Rationale
President Ho Chi Minh was not only a revolutionary leader but also a gifted writer whose works are considered masterpieces of art His notable collection, "Prison Diary," has been widely translated into various languages, including English, French, and Lao However, translating poetry poses significant challenges, and Ho Chi Minh's poems are no exception.
The translations of "Prison Diary – First Page of the Diary" by Aileen Palmer and Dang The Binh are analyzed to assess their success, as Palmer was the first foreign translator and Dang was the first Vietnamese to render the poem into English Aileen Palmer's version has served as a source text for numerous other translations into various languages, significantly impacting the dissemination and reception of "Prison Diary – First Page of the Diary."
2 Aims and purpose of the study:
As mentioned in the rationale, this thesis will analysize the two versions of
This thesis analyzes the translations of "Prison Diary – First Page of the Diary" by Aileen Paulmer and Dang The Binh, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses using Dell Hymes’ model of context It aims to provide insights for those considering these translations for study or as source texts in their translation processes Additionally, the thesis will introduce a more successful alternative translation of the poem, offering readers further options for their exploration.
This article explores three contextual analysis models from Firth, Halliday, and Dell Hymes, specifically tailored for advanced English learners It highlights the rationale for selecting Dell Hymes' model for analysis Additionally, the article examines two translated versions of 'Prison Diary – the first page of diary,' utilizing Dell Hymes' contextual framework while comparing the two versions.
The thesis will focus on the following questions as below:
- Why Dell Hymes’model of context was choosen?
- What are the strong points of Aileen Paulmer and Dang The Binh’s version?
- What are the weak points of these two versions?
- What are the figures that each version achieved more successfully?
- In which figure that the version had done better than the other two version?
- What does the third version can do better to achieve the elements totally?
This thesis utilizes library research, drawing on various books and resources related to translation, discourse analysis, and context analysis These references, authored by numerous scholars, provide a solid foundation for the analysis Additionally, I explored online opinions regarding "Prison Diary" and its first page to enhance my understanding of the subject.
In doing the analysis, I do some steps as follows:
To begin my analysis, I examined Dell Hymes’ model of context to understand the criteria for evaluating the two texts, particularly focusing on the definitions of each criterion I then read the poem "Prison Diary – First Page of the Diary" to grasp its content fully This included reviewing the translations by Aileen Palmer and Dang The Binh, as well as the original classical Chinese text The poem serves as the primary data source, from which I highlighted and gathered words and phrases from the translations that may differ in meaning from the original Additionally, considering the elements of Hymes’ model, I collected relevant information about Ho Chi Minh, the "Prison Diary," its translations, and the context of Tang Dynasty poetry.
The second step involves selecting the data, where only the most significant and relevant information collected is utilized for the analysis of the thesis.
The final step involves data analysis using the descriptive method, which entails describing, analyzing, and interpreting the data This approach was employed to validate the objectives outlined in the thesis, ultimately leading to the formulation of a conclusion.
1.1 The concept and role of context in discourse:
According to Oxford Dictionary, from late Middle English, ‘context’ comes from Latin ‘contextus’ which is con – together and texere – to weave
Context refers to the circumstances surrounding an event or statement that aid in its understanding It encompasses the words preceding or following a word, phrase, or statement, providing clarity to its meaning.
Context plays a crucial role in discourse analysis, as it helps to interpret utterances accurately Dr Ho Ngoc Trung, in "Lectures on Discourse Analysis" (2014: 27), defines context as the situation that gives rise to discourse and within which it is embedded Most sentences are interconnected, making context essential for understanding For translators, analyzing the context of a text is the first step in accurately translating it into another language.
Linguists have developed various models for contextual analysis, with Dr Ho Ngoc Trung presenting three significant models in chapter 2 of 'Lectures on Discourse Analysis.' These models, originating from J.R Firth, Dell Hymes, and Halliday, are deemed "relevant and useful to the translator at work." The following table summarizes these three models.
1.The relevant of participants: persons, personalities, the verbal and non – verbal action of the participants
1.Addresser and addressee: the participants
2.The revelant objects: the surrounding objects and events
2.Audience: the overhearers or unintended addressees
3.The effect of the verbal action: what changes were brought about by what the participants in the situation had to say
3.Topic: what is talked about or written about
4.Setting: the time and place of speech event
5.Channel: the way in which a message is conveyed from one person to another
6.Code: a term which is used instead of language, speech variety, dialect
7.Message form: the form of the text
8.Key: involves evaluation of the text
9.Purpose: the outcome which the participants wish to happen as a result on the communicative event
10 Event: tell us about the nature of communicative events within which a text may be embedded
In ‘Translation: theory and practice’, page 42, Dr Ho Ngoc Trung states that
“Halliday’s model seems to be the most comprehensive and most powerful one” Therefore, a detailed introduction of two models will be listed in the table below:
Halliday’s model Dell Hymes’ model
The field of discourse pertains to the ongoing events and the nature of social interactions among participants It encapsulates what individuals are engaged in and the context in which the language is utilized.
The addressor is the individual who creates the utterance, while the addressee is the person who receives and interprets it Both elements are crucial components of communication.
The tenor of discourse encompasses the participants involved in a conversation, including their statuses and roles It examines the nature of these relationships and the specific speech roles assumed during the dialogue, highlighting the array of socially significant connections that shape the interaction.
2 Audience: refers to the overhearer or unintended addressee
The mode of discourse refers to the role of language in a given context, highlighting participants' expectations of its function It encompasses the symbolic organization of the text, its status, and its purpose, including whether it is spoken, written, or a combination of both Additionally, it addresses the rhetorical mode, focusing on the text's objectives, such as persuasion or exposition.
3.Topic: topic tells us about the range of language used didactic , and the like