04051001870 tóm tắt a tale of two cities” and its vietnamese version of translation “hai kinh thành”a systemic functional comparison = a tale of two cities” và bản dịch tiếng việt “hai kinh thành” so sánh theo lí thuyết chức năng hệ thống
INTRODUCTION
Rationale of the study
This study compares the Vietnamese translation "Hai kinh thành" by Dang Thu with the English source text "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, utilizing systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as the theoretical framework for analysis The choice of this topic is driven by several compelling reasons.
Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) was a renowned English writer celebrated for his iconic fictional stories and novels, earning recognition as a literary genius (Black, 2007) As the most popular novelist of his era (Bloom, 2007), Dickens's writing style is characterized by rich linguistic creativity and insightful social commentary, solidifying his status as one of the most read and influential English authors.
“A Tale of Two Cities,” written by Charles Dickens in 1859, is a historical novel set in London and Paris during the French Revolution The novel reflects the tumultuous conditions leading up to the Revolution and the Reign of Terror During this period, Dickens embarked on a successful reading tour across 49 towns in England, Scotland, and Ireland, captivating a large audience His works were widely read, with one in ten Victorians following his writings closely, contributing to the novel's status as one of the greatest and best-selling books of all time.
“A Tale of Two Cities” has been translated into various languages, including “Historia de dos ciudades” in Spanish, “Do Shehro Ki Dastan” in Hindi, “Eine Geschichte aus zwei Stọdten” in German, and “Paris Et Londres En 1793: Le Marquis de Saint-Evremont” in French This highlights the novel's significant impact on English literature and world literature as a whole Additionally, the Vietnamese version titled “Hai kinh thành,” translated by Dang Thu, was published in 2018.
This research aims to enhance the understanding of the similarities and differences between the source text (ST) and the target text (TT) within a linguistic framework Additionally, it seeks to assist individuals engaged in contrastive and comparative discourse analysis.
Aims, objectives and research questions of the study
This study aims to compare the English novel "A Tale of Two Cities" with its Vietnamese translation "Hai kinh thành," focusing on the similarities and differences between the source text (ST) and the target text (TT) through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) The objectives include analyzing the transitivity resources used in both texts and highlighting the key similarities and differences in their transitivity The findings are expected to demonstrate the significance of linguistic choices in transitivity for character and event development, ultimately revealing how these choices relate to the story and serve as critical criteria for comparing the original and translated texts.
In order to achieve the aims and objectives above, the study focuses on the following research questions:
1 What transitivity resources are employed in “A Tale of Two Cities” and how are they employed?
2 What transitivity resources are employed in "Hai kinh thành" and how are they employed?
3 What are the similarities and differences between "A Tale of Two Cities" and its Vietnamese version of translation "Hai kinh thành" in terms of transitivity?
Scope of the study
The ST consists of three books, 45 chapters and about 500 pages The first chapter
The chapter "The Period" contains over 1000 words and approximately 100 simple clauses Comparing the two full texts would require significant time and effort, which exceeds the limits of this study Therefore, we will concentrate on analyzing "The Period" and its equivalent chapter "Thuở ấy" in the Vietnamese translation.
To effectively compare two subjects, a common theoretical framework is essential for identifying their similarities and differences This study utilizes systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as its guiding framework, which is a comprehensive linguistic theory encompassing various aspects such as transitivity, mood, and theme However, due to the scope of this research, it focuses specifically on transitivity for the comparative analysis of the two chapters.
Methods of the study
This study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather baseline data for further analysis The data collected from the source text (ST) and the target text (TT) is analyzed quantitatively Subsequently, the analysis results are discussed and compared using Halliday's transitivity theory to highlight the similarities and differences between the two text segments.
