INTRODUCTION
Rationale
As a student at Duy Tan University's English Faculty, I have many opportunities to have a thorough understanding of all types of translation, and
The growing demand for interpretation and translation services, especially in the tourism sector, highlights the need for translators to possess not only strong translation skills but also a deep understanding of the underlying reasons for their translation choices.
In our exploration of "Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter (Chapter 2)," we aimed to understand the significance of groupthink in the workplace Despite the emphasis on collaboration and teamwork among today’s business leaders, the challenge of effective group decision-making persists, often resulting in poor and sluggish outcomes This raises critical questions about the common pitfalls of group decision-making and the strategies that leaders and teams can implement to enhance their decision-making processes.
In his newly released book, "Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter," Harvard Law professor Cass Sunstein, known for co-authoring "Nudge" and the Harvard Business Review article "Making Dumb Groups Smarter," explores the reasons behind the frequent failures of groups in decision-making He also introduces innovative strategies for enhancing collective problem-solving and decision-making processes.
In a recent Harvard Business Review webinar, Sunstein discusses key insights from his latest book, presenting strategies and lessons aimed at helping leaders navigate the challenges of group decision-making He outlines effective methods to enhance outcomes and avoid common pitfalls associated with collective choices.
Aims and Objectives
Over the past four years, my graduation paper has reflected my personal growth and skills Throughout this time, I received invaluable support and guidance from both my teachers and friends at Duy Tan University.
The aim of this graduation paper is to enhance a translator's essential skills, minimize common translation mistakes, and deepen cultural understanding Furthermore, this research will provide valuable experience in the field of translation.
Following the completion of my graduation paper, I set the following goals for myself:
Improving my translation abilities by incorporating appropriate words and structures into any phrase
Summarizing what I've learned in the past
Translating the words in a natural and fluid manner Removing language barriers to help Vietnamese people understand the content of this book
Analyzing difficult and complex vocabulary, phrases, or structures that can easily lead to reader misunderstandings
Scope of the Study
The text that I selected to translate is “Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter” by Cass R Sunstein and Reid Hastie,
In 2015, a graduation paper was developed, translating an original work and analyzing a proposed translation of the book The paper highlights common challenges that students encounter in the translation process and offers essential solutions to address these difficulties.
"Wiser" is a guide designed to enhance our understanding of effective group and team decision-making Improving these skills is essential, as collaboration drives progress and success Successful teams are fundamental to achieving goals, while poor group dynamics often lead to failure, highlighting the importance of mastering collective decision-making.
In the graduation thesis, I chose to translate Chapter 2 of the book " Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter" The translation is approximately 3900 words long
The text is divided into a lot of small titles and it is organized as follows: Title one: Garbage In? A Brief Guided Tour
Title three: Why More Garbage?
The book "Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter," authored by Cass R Sunstein and Reid Hastie in 2015, explores strategies for enhancing group decision-making I discovered this insightful resource at the Phan Thanh branch of Duy Tan University library.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Definition
Translation can be defined in various ways According to Merriam-Webster, it involves shifting from one form to another, effectively converting text into different languages Hornby (1975) emphasizes that translation means conveying the meaning of spoken or written content in another language Similarly, the Cambridge Dictionary describes translation as the process of converting words from one language to another while maintaining the same meaning.
However, experts describe translation in very different ways; here are some examples:
1 J.C Catford (in A Linguistic Theory of Translation, 1965) defines translation as the replacement of verbatim material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL)
2 Peter Newmark (in A Textbook of Translation, 1988) also states that translation is the process of conveying the meaning of a text into another language in the manner intended by the author.
3 Eugene Nida and Charles R Taber (in Choliludin,2006) describe that translating entails duplicating the closest natural equivalent of a source language message in the receptor language, first in terms of meaning and then in terms of style.
4 Ian Tudor (in Duff, 1989) explains that translation is the process of transmitting messages across linguistic and cultural obstacles.
5 Isadore Pinhhuck (in Suryawinata and Hariyanto, 2003) states that translation is a process of seeking a TL equivalent for an SL expression.
