INTRODUCTION
Statement of the problem and rationale for the study
In the 21st century, globalization has significantly influenced the development of translation, highlighting its essential role in bridging cultural gaps through written and spoken communication (Munday, 2005) This has led to a surge in the translation of novels across various genres, including John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars," which has received positive feedback from critics and readers alike The novel's modern writing style and fresh insights into youth and human nature have contributed to its international recognition since 2012, resulting in its quick translation into Vietnamese Additionally, numerous versions of the novel have been translated by both professional translators and unqualified readers, further increasing its accessibility to Vietnamese audiences.
"Khi lỗi thuộc về những vì sao" by Le Hoang Lan (2012) is recognized as the official edition published by Tre Publishing House (Nha Xua Ban Tre) Although this version is accepted as the authorized translation, there is still no consensus on the overall quality of the Vietnamese translation.
Language primarily functions to exchange information, connect people, and enable communication, but this process can be complex because meanings may shift based on users' intentions, especially in literary works like poems and novels where implications are nuanced Words can convey different meanings depending on their context, making interpretation more challenging For translators, it is essential to fully understand both literal and implied meanings within specific circumstances to accurately convey messages in the target language Effectively translating conversational implicature requires careful attention to linguistic and cultural features to ensure the implied messages are faithfully represented to the audience.
Motivated by the need to analyze translation quality, the researcher conducted a study titled "An assessment of the Vietnamese translation of conversational implicatures from the main male character in 'The Fault in Our Stars'." This research aims to evaluate how effectively the Vietnamese translation conveys the original conversational implicatures, highlighting the importance of accurate translation in preserving the story’s meaning The study emphasizes the significance of understanding cultural and linguistic nuances to improve translation accuracy, ultimately contributing to better literary and cinematic adaptations for Vietnamese audiences.
Research aims and research questions
The objectives of the study are:
1 to identify the particularized conversational implicatures made by the main male character in The Fault in our Stars
2 to show the main male character‘s perception of life implied in these particularized conversational implicatures
3 to assess the translation quality of these particularized conversational implicatures from English to Vietnamese on the model proposed by Newmark
These aims can be formulated into the following research questions
1) What PCIs are found in the original novel?
2) How does the main male character show his life perception via the PCIs?
3) How is the Vietnamese translation quality of PCIs according to Newmark’s model?
Significance of the study
The increasing popularity of English in Vietnam has driven a rise in translation services, highlighting the importance of intercultural knowledge Measuring translation quality beyond standard benchmarks remains a challenge, making comprehensive assessment essential This study offers valuable insights for both non-professional and professional translators to evaluate and enhance literary translations Additionally, it aims to deepen understanding of conversational implicatures among language users by applying Grice’s theory, considering cultural differences and personal backgrounds to improve discourse interpretation.
This study serves as a valuable reference for researchers interested in applying Newmark’s model to evaluate literary translation, offering insightful guidelines for future research It highlights the potential of Newmark’s framework to be adapted beyond literary works, potentially benefiting evaluations across various genres Consequently, this research paves the way for continued exploration of translation assessment methods, encouraging scholars to utilize and expand upon these findings in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.
Research methodology
This study evaluates the translated versions of conversational implicatures conveyed by the main male character, Augustus, in the novel *The Fault in Our Stars* It emphasizes the application of Newmark’s translation model alongside other prominent translation quality assessment frameworks Additionally, the study integrates Grice’s theoretical insights to analyze how implicatures are preserved or altered in translation, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of translation fidelity and effectiveness.
The research applies the sequential explanatory mixed method design The
SL particularized conversational implicatures are identified from the novel and analyzed to understand their contextual meanings These implicatures are then compared to their Vietnamese translations to evaluate translation accuracy The comparison is conducted using Newmark’s translation quality assessment model, which involves five structured steps to ensure fidelity and naturalness in translation This systematic approach helps in assessing how well the translated implicatures preserve the original contextual nuances and communicative intent.
- Step 1: A brief analysis of the SL text stressing its intention and its functional aspects
- Step 2: The translator‘s interpretation of the SL text‘s purpose, his translation method and the translation‘s likely readership
- Step 3: A selective but representative detailed comparison of the translation with the original in terms of both semantics and syntactic
- Step 4: An evaluation of the translation
- Step 5: Where appropriate, an assessment of the likely place of the translation in the target language culture or discipline
Design of the study
There are five parts presented in this section:
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION identifies the central problems and main aims of the study Research questions, methodology and significance of the study are also clearly stated in this part
CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW represents fundamental theoretical background that necessitates the formation of the research A brief overview on several previous studies is also indicated in this chapter
CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY covers the sources of data, research methods and analytical framework to collect and analyze the data
CHAPTER 4 – FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION gives the analysis, presentation and interpretation of the results
CHAPTER 5 – CONCLUSION reaches major conclusions, further implications and proposes recommendations for further research.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Translation theory
Diverse definitions of translation have been proposed; however, the study gets focused on the common and radical ones
Translation has traditionally been viewed as the transformation of a text's content from the source language into the target language (Foster, 1958), a concept that has since evolved into more precise and detailed definitions Nida and Tiber (1969) describe translation as producing a textual equivalent in the target language that closely matches the original in meaning and style, emphasizing naturalness Similarly, Peter Newmark (1981) defines translation as "a craft" that involves faithfully replacing a written message in one language with another while preserving the original meaning, aligning with the author's intent.