The analysis focuses on counting the number of words in the source text (ST) and the target text (TT), followed by an examination of the number of clauses based on clause simplexes Clause complexes and relative embedded clauses are excluded from this study For clarity in our analysis, we will employ specific notational conventions, where three vertical strokes (|||) denote the boundary of a clause complex, and two vertical strokes (||) indicate other relevant separations.
4 boundary of the clause (clause simplex); and square brackets [ ] indicates the boundary of the embedded clause.
Significance of the study
This study aims to contribute to the application of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) by comparing two literary text extracts: the original English version and its Vietnamese translation The goal is to provide a fresh perspective on interlingual and intercultural contrastive discourse analysis.
This study illustrates that Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) serves as an accessible model for understanding language, enabling researchers to analyze texts within a single language and facilitate comparisons across different languages The results provide valuable insights for those engaged in comparative or contrastive studies of literary texts between source and target languages.
Design of the study
The study consists of five chapters:
Chapter 1 - Introduction - presents rationale, aims, objectives, research questions, scope, methods, significance and design of the study
Chapter 2 is the Literature review, which reviews the scientific and theoretical bases relevant to the comparison between the original text and translated text
Chapter 3 presents the Methodology of the study, including the context where the study is conducted; the subject and the instruments are used to collect data (by using charts, tables, statistics); and the procedures of data analysis
Chapter 4 – Findings and discusions are concerned with data analysis and findings It describes in some detail the data analysis process, and to give an explanation of the findings
Chapter 5 is the Conclusion of the study It summarizes the main issues, and concludes remarks of the study, points out the limitation of the study and makes suggestion for further research
LITERATURE REVIEW
Language as text
This section presents the definition of language and its function Besides, the levels of language and text meaning are also discussed
Language serves as a communication system through speech and writing, comprising sounds and written symbols used by specific communities Linguists adopt two main approaches: the formal approach, which examines the structural properties of language, and the functional approach, which explores its practical uses Language functions can be categorized into two types: transactional, which focuses on conveying information, and interactional, which emphasizes social interaction.
The functional dichotomies are also found in the functional approach about
Halliday's (1994) concept of "ideational and interpersonal" metafunctions highlights two key aspects of language: making sense of our experiences and expressing social relationships (Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004) When grammar is systematically applied, it introduces an additional mode of meaning that aids in text construction This enabling function facilitates the interpretation of experiences and the enactment of interpersonal relationships Furthermore, the textual function plays a crucial role in organizing discourse, enhancing contextual relevance, ensuring cohesion, and clarifying the sequence of ideas.
Halliday (1994) and Halliday and Matthiessen (2004) view language as a complex semiotic system, interpreting it as a network of systems rather than merely a set of structures They introduced the term "strata" to describe the various levels of language.
Text functions as a cohesive representation of language at the semantic level, with its meaning shaped by the specific social context To convey meaning effectively, it relies on the lexicogrammatical stratum, which aligns with the systemic functional approach to language The graphophonic stratum, encompassing the sounds and symbols of the language system, expresses and realizes the central stratum Contextual choices trigger semantic choices, which subsequently activate lexicogrammatical choices.
2.1.3 Text as an organization of language
Normally we consider Text is the verbal record of a communicative event (Brown and Yule, 1983), but in this study the definition by Halliday and Hasan will be adopted
A text can be defined as a unit of language that can be spoken or written, whether in prose or verse, and can take the form of dialogue or monologue According to Halliday (1976), a text possesses texture, which sets it apart from non-textual elements.
A text is understood as a semantic unit defined by its meaning rather than its form Therefore, the significance of a text is determined not by its length but by its realization.
7 sentences do or do not constitute a text by the cohesive relationships within and between sentences, “the texture is provided by the cohesive RELATION…”.
The relationship between language and social context
This section deals with the concept of “context”, how a text makes meaning within the context Then it clarifies the role of context in the linguistic model
Malinowski (1923) emphasized that a text is shaped by its cultural context and situational factors Halliday (1976) provides a framework for understanding the characteristics of both texts and their corresponding situations in his work, "Cohesion in English."
