money to develop a modern farm.
2. It took him over two months to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

84
Pattern 8 It was not until ... that ...

1. But it was not until the fourth year that I could allow myself the smallest grain to
eat.
2. It was not until the petrol engine was invented that this difficulty could be
overcome.
Pattern 9 (It was) not long before…
Before long....
1. Before long they were big enough to be planted in the field.
2. It was some years before I could make the parrot speak.

Pattern 10 Verb (negative) + Object (affirmative)

1. He won’t pay attention to anybody.

2. He lived alone and didn’t talk to anybody.
Pattern 11 …. Verb (affirmative) + Object (negative) ….
Subject (negative) + Verb (affirmative)
1. No human beings could possibly copy down all of these facts.
2. There will be no more malaria or yellow fever.
Notes: Inversion after adverbials
1. Little did she imagine that within a year her entire life would have changed.
2. Rarely can there have been a more dramatic start to an international football
match.
Pattern 12 …... No + Comparative + than…...
1. He has needed no more than routine servicing at my own local garage.
2. It is estimated that no fewer than 4000 people were present at the demonstration.
Pattern 13 ….so + adj/adv + that
…. such + Noun + that
1. It kept off the sun so well that I could walk out in the hottest weather.
2. There was such a crowd in the lobby that they could hardly walk around.

85
Pattern 14 ….so that ……

1. I could easily keep enough the island in sight so that I would not lose my way.
2. The man at the window repeated the name so that he could be sure he had it right.
Pattern 15 ....... whether ... or.............
1. I did not know whether I was on the continent or on the island.
2. I thought for a while about this what kind of dwelling to make, whether it should
be a cave in the earth or a tent upon the ground.
Pattern 16 ...... whether .......... or not ...........
........ if .................... or not ...........
1. I don't know whether I can bear this pain in my arm or not.
2. The farmers will have to irrigate whether it rains or not
Pattern 17 have + Object (agent) + bare infinitive
get + Object (agent) + full infinitive + direct Object
1. I have him clean the floor.
2. I had the boy repair my bicycle.
Pattern 18 .... have + (pro) noun + Past participle
Get + Object + Past Participle

1. You ought to have that coat cleaned and pressed

2. The staff would like to get him appointed to a full- time post.
Pattern 19 Subject + be +Cardinal number + Unit of measurement +Adjective.

1. It is 360 miles long.

2. The suspension span of this bridge is 4,200 feet long between the towers.
Pattern 20 ...... call + Direct object + Noun (pronoun)
(Objective Complement)
1. We now call this strait the Strait of Magellan
2. The most modern road is often called a superhighway
Pattern 21 ............. be + past participle +by .............
1. He was asked to find a way to control the process of fermentation.
2. Pasteur was convinced that the disease was caused by bacteria that attacked the central
nervous system
86
Pattern 22 the same+ noun of comparison+ as ...
the same + noun of comparison.
1. Mike is the same height as his father
2. Mike and his father are the same height.
Pattern 23 look / be + like + Object.
look / be + alike.
1. Mike looks like his father.
3. He is walking like a drunkard.
Pattern 24 be + different + from + object.
1. Paul is different from his brother.
2. Paul and his brother are different.
Pattern 25 He came in order to buy some bread.
He came for some bread.
He came in order that he could buy some bread.
1. He came for some bread.
2. He came in order to get the books.
Pattern 26 Subject + wish + that + noun clause
1. He wishes that he had passed the examination last year.
2. She wishes that she would go to the moon by the end of this year.
Pattern 27 Subject + ALSO + main verb + ........
Subject + verb + (object) + TOO.
1. In America the explorers found new foods, too
2. They also found corn, peanuts and tomatoes
Pattern 28 Short answers to Negative questions
1. Didn't you go to the movie last night? a) + No, I didn't. / b) + Yes. I did.
1. Won't you do that? a) +No. I won’t / b) + Yes. I will.
Pattern 29 He can go six kilometers an hour
1. A rocket must go at least 2,500 miles an hour
2. This ship is falling at over 5,000 miles an hour

