Luận văn a study on english vietnamese translation of the primary education texts in the primary education for disadvantaged children project in vietnam

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the materials of the PEDC Project 1H.1.1 The transiators TIT.1.2 The readers 15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandat

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HA NOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF POST — GRADUATE STUDIES

RRARRER AR KERR REE

A STUDY GN ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF THE PRIMARY

EDUCATION TEXTS IN THE PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR DISADVANTAGED

CHILDREN PROJECT IN VIETNAM

CÁCH DICH ANH-VIET V AN GIAO DUC TIEU HOC CUA

DỰ ÁN GIÁO DỤC TIỂU HỌC CHO TRE EM CO HOAN CẢNH

'KHÓ KIIÃN Ở VIỆT NAM

M.A MINOR THESIS

FIELD: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS

CODE: 602215

Tlanoi - 2010

VIET SAM NATIONAL UNLVERSITY HA NOL

UNTVERSITY OF LANGUAGE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

TEPARTMENT OF POST —- GRADUATE STUDIES

Skate R a RARE

BUI TIT] ITUYEN TRANG

ASTUDY ON ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF THE PRIMARY

EDUCATION TEXTS IN TILE PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR DISADVANTAGED

CHILDREN PROJECT IN VIETNAM

CÁCH ĐẸCH ANH-VIỆT VAN BAN GIÁO ĐỤC TIỂU HỌC CỦA

DỰ ÁN GIÁO DỤC TIỂU HỌC CHO TRE EM CÓ HOÀN CẢNH

KHO KHAN 0 VIET NAM

M.A MINOR THESIS:

FIELD: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS:

CODE: 602215

SUPERVISOR: Dr LE HUNG TIEN

Hanoi - 2010

1 Rationale of the study

2 Aims of the study

3 Scope of the study

4, Methods of the study

5 Significance of the study

6 Design of the study

CILAPTER I: TECHNICAL TERMS OF THE PEDC PROJECT

IL1 Background knowledge of the Primary Education for Disadvantaged

Children (PEDC) Project

11.2 ‘Typical features of terminology

TL3 Classification af technical terms of the PEDC Project accarding to their

2

PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

As the study focuses on the translation of technical tems of the PEDC Project, the theoretical background of this study would be a review of issues relevant to the thesis topics: terminology, charactctisties of tcnuinelogy, translation, teclmical translation, translation procedures and the translation of terminology

1.1 Terminology

1.1.1 Definition

Definition of terminology has been proposed up by many linguists to establish its structure and meaning, “Dictionary of Linguistics Terminology” (1997) mentions fifteen (15) definitions of lentinology One of those definitions is given by Russian authors in “Russi

Encyclopedia” (1976; 473 - 474); “Terminology is a word or a combination of words that denotes the concept in

a specific area, Terminology is a specialized and restricted expression on things, phenomena, charactcristies and the relationship in spocifie profassion”

Many Vietnamese linguists such as Do Huu Chav, Nguyen Thien Giap aiso provided detinitions

of terminology Do Liu Chau (1998) claims “Terms are specialist words used within a scientific

fickd, a profession or any technological fistd”, To identify œ tcctmical term, he (1981) states

“Scicntific and technical terminology consists of lexical units uscd to denote phenomenal objects, activities in industrial technologies and natural or social sciences”

Nguyen Thien Giap (1981) defines it as “a section of special lexis of a language It consists of fixed words or groups of words which arc accurate names of concepts and subjects belonging to different specialized fields of human beings”

Those definitions, from different times and by different peopte, all indicate that there exist

“special words in specialized fields or branches of human knowledge” There are, therefore, terms used in Mathematics, physics, commerce, medicine, economics, linguisties which should be distinguished from ordinary words

1.1.2 Distinction between terms and words:

Baker (1998) suggests “Terms differ trom words in that they are endowed with a special form of reference, namely that they refer to discrete conceptual entities, properties, activities or relations which constituts the knowledge space of a particular subject ficld”

Further important differences between terms and words are as follows:

(i) Terms have special reference within a particntar discipline whereas words fimetion in general reference over a variety of subject fields

11

‘This chapter studies the present context of the translation of the technical terms of the PLDC

Project; stralogiss and procedures applied in their translation

Part C Conclusion

‘The conclusion suramarizes the strategies and procedures as well as comments on them

The appendixes give examples of different groups of tarms

11

‘This chapter studies the present context of the translation of the technical terms of the PLDC

Project; stralogiss and procedures applied in their translation

Part C Conclusion

‘The conclusion suramarizes the strategies and procedures as well as comments on them

The appendixes give examples of different groups of tarms

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the

materials of the PEDC Project

1H.1.1 The transiators

TIT.1.2 The readers

15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandators and readers

IH.2 The common strategics and procedures used in the transition of

technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.2.1 Translation of terms which ure names of intervention initiatives of the

PEDC Project

IKL2.2 Translation of the simple terms by transference procedure

IEL2.3 Translation of the compound terms by transpasition procedure

PART C: CONCLUSION

1 The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to

transhie them

2 Suggestion for the strategies and procedures

3, Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research

11

‘This chapter studies the present context of the translation of the technical terms of the PLDC

Project; stralogiss and procedures applied in their translation

Part C Conclusion

‘The conclusion suramarizes the strategies and procedures as well as comments on them

The appendixes give examples of different groups of tarms

2

PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

As the study focuses on the translation of technical tems of the PEDC Project, the theoretical background of this study would be a review of issues relevant to the thesis topics: terminology, charactctisties of tcnuinelogy, translation, teclmical translation, translation procedures and the translation of terminology