(1991) is not different He states that the translation conveys the target language what is expressed in the source language without ruining semantic and stylistic equivalences
From a linguistic perspective, translation is essentially a process of transferring meaning from a source language to a target language This process involves a translator or team of translators who aim to accurately convey the original message The goal is to produce the closest possible equivalent in the target language, ensuring that the meaning and context are preserved.
With regard to translation methods, Newmark‘s approach seems adopted more frequently He suggests eight translation methods in his book A text of translation (1988) as follows:
Word-for-word translation Adaptation
Faithful translation Idiomatic translation Semantic translation Communicative translation
(Newmark, 1988, p 45) Newmark puts methods above in the form of a flattened V diagram The methods are arranged from the simplest to the most complicated form on the author‘s own purpose
An interlinear translation involves translating each word of the source language (SL) directly into the target language (TL), maintaining the original word order This method translates words individually based on their most common meanings, regardless of context, to provide a literal representation of the source text Word-for-word translation emphasizes the structure and vocabulary of the original language, offering insight into grammatical patterns and lexical choices It is especially useful for linguistic analysis or language learning, as it reveals direct correspondences between languages while retaining the original syntax.
- Literal translation considers no contexts and the words are singularly translated It converts the grammatical constructions to their nearest TL equivalents
- Faithful translation is ranked at the higher level that the SL text‘s precise contextual meaning is allowed ―within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures‖
- Semantic translation emphasizes the aesthetic value of the SL text This method admits the differences and respects ―the translator‘s intuitive empathy with the original‖
Adaptation is considered the “freest” form of translation due to its strong dramatic function Translators choose adaptation when they need to preserve the themes, characters, and plot of the original play while allowing for creative rewriting This flexible approach enables the translation to retain the essence of the original work while making it suitable for a different cultural or theatrical context.
- Free translation refers to the TL text called ―intralingual translation‖ This
―free‖ style translation features the matter without the manner or the content without the SL form The original is much shorter than paraphrases
Idiomatic translation is employed when subtle differences in meaning are preserved without compromising the original text's underlying message This approach ensures that the core value of the content remains intact while making it more relatable and natural for the target audience Colloquialisms and idioms are deliberately used to translate concepts that do not have direct equivalents in the original language, thereby enhancing readability and cultural resonance By balancing fidelity with natural expression, idiomatic translation effectively conveys the intended message without distorting the original intent.
Communicative translation aims to convey the precise contextual meaning of the source language (SL) text, ensuring that the target language (TL) readers can easily understand the message This translation method is especially effective for complex documents and texts that require clarity and cultural appropriateness By prioritizing naturalness and readability, communicative translation helps bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, making it ideal for sensitive or detailed content.
Newmark highly emphasizes the effectiveness of semantic and communicative translation methods, considering them the most successful in achieving the two primary goals of translation: accuracy and economy He argues that these approaches outperform other translation levels in ensuring faithful and efficient communication.
Avoiding the feasibility of the confusion between translation ―methods‖ and
According to Newmark (1988, p.81), translation procedures are categorized into two types: those that relate to the entire text and those that focus on sentences and smaller language units In his 1995 revised edition, Newmark expanded on these concepts by introducing sixteen core translation procedures to clarify their application These procedures provide a comprehensive framework for effective translation strategies, as detailed in the accompanying table.
Transference transferring directly an SL word to a TL without any alternation
Naturalization adapting the SL word to the TL‘s normal pronunciation, and then the normal morphology
Cultural equivalent replacing a word in the SL with a TL one with the same function, referring to the different cultures or countries
Functional equivalent neutralizing or generalizing the SL word Descriptive equivalent explaining word meaning in the TL
Componential analysis comparing an SL word with a TL word that has a similar meaning but not a certain one-to-one equivalent
Synonym finding a near TL equivalent
Through-translation being the literal translation of organizations‘ names, common collocations and compounds‘ components
Shift or transposition including a change from SL to TL regarding the grammar
Modulation involves adjusting the message from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL) to account for differences in perspective, ensuring the meaning remains coherent Recognized translation occurs when translators employ an official or widely accepted version of institutional terms, guaranteeing accuracy and consistency in the translation.
