THEORY OF

TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, MA

DEPT. OF TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING
COURSE INTRODUCTION
• Aims:
+ providing theoretical backgrounds for translation and
interpreting.
+ creating opportunities for practice.
• Course design:
+ 2 credits (=15 lessons)
+ 6 sessions (3 for translation + 3 for interpreting)
+ 1 mid-term test
+ 1 pair-work assessment (translation and cross
evaluation)
References
• [1] Peter Newmark, A Textbook of Translation, Prentice
Hall International Language Teaching
• [2] Franz Pochhacker and Miriam Shlesinger (2002), The
Interpreting Studies Reader, Taylor and Francis Group
• [3] Franz Pochhacker (2004), Introducing Interpreting
studies, Routledge- Taylor and Francis Group
• [4] Jerey Munday (2001), Introducing translation studies:
Theories and applications, Taylor and Francis Group
• [5] http://www.translationdirectory.com
Forms of translating
translation
Written Written

dictation
translation

sight
translation

Oral Oral

interpreting
SESSION 1: TRANSLATION
1.1. WHAT IS TRANSLATION?
• …is the transfer of a message from a language to
another in the written form or by means of writing.

1. Would you mind giving me a lift on your way home

tonight. My car has just broken down?
2. She says that she will come tonight and I just can’t wait
to see her!
1.1. What is translation?
• …is the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one
language (the source language – SL) and the production
of an equivalent text in another language (the target
language - TL) that communicates the same message.

When the company first targeted Italian market, it used an

interpreter but this was very frustrating. A middle man,
however fluent, can’t hope to establish a relationship in a
way that a committed member of the company can.
1.1. what is translation?
• …is the expression in target language of what has been
expressed in source language, preserving semantic and
stylistic equivalences.

Experts say fuel prices might not have been high if a

labyrinth of taxes and fees had been taken off. The
Finance Ministry and Ministry of Industry and Trade might
have opted for a fuel import tax reduction to help traders
offset their losses, if any, and prevent the economy
already bruised by sagging business activity, ballooning
debt, mounting inventory and faltering consumption from
any further price volatility shock.
1.1. what is translation?
• …rendering a written text into another language in the
way that the author intended the text.

Slow site clearance is still a major hurdle hindering the

progress of the project. Local residents have urged faster
progress on the project as half-completed construction and
pavement have caused temporary markets to mushroom
near the lake, leaving heaps of garbage that spills into the
lake at the end of every day.
Overview of the translation task
Source language Target language

Text to be
Translation
translated

discover re-express
the meaning the meaning

Meaning
1.2. why is translation?
1. 3. history of translation
1.4. dynamics of translation
The truth (the facts
1. SL writer and the matter) 5. TL readership

2. SL norms 6. TL norms

TEXT

3. SL culture 7. TL culture

4. SL setting 8. TL setting
and tradition and tradition
10. Translator
Dynamics
1. SL writer
• The individual style or idiolect of the SL author.

- Hey, Tom. You’ve got work today?

- What do you call work?
- Why isn’t that work?
- Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. But it suits Tom Sawyer.
- Can I have a go then?
- No!
(The Adventure of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain)
dynamics
2. SL norms:
• The conventional grammatical and lexical usage for the
text.

Paul didn’t mind being surprised by the party to celebrate

his 40th birthday, although he told his friends they shouldn’t
have done it.
Nếu có vấn đề gì xảy ra với sản phẩm, xin hãy liên hệ với
trung tâm dịch vụ khách hàng của chúng tôi.
 If there should be any problem with our product (should
any problem happen to our product), please contact our
customer service centre.
dynamics
3. SL culture:
• Content items referring specifically to the SL, or third
language (i.e. not SL or TL) cultures

Thủ tục cưới hỏi của người Việt Nam bao gồm: lễ ra mắt,
lễ chạm ngõ, lễ ăn hỏi, lễ xin dâu, đám cưới và lễ lại mặt.
 Marriage procedures in Vietnam include: the first
parents’ meeting, marriage proposing ceremony,
engagement ceremony, bride fetching, wedding and
gratitude visit to the wife’s family.
dynamics
4. SL setting
• The typical format of a text in a book, periodical,
newspaper, etc., as influenced by tradition at the time.
Setting is the time when story happens or place where it
happens.

• “I do not always stick to the author’s words or even to his thoughts. I

keep the effects he wants to produce in mind and then I arrange the
material after the fashion of time. Different times do not just require
different words, but also different thoughts and ambassador usually
dress in the fashion of the country they are sent to for fear of
appearing ridiculous in the eyes of the people they try to please.”
– Perrot d’Ablancourt – a translation theorist .
dynamics
5. TL readership:
• The expectations of the putative readership.