The concept of context is acknowledged as a distinct layer within the theoretical framework of linguistics (Halliday 1994, Chapter I) Additionally, the cultural context plays a crucial role by offering familiar elements and events that relate to the text's content, shaped by the specific socio-cultural background.
2.2.2 How a text makes meaning within the context of situation
Halliday and Hassan (1976, Chapter I) describe how the features of a situation shape the characteristics of a text, thereby influencing its meaning within a specific context The key elements they identify—field, tenor, and mode—play a crucial role in determining how language is utilized in a text.
The field of a text refers to its subject matter, overall event, and the writer's intention, aligning with the ideational metafunction The tenor focuses on the relationship between the speaker and listener or the writer and reader, encompassing the nature of social interactions among participants, which is realized through the interpersonal metafunction Lastly, the mode pertains to the construction of the text, including its type, genre, and rhetorical strategies, serving the textual metafunction.
2.2.3 The role of context in the linguistic model
Context has been essential in the evolution of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) Originating from the work of Malinowski (1923, 1935) and later referenced by Firth (1950, cited in Halliday and Hasan, 1976), the concept of context has been emphasized and utilized by Halliday in his writings.
Halliday's 1961 model serves as the foundation for the Scale and Category model, providing a scientific framework for understanding the nature and function of language He identifies the category of context as a distinct stratum, emphasizing its core role in lexicogrammar Halliday's model illustrates the interaction between various factors that influence language use.
Figure 2: Language and context: system and instance (Halliday, 1991; cited in Hoang, 2018, p 3)
This model features two types of relationships: realization along the vertical axis and instantiation along the horizontal axis The cultural domain and register represent the sub-system level, while situation type and text type correspond to instance types Different perspectives on this model reveal various sets with distinct relational directions Instantiation refers to the connection between a potential and its instance, or between a system and its situational context, reflecting the same concept viewed from different temporal depths The system is conceptually extrapolated from the instance, which encompasses immediate and experiential factors.
Finally, Context consists of extra-linguistic factors, and is the highest stratum It is construed by language through four other strata.
The transitivity system and the experiential processes
This section presents the transitivity system in general and the experiential in particular It also gives a detail presentation on the types of circumstances
Halliday (1994) considers that “the English clause is a composite affair, a combination of three different structures deriving from distinct functional components”
Systemic functional grammar encompasses three metafunctions: ideational, interpersonal, and textual These metafunctions facilitate the expression of distinct semantic choices and shape the structural framework of clauses Transitivity structures clarify the subject matter of the clause, detailing the types of processes along with their associated participants and circumstances This structural approach conveys representational or experiential meaning.
Halliday (1994, p.106) says “Our most powerful impression of experience is that it consists of „going-on‟– happening, doing, sensing, meaning, and being and becoming.”
The mode of reflection in language facilitates the creation of diverse events, emotions, and experiences It allows us to construct a mental representation of reality through various processes Halliday identified six distinct process types within the transitivity system: Material, Behavioural, Mental, Verbal, Relational, and Existential.
Experiential processes represent reality through the transitivity system, as highlighted by Halliday (1985, 1994; Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004) Hoang (2012) provides a Vietnamese translation and detailed analysis of the experiential function of the Vietnamese clause, contributing to the understanding of language organization principles In this framework, three main components define a process: process type, participants, and circumstances Together, these elements form a structure for interpreting our experiences of both the outer and inner worlds.
Any actions like doing, creating or changing or affecting to the physical world can be considered as in the group of the material process
In this process, the participants are the Actor and the Goal The Goal's role is to experience or endure the effects or changes brought about by the Actor For example, in the sentence "The boy is "
10 reading‟, „the boy‟ is the obligatory Actor and its extension can be „The boy read the diary‟ where „the diary‟ becomes a thing suffering from the boy‟s action
There may join some other elements as in the sentence: „She gave me the diary‟ –
In the sentence structure, "me" serves as the Receiver who gains from the action "gave." This representation can be expressed in two ways: in the active voice, as in "the boy read the diary," or in the passive voice, such as "the diary was read by the boy," with "the diary" remaining the Goal in both instances.