87
Pattern 30 … make + object + adjective…
1. If you type your manuscript, it will make it easier for printers to read.
2. Try and make it as simple as you can, their standard of English is very slow.
Pattern 31 …. be + infinitive….
1. Everything suggests that he is to become the next Prime Minister.
2. The idea of the scheme is to relieve traffic congestion in the center of the town.
Pattern 32 ………. Noun + infinitive………
1. There is no one here who has the authority to take such decision.
2. I will make you an offer, but you are under no obligation to accept it.
Pattern 33 ……. N + adv + adj……
1. I soon realized that it was an area unusually rich in mineral deposits.
2. He wearily returned home at the end of a day depressingly similar to every other day.
Pattern 34 ……. V+ O + infinitive……
1. I had always supposed him to be an accountant, or something of that sort.
2. Most critics reckoned her to be the outstanding actress of her generation.
Pattern 35 Phrases in apposition
1. Bell, a Scotsman, was born in Edinburgh in 1847.
2. The guest speaker will be Jason Broad, the well-known detective story writer.

88
APPENDIX 2
PHIÊN DỊCH / CHUYỂN ÂM
TÊN QUỐC GIA, ĐỊA DANH SANG TIẾNG VIỆT
Trung Quốc ngày xưa không thu nhập chữ cái La-tin. Họ nghe người phương Tây nói tên,
thành phố, địa danh .... và họ dùng từ phát âm gần giống trong chữ của TQ để viết ra. Ví dụ:
- Thành phố Washington của Mỹ đọc là Oa-sin-tơn thì tiếng TQ cũng đọc như vậy nhưng
viết là 华盛顿 (Hwa Shing Ton). Hwa Shing Ton thật ra là 1 từ ko có nghĩa, giống như Việt Nam
viết là Oa-sin-tơn. Nhưng người Việt ngày xưa lại nhìn qua chữ 华盛顿 để gọi tên Washington
chứ ko nhìn thẳng vào chữ Washington. Vì vậy, chúng ta lại dịch luôn chữ 华盛顿 để ra Hoa
Thịnh Đốn.
- Tương tự: Singapore- đọc theo TQ là xin-jia-bo =>viết thành 新加坡 => người Việt dịch
thành: Tân Gia Ba.
- New Zealand: New là mới tức là Tân (xin) Zealand : xi lan => New Zealand => xin-xi-
lan: Tân Tây Lan
- Tokyo: người Nhật có sử dụng tiếng Trung Quốc và tên Tokyo trong tiếng Nhật cũng viết
giống như TQ là 东京 (Đông Kinh)
- Italy: TQ đọc là Y-ta-li' viết ra: 意 大 利 => Việt Nam dịch ra Ý Đại Lợi.
 Philippine ↔ Phi Luật Tân
 Taiwan ↔ Đài Loan
 Taipei ↔ Đài Bắc
 Washington ↔ Hoa Thịnh Đốn
 New Zealand ↔ Tân Tây Lan
 Australia ↔ Nam Dương
 Hungary ↔ Hung Gia Lợi
 Paris ↔ Ba Lê
 Beijing ↔ Bắc Kinh
 Shanghai ↔ Thượng Hải
 Tokyo ↔ Đông Kinh
 Afghanistan ↔ A Phú Hãn
 Argentina ↔ Á Căn Đình
 Atlanta ↔ Á Lan Đại
 Ireland ↔ Ái Nhĩ Lan
 Macau ↔ Áo Môn
 England ↔ Anh Cát Lợi