1.1 Terminology

1.1.1 Definition

Definition of terminology has been proposed up by many linguists to establish its structure and meaning, “Dictionary of Linguistics Terminology” (1997) mentions fifteen (15) definitions of lentinology One of those definitions is given by Russian authors in “Russi

Encyclopedia” (1976; 473 - 474); “Terminology is a word or a combination of words that denotes the concept in

a specific area, Terminology is a specialized and restricted expression on things, phenomena, charactcristies and the relationship in spocifie profassion”

Many Vietnamese linguists such as Do Huu Chav, Nguyen Thien Giap aiso provided detinitions

of terminology Do Liu Chau (1998) claims “Terms are specialist words used within a scientific

fickd, a profession or any technological fistd”, To identify œ tcctmical term, he (1981) states

“Scicntific and technical terminology consists of lexical units uscd to denote phenomenal objects, activities in industrial technologies and natural or social sciences”

Nguyen Thien Giap (1981) defines it as “a section of special lexis of a language It consists of fixed words or groups of words which arc accurate names of concepts and subjects belonging to different specialized fields of human beings”

Those definitions, from different times and by different peopte, all indicate that there exist

“special words in specialized fields or branches of human knowledge” There are, therefore, terms used in Mathematics, physics, commerce, medicine, economics, linguisties which should be distinguished from ordinary words

1.1.2 Distinction between terms and words:

Baker (1998) suggests “Terms differ trom words in that they are endowed with a special form of reference, namely that they refer to discrete conceptual entities, properties, activities or relations which constituts the knowledge space of a particular subject ficld”

Further important differences between terms and words are as follows:

(i) Terms have special reference within a particntar discipline whereas words fimetion in general reference over a variety of subject fields

2

PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

As the study focuses on the translation of technical tems of the PEDC Project, the theoretical background of this study would be a review of issues relevant to the thesis topics: terminology, charactctisties of tcnuinelogy, translation, teclmical translation, translation procedures and the translation of terminology

1.1 Terminology

1.1.1 Definition

Definition of terminology has been proposed up by many linguists to establish its structure and meaning, “Dictionary of Linguistics Terminology” (1997) mentions fifteen (15) definitions of lentinology One of those definitions is given by Russian authors in “Russi

Encyclopedia” (1976; 473 - 474); “Terminology is a word or a combination of words that denotes the concept in

a specific area, Terminology is a specialized and restricted expression on things, phenomena, charactcristies and the relationship in spocifie profassion”

Many Vietnamese linguists such as Do Huu Chav, Nguyen Thien Giap aiso provided detinitions

of terminology Do Liu Chau (1998) claims “Terms are specialist words used within a scientific

fickd, a profession or any technological fistd”, To identify œ tcctmical term, he (1981) states

“Scicntific and technical terminology consists of lexical units uscd to denote phenomenal objects, activities in industrial technologies and natural or social sciences”

Nguyen Thien Giap (1981) defines it as “a section of special lexis of a language It consists of fixed words or groups of words which arc accurate names of concepts and subjects belonging to different specialized fields of human beings”

Those definitions, from different times and by different peopte, all indicate that there exist

“special words in specialized fields or branches of human knowledge” There are, therefore, terms used in Mathematics, physics, commerce, medicine, economics, linguisties which should be distinguished from ordinary words

1.1.2 Distinction between terms and words:

Baker (1998) suggests “Terms differ trom words in that they are endowed with a special form of reference, namely that they refer to discrete conceptual entities, properties, activities or relations which constituts the knowledge space of a particular subject ficld”

Further important differences between terms and words are as follows:

(i) Terms have special reference within a particntar discipline whereas words fimetion in general reference over a variety of subject fields

explaining a new technical term in a longer group of words to a large class of non-iinglish majors

is almost impossible for thc involvement of more complicated wards in the cxplaining groups of words Translating the terms mto Vietnamese is more time-saving and comprehensible; however, translating terms of a specialized field is not a pleasant and easy task for the translators, In their efforts to transtate the terms, they may fail to give proper equivalents dua to their tack of knowledge, cultural context and exposure in the fictd As a result, different translators may have various ‘translations for the same term and in no way can they agree on one “unified and standardized” equivalent

In the hope of finding a proper solution to the problem of translation of the terms in the materials

of the PEDC Project, and in the hope for some suggestions that can be of some use to those who

are responsible for translating tho tockuricat lermns of the PEDC Projeut; the aulhor would like to cary out the study to answer the questions: what are some of the more problematic technical terms, what are the common strategies and procedures used in the translation of the technical

terms of the PEDC Project in Viemam?