Compensation within a sentence helps balance out the loss of meaning in other parts, ensuring the overall message remains clear Paraphrasing clarifies complex statements, such as explaining the concept of the ST (source text), to enhance understanding Combining couplets from different procedures allows for a more cohesive presentation of related processes Additionally, footnotes provide supplementary information in translations, offering readers deeper insights without disrupting the main content flow.
Several authors have proposed their own translation procedures to improve the process Nida (1964) categorizes translation procedures into technical and organizational, with the technical procedures involving analyzing both source and target languages, studying the source text, and determining appropriate equivalents Vinay and Darbelnet (1976) identify seven translation procedures—borrowing, claque, literal translation, transposition, modulation, equivalence, and adaptation—where the first four focus on linguistic structures and the last three address cultural transfer These frameworks provide comprehensive strategies for effective translation by balancing linguistic accuracy and cultural relevance.
Translation scholars have extensively explored various methods and procedures, leading to a diverse range of translation techniques beyond those commonly listed However, for the purpose of this study, clearly explained procedures are prioritized to ensure clarity and accuracy in the translation process.
In the Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, Baker and Sandanha
Various experts, including Cartford, Nida, Taber, and Koller, emphasize that equivalence is a fundamental requirement in translation, making the process of finding equivalents essential Translation involves more than just converting words; it requires conveying meaning across different cultures, engaging with both the semantic and functional aspects of the original message Therefore, successful translation demands a deep understanding of the original text’s cultural and contextual nuances to achieve accurate and meaningful transfer of ideas.
Translation equivalence remains a controversial topic among language theorists, with differing perspectives based on various theoretical frameworks Some scholars view it as a process of conveying the source language message into the target language based on its communicative function, emphasizing the importance of effective communication Others focus on the linguistic aspects, suggesting that translation equivalence involves the mechanical transfer of meaning units from the source to the target language Conversely, some experts reject the notion of a direct equivalence, arguing that translation primarily facilitates communication between speakers of different languages even when perfect equivalence is unattainable Despite these divergent viewpoints, most scholars tend to agree that translation encompasses both communicative and linguistic dimensions, highlighting the complex nature of achieving equivalence in translation.
Equivalence in translation can be approached from a form-oriented perspective, as introduced by Baker (1992) She posits that equivalence can be achieved at the word level or above, emphasizing the importance of preserving similarities between the source language (SL) and target text (TT) Baker also extends this concept to include the role of text similarities, highlighting how these factors contribute to creating effective and meaningful translations.
Literary translation
Literary translation is unique among various translation types, primarily focusing on preserving poetic and aesthetic functions Unlike other forms of translation, it emphasizes conveying the expressive and artistic qualities of the original text According to Reiss (1989), literary texts are categorized as a distinct expressive text type, as writers utilize aesthetic language to evoke emotions and uphold artistic integrity.
Literary translation involves transferring the unique features of the original text, which include expressive, connotative, symbolic qualities, and a focus on both form and content, as outlined by Belhagg (1997) It is characterized by its subjectivity, multiple interpretations, timelessness, and use of special devices to enhance communicative effects, often deviating from standard language norms The complexity of translating literary works lies in accurately reflecting the original's characteristics, such as word choices, figures of speech, and sound effects (Riffaterre, 1992) Additionally, Bush (1998) emphasizes that literary translation not only reflects but also preserves the imagination, intellectualism, and intuition of the original author, creating new patterns in the target language This process results in a new literary creation that serves as a foundation for multiple readings and interpretations beyond the intentions of both the original author and the translator.
Lamberts (1998, p.130) describes a published literary translation as "the fruit of a substantial creative effort," emphasizing the significant role of the translator in producing a high-quality translation He highlights that the translator must navigate both subjective judgment and social practices in the translation process Despite social and cultural constraints, the literary translator is empowered to independently make decisions that determine the quality and authenticity of the translation for readers.
Literary translation is inherently challenging, requiring strategic approaches to achieve equivalence in works like poetry and fiction An effective translation must preserve aesthetic appeal while maintaining the original's style, thought, emphasis, rhythm, and sound (Newmark, 1998, p 201) According to Toury (1995), the concept of equivalence in literary translation involves two dimensions: translating texts regarded as 'literary' in the source culture and translating a literary work into the recipient culture, considering its traditions and tastes The first dimension emphasizes maintaining the integrity of the original work based on source cultural context, while the second focuses on adapting the translation to suit the target culture’s expectations and literary standards.
Literary translation is a creative activity involving the transformation of language, with its definition varying among different scholars It is significantly influenced by the specific work being translated, as the translation process helps establish diverse theoretical foundations.