Air traffic safety, needless to say, is deemed the highest

among all transport means all over the world, but for local
authorities, risks are looming large more than ever, not
because of recent air disasters in the world that killed
hundreds. It is the worsening air traffic safety evidenced by
facts and figures at a conference in Hanoi early this week.
dynamics
6. TL norms:
• The grammatical and lexical usage of target language.
7. TL culture:
• The cultural element of target language.
8. TL setting:
• The typical format of a text in target language.
dynamics
9. Truth:
• What is being described or reported, ascertained or
verified (the referential truth), where possible
independently of SL text and expectations of readership

Our survey indicates that the young are turning their backs
on the traditional jobs, working for wages or staying in one
company for their whole life! Instead, more are going
freelance or becoming self-employed. They are not
interested in making others rich but want to be rich
themselves.
dynamics
10. Translator:
• The views and prejudices of translator, which may be
personal and subjective, social and cultural, involving the
translator’s “group loyalty factor”, which may reflect his
national, political, ethnic, religious, social class, sex, etc.
assumptions.

As many questions remain unanswered after the rules

banning smoking in public places and vending
substandard foods on the street fell into oblivion shortly
after the dates they took effect, a new wave of queries has
emerged around a law drafted by the Ministry of Health to
set a time limit on alcohol sale in the country.
1.5. translation theories
• Culture and Context Theories (by Peter Newmark)
focus on culture and context during the translation
process.
1.6. pre-translation considerations
1. Reading the text:
• to understand what it is about
• to analyze it from a “translator’s” point of view
• General reading  the gist of the text
• Close reading  meanings in and out of context.
1.6. pre-translation considerations
2. Intention of the text:
• represents the SL (source language) writer’s attitude to
the subject matter.
• the type of language used and even the grammatical
structures (passive voice, impersonal verbs often used to
disclaim responsibility) in each case may be evidence of
different points of view.
 search for the intention of the text and keep it in mind
when translating.
1.6. pre-translation considerations
3. The intention of the translator:
• Identical with intention of the author of SL text
• Some adaptation in translation is allowed in accordance
with readership.
1.6. pre-translation considerations
4. Text styles:
• Narrative: a dynamic sequence of events with emphasis
on the verbs or, for English, “dummy” or “empty” verbs
plus verb-nouns or phrasal verbs.
• Descriptive: is static with emphasis on linking verbs,
adjectives, adjectival nouns.
• Discussion: a treatment of ideas with emphasis on
abstract nouns, verbs of thought, mental activity, logical
argument and connectives.
• Dialogue: emphasis on colloquialisms and pacifisms.
1.6. pre-translation considerations
• Narrative:
This past weekend I had the time of my life. First, Friday
night, I had my best friend over and we made a delicious,
mouth-watering pizza. After we ate, we had a friendly
video game competition. On Saturday, my dad took us out
on the boat. The weather was perfect and the water was
warm. It was a great day to go for a swim. Later that night,
we went to the movies. We saw an action packed thriller
and ate a lot of popcorn. Finally, on Sunday, we rode our
bikes all over town. By the end of the day, my legs were
very tired. I only hope that next weekend can be as fun as
this one.
 1.6. pre-translation considerations
• Descriptive:
My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond
guitar--the first instrument I taught myself how to play. It's nothing
fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and
finger-printed. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings,
each one hooked through the eye of a silver tuning key. The
strings are stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished,
the wood worn by years of fingers pressing chords and picking
notes. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an enormous
yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping. The
blond wood has been chipped and gouged to gray, particularly
where the pick guard fell off years ago. No, it's not a beautiful
instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I will
always treasure it.
 1.6. pre-translation considerations
• Discussion:
Some people believe that break times should be shorter because some
people don’t have any friends to play with. Other people might feel cold during
break times therefore want playtimes to be short.
Alternatively some people think that break times should be longer because if it
was shorter children wouldn’t have enough time to play in the playground. Also
if playtime were longer children wouldn’t do well in tests. Additionally children
might fall down.
However break times are good for fresh air and exercise. If break time was
longer children would have more time to chat and would have more time to eat
their snacks from the healthy tuck shop.
On the other hand people think that it should not be long because if children
had a longer play they would have a shorter time to learn.
Although some good points have been made against break times staying the
same, in my opinion I think they should be longer, because there would be
more time to set up the healthy tuck shop.
 1.6. pre-translation considerations
• Dialogue:

- Hi Mary. - I'm going to meet a friend of mine

- Oh, hi.
- How are you doing?
- I'm doing alright. How about you?
- Not too bad. The weather is great
isn't it?
- Yes. It's absolutely beautiful today.
- I wish it was like this more
frequently.
- Me too.
- So where are you going now?
at the department store.
- Going to do a little shopping?
- Yeah, I have to buy some presents
for my parents
- What's the occasion?
- It's their anniversary.
- That's great. Well, you better get
going. You don't want to be late.
- I'll see you next time.
- Sure. Bye.
1.6. pre-translation considerations
5. Readership:
• characterize the readership of the original and then of the
translation:  decide how much attention to pay to the TL
readers.
• assess the level of education, class, age and sex of the
readership:  decide on the degree of formality,
generality (or specificity) and emotional tone to express
1.6. pre-translation considerations
6. Stylistic scale:

The scale of formality

Taboo Slang Colloquial Informal Neutral Formal Official Officialese

The scale of generality or difficulty

Simple Popular Neutral Educated Technical

The scale of emotional tone

Understatement Factual Warm Intense

 1.6. pre-translation considerations
Formality:
• Officialese: The consumption of any nutriments whatsoever
is categorically prohibited in this establishment.
• Official: The consumption of nutriments is prohibited in this
establishment.
• Formal: You are requested not to consume food in this
establishment.
• Neutral: Eating is not allowed here
• Informal: Please don’t eat here
• Colloquial: You can’t feed your face here
• Slang: Lay off the nosh
• Taboo: Lay off the fucking nosh
 1.6. pre-translation considerations
Generality or difficulty:
• Simple: The floor of the sea is covered with rows of big
mountains and deep pits
• Popular: the floor of the sea is covered with great mountain
chains and deep trenches
• Neutral: A graveyard of animal and plant remains lies buried
in the earth’s crust.
• Educated: The last step in vertebrate evolution was the tool-
making man
• Technical: Critical path analysis is an operational research
technique used in management
1.6. pre-translation considerations
Emotional tone:
• Intense: absolute wonderful, ideally dark bass,
enormously successful, superbly controlled
• Warm: gentle, soft, heart-warming melodies
• Factual: significant, exceptionally well judged, personable,
presentable, considerable
• Understatement: not, undignified
1.6. pre-translation considerations
7. Setting:
• decide on the likely setting: Where would the text be
published in the TL? What is the TL equivalent of the SL
periodical, newspaper, textbook, journal, etc.?
• make assumptions about the SL readership: Who is the
client you are translating for and what are his
requirements?
1.6. pre-translation considerations
8. Quality of the writing:
• The quality of the reading has to be judged in relation to
the author’s intention and/or the requirements of the
subject matter.
• If the text is well written: regard every nuance of the
author’s meaning as having precedence over the reader’s
response
• If the text is badly written text: correct the text before
translation
practice
• In common with Western economies, Britain’s
industrial heartland also suffered the pain of de-
industrialization. Compared with a decade ago, only a
handful of heavy engineering firms survived. When
the steel industry died, the proud city of Sheffield was
brought to its knees. Thousands of manufacturers
had to close down, dozens of thousands of workers
were out of work.
Strategy to give Viet Nam competitive edge
All relevant ministries and agencies must actively
participate in the government's strategy to improve
business climate and national competitive edge, experts
suggested at a workshop in Ha Noi last week.
The workshop was held because only a mere one-third of
the localities across the country have come up with
plans to realise the strategy, known as Resolution 19,
which was initiated in March to enhance administrative
reforms and help firms save processing time and costs.
Under the strategy, the country sets the goal of meeting
the standards of the ASEAN-6 group—Singapore,
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei—in
terms of business licensing and insolvency; tax
payment; customs formalities; and access to electricity
supply and credit, as well as investment protection, by
2015.
 REVIEW - What is translation
• … the transfer of message…
• If you have any enquiries that you wish to ask,
we would be more than happy to answer them
• … preserving semantic and stylistic
equivalences…
• While consumers throughout Poland have
poured into more than 35 hypermarkets built in
the last five years, small and medium sized
retailers say that large, foreign owned stores
are squeezing them out of the market.
• … preserving the way that the author intended the
text…
• Monday’s fuel retail price spike by VND500-1,100 per
liter is yet another blow to consumers. That was the
third such price hike since July 20. Given that fuel is a
vital input for a variety of industries, any of its price
volatility will absolutely cause prices of other
products and services to surge. Fuel is not alone
though. Electricity, another key input for the
economy, picked up 5% in early July and cooking gas
has jumped by VND52,000 a 12-kilo cylinder. Such
price rises have prompted concerns about a return of
inflation in the coming time.