2, Aims of the study:

@ To collect the English technical terms in the materials of the PEDC Project and to study their main features in terms of characteristics and structural patterns and work out the similarities as well as the differences between Linglish terms and their Vietnamese equivalents

(ii) To suggest the strategies and procedures that may apply to the translation of tectmical terms of the PEDC Project and to suggest some implications for translating technical terms of the PEDC Project

3 Scope of the study

The study is confined lo the investigation into English — Vietnarnese Iranslation of technical terms

of the PEDC Project The major aspects to be considered are their classification, structural pattems and their translation

4, Methods of the study

To accomplish this study, firstly, we will go through a number of materials on translation and terminology to build up a theoretical background for the research

Thon as slated in the aims and scope of the sturdy, the writing is based on the review of many types of matzrials of the PEDC Project in order to collect and group the English terms and their Vietnamese equivalents for description, analysis, comparison and induction, From typical examples of Bnglish terns and their Vietnamese equivalents; we can find the simitarities and differences and draw out the strategies and procedures used in the translation of technical tems of

the PEDC Project ‘The main method is contrastive analysis

explaining a new technical term in a longer group of words to a large class of non-iinglish majors

is almost impossible for thc involvement of more complicated wards in the cxplaining groups of words Translating the terms mto Vietnamese is more time-saving and comprehensible; however, translating terms of a specialized field is not a pleasant and easy task for the translators, In their efforts to transtate the terms, they may fail to give proper equivalents dua to their tack of knowledge, cultural context and exposure in the fictd As a result, different translators may have various ‘translations for the same term and in no way can they agree on one “unified and standardized” equivalent

In the hope of finding a proper solution to the problem of translation of the terms in the materials

of the PEDC Project, and in the hope for some suggestions that can be of some use to those who

are responsible for translating tho tockuricat lermns of the PEDC Projeut; the aulhor would like to cary out the study to answer the questions: what are some of the more problematic technical terms, what are the common strategies and procedures used in the translation of the technical

terms of the PEDC Project in Viemam?

2, Aims of the study:

@ To collect the English technical terms in the materials of the PEDC Project and to study their main features in terms of characteristics and structural patterns and work out the similarities as well as the differences between Linglish terms and their Vietnamese equivalents

(ii) To suggest the strategies and procedures that may apply to the translation of tectmical terms of the PEDC Project and to suggest some implications for translating technical terms of the PEDC Project

3 Scope of the study

The study is confined lo the investigation into English — Vietnarnese Iranslation of technical terms

of the PEDC Project The major aspects to be considered are their classification, structural pattems and their translation

4, Methods of the study

To accomplish this study, firstly, we will go through a number of materials on translation and terminology to build up a theoretical background for the research

Thon as slated in the aims and scope of the sturdy, the writing is based on the review of many types of matzrials of the PEDC Project in order to collect and group the English terms and their Vietnamese equivalents for description, analysis, comparison and induction, From typical examples of Bnglish terns and their Vietnamese equivalents; we can find the simitarities and differences and draw out the strategies and procedures used in the translation of technical tems of

the PEDC Project ‘The main method is contrastive analysis

PART A: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationale of the study

Like other counties in the world, the education sector in general and the primary education cycle

in Vietnam play an important role in the society ‘I'he Ministry of Education and ‘lraming (MOET)

has implemented many education projects al alll cdueation levels The

ducation projects ars conducted by the cooperation and financing of the GOV and donors from many foreign countries

such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Canada Foreign languages,

especially Fngtish arc used widely; thercfors, translation of English materials inlo Vietnamese plays an important role to those projects Thanks to good tanslation, all the national and international members of project teams can well understand and effectively cooperate with each other However, the translalors offen face many troubles with technical terms and langage structure, particwasly in finding suitable cquivalcnec in translating English technical terms uscd in

the project materials into Vietnamese

‘The Government of Vietnam (GOV) has made a commitment to universal, high quality basic

education for all in its education laws, poverty alleviation programs, and 2005-2010 stratogios TL hus also committed internationally lo achieving Eduvalion For All (EFA), the Millermium Development Goals and the Convention of the Rights of the Child This is one part of the rationale of the GOV to run projects and try to reach many of the un-reached students who do not g0 to school, Over the last ton years Victnam has successfully met its initial Universal Primary Education (UPE) goals, However, the country still has an untinished primary education agenda in the provision of access to education for un-teached children and the improvement of edneation quality in the overall system This unfinished agcnda involves cnsuring that all children have the opportunity to attend a school that meets minimum standards in terms of space, curriculum, materials and personnal qualifications

One of the education projects implemented by MORT is the Primary Education for Disadvantaged Childen (PEDC) Project in Hanoi, Vietnam with financing fiom (i) the Intemational

Development Association (IDA), (ii) bilateral grants fram various foreign donors including

Ausilion Ageney for Inlernational Development (AusAID), Camdian Tntcrnational Development Agency (CIDA), British Department for International Development (DFID), Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD) and (iii) the Government of Vietnam

The translation of the technical terms in the material of the PEDC Project is controversial, There are strong arguments among translators about how to deal with the specialist vocabulary or the echnical termns: explaining in other words or translating into Vietwamese Experience shows thal

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the

materials of the PEDC Project

1H.1.1 The transiators

TIT.1.2 The readers

15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandators and readers

IH.2 The common strategics and procedures used in the transition of

technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.2.1 Translation of terms which ure names of intervention initiatives of the

PEDC Project

IKL2.2 Translation of the simple terms by transference procedure

IEL2.3 Translation of the compound terms by transpasition procedure

PART C: CONCLUSION

1 The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to

transhie them

2 Suggestion for the strategies and procedures

3, Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research

10

We also conduct discussions and interviews with colleagues (translators of the PEDC Project),

specialist translators and readers (National consullants and Vichamese stakeholders of the PEDIC Project) to find out the tendency tor better and more preferable strategies and procedures

Data collection: ‘he technical terms to be studied will be taken from a number of materials of ths PEDC Project such as training materials, manuals, monitoring and evaluation reperts, However, within the scope of the study, only typical terns with high frequency of occurrence arc scicoted