Literary translation is inherently challenging due to its indirect nature and the presence of hidden meanings behind the lines, making it essential for translators to understand the complex systems within a literary text that connect to external contexts (Bassnett, 2005) Unlike technical or scientific translations, literary translation involves heightened pressure to preserve linguistic style and expressive mode rather than just factual accuracy (Finlay, 1971) Additionally, cultural and language barriers pose significant difficulties, emphasizing the importance for translators to expand their knowledge of both literary and non-literary textual criticism to evaluate and maintain text quality before translation (Newmark).
Cultural transference is known as a daunting task of the translators because
Different cultures have unique focuses, which significantly influence language and communication styles (Larson, 1984, p.95) According to Harivanto (2003), achieving a perfect translation of culturally-bound texts is impossible due to the persistent differences between languages and the uneven distribution of cultural knowledge These cultural disparities pose challenges in accurately conveying the original meaning across different linguistic contexts.
Literature often faces limitations in effectively transferring source text into the target language, affecting translation quality For example, Newmark (2004) highlights that translating literary works from French to Spanish generally yields more accurate results than the reverse, due to the closer linguistic relationship between these languages Additionally, Nida (1969) illustrates challenges in translating culturally specific terms, such as translating "Lamb of God" into Eskimo language; since the concept of a "lamb" lacks cultural relevance, Nida opts for "Seal of God" to convey the message effectively These examples demonstrate that linguistic and cultural differences significantly impact translation accuracy and effectiveness.
―translating without understanding text is non-sense, and understanding text without understanding its culture is impossible.‖ (Harivanto, 2003)
Literature serves as a cultural portrait of a nation or community, presenting significant challenges for translators who must balance aesthetic and cultural elements of both the source language (SL) and target language (TL) texts Successful literary translation requires the translator to grasp the essence of the source culture before reproducing the text in another language, considering linguistic, musical, rhythmic, and visual aspects (Schulte, 2010).
Each author has a unique writing style that leaves a distinct impression on readers, such as Shakespearean or John Green’s style When translating a work, it is essential for translators to consider and adapt to the original author’s style to preserve the text's authenticity and literary voice.
Stylistic translation is inherently complex, as highlighted by Lander (2001, p.7), who emphasizes the challenge of capturing artistic and aesthetic qualities While technical translation may prioritize the order of elements, such as cargo in a car, stylistic translation requires preserving emotional and attitudinal nuances that embody the original’s style A well-readable translation can fall short if it removes the original’s artistic soul, illustrating that stylistic nuances often prevent perfect equivalence between source and target texts Consequently, a text with unqualified style can sometimes be effectively translated if appropriately adapted, but a high-quality original style can easily be compromised in the process.
To effectively achieve the primary goal of translation and accurately convey the original content, a translator should prioritize fidelity to the source text while adapting to the author's style when appropriate Maintaining faithfulness to the context is essential, and the translator should avoid imposing their own style, ensuring a clear and coherent translation that reflects the original work's intent.
Achieving equivalence between the source language (SL) and target language (TL) texts is the primary challenge for translators, yet full equivalence is difficult without ensuring linguistic accuracy According to Nida (1964), linguistic issues such as differences in grammatical structures, syntax, punctuation, semantic prosody, and lexical items significantly impact translation quality The organization of language elements directly influences the effectiveness of a translated work Therefore, the success of a translation largely depends on addressing key linguistic aspects within the text to maintain meaning and coherence.
Translating literary texts requires a higher level of knowledge and responsibility from the translator due to their inherent complexity Many translators fail to recognize that a literary work consists of interconnected systems that interact dialectically with external elements, leading them to focus narrowly on certain aspects at the expense of others These external sets include words, images, and worldviews that differ fundamentally from the original context Therefore, effective literary translation demands attention not only to linguistic details but also to the modes of thinking and perception within different cultural groups, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the text's multifaceted nature.
Implicature
2.3.1 Definition of implicature and literary implicature
Implicature was first introduced by Herbert Paul Grice in 1967 to explain communicative situations where the speaker’s intended meaning extends beyond the literal utterance, implying more than what is explicitly said He described implicature as "to account for what a speaker can imply, suggest or mean as distinct from what speaker literally says," highlighting its role in understanding indirect communication This concept has inspired various scholars, such as Thomas (1996), who defined implicature as an additional meaning conveyed to suggest or hint at something indirectly, emphasizing that implicatures are properties of utterances rather than sentences and can vary across contexts Laurence (2006) further explained implicature as a component of speaker’s meaning that substitutes what is meant but is not explicitly expressed According to Yule (1996), implicature involves four key features: analyzing contextual meaning, understanding the complexity of interpretation, recognizing relative closeness in expressions, and grasping the speaker’s intended message Overall, implicature refers to the implied meaning that exceeds the surface level of spoken language.