 Austria ↔ Áo Đại Lợi (nước Áo)
 Poland ↔ Ba Lan
 Brazil ↔ Ba Tây
 Persia ↔ Ba Tư
 Berlin ↔ Bá Linh
 Belarus ↔ Bạch Nga
 Bulgaria ↔ Bảo Gia Lợi
 Iceland ↔ Băng Đảo
 Benedict ↔ Biển Đức
 Pyongyang ↔ Bình Nhưỡng
89
 Portugal ↔ Bồ Đào Nha
 Kremlin ↔ Cẩm Linh
 Korea ↔ Cao Ly
 Cambodia ↔ Cao Mên/Miên
 Chicago ↔ Chi Gia Kha
 Chanla ↔ Chân Lạp
 Champa ↔ Chiêm Thành
 Cuba ↔ Cổ Ba/Khâu Bá/Quy Ba
 San Francisco ↔ Cựu Kim Sơn
 Israel ↔ Do Thái
 Dominique ↔ Đa Minh
 Denmark ↔ Đan Mạch
 Taichung ↔ Đài Trung
 Beethoven (nhạc sỹ) ↔ Bối Ða Phần
 Gandhi ↔ Cam Ðịa
 David ↔ Đại Vệ
 Dalai Lama ↔ Đạt Lai Lạt Ma Đạt
 Darwin ↔ Nhĩ Văn
 Duncan ↔ Đăng Khánh
 Mediterranean Sea ↔ Địa Trung Hải
 Indochina ↔ Đông Dương
 Bangladesh ↔ Đông Hồi
 Romania ↔ Lỗ Mã Ni
 Canada ↔ Gia Nã Đại
 Francais/France ↔ Pháp Lan Tây/Phú Lang Sa (nước Pháp)
 Luxembourg ↔ Lục Xâm Bảo
 Holland ↔ Hà Lan/Hòa Lan
 Hawaii ↔ Hạ Uy Di
 Seoul ↔ Hán Thành (hay Thủ Nhĩ)
 Hollywood ↔ Hoa Lệ Ước/Hồ Ly Vọng
 Yokohama ↔ Hoành Tân
 Monaco ↔ Hoành Quốc
 Hu Jintao ↔ Hồ Cẩm Đào
 Hồi Quốc ↔ Oman
 Himalaya ↔ Hy Mã Lạp Sơn
 Hongkong ↔ Hương Cảng
 Hungary ↔ Hung Gia Lợi
 Aristotle ↔ A Lý Sĩ Ða Ðức
 Alexander the Great ↔ A Lịch Sơn Đại đế
 Alexander De Rhodes ↔ A Lịch Sơn Đắc Lộ
 Kim Il-sung ↔ Kim Nhật Thành
 Kim Jong-Il ↔ Kim Chính Nhật
 Michael Jackson ↔ Mạnh Khắc Lạc Khắc Tốn
90
 Columbus ↔ Kha Luân Bố
 Coca Cola =P~ ↔ Khả Khẩu Khả Lạc
 Los Angeles ↔ La Tỉnh
 Lenin ↔ Lê Nin
 Robinson ↔ Lỗ Bình Sơn
 Lư Thoa ↔ Jean Jacques Rousseau
 Mã Lai Á ↔ Malaysia
 Mã Lý Lệ Mộng Lỗ ↔ Marilyn Monroe
 Mã Khắc Tư ↔ Karl Marx
 Mạc Tư Khoa ↔ Moscow/Moskva
 Mạnh Ðức Tư Cưu ↔ Montesquieu (Tam Quyền Phân Lập)
 Mạnh Mãi ↔ Bombay
 Mao Trạch Đông ↔ Mao Zedong
 Mễ Tây Cơ ↔ Mexico
 Miến Điện ↔ Myanmar
 Minh Trị ↔ Meiji
 Mông Cổ ↔ Mongolia
 Mỹ Lệ ↔ Mary/Maria
 Na Uy ↔ Norway
 Nã Phá Luân ↔ Napoleon
 Nam Tư ↔ Yugoslavia
 Nam Vang ↔ Phnom Penh (thủ đô Campuchia)
 Nga La Tư ↔ Russia
 Nhật Bản/Nhựt Bổn ↔ Japan/Japon
 Phi Cát ↔ Picasso (họa sỹ)
 Phi Luật Tân ↔ Philippine
 Phú Sỹ ↔ Fuji
 Tái Ma Nhĩ ↔ Tasmania
 Tân Đức Lợi ↔ New Delhi
 Tân Gia Ba/Bảo ↔ Singapore
 Tân Tây Lan ↔ New Zealand
 Tây Bá Lợi Á ↔ Siberia
 Tây Ban Nha ↔ Espana/Spain
 Tây Hồi ↔ Pakistan
 Tây Nhã Ðồ ↔ Seattle
 Tây Tạng ↔ Tibet
 Thánh Hà Tây ↔ San Jose
 Thượng Hải ↔ Shanghai
 Tích Lan ↔ Sri Lanka
 Tiệp Khắc ↔ Czechoslovakia
 Tô Cách Lan ↔ Scotland
 Trân Châu Cảng ↔ Pearl Harbor
 Triều Tiên ↔ Chosun
91
APPENDIX 3
CODES OF ETHICS
Interpreter/Transliterator shall keep all assignment-related information strictly
confidential.

