II – HOW TO TRANSLATE JOURNALISTIC TEXTS

Points to note in journalism translation process.

1. Tense: in accordance with the tense of the original text (except for headlines that we learned in
the previous lesson)

2. Style: The style of the translation depends on different types and genres of journalism. For
example, in academic, science or political journalistic texts, we need a formal and academic style
with a great deal of terminologies. On the other hand, other types of journalism in the social
field, especially news for young people, columns, etc. may cover a rather informal style; the
expression tends to be close, natural and idiomatic, even contain some slangs. Translators need
to keep the feelings of the original text so that the reader can feel the spirit of the article.

Ex1: Tiệm sách ấy nằm trên đường Phan Bội
Châu, lọt thỏm yên bình giữa các cửa hàng
thời trang, phòng tranh, quán cà phê, tiệm tạp
hóa... (“Kho báu” của ông lão Hội An –
Thesaigontime)
=> Suggested translation: The bookstore is
peacefully sandwiched between rows of
fashion shops, picture galleries, cafés, and
grocery stores on Phan Boi Chau Street.

This column text is written in plain language,

The phrasal verb “sandwich sth/sb between
with a bit of literary voice, so when translating
sth/sb” is usually used in passive form, it
the translator can translate in an idiomatic way
means to “fit somebody/something into a very
to show the characteristics of a column text.small space between two other things or
people, or between two times”
Ex2: Ông Minh cũng kiến nghị Thống đốc => Suggested translation: Minh in his letter
NHNN chỉ đạo hệ thống các ngân hàng thương also suggested that the governor urge
mại (NHTM) có ưu ái đối với Đà Nẵng vì ảnh commercial banks to provide special treatment
hưởng của dịch COVID-19 đợt hai. Cụ thể là for Danang-based enterprises which have
chỉ đạo các NHTM xem xét cân đối, giảm lãi suffered from the recurrence of Covid-19.
cho khoản dư nợ hiện hữu của các doanh Specifically, commercial banks should cut
nghiệp, cá nhân trên địa bàn Đà Nẵng khoảng lending rates for outstanding loans totaling
175.000 tỉ đồng, tùy theo khả năng tài chính VND175 trillion to concessional levels aligned
của các NHTM to banks’ financial capacity.

This is an article in the banking and finance

field for the informative purpose, so in the
translation, it is necessary to accurately
translate the terms of banking and finance.

3. As you know, journalistic texts are generally written for quick and immediate reading without
deep thinking, so the translation of these texts should be effortless for the reader. For that reason,
textual translation strategies all tend to simplify the reader’s task, and, of course, to reproduce the
source text in an idiomatic and natural style appropriate to the target language. Now I’m gonna
tell you some strategies often used for journalistic translation.

a. Omission: when we translate journals from V-E, some elements could be eliminated to avoid
redundancy because generally, English is more concise than Vietnamese, many words already
cover the meaning of the other word. Another reason is that if the information already appears in
the article, or it is assumed that everyone already knows about it, it may be omitted.

Ex: “Tình trạng suy dinh dưỡng kéo dài này là => Suggested translation: “This long lasting
lực cản cho việc phát triển thể chất và trí tuệ malnutrition prevents the intellectual and
cho trẻ em Việt Nam”. (Cẩm nang luyện dịch physical development of the Vietnamese
Việt-Anh, page.265) children.”

In this sentence, the phrase “suy dinh dưỡng”

is translated as “malnutrition” and the word
“malnutrition” already covers the meaning of
“tình trạng” as “condition”. So, we omit “tình
trạng”.

b. Addition: In contrast to the omission strategy, in some cases, translators could insert some
details regarding specific events including ‘time, place, the course of events, the characteristics
of objects and actors, the type and manner of action, etc. in the target text. Addition is also
applied when the translators add words / phrases to supplement and clarify the points. Event-
specific details as well as extensions of information are the major types of additions in
journalistic translation helping the readers have a clearer view of the content. The translator can
clarify the confusing issues in the original text, but absolutely cannot correct the original text.

Ex1: … Trao đổi thêm với PV, ông Minh cho
hay trong số 175.000 tỉ đồng thì có khoảng
56.000 tỉ đồng dư nợ bị ảnh hưởng do dịch
COVID-19 cả hai đợt… (“Đà Nẵng muốn
ngân hàng giảm lãi suất do ảnh hưởng
COVID-19” – báo Pháp luật)
=> Minh said: “The Danang branch director
estimated the total outstanding loan of
VND175 trillion, of which VND56 trillion has
been taken out by corporate clients adversely
affected by two waves of the pandemic.

In fact, the meaning of this phrase is “the

outstanding loan of businesses or corporations
affected by the COVID-19”, and the article is
talking about bank branch in Danang, so in the
translation, we should add more details.

Ex2: (TBKTSG Online) – Hồ Tonle Sap => Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia - which
(Campuchia) – nơi điều hòa nguồn nước vào regulates the water flow into the Mekong Delta
mùa khô cho vùng Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long – is running dry, foreshadowing harsh drought
(ĐBSCL) – đang thiếu hụt nước ở mức báo and salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta in
động. Thực trạng này dẫn đến dự báo trong the 2020-2021 dry season.
mùa khô 2020-2021, vùng ĐBSCL tiếp tục đối
mặt với đợt hạn, mặn gay gắt. (Thesaigontimes
17/10/2020)

In the article we have the word “mặn” but we

should understand it refers to “salinity
intrusion” (xâm nhập mặn)

c. Explanation: The cultural gaps between the source text and the target text could be brought
closer through the explanations provided by trans-editors by means of adding further details
within brackets or footnotes, or by transplanting cultural aspects into the translation itself. This
approach is often used when we translate proper names of certain events. Usually we can keep
the proper name, but we should explain the meaning of that name or the event itself.

If you notice, you will realize that we have practiced this strategy in the previous lesson. In some
travel or tourism news, we usually use this type to add more information or to clarify.

For example, “Nghinh Ông festival” can be translated as “Nghinh Ông festival (aka the Great
Whale)”.

“Ngũ Hành” -> “ Ngũ Hành (Five Basic Elements)”.

d. Substitution: The cultural element that is not well known for the target readers is replaced by
another functionally equivalent but better known element.

For example, in Hà Nội Mới newspaper, the title “Hỏi Trời!” is translated as “God knows”.

To the Vietnamese, the image of “Ông Trời” (the Sun) is usually used in daily life. When they
are in miserable or difficult situations, they say “Trời ơi!” or when they get lucks, they say “Nhờ
trời!” and so on. However, English people do not use the image of “Ông Trời”, but they use
“God” instead. So, the image of God is better for the English to understand.

translation should be
culturally acceptable for the
target audience. For this, the
translator has to be aware of the
social,
political, cultural evironment
and the mechanisms of the
media addressing the target
audience.
translation should be
culturally acceptable for the
target audience. For this, the
translator has to be aware of the
social,
political, cultural evironment
and the mechanisms of the
media addressing the target
audience.
translation should be
culturally acceptable for the
target audience. For this, the
translator has to be aware of the
social,
political, cultural evironment
and the mechanisms of the
media addressing the target
audience
However, translation should be
culturally acceptable for the
target audience.
In conclusion, as translation in general, journalistic translation should be culturally acceptable for
the target audience. For this, the translator must be aware of the social, political, cultural
environment and the mechanisms of the media addressing the target audience.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332511482_The_Journalistic_Discourse_Translating_S
trategies_From_English_into_Arabic