Implicature remains fundamentally unchanged in literature, but its reflection and function adapt to the unique context of written communication Literary works utilize figurative language to express authors' perceptions, prompting readers to infer meaning independently This inference process can be challenging for readers, as they strive to grasp the author's intended message Consequently, implicature plays a significant role in literary texts, especially novels, as it influences how readers interpret implied meanings behind figurative expressions.
In Grice‘s book Logic and Conversation (1975), Grice discusses two types of implicatures, conventional implicature and conversational implicature
Grice offers two examples to illustrate this type of implicature: "He’s an Englishman; he is, therefore, brave," which suggests that the man's bravery is attributed to his English origin, and "She is poor, but she is honest," implying that her poverty does not compromise her honesty These examples demonstrate how implicature relies on the implied meaning beyond the literal words, considering both lexical meaning and contextual factors Yule (1996) further emphasizes this concept with additional examples, highlighting the importance of understanding implied meanings in communication.
Ana has not gotten better yet, illustrating how ending a sentence with "yet" implies an ongoing situation, which demonstrates the presence of conventional implicature in conversation Classic examples from Grice and Yule highlight that conventional implicature operates independently of contextual conditions and is activated by specific words These implicatures often accompany conjunctions such as "but," "therefore," or "yet," leading to additional implied meanings in communication.
Several linguists, including Levison (1983), have explored the concept of conventional implicature beyond Grice and Yule Levison demonstrates that conventional implicatures are non-truth-conditional, meaning they do not depend on the context for their truth value He explains that these implicatures are attached by convention to specific lexical items or expressions rather than arising from overarching pragmatic principles.
Verschueren (1999, p.34) and other scholars, such as those cited from 1995 (p.47), share a similar perspective on implicature, emphasizing that its conventions do not stem from conversational rules Instead, they are closely linked to specific lexical items that inherently carry natural meanings, highlighting the intrinsic connection between language use and implied communication in pragmatic contexts.
Grice (1975) introduces the concept of conversational implicature, highlighting how speakers often mean more than their literal words in specific contexts According to Paltridge (2006, p 70), conversational implicature involves the listener's inference of the speaker's intended meaning, which is crucial for effective communication The cooperative nature of participants significantly impacts the success of the conversation, emphasizing the importance of shared understanding in discourse.
Grice recommends that to effectively convey conversational implicature, both speakers and listeners should follow a shared set of guiding principles These principles help facilitate a smooth and meaningful conversational process, ensuring mutual understanding By adhering to these guidelines, conversations become more coherent and efficient, supporting the proper interpretation of implied meanings.
The Cooperative Principle, established by Grice, emphasizes that conversational contributions should be appropriate to the ongoing purpose and context of the discussion It guides effective communication by ensuring that speakers contribute meaningfully at each stage of the conversation Grice's four key rational maxims—quality, quantity, relevance, and manner—serve as essential guidelines to facilitate understanding and generate implicatures, enhancing the clarity and efficiency of conversation This principle is fundamental in pragmatics, helping speakers and listeners engage in coherent and purpose-driven exchanges.
- The maxim of Quantity : It supports your contribution as informative as required and limits the informative overload
- The maxim of Quality: This maxim allows the language users not to say what is believed to be false and convey inadequate evidence
- The maxim of Relation : The speakers‘ contributions are relevant
- The maxim of Manner: The expressions are assured not to be ambiguous and obscure It should be orderly and brief
Effective communication relies on participants adhering to Grice's maxims of authenticity, relevance, amount, and clarity to ensure a successful conversation (Grice, 1975) However, in real-life interactions, people often fail to observe these maxims, either intentionally or unintentionally, leading to communication breakdowns in daily contexts (Neito) Understanding these principles is essential for improving conversational skills and enhancing message clarity.
Effective communication can be hindered by both the speaker's difficulties in information transmission—due to psychological barriers or intentional withholding—and the hearer's ineffective processing of the message, which results from poor interaction Sometimes, the hearer bears responsibility in understanding the speaker's intentions, especially when conversational maxims are not followed, requiring them to infer the true meaning behind the utterance Conversational implicature, which involves reading between the lines, can be categorized into two types: Generalized Conversational Implicature (GCI) and Particularized Conversational Implicature, both playing a crucial role in enhancing mutual understanding during communication.
Conversational implicatures (PCI) do not require participants to possess special contextual knowledge to understand the conveyed meaning These implicatures occur when there are no specific circumstances in the context that influence interpretation, making them accessible through general conversational cues (Levison, 1983; Yule, 1996) However, PCI also depends on a very specific, locally recognized context where certain inferences are assumed to be understood by participants, highlighting the role of shared knowledge in communication (Yule) Proper understanding of PCI enhances effective communication by relying on common assumptions without requiring intricate background information.