Interpreters must keep all information confidential. If the persons who are deaf and hearing did
not require facilitation of communication, the interpreter would not be there at all. Interpreters
may share information regarding the students’ Individual Education Plan (IEP) with members of
the educational team only.

There are some circumstances when confidential information may be divulged. Interpreters
should not discuss these situations with other interpreter, staff or students.

Interpreter/Transliterator shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content
spirit of the speaker, using language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they
serve.

An interpreter may not add or delete any of the message either for the persons who are deaf or
hearing. The interpreter must also show the feeling or intent of the speaker. They should not add
more facial grammar than necessary, or not use any facial expression. Interpreters must be neutral
and not show their personal feelings.

Interpreter/Transliterator shall not counsel, advise or interpret personal opinions.

Interpreters may not give advice to the deaf or hearing persons during or after the assignment.
Remember that interpreters are not teachers, and are not always the expert in a situation just
because they can hear and/or sign. Interpreters should only facilitate communication. Interpreters
are only in a situation because of communication needs and requirements.

Interpreter/Transliterator shall accept assignments using direction with regard to skill,

setting and the consumer involved.

Interpreters should not accept assignments if they do not have the qualifications and/or
certification for the job.

Interpreter/Transliterator shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation

in workshops, professional meetings, interaction with professional colleagues and reading of
current literature in the field.

Interpreters should attend workshops to help improve their skills. They should join organizations
that will help them learn to become more professional and keep up with new developments in the
field of interpreting.

Interpreter/Transliterator shall strive to maintain high professional standards in

compliance with the Standards of Ethical Behavior.

Interpreters should always strive to be professional and follow the Code of Ethics. Interpreters
should functional as a member of the school faculty and should conduct their actions accordingly.

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APPENDIX 4

BẢNG HƯỚNG DẪN DỊCH QUỐC HIỆU, TÊN CÁC CƠ QUAN, ĐƠN VỊ
VÀ CHỨC DANH LÃNH ĐẠO, CÁN BỘ CÔNG CHỨC TRONG HỆ THỐNG HÀNH CHÍNH
NHÀ NƯỚC SANG TIẾNG ANH ĐỂ GIAO DỊCH ĐỐI NGOẠI /THE GUIDE FOR ENGLISH
TRANSLATION OF THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE COUNTRY, NAMES OF AGENCIES
AND UNITS AND TITILES OF LEADERS, CADRES AND CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM FOR USE IN FOREIGN RELATIONS

(Ban hành kèm theo Thông tư số: 03/2009/TT-BNG ngày 09 tháng 7 năm 2009/Issued with
Circular No.03/2009/II-BNG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated July 9, 2009)

1. Quốc hiệu, chức danh Chủ tịch nước, Phó Chủ tịch nước
Tên tiếng Việt Tên tiếng Anh Viết tắt (nếu
có)

Nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Socialist Republic of Viet Nam SRV
Nam

Chủ tịch nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ President of the Socialist Republic of
nghĩa Việt Nam Viet Nam

Phó Chủ tịch nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ Vice President of the Socialist
nghĩa Việt Nam Republic of Viet Nam
2. Tên của Chính phủ, các Bộ, cơ quan ngang bộ
Chính phủ nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ Government of the Socialist Republic of GOV
nghĩa Việt Nam Viet Nam