Types of Categories
There are many types of translation Types of categories of translation may be defined in terms of extent, levels, and ranks of translation.
Understanding different translation categories is essential for accurately conveying meaning and avoiding misunderstandings My translation approach incorporated these methods to minimize errors and enhance clarity throughout the process.
Almost all translators confront two dilemmas when it comes to translating: converting everything or leaving something untranslated
According to J.C Catford, translation is classified into two types: full and partial
(i)In a full translation, the entire text is submitted to the translation process: the TL content replaces all of the SL material.
In partial translation, certain elements from the source language (SL) remain untranslated and are directly incorporated into the target language (TL) This practice is common in literary translation, where some SL words are considered "untranslatable" or are intentionally retained to add "local color" to the TL.
House prices have increased significantly this year.
Translated version: Giá nhà đã tăng mạnh trong năm nay.
Phở là một món ăn truyền thống của Việt Nam.
In English translation version, we have: Pho is the traditional food of Vietnam.
The term "Pho" is unique to Vietnamese culture and does not have an equivalent in English, making it essential to retain the original word in translations.
In addition to the two primary forms of translation, there are two other types that share similar characteristics, posing various challenges for translators These challenges arise from the differing levels of language employed in the translation process.
"Total translation" typically refers to a form of translation where all layers of the source language (SL) text are transformed into the target language (TL) expression However, the term "total" can be misleading, as it suggests complete replacement, which does not necessarily occur at every level of the text.
Catford defines "total" translation as the process where the grammar and vocabulary of the source language (SL) are completely substituted with equivalent grammar and vocabulary from the target language (TL) This transformation also involves replacing SL phonology and graphology with their TL counterparts However, it is important to note that this phonological and graphical replacement is not typically achieved with exact equivalents, resulting in a lack of translation at that specific level.
Total translation refers to the process of substituting the grammar and vocabulary of the source language (SL) with corresponding elements from the target language (TL), while also replacing the phonological and graphical aspects of the SL with those of the TL, even if they are not equivalent.
Restricted translation involves substituting source language (SL) text with equivalent target language (TL) text at a single level This means that translation occurs solely at either the phonological or graphological level, or exclusively at one of the grammatical or lexical levels.
Have you ever been to Da Nang?
Bạn đã từng đến Đà Nẵng chưa?
The first time I came to New York, I felt very nervous.
Lần đầu đến Niu-Ooc, tôi thấy rất hoảng sợ.
In this example, the word “New York” cannot be transferred from English into Vietnamese, it is just replaced with an equivalent at only one level (phonological level).
According to Mr Nguyen Manh Quang, M.A, the primary point in this translation is that SL phonology is replaced with equivalent TL phonology, however, there are few other significant alterations.
Mr Nguyen Manh Quang, M.A claims that in graphological translation,
SL graphology is replaced with the comparable target one with no other important replacements.
The process involves a complex procedure that encompasses phonological translation and the correlation between phonology and graphology Initially, the graphological units of the source language are substituted with their corresponding phonological units.
TL graphological units are replaced with equivalent TL graphological units.
2.2.6 Free, Literal, and Word-for-word Translation
A "free" translation offers limitless interpretation, while a "word-for-word" translation adheres strictly to the original text Literal translation occupies a middle ground, beginning with a "word-for-word" approach but adapting to the grammar of the target language, which can result in group-to-group or clause-to-clause translations.
Example: There is a book in the bag Có một quyển sách ở trong cặp.
Methods and Principles
Interlinear translation typically presents the target language (TL) directly beneath the source language (SL) words This method maintains the original SL word order while translating each word individually, using their most common meanings.
Cultural terms are often translated literally, employing word-for-word translation to understand the structure of the source language (SL) or to create a complex text as a preliminary step in the translation process.
Example: - Under the weather Dưới thời tiết (?)
- Practice makes perfect Thực hành khiến cho hoàn hảo (?)
In the translation process, grammatical structures from the source language are adapted to their nearest equivalents in the target language, while individual lexical items are translated in isolation, often lacking context This highlights the need to address these issues as part of a pre-translation strategy.