The discussed process type is one of three subsidiary categories that blend characteristics of both material and mental processes, exemplified by actions such as breathing, coughing, smiling, and watching These behaviors exist at the intersection of material and mental processes, with the participant, known as the Behaver, typically being a conscious entity The nature of this process aligns more closely with the concept of doing, where the unmarked sense is present in the present In this context, the present simple tense is also utilized in unmarked situations, showing minimal distinction between forms, as illustrated by the questions "Why do you laugh?" and "Why are you laughing?"
The behavioral process is intricately linked to psychological and physiological behaviors, as we attribute emotions and actions to living beings rather than inanimate objects For instance, we say "she is crying" instead of "the table is crying," and "a pig is snoring" rather than "the tree is snoring." Additionally, when multiple participants are involved, we can observe a range of phenomena, such as "I throw the ball into water," and we can also describe circumstances using wh-adjuncts, like in the question "What are you laughing at?"
The mental process encompasses seeing, thinking, and feeling within the realm of consciousness, and it can be divided into three subtypes: perception, which includes sensory experiences like seeing and hearing; affection, which involves emotions such as love and fear; and cognition, which pertains to thinking, knowing, and understanding.
In the mental process, participants are categorized into two types: the Senser and the Phenomenon The Senser refers to the conscious being capable of sensing or feeling, while the Phenomenon represents what is sensed or felt For example, in the sentence "She liked the diary," "she" serves as the Senser, and "the diary" is identified as the Phenomenon.
Tense serves as an indicator of mental processes, with the present tense being unmarked in material processes but marked in mental processes Conversely, the simple present tense is marked in material processes while remaining unmarked in mental processes.
In general, the mental processes are not clearly bounded in time, and it is less focused on the tense form but the simple present
In the sentence "Peter said he was unhappy," Peter serves as the Sayer, while "said" represents the verbal process The phrase "he was unhappy" functions as a secondary clause within the clause complex, rather than as a rankshifted noun clause object of the verb "say." This expression can be presented in direct quotes, such as "he said 'I am unhappy,'" or in indirect speech, as in "he said he was unhappy." Additionally, there are three other participant functions: Receiver, Verbiage, and Target.
A relational process refers to the connections between entities rather than their mere existence It involves relationships established between two distinct entities and encompasses three primary types: intensive, circumstantial, and possessive These types can be categorized into two modes—Attributive and Identifying—resulting in a total of six categories of relational processes.
The intensive processes in the attributive mode involve a Carrier and an Attributive, where the Attributive describes a quality and the Carrier embodies that quality For instance, in the sentence "Tom is smart," Tom serves as the Carrier, while the relational process connects him to the Attributive.
Attributive is smart For intensive processes in the identifying mode, we have the
Circumstantial processes involve elements such as time, place, manner, cause, accompaniment, role, matter, or angle They manifest in two modes: Attributive and Identifying In the attributive mode, the circumstance is exemplified by phrases like "She is with the doctor" and "my story concerns a shepherd boy." Other verbs that can be used in this mode include "last," "weigh," and "cost." Notably, these constructions are non-reversible and lack a passive equivalent, as seen in the phrase "a shepherd boy is concerned by my story."
The processes exhibit characteristics of both material and relational types, representing the act of existence These processes often start with the word "there," which serves as a subject without a representational function For example, in the sentence "there is a book on the table," "the book" is the existent object, while "on the table" indicates the circumstance.