5 Significance of the study

This sindy can, hopefully, offer some references thal can be useful 1o those who are responsible for translating the technical terms of the PEDC Project and other projects and help them to get more knowledge about translation methodology in general and about terminology translation in particular Ou that basis, they van find oul the most suitable siratsgy and procedure to transtats technical terms, which may help them to improve the quality of their work, This study also helps the author to extend the existing knowledge on this section, and successfully fulfill her task as a translator and cope with difficulties in daily work Moreover, the author also provides suggestions for the further studics on English — Vietnamese translation of the PEDC Project However, this study is conducted within the PEDC Project in Hanoi, Vieam using only some kinds of materials with technical terms of this project If the research can be applied to other primary cduvation projects in Victnam utilizing other kinds of primary education materials, such as written

or spoken materials from meetings including speech and conversation, it may be possible to get a more comprehensive view of this field and ths overall answer lo the problem staisd in the study

6, Design of the study:

This study consists of the three parts with the three main parts, a bibliography, and a umber of appendixes

Part A: Introduction

The introduction gives rationale for the study; it also outlines the aims, scope and methods of the study,

Part B, Development

The development consists of three chapters

Chapter 1: Theoretical background

This chapter provides the theory of terminalogy and transtation

Chapter JE The technical terms of the PEDC Project

‘This chapter discusses the typical features of the technical terms of the PEDC Project and their structural patlerns,

Chapter JH: The translation of the technical terms of the PEDC Project

2

PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

As the study focuses on the translation of technical tems of the PEDC Project, the theoretical background of this study would be a review of issues relevant to the thesis topics: terminology, charactctisties of tcnuinelogy, translation, teclmical translation, translation procedures and the translation of terminology

1.1 Terminology

1.1.1 Definition

Definition of terminology has been proposed up by many linguists to establish its structure and meaning, “Dictionary of Linguistics Terminology” (1997) mentions fifteen (15) definitions of lentinology One of those definitions is given by Russian authors in “Russi

Encyclopedia” (1976; 473 - 474); “Terminology is a word or a combination of words that denotes the concept in

a specific area, Terminology is a specialized and restricted expression on things, phenomena, charactcristies and the relationship in spocifie profassion”

Many Vietnamese linguists such as Do Huu Chav, Nguyen Thien Giap aiso provided detinitions

of terminology Do Liu Chau (1998) claims “Terms are specialist words used within a scientific

fickd, a profession or any technological fistd”, To identify œ tcctmical term, he (1981) states

“Scicntific and technical terminology consists of lexical units uscd to denote phenomenal objects, activities in industrial technologies and natural or social sciences”

Nguyen Thien Giap (1981) defines it as “a section of special lexis of a language It consists of fixed words or groups of words which arc accurate names of concepts and subjects belonging to different specialized fields of human beings”

Those definitions, from different times and by different peopte, all indicate that there exist

“special words in specialized fields or branches of human knowledge” There are, therefore, terms used in Mathematics, physics, commerce, medicine, economics, linguisties which should be distinguished from ordinary words

1.1.2 Distinction between terms and words:

Baker (1998) suggests “Terms differ trom words in that they are endowed with a special form of reference, namely that they refer to discrete conceptual entities, properties, activities or relations which constituts the knowledge space of a particular subject ficld”

Further important differences between terms and words are as follows:

(i) Terms have special reference within a particntar discipline whereas words fimetion in general reference over a variety of subject fields

explaining a new technical term in a longer group of words to a large class of non-iinglish majors

is almost impossible for thc involvement of more complicated wards in the cxplaining groups of words Translating the terms mto Vietnamese is more time-saving and comprehensible; however, translating terms of a specialized field is not a pleasant and easy task for the translators, In their efforts to transtate the terms, they may fail to give proper equivalents dua to their tack of knowledge, cultural context and exposure in the fictd As a result, different translators may have various ‘translations for the same term and in no way can they agree on one “unified and standardized” equivalent

In the hope of finding a proper solution to the problem of translation of the terms in the materials

of the PEDC Project, and in the hope for some suggestions that can be of some use to those who

are responsible for translating tho tockuricat lermns of the PEDC Projeut; the aulhor would like to cary out the study to answer the questions: what are some of the more problematic technical terms, what are the common strategies and procedures used in the translation of the technical

terms of the PEDC Project in Viemam?

2, Aims of the study:

@ To collect the English technical terms in the materials of the PEDC Project and to study their main features in terms of characteristics and structural patterns and work out the similarities as well as the differences between Linglish terms and their Vietnamese equivalents

(ii) To suggest the strategies and procedures that may apply to the translation of tectmical terms of the PEDC Project and to suggest some implications for translating technical terms of the PEDC Project

3 Scope of the study

The study is confined lo the investigation into English — Vietnarnese Iranslation of technical terms

of the PEDC Project The major aspects to be considered are their classification, structural pattems and their translation

4, Methods of the study

To accomplish this study, firstly, we will go through a number of materials on translation and terminology to build up a theoretical background for the research

Thon as slated in the aims and scope of the sturdy, the writing is based on the review of many types of matzrials of the PEDC Project in order to collect and group the English terms and their Vietnamese equivalents for description, analysis, comparison and induction, From typical examples of Bnglish terns and their Vietnamese equivalents; we can find the simitarities and differences and draw out the strategies and procedures used in the translation of technical tems of

the PEDC Project ‘The main method is contrastive analysis

explaining a new technical term in a longer group of words to a large class of non-iinglish majors

is almost impossible for thc involvement of more complicated wards in the cxplaining groups of words Translating the terms mto Vietnamese is more time-saving and comprehensible; however, translating terms of a specialized field is not a pleasant and easy task for the translators, In their efforts to transtate the terms, they may fail to give proper equivalents dua to their tack of knowledge, cultural context and exposure in the fictd As a result, different translators may have various ‘translations for the same term and in no way can they agree on one “unified and standardized” equivalent

In the hope of finding a proper solution to the problem of translation of the terms in the materials

of the PEDC Project, and in the hope for some suggestions that can be of some use to those who

are responsible for translating tho tockuricat lermns of the PEDC Projeut; the aulhor would like to cary out the study to answer the questions: what are some of the more problematic technical terms, what are the common strategies and procedures used in the translation of the technical

terms of the PEDC Project in Viemam?