Anh ta đang gặp chuyện buồn.
- The government was still young and weak.
Chính phủ lúc bấy giờ vẫn còn trẻ và yếu.
An accurate translation aims to faithfully convey the specific contextual meaning of the original text while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language It maintains the original's grammatical and lexical nuances and effectively transfers cultural terms The translation strives to remain true to the intentions and stylistic choices of the source language writer.
Example: - Money makes the mare go
Đồng tiền khiến cho con lừa cái đi (?)
Semantic translation prioritizes the aesthetic value of the source language, allowing for flexibility in meaning to ensure that elements like assonance, word-play, and repetition flow naturally in the final version Unlike faithful translation, which adheres strictly to the original text, semantic translation may use culturally neutral terms for less significant cultural references instead of direct equivalents This approach recognizes the translator's creative intuition and empathetic understanding of the original work, making it a more adaptable and nuanced method of translation.
Example: We hope you will enjoy your staying with us
Chúng tôi hi vọng bạn sẽ có một kì nghỉ tuyệt vời tại khách sạn này.
The free translation method is predominantly employed for plays and poems, allowing for a more creative approach This technique involves rewriting the text with a focus on the cultural context of both the source and target languages, ensuring that characters, themes, and plot elements are effectively preserved while adapting to the nuances of the target culture.
- Saint thánh VN: Bụt, tiên
- It's all greek to me Hoàn toàn xa lạ, ko biết
- “The woman in charge of the accounts department is an absolute dragon!” Người đàn bà phụ trách phòng kế toán là một bà chằn đích thị!
This translation method results in a text that lacks the original's style and formatting, often leading to a paraphrase that is significantly longer Known as "intra-lingual translation," this approach can be excessively wordy and pretentious, making the final product seem as if it has not been translated at all.
Shall we go for a blow? Chúng ta đi đạo mát/ hóng gió nhé?
Have a good trip Chúc thượng lộ bình an!
It reproduces the message of the original but tends to distort the subtleties of meaning by favorring colloquialisms and idioms that do not exist in the original.
As rich as Rockerfeller? Giàu như Thạch Sùng.
All that glitters is not gold Chớ thấy sáng mà ngỡ là vàng.
The boy wants to go and see Mr John Cậu bé muốn đi vệ sinh
To sell like hot cakes Bán đắt như tôm tươi.
He was as quiet as a mouse Anh ta im như thóc
This method aims to convey the precise contextual meaning of the original text, ensuring that both the content and language are easily understandable to the audience It is frequently applied in informative formats, such as news broadcasts on radio or in newspapers Additionally, communicative and semantic translation can coexist effectively in certain contexts.
Lái xe khi bạn không tỉnh táo là rất nguy hiểm.
No awareness is dangerous for driving.
He was denied the door
Anh ấy đến nhưng không được tiếp.
While this article is not a theoretical treatise, students can benefit from specific guidelines to assess their own translation work The following general principles are applicable to all aspects of translation evaluation.
The original text's meaning must be fully reflected in the translation. Nothing should be arbitrarily added or moved; however, part of the meaning can be transferred on occasion
Example: The government has decided to give the green light to the plan.
Chính phủ đã quyết định bật đèn xanh cho kế hoạch này.
In translation, it is essential to maintain a sequence of words and sentences that closely resembles the original text, particularly regarding word form and arrangement When uncertain, emphasize key terms from the original content In English, altering word order and employing various patterns can effectively convey emphasis and stress.
Example: Had she not eaten this cake, she wouldn’t have had a stomachache.
Nếu cô ấy không ăn chiếc bánh ấy thì cô ấy sẽ không bị đau bụng
In a given setting, languages often differ greatly in terms of formality. The translator must distinguish between formal and fixed expressions in order to resolve these disparities.
Example: Standing room only Phòng chỉ còn chỗ để đứng
Idiomatic expressions are infamous for being difficult to translate. Similes, metaphors, proverbs, sayings, jargons, slangs, colloquialisms, and phrasal verbs are only a few examples.
