The study: An analysis of common errors on verb tenses and word choices in Vietnamese–English translation by the second-year English majors at Dong Thap University

The primary aim of the thesis is to find out the second-year English majors‟ common errors on verb tenses and word choices in translating Vietnamese texts into English. The study also aims at finding causes of these problems and then suggesting some possible strategies to overcome the problems. The targeted subjects of this thesis are mainly students; nevertheless, all people who are interested in translation work can consider it as a useful reference for improving their translation skills as well.
Nội dung trích xuất từ tài liệu:
The study: An analysis of common errors on verb tenses and word choices in Vietnamese–English translation by the second-year English majors at Dong Thap University 1 INTRODUCTION1. Motivation for the study It is popularly admitted that language is an indispensable part of our society‟scultural richness in particular and of the world‟s in general. However, in order tokeep ourselves on a par with the global standards in the today‟s world which iscalled international community, we need to have the understanding of English - aninternational language. English is considered as the most popular language popularlyused to exchange information and ideas among different nations and cultures today.Thanks to their English translated versions, countries are able to have mutualunderstanding and a sense of global citizenship in this multilingual world. It isconsidered as an effective means to learn how to appreciate different countries‟cultures, communities and people. By making comparisons, people are able to gaininsight into their own culture and society as well as mutually exchange countries‟beauty of cultural values. Moreover, English translation makes people understandeach other more in the process of diplomatic relations and economic cooperation andother fields in today‟s era when countries tend to integrate for the wholedevelopment. As a result, English translation has gradually become an indispensableand pressing tool which set the path for the global success of individuals,organizations, and even businesses in the modern time when society is moredeveloped and competition is relentless. Therefore, nowadays when Vietnambecomes one of the members of World Trade Organization, it is necessary forVietnamese students of English to have expert translation skill in order to meet thedemand of integration into the world economy and exchange of culture with othercountries. As a result, learning translation skill is undoubtedly an advantage forVietnamese students‟ ideal future jobs. However, in reality, Vietnamese-English translation skill is not easy forVietnamese students to master, so learners can not avoid mistakes in their translatingprsctice. Perhaps, because of some influence on the differences about cultures or 2their own limited language ability, etc, Vietnamese students of English in generalstill have mistakes on grammar, word choices and so on in translating Vietnamesetexts into English. The study Common mistakes in learning translation subject bythe second-year English majors at Dong Thap University (Duong Thi Thuy Hangand Nguyen Thi Cam Xuyen, 2010, p.32-p.33) found the followings: Lack of vocabulary causes many problems in translation process, frequently; they could not choose the right word in the context and tried or code it did not know. In the final text for BA English 2006 class, in the part of Vietnamese-to-English translation, there was a phrase: “Đơn xin thị thực”- and the large percentage of the students could not understand the meaning of the phrase. Therefore, they translated with a wrong meaning or skipped it. Many students did not know what “thị thực” means, and they thought that it was a thing related to food, so in many test papers, it is translated into “food” as in the following: “Đơn xin thị thực” The answer is “Visa Application Form”. The translated phrases by the students:  “Declaration going food”  “Enter-exit food”  “Form of beg for food”  “Giving foods form”… The mistakes in tenses as in: “Con bé dường như buồn ngủ” (this sentence was extracted from the first semester final test papers for BA English 2007 class). The key is “The little girl seems sleepy”. But many students translated into: “The little girl is seem sleepy”, they were confused with the verb “to be” and the verb “seem”. In these situations, foreigners will misunderstand, even be not able tounderstand the meaning of the passage when they read. 3 Located on Mekong Delta which is considered as the agriculture andaquaculture area, a special place in the strategy of economic and social development,and national security of the country, Dong Thap University has experienced nineyears of establishment and development. It has had great achievements in traininghuman resources for the Mekong Delta and the country. According to PhD. NguyenVan De, Rector of Dong Thap University, one of the main tasks of the school istraining and fostering teachers with professional skills at all educational levels andhighly qualified personnel in other areas in order to contribute to the development ofthe Mekong Delta and the country (Đại học Đồng Tháp: Hướng tới “Chất lượng -Hiệu quả - Uy tín - Chuyên nghiệp - Hiện đại”). ...