2, Aims of the study:

@ To collect the English technical terms in the materials of the PEDC Project and to study their main features in terms of characteristics and structural patterns and work out the similarities as well as the differences between Linglish terms and their Vietnamese equivalents

(ii) To suggest the strategies and procedures that may apply to the translation of tectmical terms of the PEDC Project and to suggest some implications for translating technical terms of the PEDC Project

3 Scope of the study

The study is confined lo the investigation into English — Vietnarnese Iranslation of technical terms

of the PEDC Project The major aspects to be considered are their classification, structural pattems and their translation

4, Methods of the study

To accomplish this study, firstly, we will go through a number of materials on translation and terminology to build up a theoretical background for the research

Thon as slated in the aims and scope of the sturdy, the writing is based on the review of many types of matzrials of the PEDC Project in order to collect and group the English terms and their Vietnamese equivalents for description, analysis, comparison and induction, From typical examples of Bnglish terns and their Vietnamese equivalents; we can find the simitarities and differences and draw out the strategies and procedures used in the translation of technical tems of

the PEDC Project ‘The main method is contrastive analysis

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the

materials of the PEDC Project

1H.1.1 The transiators

TIT.1.2 The readers

15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandators and readers

IH.2 The common strategics and procedures used in the transition of

technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.2.1 Translation of terms which ure names of intervention initiatives of the

PEDC Project

IKL2.2 Translation of the simple terms by transference procedure

IEL2.3 Translation of the compound terms by transpasition procedure

PART C: CONCLUSION

1 The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to

transhie them

2 Suggestion for the strategies and procedures

3, Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research

A term needs to be accurate and clear because basically it reflects an exact concept of a science If

a term is of absolute accuzacy, pople never mistake one concept for another, Onec a word has become a term, it no longer has commotaional, emotional meaning; it also loses its polysemousness, synanymonsness, and autonymousness In short, terminology necessarily works

little difference in form

A term needs to be accurate and clear because basically it reflects an exact concept of a science If

a term is of absolute accuzacy, pople never mistake one concept for another, Onec a word has become a term, it no longer has commotaional, emotional meaning; it also loses its polysemousness, synanymonsness, and autonymousness In short, terminology necessarily works

little difference in form

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the

materials of the PEDC Project

1H.1.1 The transiators

TIT.1.2 The readers

15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandators and readers

IH.2 The common strategics and procedures used in the transition of

technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.2.1 Translation of terms which ure names of intervention initiatives of the

PEDC Project

IKL2.2 Translation of the simple terms by transference procedure

IEL2.3 Translation of the compound terms by transpasition procedure

PART C: CONCLUSION

1 The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to

transhie them

2 Suggestion for the strategies and procedures

3, Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research

explaining a new technical term in a longer group of words to a large class of non-iinglish majors

is almost impossible for thc involvement of more complicated wards in the cxplaining groups of words Translating the terms mto Vietnamese is more time-saving and comprehensible; however, translating terms of a specialized field is not a pleasant and easy task for the translators, In their efforts to transtate the terms, they may fail to give proper equivalents dua to their tack of knowledge, cultural context and exposure in the fictd As a result, different translators may have various ‘translations for the same term and in no way can they agree on one “unified and standardized” equivalent

In the hope of finding a proper solution to the problem of translation of the terms in the materials

of the PEDC Project, and in the hope for some suggestions that can be of some use to those who

are responsible for translating tho tockuricat lermns of the PEDC Projeut; the aulhor would like to cary out the study to answer the questions: what are some of the more problematic technical terms, what are the common strategies and procedures used in the translation of the technical

terms of the PEDC Project in Viemam?

2, Aims of the study:

@ To collect the English technical terms in the materials of the PEDC Project and to study their main features in terms of characteristics and structural patterns and work out the similarities as well as the differences between Linglish terms and their Vietnamese equivalents

(ii) To suggest the strategies and procedures that may apply to the translation of tectmical terms of the PEDC Project and to suggest some implications for translating technical terms of the PEDC Project

3 Scope of the study

The study is confined lo the investigation into English — Vietnarnese Iranslation of technical terms

of the PEDC Project The major aspects to be considered are their classification, structural pattems and their translation

4, Methods of the study

To accomplish this study, firstly, we will go through a number of materials on translation and terminology to build up a theoretical background for the research

Thon as slated in the aims and scope of the sturdy, the writing is based on the review of many types of matzrials of the PEDC Project in order to collect and group the English terms and their Vietnamese equivalents for description, analysis, comparison and induction, From typical examples of Bnglish terns and their Vietnamese equivalents; we can find the simitarities and differences and draw out the strategies and procedures used in the translation of technical tems of

the PEDC Project ‘The main method is contrastive analysis

PART A: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationale of the study