Effective translation of conversational implicatures requires translators to accurately grasp the implied meanings beyond the literal words of the original text Baker (1992) highlights that literal translation can lead to misinterpretation of implied messages, emphasizing the importance of conveying intended meanings correctly Hatim and Mason (1990) argue that differences in language and linguistic systems should not hinder translators, who must focus on achieving the communicative purpose of the original message As Thomas (cited in Baker, 1992) notes, certain types of implicatures, such as quality implicatures, are context-dependent and may not be directly replicable across languages Therefore, the core of effective translation lies in how the message is conveyed, with translators carefully selecting strategies that preserve both the content and the communicative effect of the original.
Effective translation requires conveying the author's intended meaning through appropriate methods, whether directly or indirectly conveying implicatures Translators must understand and interpret discourse, considering both cultural and language-specific features, making the translation process complex Translating conversational implicatures is particularly challenging, as it often involves modifying parts of the text to ensure cultural and linguistic compatibility with the target audience In the case of English and Vietnamese, translation tends to prioritize acceptability over absolute accuracy to produce culturally appropriate and comprehensible results.
Taken from Yule (2006, p.131), the following conversation is regarded as the particular example for the second type of conversational implicature – Particularized conversational implicature (PCI)
Woman: Do you want to test the potatoes?
Man: Can I just finish this sentence?
In a cozy kitchen, a married couple is multitasking by reading books while preparing dinner, highlighting the importance of communication and context The husband's seemingly incomplete response underscores how conversational cues can lead to misunderstandings when the speaker's intentions are unclear His wife anticipates he will check the potatoes after finishing a sentence, illustrating how shared routines facilitate better understanding This scenario emphasizes that if listeners lack context, they may misinterpret responses, reinforcing the need for clear communication during everyday interactions.
Translation quality assessment (TQA)
In the academic field, TQA has garnered significant attention from renowned scholars such as House (1997), Nord (1997), Lauscher (2000), Brunette (2000), Colina (2008), and William (2009) This diverse body of research provides comprehensive and up-to-date insights into translation evaluation methods, highlighting the undeniable need for translations to be assessed as "good," "satisfactory," and "acceptable."
TQA explicitly highlights the criteria for value judgment in translation, emphasizing its role in evaluating translation quality According to Lawson (2012), TQA seeks to clarify the interpretative potential of translation within an established framework rooted in the source text Essentially, TQA serves as a systematic evaluation method that measures the quality of a translation based on specific, recognized standards of goodness.
Translation quality assessment (TQA) plays a crucial role in translation education by bridging theory and practice, as highlighted by Peter Newmark (1998) TQA enhances translators' skills through critical evaluation of others' work, allowing them to gain valuable professional experience It also broadens their linguistic knowledge and understanding of both their native and foreign languages within specific translation topics Additionally, TQA helps translators refine their comprehension of translation theories and principles, fostering professionalism Schiaffino (2005) emphasizes that TQA also improves language proficiency, deepens topic understanding, reduces poor quality translations, and increases customer satisfaction, making it an essential component of effective translation practice.
2.4.2 Different approaches to access TQA
TQA models are produced from the different schools of thoughts Scholars are thus divided into different groups of TQA approaches
Following this approach, the common names such as Reiss (1971), Skopos Theories (1991), E Steiner (1998), House (1977, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2009,
The functionalist approach in intercultural communication emphasizes that the purpose of a text in the target culture guides the choice of translation methods According to Reiss (1971), assessing a translated product begins with identifying the text type, as different text types necessitate specific functions and translation treatments She categorizes four main text types: content-focused texts (such as news and scientific-technical materials), form-focused texts (like poems and literary works), appeal-focused texts (including advertisements and rhetorical speeches), and audio-medical texts (such as operas and songs) While Reiss highlights the importance of text types in achieving translation equivalence, she does not provide specific steps for determining the desired function in translation.
The most prominent functionalist approach to translation is the Skopos (purpose) theory developed by German scholar Hans Vermeer in 1978 This theory emphasizes that the source text (ST) is created within a specific context of the source culture, which may differ from the target culture Therefore, the translation should be tailored to serve the specific purpose it is intended for in the target culture Building on Vermeer's Skopos theory, Susan Nord further highlights the importance of considering the target culture’s needs and the translation’s intended function to ensure effective communication.
In 1991, it was understood that the extent to which a translation maintains the original’s semantic and formal features depends on both the function of the target text and the specific demands of the translation As a result, translations are categorized along a spectrum ranging from extreme fidelity to extreme liberty, reflecting how closely the translated text adheres to the original.
Simplifying translation statements from "literal" to "free" helps minimize errors during the translation process An effective analytical framework for literary documents involves four key steps: first, analyzing the target text (TT) for intra- and extra-textual factors like grammatical, lexical coherence, and pragmatic dimensions such as time and place; second, evaluating the source text (ST) using a translation-relevant text analysis model to identify potential issues like coherence gaps or inconsistent terminology; third, comparing the TT and ST with a detailed profile to assess similarities and discrepancies; and finally, addressing the challenge of performing an overall evaluation when judgments are based on the nature of errors rather than specific numerical data.