+ Retain the original word, in inverted commas:
+ Retain the original expression, with a literal explanation in brackets.
Example: Rừng vàng biển bạc prosperous wealth
Example: muộn còn hơn không Better late than never
+ Use a non-idiomatic or plan prose translation:
Example: A bit over the top hơi quá
The original's style should not be altered The translator, on the other hand, may correct errors in the text if it is sloppily written or repetitive.
-Let’s love our human felious! Hãy biết thương, biết yêu lấy đồng loại của mình.
- “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Thật là vinh hạnh khi được gặp bạn.
A frequent issue in translation is the unnaturalness of the text, often due to the translator's excessive reliance on the original wording To achieve a more natural flow, translators should momentarily set aside the manuscript and verbally reinterpret key phrases from memory.
Example: I had breakfast before! Tôi đã có bữa sáng trước đó!
Context in Translating
Context is the one which occurs before (or) after a word, a phrase or even along utterance or text.
The context often helps in understanding the particular meaning of the word, phrase, etc.
The context may also be the broader social situation in which a linguistic item is used.
In translation, the context is understood as the “WHAT”, “WHERE” and
“TO WHOM” of our communication.
SUGGESTED TRANSLATION
While it may not earn a Nobel Prize, the study of human error has gained significant attention from behavioral scientists in recent decades, who have focused on identifying the specific ways and circumstances under which people make mistakes.
And in fact, at least five Nobel Prizes in Economics have been won by scientists associated with behavioral economics; the winners include
Akerlof in 2001, Daniel Kahneman in
The real advances can be found in efforts to specify exactly why and when human beings go wrong-in
Chương 2: Lỗi khuếch đạiMặc dù không ai nhận giải Nobel cho việc chứng minh những sai lầm của con người, nhưng trong những thập kỷ gần đây, các nhà khoa học hành vi đã tiến hành nhiều nghiên cứu để chỉ ra các lỗi mà con người thường mắc phải Thực tế cho thấy, các nhà khoa học đã đạt được ít nhất 5 giải Nobel Kinh tế, trong đó có Daniel McFadden vào năm 2000 và George Akerlof.
2001, Daniel Kahneman năm 2002, Thomas Schelling năm 2005 và Robert Shiller năm 2013.
(Đ2) Nguyên nhân do đâu? Đó là một chuyến du lịch được hướng dẫn ngắn ngày
Recent advancements have focused on accurately identifying the reasons and timing behind human errors Research indicates that individuals often rely on heuristics, or mental shortcuts, which can result in predictable mistakes Additionally, identifiable biases contribute to systematic errors in judgment Both heuristics and biases are linked to cognitive processes known as System.
Our focus is on understanding group behavior through an intuitive and automatic system that operates with minimal effort This guided exploration highlights the key heuristics and biases that significantly influence group dynamics, particularly within the contexts of business and government.
Human beings err because they use the availability heuristic to answer difficult questions about probability.
Khả năng xảy ra các sự kiện như tấn công khủng bố, bão, tắc đường, tai nạn từ nhà máy điện hạt nhân hay bệnh lây truyền qua đường tình dục thường bị đánh giá sai do cảm tính và thành kiến Con người dễ mắc phải những sai lầm trong việc xác định nguyên nhân, dẫn đến những quyết định không chính xác Cả cảm tính lẫn thành kiến đều liên quan đến hành vi của nhóm và tổ chức, đặc biệt trong các lĩnh vực kinh doanh và chính phủ, nơi mà các quyết định thường dựa vào những kinh nghiệm và định kiến đã có Chúng tôi nhấn mạnh rằng sự hiểu biết về những yếu tố này là cần thiết để cải thiện quy trình ra quyết định trong các tình huống phức tạp.
Humans often err by relying on existing experiences to address challenging probability questions, such as the likelihood of a specific product or reform succeeding, or whether a new film or television show will fail or capture a large audience.
(P4) When people use the availability heuristic, they answer a question of probability by asking whether examples come readily to mind.