2.3.3 The types and status of circumstances
The circumstantial elements occur in all types of process They are: extent, location, manner, cause, contingency, accompaniment, role, matter, and angle
Previous studies
Studies on contrastive/comparative discourse analysis are various; but the following is in focus:
Hanh Thu Nguyen (2012) conducted a transitivity analysis to explore the portrayal of the main character's personality in "Heroic Mother" by Hoa Pham By utilizing Halliday's transitivity system, she highlighted the significant role of language in social contexts and demonstrated how linguistic choices in transitivity contribute to the development of the main character within the narrative.
Rym Ezzina (2015) employed transitivity as a method for discourse analysis, examining the interplay between linguistic structures based on Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) and the meanings within Thomas Pynchon's text, "The Crying a Lot of 49." The study concentrated on analyzing verbs according to various process types in the experiential metafunction.
Dr Nancy Anashia Ong'onda (2016) from Mount Kenya University conducted a qualitative study analyzing newspaper headlines on terrorism in Kenya Utilizing Halliday's theory of transitivity, the research explores how Al-Shabaab is represented through the language in these headlines The study aims to uncover how Kenyan reporters construct the image of Al-Shabaab in their publications.
In 2018, Hoang Van Van conducted a comparative study of the renowned Vietnamese poem "Bánh trôi nước" alongside three English translations, utilizing systemic functional grammar as the theoretical framework This research provides a comprehensive analysis that uncovers intriguing similarities and differences between the original poem and its translations, as well as among the translated versions themselves, focusing on ideational, interpersonal, and textual meanings.
Summary
This chapter has provided a brief overview of SFL and previous studies related to the study
The article begins by defining language and its essential functions It then explores context as a crucial layer within the linguistic system Additionally, it highlights the transitivity system, a key metafunction in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), which represents experiences through various processes such as doing, thinking, and being Finally, the article reviews relevant previous studies, allowing the researcher to draw insights and avoid limitations, ultimately aiding in the analysis of the novel "A Tale of Two Cities."
METHODOLOGY
Data analysis
3.1.1 Techniques of data collection and analysis
The data are quantitatively taken from the source text “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens and the translated version by Dang Thu
The unit of analysis in this research is every clause in “A Tale of Two Cities” and
To establish baseline data for further analysis, both the source text and its translated version are evaluated for word count Additionally, the analysis focuses on the number of simple clauses, excluding clause complexes and relative embedded clauses from the study's scope.
For enhanced data analysis, I will adopt specific notational conventions: three vertical strokes (|||) will denote the boundary of a clause complex, two vertical strokes (||) will indicate the boundary of a clause simplex, and square brackets ([ ]) will signify the boundary of an embedded clause An example of this notation can be found in the Appendix for further clarification.
Transitivity analysis
In this study, we focus on a manageable comparison between the first chapter of the source text "The Period" and its translated version, as a full text comparison is not feasible.
In the comparison of "A Tale of Two Cities" and its Vietnamese translation "Hai kinh thành," the original text contains approximately 1004 words, while the translated version has around 1234 words Notably, "A Tale of Two Cities" features about 108 clauses, whereas "Hai kinh thành" includes 105 clauses.
The comparison of process types in both ST and TT focused on their numerical distribution, allowing us to identify similarities and differences Additionally, the qualitative discussion of experiential representation served as a supplementary criterion for assessing translation quality.
Each clause simplex was classified into the process type then all parts of the clauses were pointed out by their functions in terms of process types, participants, circumstantial elements
Participants in clauses can serve various functions depending on the type of process The collected clauses are analyzed based on their participants' roles In cases where clauses are missing one or more participants, I will indicate this with a blank space as needed.
In some cases, there is a white blank but it is still assigned a funtion because of the transformation between process types
Circumstantial elements are present in all types of processes, categorized into nine types: Location, Extent, Manner, Accompaniment, Role, Cause, Contingency, Matter, and Angle Each clause in the novel will be labeled according to these types of circumstances, with a detailed list provided in the appendix.