Like other counties in the world, the education sector in general and the primary education cycle

in Vietnam play an important role in the society ‘I'he Ministry of Education and ‘lraming (MOET)

has implemented many education projects al alll cdueation levels The

ducation projects ars conducted by the cooperation and financing of the GOV and donors from many foreign countries

such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Canada Foreign languages,

especially Fngtish arc used widely; thercfors, translation of English materials inlo Vietnamese plays an important role to those projects Thanks to good tanslation, all the national and international members of project teams can well understand and effectively cooperate with each other However, the translalors offen face many troubles with technical terms and langage structure, particwasly in finding suitable cquivalcnec in translating English technical terms uscd in

the project materials into Vietnamese

‘The Government of Vietnam (GOV) has made a commitment to universal, high quality basic

education for all in its education laws, poverty alleviation programs, and 2005-2010 stratogios TL hus also committed internationally lo achieving Eduvalion For All (EFA), the Millermium Development Goals and the Convention of the Rights of the Child This is one part of the rationale of the GOV to run projects and try to reach many of the un-reached students who do not g0 to school, Over the last ton years Victnam has successfully met its initial Universal Primary Education (UPE) goals, However, the country still has an untinished primary education agenda in the provision of access to education for un-teached children and the improvement of edneation quality in the overall system This unfinished agcnda involves cnsuring that all children have the opportunity to attend a school that meets minimum standards in terms of space, curriculum, materials and personnal qualifications

One of the education projects implemented by MORT is the Primary Education for Disadvantaged Childen (PEDC) Project in Hanoi, Vietnam with financing fiom (i) the Intemational

Development Association (IDA), (ii) bilateral grants fram various foreign donors including

Ausilion Ageney for Inlernational Development (AusAID), Camdian Tntcrnational Development Agency (CIDA), British Department for International Development (DFID), Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD) and (iii) the Government of Vietnam

The translation of the technical terms in the material of the PEDC Project is controversial, There are strong arguments among translators about how to deal with the specialist vocabulary or the echnical termns: explaining in other words or translating into Vietwamese Experience shows thal

10

We also conduct discussions and interviews with colleagues (translators of the PEDC Project),

specialist translators and readers (National consullants and Vichamese stakeholders of the PEDIC Project) to find out the tendency tor better and more preferable strategies and procedures

Data collection: ‘he technical terms to be studied will be taken from a number of materials of ths PEDC Project such as training materials, manuals, monitoring and evaluation reperts, However, within the scope of the study, only typical terns with high frequency of occurrence arc scicoted

5 Significance of the study

This sindy can, hopefully, offer some references thal can be useful 1o those who are responsible for translating the technical terms of the PEDC Project and other projects and help them to get more knowledge about translation methodology in general and about terminology translation in particular Ou that basis, they van find oul the most suitable siratsgy and procedure to transtats technical terms, which may help them to improve the quality of their work, This study also helps the author to extend the existing knowledge on this section, and successfully fulfill her task as a translator and cope with difficulties in daily work Moreover, the author also provides suggestions for the further studics on English — Vietnamese translation of the PEDC Project However, this study is conducted within the PEDC Project in Hanoi, Vieam using only some kinds of materials with technical terms of this project If the research can be applied to other primary cduvation projects in Victnam utilizing other kinds of primary education materials, such as written

or spoken materials from meetings including speech and conversation, it may be possible to get a more comprehensive view of this field and ths overall answer lo the problem staisd in the study

6, Design of the study:

This study consists of the three parts with the three main parts, a bibliography, and a umber of appendixes

Part A: Introduction

The introduction gives rationale for the study; it also outlines the aims, scope and methods of the study,

Part B, Development

The development consists of three chapters

Chapter 1: Theoretical background

This chapter provides the theory of terminalogy and transtation

Chapter JE The technical terms of the PEDC Project

‘This chapter discusses the typical features of the technical terms of the PEDC Project and their structural patlerns,

Chapter JH: The translation of the technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the

materials of the PEDC Project

1H.1.1 The transiators

TIT.1.2 The readers

15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandators and readers

IH.2 The common strategics and procedures used in the transition of

technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.2.1 Translation of terms which ure names of intervention initiatives of the

PEDC Project

IKL2.2 Translation of the simple terms by transference procedure

IEL2.3 Translation of the compound terms by transpasition procedure

PART C: CONCLUSION

1 The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to

transhie them

2 Suggestion for the strategies and procedures

3, Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research

11

‘This chapter studies the present context of the translation of the technical terms of the PLDC

Project; stralogiss and procedures applied in their translation

Part C Conclusion

‘The conclusion suramarizes the strategies and procedures as well as comments on them

The appendixes give examples of different groups of tarms

PART A: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationale of the study

Like other counties in the world, the education sector in general and the primary education cycle

in Vietnam play an important role in the society ‘I'he Ministry of Education and ‘lraming (MOET)

has implemented many education projects al alll cdueation levels The

ducation projects ars conducted by the cooperation and financing of the GOV and donors from many foreign countries

such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Canada Foreign languages,

especially Fngtish arc used widely; thercfors, translation of English materials inlo Vietnamese plays an important role to those projects Thanks to good tanslation, all the national and international members of project teams can well understand and effectively cooperate with each other However, the translalors offen face many troubles with technical terms and langage structure, particwasly in finding suitable cquivalcnec in translating English technical terms uscd in

the project materials into Vietnamese

‘The Government of Vietnam (GOV) has made a commitment to universal, high quality basic

education for all in its education laws, poverty alleviation programs, and 2005-2010 stratogios TL hus also committed internationally lo achieving Eduvalion For All (EFA), the Millermium Development Goals and the Convention of the Rights of the Child This is one part of the rationale of the GOV to run projects and try to reach many of the un-reached students who do not g0 to school, Over the last ton years Victnam has successfully met its initial Universal Primary Education (UPE) goals, However, the country still has an untinished primary education agenda in the provision of access to education for un-teached children and the improvement of edneation quality in the overall system This unfinished agcnda involves cnsuring that all children have the opportunity to attend a school that meets minimum standards in terms of space, curriculum, materials and personnal qualifications