Functionalist approaches emphasize the importance of the extra-linguistic context and consider the "skopos" (aim or purpose) as a vital element in translation However, this approach may be insufficient for thoroughly assessing the quality and accuracy of a translation, as it primarily focuses on the translation's purpose rather than its fidelity to the original text Therefore, while useful in guiding translation strategies, functionalist methods may require supplementary evaluation tools for comprehensive translation assessment.
The quantitative approach to quality measurement, developed by Sical (1986), assesses texts based on the qualification of errors, primarily focusing on the number of minor and major mistakes Major errors occur when words are mistranslated or the language becomes incomprehensible and inappropriate (Williams, 1989, p.26) Texts are graded on a scale from A to D, with A indicating superior quality with up to 6 minor errors and no major errors, B representing fully acceptable texts with up to 12 errors, C suitable for revision with up to 18 errors, and D classified as unacceptable.
Waddington (2001) introduces four methods for evaluating translation quality assessment (TQA) Method A focuses on feasible errors categorized by their impact on understanding, including unsuitable translation affecting comprehension and inadequate translation of main or secondary functions of the source text Method B, based on Kussmaul (1995), involves identifying whether language mistakes or translation mistakes are responsible for errors, with a scoring system assigning different points to each A holistic assessment approach is presented as Method C, providing an overall evaluation of translation quality The final method combines elements of Methods B and C in a 70/30 proportion, integrating detailed error analysis with a broad quality overview.
These methods have revealed limitations, as many scholars express dissatisfaction due to their highly academic approach, neglect of translation shifts, varying judgments, and overestimation of the target text's quality.
ST difficulties and so forth
The development of Textual Quality Assessment (TQA) has been significantly influenced by linguistically oriented studies Seminal works by Baker (1992), Steiner (1998), Munday and Hatim (2004), and Munday (2008) have played a crucial role in reshaping perspectives on TQA These influential publications have contributed to a deeper understanding of language features and their impact on text quality, advancing the theoretical framework of TQA in translation studies.
Assessing a translated text involves three key factors: Field, Tenor, and Mode Field pertains to the subject matter, social activities, and objective Orientations of the content, ensuring relevance and accuracy Tenor focuses on social roles, agentivity, and social distance, shaping the tone and relationship between communicators Mode addresses the role of language, including the discourse channel and medium used, affecting how the message is conveyed and understood Considering these elements ensures a coherent and contextually appropriate translation, optimized for SEO.
House’s model, published in 1977, is a foundational approach to Text Quality Assessment (TQA) that utilizes the dimensions of Field, Tenor, and Mode, integrating components like register theory, stylistics, discourse analysis, pragmatics, and systemic linguistics Based on Halliday’s 1973 functional framework and Crystal and Davy’s 1969 situational dimensions, it emphasizes the comparison between Source Text (ST) and Target Text (TT) Although House has updated her TQA model through six new versions, its core principles remain unchanged The model’s key focus is on categorizing the functions of texts by establishing two dimensions that analyze how the ST and TT serve different communicative purposes.
The article discusses the comprehensive framework for analyzing texts based on their occurrence of use, source, and communicative purpose, often in combination It highlights the importance of examining texts across four categories: Function, Register, Language, and Genre, to understand their higher-level characteristics The model introduced differentiates between two types of translation: covert translation, which aims to produce target texts that serve as the “original source texts in the target culture” (House, 1977, p.69), and over translation A translator employing covert translation intentionally addresses the target audience in a way that closely resembles the original source, ensuring cultural and contextual fidelity.
ST to its source culture community On the basis of covert translation, the concept
METHODOLOGY
A brief introduction of The Fault in Our Stars
"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green, published by Dutton Books in 2012, is a poignant novel comprising 25 chapters and 313 pages, depicting a tragic-romance story of two teenagers battling cancer The story follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, who has thyroid cancer, and Augustus Waters, a survivor of osteosarcoma who lost his leg, as they meet at a support group and develop a deep connection through shared love of reading Their relationship evolves into love, culminating in a trip to Amsterdam enabled by Augustus's “Cancer Wish,” where they share romantic moments and fulfill Hazel’s dream of meeting her favorite author However, their happiness is short-lived as Augustus's cancer relapses, leading to his painful passing, leaving Hazel to find solace in her family’s love and a heartfelt letter written by Augustus before his death.