Summary
This chapter outlines the research methodology framework for analyzing the novel through the transitivity system It begins with a description of the data collection and analysis techniques, followed by a clear depiction of contextual analysis and clause boundaries to aid reader comprehension The analysis process focuses on the types of processes, participants, and circumstances, comparing their distributions in both the source text (ST) and target text (TT) The subsequent chapter will present the findings from the data analysis.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
Findings
4.1.1 The transitivity resources as employed in "A Tale of Two Cities"and its Vietnamese version of translation "Hai kinh thành, and how they are employed
Both the ST writer and the translator predominantly utilized the material process type, accounting for 63.89% in English and 52.38% in Vietnamese, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 The relational process follows as the second most used, comprising 20.37% in English and 28.57% in Vietnamese.
Vietnamese), then the verbal process type with 7.41% (8.57% in Vietnamese) The three other types are: Existential with 4.63% (2.86% in Vietnamese), behavioural 1.85%
(3.81% in Vietnamese) and the mental with 1.85% (3.81% in Vietnamese)
Each process type comprises various components, and transitioning from one type to another impacts all associated elements The choice of process types in a text is determined by the writer's intent, emphasizing the narrative's focus on actions, states of being, or emotions.
4.1.2 The similarities and differences between "A Tale of Two Cities" and its Vietnamese version of translation "Hai kinh thành" in terms of processes and participants
The following chart provides the rate of process distribution in both versions
Figure 3: The percentage distribution of the process types in the source text
MaterialMentalRelationalBehavioralVerbalExistential
The analysis of the translated text reveals a close similarity to the source text regarding the distribution of process types The total number of simple clauses remains relatively unchanged Notably, the number of material processes decreases from 69 in English to 55 in Vietnamese, reflecting a drop in percentage from 63.89% to 52.38% Conversely, mental processes see an increase from 2 (1.85%) to 4 (3.81%), while relational processes rise from 22 (20.37%) to 30 (28.57%).
2 (1.85%) to 4 (3.81%) while existential processes are down from 5 (4.63%) to 3 (2.86%), and there are few verbal clauses which nearly keep nearly unchanged in number (8-9) and slightly increase from 7.41% to 8.57%
There are some big differences in terms of the material and relational processes in both versions To be clearer, the next chart shows the results for illustration
Figure 5: The distribution of the process types in both versions
Material Mental Relational Behavioral Verbal Existential
Material Mental Relational Behavioral Verbal Existential
Figure 6: The trend of the process types in both versions
The mountain of mental, relational, and behavioral processes in "Hai kinh thành" is significantly steeper than in "A Tale of Two Cities," indicating a greater presence of these processes in the former Additionally, the existential processes in the source text are more pronounced than in the translated version, suggesting a reduction in existential elements in the translation Conversely, the material processes in "A Tale of Two Cities" are notably higher than those in "Hai kinh thành," highlighting a substantial decrease in material processes in the latter.
As Figure 5 indicates, all types of processes are distributed with a relatively balanced proportion in both texts
Table 1: The distribution of each process type in English and Vietnamese texts
Table 1 illustrates the internal stability of various process types, highlighting that material and relational processes dominate over others in both chapters This dominance emphasizes the significance of all processes between the source text (ST) and target text (TT), followed by verbal processes.
A tale of two citiesHai kinh thanh
The study identifies 20 existential processes, highlighting that mental and behavioral processes are the most dynamic, exhibiting significant changes from the source text to the target text, with alterations ranging from 33.33% to 66.67% for both types Additionally, the horizontal analyses provide further insights into these transformations.
Figure 7: The number of participants in both versions
Table 2: The distribution of participants in English and Vietnamese texts
The findings in Table 2 reveal several key points Firstly, certain participant types, including Actor, Carrier, Sayer, Verbiage, Token, Value, Existent, and Behaver, maintain a percentage distribution that closely aligns with the source text Secondly, the number of Attributes is reasonably similar to the source, while the number of Goals deviates significantly due to process transformation Additionally, there is a notable change in the number of Receivers and Targets However, the Range remains unchanged at 0% in both texts Lastly, the percentage of Actors is relatively close to the source, showing a slight decrease from 22.86% to 20%.