Bộ Quốc phòng Ministry of National Defense MND

Bộ Công an Ministry of Public Security MPS

Bộ Ngoại giao Ministry of Foreign Affairs MOFA

Bộ Tư pháp Ministry of Justice MOJ

Bộ Tài chính Ministry of Finance MOF

Bộ Công Thương Ministry of Industry and Trade MOIT

Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội Ministry of Labor, War invalids and MOLISA
Social Affairs

Bộ Giao thông vận tải Ministry of Transport MOT

Bộ Xây dựng Ministry of Construction MOC

93
Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông Ministry of Information and MIC
Communications

Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo Ministry of Education and Training MOET

Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn Ministry of Agriculture and Rural MARD
Development

Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư Ministry of Planning and Investment MPI

Bộ Nội vụ Ministry of Home Affairs MOHA

Bộ Y tế Ministry of Health MOH

Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ Ministry of Science and Technology MOST

Bộ Văn hóa, Thể thao và Du lịch Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism MOCST

Bộ Tài nguyên và Môi trường Ministry of Natural Resources and MONRE

Environment

Thanh tra Chính phủ Government Inspectorate GI

Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam The State Bank of Viet Nam SBV

Ủy ban Dân tộc Committee for Ethnic Affairs CEMA

Văn phòng Chính phủ Office of the Government GO

3. Tên của các Cơ quan thuộc Chính phủ
Ban Quản lý Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management HCMM
Minh

Bảo hiểm xã hội Việt Nam Viet Nam Social Security VSI

Thông tấn xã Việt Nam Viet Nam News Agency VNA

Đài Tiếng nói Việt Nam Voice of Viet Nam VOV

Đài Truyền hình Việt Nam Viet Nam Television VTV

Học viện Chính trị - Hành chính Quốc Ho Chi Minh National Academy of HCMA
gia Hồ Chí Minh Politics and Public Administration

Viện Khoa học và Công nghệ Việt Nam Viet Nam Academy of Science and VAST
Technology

Viện Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences VASS

94
4. Chức danh Thủ tướng, Phó Thủ tướng Chính phủ, các Bộ trưởng, Thủ trưởng cơ
quan ngang bộ
Thủ tướng Chính phủ nước Cộng hòa xã hội Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet
chủ nghĩa Việt Nam Nam

Phó Thủ tướng Thường trực Permanent Deputy Prime Minister

Phó Thủ tướng Deputy Prime Minister

Bộ trưởng Bộ Quốc phòng Minister of National Defense

Bộ trưởng Bộ Công an Minister of Public Security

Bộ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao Minister of Foreign Affairs

Bộ trưởng Bộ Tư pháp Minister of Justice

Bộ trưởng Bộ Tài chính Minister of Finance

Bộ trưởng Bộ Công Thương Minister of Industry and Trade

Bộ trưởng Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social
hội Affairs

Bộ trưởng Bộ Giao thông vận tải Minister of Transport

Bộ trưởng Bộ Xây dựng Minister of Construction

Bộ trưởng Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông Minister of Information and Communications

Bộ trưởng Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo Minister of Education and Training

Bộ trưởng Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
thôn

Bộ trưởng Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư Minister of Planning and Investment

Bộ trưởng Bộ Nội vụ Minister of Home Affairs

Bộ trưởng Bộ Y tế Minister of Health

Bộ trưởng Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ Minister of Science and Technology

Bộ trưởng Bộ Văn hóa, Thể thao và Du lịch Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Bộ trưởng Bộ Tài nguyên và Môi trường Minister of Natural Resources and

Environment

Tổng Thanh tra Chính phủ Inspector-General

95
Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam

Bộ trưởng, Chủ nhiệm Ủy ban Dân tộc Minister, Chairman/Chairwoman of the

Committee for Ethnic Affairs

Bộ trưởng, Chủ nhiệm Văn phòng Chính phủ Minister, Chairman/Chairwoman of the Office
of the Government
5. Văn phòng Chủ tịch nước và chức danh Lãnh đạo Văn phòng
Văn phòng Chủ tịch nước Office of the President

Chủ nhiệm Văn phòng Chủ tịch nước Chairman/Chairwoman of the Office of the
President

Phó Chủ nhiệm Văn phòng Chủ tịch nước Vice Chairman/Chairwoman of the Office of
the President