Since its publication, *The Fault in Our Stars* has captivated readers worldwide and earned a prestigious reputation, including awards such as #1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller The novel's popularity has led to numerous reprints and translations in various languages, particularly resonating with young audiences Despite its global success, there is a noticeable lack of scholarly analysis on the accuracy and quality of its translations, especially regarding how character implicatures are conveyed Therefore, conducting a detailed examination of the novel and its translations, including versions like *Khi lỗi thuộc về những vì sao*, would provide valuable insights into translation effectiveness and cultural adaptation. -Deepen your insights on *The Fault in Our Stars* translations and cultural impact with expert analysis—[discover more](https://pollinations.ai/redirect/2699274).
Research approach
The researcher employs a mixed-method approach, which has gained popularity for its effectiveness in comprehensive research Combining quantitative and qualitative methods allows for a balanced collection and analysis of data, addressing complex systems and exploring both processes and outcomes Quantitative methods provide statistically-driven insights through mathematical tools, while qualitative approaches offer in-depth understanding via texts, images, or objects Integrating these traditional methods results in richer, more nuanced findings, enhancing the overall understanding of research problems (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011; Greene, 2007; Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004; Leech & Onwuegbuzie, 2009; Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2010; Teddlie & Tashakkori, 2009).
Different fields have developed various mixed methods to enrich research insights In this study, the researcher chose a sequential explanatory mixed method design to provide deeper explanations of the main male character’s PCIs and to conduct a thorough initial assessment of their translation This approach offers a straightforward and logical structure, ensuring each stage of research is clear and accessible, with subsequent data collection processes influenced by prior results (Fetters et al., 2013) It is particularly effective when quantitative data needs to be analyzed in-depth, categorized, and then explored further through qualitative methods, leading to new insights and a deeper understanding of the findings.
In this methodology, the quantitative phase generally holds greater importance, although the emphasis may shift if the researcher prioritizes the second phase This variation is noteworthy because it underscores the flexibility of mixed methods research, allowing for tailored approaches depending on the study's objectives Prioritizing the second phase can provide deeper insights, making this approach valuable for comprehensive data analysis Understanding the balance between these phases enhances research design, ensuring meaningful and actionable results.
Qualitative research focuses on providing in-depth explanations of a phenomenon, but initial quantitative results are essential for identifying key participants and guiding the selection process (Creswell & Plano Clark, p.86) This approach emphasizes detailed analysis to ensure comprehensive understanding, allowing researchers to interpret findings effectively and reach well-informed final evaluations.
This study employs a two-phase mixed-method approach, where quantitative data analysis informs the subsequent qualitative phase, following Creswell et al (2003) Initially, quantitative data are collected and analyzed to guide the qualitative exploration, with textual data examined sequentially to build on previous findings Additionally, the research investigates both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the novel, including an evaluation of the quality of its translated version To achieve this, the researcher has adapted the traditional mixed-method model, which will be detailed in the fourth section of the chapter.
Research question
What particularized conversational implicatures are found in the original novel?
How does the main male character show his life perception via the PCIs?
How is the Vietnamese translation quality of PCIs according to Newmark‘s model?
Data collection procedures and analysis
The modified process of the research was diagramed, as follows:
Diagram 1: Data collection procedure and analysis
Adapted from Explanatory Mixed Method Design from Qualitative Inquiry
& Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, by J W Creswell, 2007, p.73 Copyright 2007 by J.W Creswell Reprinted with permission
This study employs a mixed-method design starting with quantitative data collection and analysis The primary data consists of the main male character’s monologues and dialogues, which are analyzed using the Cooperative Principle and conversational maxims to identify particularized implicatures throughout the novel’s chapters Additionally, the same analytical approach is applied to translated excerpts of these utterances to explore how meaning is preserved or altered in translation This comprehensive methodology ensures a thorough understanding of the character’s speech patterns and communicative nuances, contributing to insights into pragmatic functions within the literary context.
This study systematically analyzes PCI data by classifying all PCIs from the previous phase into three groups for both English and Vietnamese languages To ensure accuracy, the researcher employed the Double Entry method during data analysis The extracted PCI data were organized into two-column tables, with one column representing English and the other its Vietnamese translation, enhancing clarity and data comparison Additional practical steps were implemented to refine the analysis process, ensuring a logical and coherent interpretation of the data.
The character's utterances are collected
The utterances are analyzed to achieve PCIs
PCIs are categorized into three groups
This study assessed translation quality through a meticulous review process, where Lã Thị Phương Loan, a linguistics MA graduate, re-entered the data for accuracy The researcher analyzed the PCIs to ensure they conveyed Augustus’s intended perceptions, comparing them against translated excerpts within Newmark’s Translation Quality Assessment framework The critical evaluation focused on resolving specific SL conversational implicatures, such as sentence connectives, metaphors, and cultural terms, ensuring both referential and pragmatic accuracy Overall, the researcher’s final assessment provided a comprehensive conclusion on the translation’s quality.