Many people mistakenly believe that words ending in "ing" are more common than those with "n" in the second-to-last position, primarily because "ing" words are easier to recall This cognitive bias influences both personal and societal reactions to risks, leading individuals to be particularly aware of threats like crime, earthquakes, and environmental disasters, as these examples are readily accessible in memory Additionally, this phenomenon raises questions about the likelihood of various events, such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, traffic congestion, nuclear accidents, and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the potential success of specific products or new films and TV shows in capturing audience attention.
Khi con người sử dụng phương pháp phỏng đoán tính khả dụng, họ thường trả lời các câu hỏi xác suất bằng cách xem xét liệu các ví dụ có xuất hiện trong tâm trí hay không Một quan niệm sai lầm phổ biến là cho rằng trên một trang in, nhiều từ sẽ kết thúc bằng đuôi "ing" hơn là bằng chữ cái "n" ở vị trí kế cuối Điều này không chính xác, bởi vì từ ngữ kết thúc bằng "ing" thường dễ nhớ hơn Những phát hiện này phản ánh cách mà cá nhân và cộng đồng phản ứng với các rủi ro, đặc biệt là các nguy cơ liên quan đến tội phạm.
(P5) In business and government, people often respond to yesterday's famous failure (or celebrated success).
If a particular strategy or approach turned out disastrously, it will be very much in mind, and today’s decision will be made in light of that disaster.
No politician wants to be responsible for "another Vietnam" or to be
Foreign policy often relies on analogies, which can be an unreliable method of decision-making For instance, a company that recently experienced a failure may hesitate to pursue new initiatives that resemble the past flop, despite the potential for success This tendency is influenced by the ease of recalling past disasters, such as earthquakes and environmental catastrophes, which can hinder progress and innovation.
Trong mối quan hệ giữa doanh nghiệp và chính phủ, thường xuất hiện những sai lầm từ quá khứ và những thành tựu đã đạt được Nếu một phương pháp hay chiến lược nào đó không thành công, điều này cần được xem xét kỹ lưỡng, vì quyết định hôm nay sẽ dựa trên những bài học từ những sai lầm trước Không một nhà chính trị nào muốn gánh vác trách nhiệm cho một quốc gia khác ngoài Việt Nam, hay trở thành một chính trị gia như ông Neville Chamberlain.
Chính sách đối ngoại thường dựa vào các phép loại suy có sẵn, mặc dù không phải là phương pháp tệ nhất, nhưng lại thiếu độ tin cậy Khi một công ty không duy trì được vị thế trên thị trường trong thời gian gần đây, có khả năng cao rằng công ty sẽ né tránh những đổi mới có vẻ không chắc chắn Việc dựa vào các phép loại suy có thể dẫn đến những quyết định sai lầm, thậm chí tệ hơn so với việc thực hiện một phân tích thống kê cẩn thận.
(P7) This heuristic also explains some of the sources of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, and disability.
When instances of female employees leaving their jobs to care for their families are readily recalled, it indicates a higher likelihood of sex discrimination Additionally, the availability heuristic can lead to errors in employment-related decisions made by companies.
Effective decision-making depends on comprehensive performance data rather than fleeting impressions or comparisons to past candidates Michael Lewis's bestseller, "Moneyball," exemplifies this principle, highlighting the potential of innovative approaches in the future Relying solely on existing experiences can lead to poor choices, making thorough statistical analysis a far superior strategy.
Phương pháp này chứng minh sự tồn tại của phân biệt đối xử dựa trên chủng tộc, giới tính, tuổi tác và người tàn tật Khi có suy nghĩ tiêu cực về nữ nhân viên nghỉ việc để chăm sóc gia đình, nguy cơ phân biệt giới tính càng tăng cao Bất kỳ quyết định nào liên quan đến việc làm tại công ty đều có thể dẫn đến sai lầm do sự thiếu sót trong việc đánh giá kinh nghiệm của ứng viên.
Accurate decision-making relies on comprehensive performance records rather than fleeting impressions or a candidate's connection to past successes or failures For instance, a case study demonstrates that statistical analysis significantly outperforms personal impressions in assessing baseball talent, a principle that is applicable to evaluating talent across various fields.