Trợ lý Chủ tịch nước Assistant to the President

6. Tên chung của các đơn vị thuộc Bộ, cơ quan ngang bộ
Văn phòng Bộ Ministry Office

Thanh tra Bộ Ministry Inspectorate

Tổng cục Directorate

Ủy ban Committee/Commission

Cục Department/Authority/Agency

Vụ Department

Học viện Academy

Viện Institute

Trung tâm Centre

Ban Board

Phòng Division

Vụ Tổ chức Cán bộ Department of Personnel and Organization

Vụ Pháp chế Department of Legal Affairs

Vụ Hợp tác quốc tế Department of International Cooperation

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7. Chức danh từ cấp Thứ trưởng và tương đương đến Chuyên viên các Bộ, cơ quan
ngang Bộ.
Thứ trưởng Thường trực Permanent Deputy Minister

Thứ trưởng Deputy Minister

Tổng Cục trưởng Director General

Phó Tổng Cục trưởng Deputy Director General

Phó Chủ nhiệm Thường trực Permanent Vice Chairman/Chairwoman

Phó Chủ nhiệm Vice Chairman/Chairwoman

Trợ lý Bộ trưởng Assistant Minister

Chủ nhiệm Ủy ban Chairman/Chairwoman of Committee

Phó Chủ nhiệm Ủy ban Vice Chairman/Chairwoman of Committee

Chánh Văn phòng Bộ Chief of the Ministry Office

Phó Chánh Văn phòng Bộ Deputy Chief of the Ministry Office

Cục trưởng Director General

Phó Cục trưởng Deputy Director General

Vụ trưởng Director General

Phó Vụ trưởng Deputy Director General

Giám đốc Học viện President of Academy

Phó Giám đốc Học viện Vice President of Academy

Viện trưởng Director of Institute

Phó Viện trưởng Deputy Director of Institute

Giám đốc Trung tâm Director of Centre

Phó giám đốc Trung tâm Deputy Director of Centre

Trưởng phòng Head of Division

Phó trưởng phòng Deputy Head of Division

Chuyên viên cao cấp Senior Official

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Chuyên viên chính Principal Official

Chuyên viên Official

Thanh tra viên cao cấp Senior Inspector

Thanh tra viên chính Principal Inspector

Thanh tra viên Inspector

8. Chức danh của Lãnh đạo các Cơ quan thuộc Chính phủ
Trưởng ban Quản lý Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Director of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Minh Management

Phó Trưởng ban Quản lý Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Minh Management

Tổng Giám đốc Bảo hiểm xã hội Việt Nam General Director of Viet Nam Social Security

Phó Tổng Giám đốc Bảo hiểm xã hội Việt Nam Deputy General Director of Viet Nam Social
Security

Tổng Giám đốc Thông tấn xã Việt Nam General Director of Viet Nam News Agency

Phó Tổng Giám đốc Thông tấn xã Việt Nam Deputy General Director of Viet Nam News
Agency

Tổng Giám đốc Đài Tiếng nói Việt Nam General Director of Voice of Viet Nam

Phó Tổng Giám đốc Đài Tiếng nói Việt Nam Deputy General Director of Voice of Viet Nam

Tổng Giám đốc Đài Truyền hình Việt Nam General Director of Viet Nam Television

Phó Tổng Giám đốc Đài Truyền hình Việt Nam Deputy General Director of Viet Nam
Television

Giám đốc Học viện Chính trị - Hành chính President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy
Quốc gia Hồ Chí Minh of Politics and Public Administration

Phó Giám đốc Học viện Chính trị - Hành chính Vice President of Ho Chi Minh National
Quốc gia Hồ Chí Minh Academy of Politics and Public Administration

Chủ tịch Viện Khoa học và Công nghệ Việt President of Viet Nam Academy of Science and
Nam Technology

Phó Chủ tịch Viện Khoa học và Công nghệ Vice President of Viet Nam Academy of
Việt Nam Science and Technology

Chủ tịch Viện Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam President of Viet Nam Academy of Social