4.1.3 The similarities and differences between "A Tale of Two Cities" and its Vietnamese version of translation "Hai kinh thành" in terms of circumstantial elements
The following chart shows the number of circumstantial elements in the novel
Figure 8: The number of circumstances in both versions
The total number of circumstantial elements remains relatively stable, increasing from 81 (ST) to 82 (TT) The chart illustrates the distribution of each circumstantial type, highlighting that the manner increases from 21 to 29, while the location decreases from 46 to 33 Additionally, Role, Angle, Contingency, and Matter are present in smaller quantities, with some at 0% Extent and Cause represent the second largest groups of circumstantial elements, and there is a slight increase in Circumstances of Accompaniment.
22 from 2 to 4), Matter (up from 0 to 1) and Angle (down from 1 to 0) To be clearer, the following pies show the percentage distribution of each
Figure 9: The percentage distribution of circumstances in both versions
In the analysis of circumstantial elements, location and manner are the most significant, comprising 56.79% and 25.93% in the English version, while in the Vietnamese version, they account for 40.24% and 35.37%, respectively The extent increases from 6.17% in English to 13.41% in Vietnamese Accompaniment, angle, and matter are the least prominent elements, with English percentages of 2.47%, 1.23%, and 1.07%, compared to 4.88%, 0%, and 1.22% in Vietnamese Notable differences exist between "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Hai Kinh Thành" regarding location, manner, and extent, while other elements show considerable variation despite their lower overall percentages.
The varying percentages of circumstantial elements in chapters significantly influence the density rate, as seen in the translated text "Hai kinh thành." The elements of Manner and Location play a crucial role in this transformation, while Extent also contributes to the overall change Additionally, Matter and Angle closely resemble those in "A Tale of Two Cities" due to their inherent volatility.
Discussions
Both the ST writer and the translator predominantly utilize the material process type, accounting for 63.89% in English and 52.38% in Vietnamese The relational process follows as the second most common, representing 20.37% in English and 28.57% in Vietnamese The verbal process type is less frequent, with 7.41% in English and 8.57% in Vietnamese The remaining process types include the existential process at 4.63% (2.86% in Vietnamese), the behavioral process at 1.85% (3.81% in Vietnamese), and the mental process also at 1.85% (3.81% in Vietnamese).
In "The Period," the narrative unfolds against the vibrant backdrops of London and Paris, emphasizing material and relational processes that establish the overall context and themes of the story The predominance of these processes suggests the author's intent to immerse readers in the setting, while the lesser focus on verbal, mental, and behavioral processes indicates a reduced emphasis on character interactions and details Additionally, existential processes highlight key elements, serving as an extra layer that draws readers' attention to significant aspects of the narrative.
The analysis of Figure 4 reveals an increase in the behavioral process type in both versions, attributed to enhanced interactions and scenes among characters from the source text to the target text Additionally, the mental process type also rises, indicating that the target text writer places greater emphasis on the characters' feelings and emotions in the translation Notably, there is an increase in verbal communication, while existential focus diminishes in the translated text compared to the source, reflecting differences in language expression and the transformation of process types.
The primary distinction between the source text (ST) and its translated version lies in the use of Material and Relational processes The ST focuses on physically describing events, making characters and situations relatable for insiders, while the translated version emphasizes relational processes, reflecting social and cultural contexts, resulting in a less material representation.
Therefore, the solution which the translater adopted is to use more relations to uncover the complex lines between characters and between them with the background
The verbal process remains largely stable, maintaining its significance for readers While the source text emphasizes reality in the first chapter, the target text enhances emotional depth by incorporating additional elements To effectively convey strong emotions, the use of more behavioral verbs such as "quỳ," "ngủ," "giậm chân," and "đứng yên" is essential.