One of the education projects implemented by MORT is the Primary Education for Disadvantaged Childen (PEDC) Project in Hanoi, Vietnam with financing fiom (i) the Intemational

Development Association (IDA), (ii) bilateral grants fram various foreign donors including

Ausilion Ageney for Inlernational Development (AusAID), Camdian Tntcrnational Development Agency (CIDA), British Department for International Development (DFID), Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD) and (iii) the Government of Vietnam

The translation of the technical terms in the material of the PEDC Project is controversial, There are strong arguments among translators about how to deal with the specialist vocabulary or the echnical termns: explaining in other words or translating into Vietwamese Experience shows thal

11

‘This chapter studies the present context of the translation of the technical terms of the PLDC

Project; stralogiss and procedures applied in their translation

Part C Conclusion

‘The conclusion suramarizes the strategies and procedures as well as comments on them

The appendixes give examples of different groups of tarms

A term needs to be accurate and clear because basically it reflects an exact concept of a science If

a term is of absolute accuzacy, pople never mistake one concept for another, Onec a word has become a term, it no longer has commotaional, emotional meaning; it also loses its polysemousness, synanymonsness, and autonymousness In short, terminology necessarily works

little difference in form

A term needs to be accurate and clear because basically it reflects an exact concept of a science If

a term is of absolute accuzacy, pople never mistake one concept for another, Onec a word has become a term, it no longer has commotaional, emotional meaning; it also loses its polysemousness, synanymonsness, and autonymousness In short, terminology necessarily works

little difference in form

explaining a new technical term in a longer group of words to a large class of non-iinglish majors

is almost impossible for thc involvement of more complicated wards in the cxplaining groups of words Translating the terms mto Vietnamese is more time-saving and comprehensible; however, translating terms of a specialized field is not a pleasant and easy task for the translators, In their efforts to transtate the terms, they may fail to give proper equivalents dua to their tack of knowledge, cultural context and exposure in the fictd As a result, different translators may have various ‘translations for the same term and in no way can they agree on one “unified and standardized” equivalent

In the hope of finding a proper solution to the problem of translation of the terms in the materials

of the PEDC Project, and in the hope for some suggestions that can be of some use to those who

are responsible for translating tho tockuricat lermns of the PEDC Projeut; the aulhor would like to cary out the study to answer the questions: what are some of the more problematic technical terms, what are the common strategies and procedures used in the translation of the technical

terms of the PEDC Project in Viemam?

2, Aims of the study:

@ To collect the English technical terms in the materials of the PEDC Project and to study their main features in terms of characteristics and structural patterns and work out the similarities as well as the differences between Linglish terms and their Vietnamese equivalents

(ii) To suggest the strategies and procedures that may apply to the translation of tectmical terms of the PEDC Project and to suggest some implications for translating technical terms of the PEDC Project

3 Scope of the study

The study is confined lo the investigation into English — Vietnarnese Iranslation of technical terms

of the PEDC Project The major aspects to be considered are their classification, structural pattems and their translation

4, Methods of the study

To accomplish this study, firstly, we will go through a number of materials on translation and terminology to build up a theoretical background for the research

Thon as slated in the aims and scope of the sturdy, the writing is based on the review of many types of matzrials of the PEDC Project in order to collect and group the English terms and their Vietnamese equivalents for description, analysis, comparison and induction, From typical examples of Bnglish terns and their Vietnamese equivalents; we can find the simitarities and differences and draw out the strategies and procedures used in the translation of technical tems of

the PEDC Project ‘The main method is contrastive analysis

2

PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

As the study focuses on the translation of technical tems of the PEDC Project, the theoretical background of this study would be a review of issues relevant to the thesis topics: terminology, charactctisties of tcnuinelogy, translation, teclmical translation, translation procedures and the translation of terminology

1.1 Terminology

1.1.1 Definition

Definition of terminology has been proposed up by many linguists to establish its structure and meaning, “Dictionary of Linguistics Terminology” (1997) mentions fifteen (15) definitions of lentinology One of those definitions is given by Russian authors in “Russi

Encyclopedia” (1976; 473 - 474); “Terminology is a word or a combination of words that denotes the concept in

a specific area, Terminology is a specialized and restricted expression on things, phenomena, charactcristies and the relationship in spocifie profassion”

Many Vietnamese linguists such as Do Huu Chav, Nguyen Thien Giap aiso provided detinitions

of terminology Do Liu Chau (1998) claims “Terms are specialist words used within a scientific

fickd, a profession or any technological fistd”, To identify œ tcctmical term, he (1981) states

“Scicntific and technical terminology consists of lexical units uscd to denote phenomenal objects, activities in industrial technologies and natural or social sciences”

Nguyen Thien Giap (1981) defines it as “a section of special lexis of a language It consists of fixed words or groups of words which arc accurate names of concepts and subjects belonging to different specialized fields of human beings”