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Sciences

Phó Chủ tịch Viện Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam Vice President of Viet Nam Academy of Social
Sciences
9. Tên của các đơn vị và chức danh Lãnh đạo của các đơn vị cấp tổng cục (Tổng cục,
Ủy ban …)
Văn phòng Office

Chánh Văn phòng Chief of Office

Phó Chánh Văn phòng Deputy Chief of Office

Cục Department

Cục trưởng Director

Phó Cục trưởng Deputy Director

Vụ Department

Vụ trưởng Director

Phó Vụ trưởng Deputy Director

Ban Board

Trưởng Ban Head

Phó Trưởng Ban Deputy Head

Chi cục Branch

Chi cục trưởng Manager

Chi cục phó Deputy Manager

Phòng Division

Trưởng phòng Head of Division

Phó Trưởng phòng Deputy Head of Division

10. Tên thủ đô, thành phố, tỉnh, quận, huyện, xã và các đơn vị trực thuộc
Thủ đô Hà Nội Hà Nội Capital

Thành phố City

Ví dụ: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh Ví dụ: Ho Chi Minh City

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Tỉnh: Province
Ví dụ: Tỉnh Hà Nam Ví dụ: Ha Nam Province

Quận, Huyện: District

Ví dụ: Quận Ba Đình Ví dụ: Ba Dinh District

Xã: Commune
Ví dụ: Xã Quang Trung Ví dụ: Quang Trung Commune

Phường: Ward
Ví dụ: Phường Tràng Tiền Ví dụ: Trang Tien Ward

Thôn/Ấp/Bản/Phum Hamlet, Village

Ủy ban nhân dân (các cấp từ thành phố trực People’s Committee
thuộc Trung ương, tỉnh đến xã, phường)

Ví dụ: Ví dụ:
- UBND Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh - People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City
- UBND tỉnh Lạng Sơn - People’s Committee of Lang Son Province
- UBND huyện Đông Anh - People’s Committee of Dong Anh District
- UBND xã Mễ Trì - People’s Committee of Me Tri Commune
- UBND phường Tràng Tiền - People’s Committee of Trang Tien Ward

Văn phòng Office

Sở Department
Ví dụ: Sở Ngoại vụ Hà Nội Ví dụ: Ha Noi External Relations Department

Ban Board

Phòng (trực thuộc UBND) Committee Division

Thị xã, Thị trấn: Town

Ví dụ: Thị xã Sầm Sơn Ví dụ: Sam Son Town
11. Chức danh lãnh đạo, cán bộ công chức chính quyền địa phương các cấp
Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân Chairman/Chairwoman of the People’s
Committee

Ví dụ: Ví dụ:
- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân thành phố Hà Nội - Chairman/Chairwoman of Ha Noi People’s
Committee

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- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân thành phố Hồ Chí - Chairman/Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City
Minh People’s Committee

- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân tỉnh Hà Nam - Chairman/Chairwoman of Ha Nam People’s
Committee

- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân thành phố Huế - Chairman/Chairwoman of Hue People’s
Committee

- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân huyện Đông Anh - Chairman/Chairwoman of Dong Anh District
People’s Committee

- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân xã Đình Bảng - Chairman/Chairwoman of Dinh Bang
Commune People’s Committee

- Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân phường Tràng Tiền - Chairman/Chairwoman of Trang Tien Ward
People’s Committee

Phó Chủ tịch Thường trực Ủy ban nhân dân Permanent Vice Chairman/Chairwoman of the
People’s Committee

Phó Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhân dân Vice Chairman/Chairwoman of the People’s
Committee

Ủy viên Ủy ban nhân dân Member of the People’s Committee

Giám đốc Sở Director of Department

Phó Giám đốc Sở Deputy Director of Department

Chánh Văn phòng Chief of Office

Phó Chánh Văn phòng Deputy Chief of Office

Chánh Thanh tra Chief Inspector

Phó Chánh Thanh tra Deputy Chief Inspector

Trưởng phòng Head of Division

Phó Trưởng phòng Deputy Head of Division

Chuyên viên cao cấp Senior Official

Chuyên viên chính Principal Official

Chuyên viên Official

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