The circumstantial elements can appear or dissapear, and Location is an example for this case and it depends on the translator‟s line of ideas
When a translator emphasizes relational processes over mental ones, it allows readers to easily visualize the events by focusing on the relationships between characters and their interactions This approach enhances the logical connections within the narrative In contrast, when the translator prioritizes mental and verbal processes, they convey emotional depth and clarity Additionally, behavioral processes serve to evoke memories of past events; as readers become more familiar with the story, the reliance on these processes diminishes.
The translated version closely mirrors the original text in terms of processes, effectively conveying the same story It maintains a balance of elements such as events, emotions, dialogues, relationships, and experiences, as revealed by transitivity analysis While there are some variations in the types of processes used, these differences primarily stem from cultural and linguistic factors The translation features a higher proportion of mental and relational processes, but fewer material processes, indicating a shift towards a character-oriented approach, which slightly diverges from the author's original situation-and-thing-oriented trend.
The evolution of process types influences various components, including participants and circumstances, shifting the focus of the narrative When the writer aims to draw the reader's attention to events or objects, the external world is prominently depicted.
Inexperienced translators may struggle with accurately conveying events and details, leading to the potential interference of subjective ideas However, their interpretations still rely on the underlying reality of the situations and objects being described.
Determining the best translated version of a text is challenging due to varying criteria such as grammar, vocabulary, cohesion, content, and the writer's intention An important factor in evaluating translation quality is the experiential representation, as readers engage with literary works for diverse purposes The translation that best meets these needs will be considered the most effective, allowing us to identify which target text (TT) is suitable for specific audiences.
The translation effectively captures the events and plot of the original story, closely mirroring the characters and situations However, it only approximates the artistic essence of the source text, which relies on the subtle connections between events that are not explicitly stated This allows readers to visualize the unfolding narrative as if it were a painting in progress The challenge for translators lies in conveying the relationship between structure and artistic expression To address this gap, experiential representation plays a crucial role in the translation and evaluation process.
CONCLUSION
Summary
This study aims to compare a chapter from “A Tale of Two Cities” with its Vietnamese translation, “Hai kinh thành,” focusing on the transitivity resources used in both texts Utilizing Halliday’s theory of systemic functional grammar as the theoretical framework, the analysis examines the novels through six types of processes and nine circumstantial elements The findings address the research questions, revealing insights into the employment of transitivity in the two extracts.
There are some similarities and differences between “A Tale of Two Cities” and
The analysis of "Hai kinh thành" reveals that the target text employs fewer material processes and a greater number of relational processes compared to the source text, while the other process types remain largely consistent between the two extracts.
Significant changes in manner and location are influenced by various factors, including the transition between process types and circumstantial elements While the frequency of manner and location changes varies, they are well-distributed across each chapter, closely aligning with the source as shown in Table 3 Other circumstantial elements maintain similar total counts, although their distribution across chapters may differ from the source.
The evolution of process types influences various components, subsequently altering how readers form experiential representations Linguistic structures not only convey essential information about the narrative but also highlight the artistic elements of the story.
The changes can be attributed to the ST's emphasis on action and the processes of doing and changing, which allows readers to vividly imagine the physical world of the story In contrast, the TT focuses on the processes of being and the relationships between existents.
The translator navigates various social and cultural issues, which influences the logical relationships between characters and elements within the story.
Implications
The findings of the study implicate that:
Transitivity analysis is a crucial criterion for assessing the quality of the translation process This study highlights that the transformation of each process or circumstantial element significantly shapes the readers' experiences.
Unveiling transitivity resources and clarifying their application facilitates a deeper and more precise analysis of a novel's content, characteristics, and themes This highlights the significance of systemic functional grammar in linguistics, proving to be highly beneficial for learners in understanding a new language.