Those definitions, from different times and by different peopte, all indicate that there exist

“special words in specialized fields or branches of human knowledge” There are, therefore, terms used in Mathematics, physics, commerce, medicine, economics, linguisties which should be distinguished from ordinary words

1.1.2 Distinction between terms and words:

Baker (1998) suggests “Terms differ trom words in that they are endowed with a special form of reference, namely that they refer to discrete conceptual entities, properties, activities or relations which constituts the knowledge space of a particular subject ficld”

Further important differences between terms and words are as follows:

(i) Terms have special reference within a particntar discipline whereas words fimetion in general reference over a variety of subject fields

TH.1 The present coniext of translating the technical terms used in the

materials of the PEDC Project

1H.1.1 The transiators

TIT.1.2 The readers

15.1.3 Some problems faving the trandators and readers

IH.2 The common strategics and procedures used in the transition of

technical terms of the PEDC Project

TH.2.1 Translation of terms which ure names of intervention initiatives of the

PEDC Project

IKL2.2 Translation of the simple terms by transference procedure

IEL2.3 Translation of the compound terms by transpasition procedure

PART C: CONCLUSION

1 The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to

transhie them

2 Suggestion for the strategies and procedures

3, Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research

PART A: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationale of the study

Like other counties in the world, the education sector in general and the primary education cycle

in Vietnam play an important role in the society ‘I'he Ministry of Education and ‘lraming (MOET)

has implemented many education projects al alll cdueation levels The

ducation projects ars conducted by the cooperation and financing of the GOV and donors from many foreign countries

such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Canada Foreign languages,

especially Fngtish arc used widely; thercfors, translation of English materials inlo Vietnamese plays an important role to those projects Thanks to good tanslation, all the national and international members of project teams can well understand and effectively cooperate with each other However, the translalors offen face many troubles with technical terms and langage structure, particwasly in finding suitable cquivalcnec in translating English technical terms uscd in

the project materials into Vietnamese

‘The Government of Vietnam (GOV) has made a commitment to universal, high quality basic

education for all in its education laws, poverty alleviation programs, and 2005-2010 stratogios TL hus also committed internationally lo achieving Eduvalion For All (EFA), the Millermium Development Goals and the Convention of the Rights of the Child This is one part of the rationale of the GOV to run projects and try to reach many of the un-reached students who do not g0 to school, Over the last ton years Victnam has successfully met its initial Universal Primary Education (UPE) goals, However, the country still has an untinished primary education agenda in the provision of access to education for un-teached children and the improvement of edneation quality in the overall system This unfinished agcnda involves cnsuring that all children have the opportunity to attend a school that meets minimum standards in terms of space, curriculum, materials and personnal qualifications

One of the education projects implemented by MORT is the Primary Education for Disadvantaged Childen (PEDC) Project in Hanoi, Vietnam with financing fiom (i) the Intemational

Development Association (IDA), (ii) bilateral grants fram various foreign donors including

Ausilion Ageney for Inlernational Development (AusAID), Camdian Tntcrnational Development Agency (CIDA), British Department for International Development (DFID), Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD) and (iii) the Government of Vietnam

The translation of the technical terms in the material of the PEDC Project is controversial, There are strong arguments among translators about how to deal with the specialist vocabulary or the echnical termns: explaining in other words or translating into Vietwamese Experience shows thal

10

We also conduct discussions and interviews with colleagues (translators of the PEDC Project),

specialist translators and readers (National consullants and Vichamese stakeholders of the PEDIC Project) to find out the tendency tor better and more preferable strategies and procedures

Data collection: ‘he technical terms to be studied will be taken from a number of materials of ths PEDC Project such as training materials, manuals, monitoring and evaluation reperts, However, within the scope of the study, only typical terns with high frequency of occurrence arc scicoted

5 Significance of the study

This sindy can, hopefully, offer some references thal can be useful 1o those who are responsible for translating the technical terms of the PEDC Project and other projects and help them to get more knowledge about translation methodology in general and about terminology translation in particular Ou that basis, they van find oul the most suitable siratsgy and procedure to transtats technical terms, which may help them to improve the quality of their work, This study also helps the author to extend the existing knowledge on this section, and successfully fulfill her task as a translator and cope with difficulties in daily work Moreover, the author also provides suggestions for the further studics on English — Vietnamese translation of the PEDC Project However, this study is conducted within the PEDC Project in Hanoi, Vieam using only some kinds of materials with technical terms of this project If the research can be applied to other primary cduvation projects in Victnam utilizing other kinds of primary education materials, such as written

or spoken materials from meetings including speech and conversation, it may be possible to get a more comprehensive view of this field and ths overall answer lo the problem staisd in the study

6, Design of the study:

This study consists of the three parts with the three main parts, a bibliography, and a umber of appendixes

Part A: Introduction

The introduction gives rationale for the study; it also outlines the aims, scope and methods of the study,

Part B, Development

The development consists of three chapters

Chapter 1: Theoretical background

This chapter provides the theory of terminalogy and transtation

Chapter JE The technical terms of the PEDC Project

‘This chapter discusses the typical features of the technical terms of the PEDC Project and their structural patlerns,

Chapter JH: The translation of the technical terms of the PEDC Project

A term needs to be accurate and clear because basically it reflects an exact concept of a science If

a term is of absolute accuzacy, pople never mistake one concept for another, Onec a word has become a term, it no longer has commotaional, emotional meaning; it also loses its polysemousness, synanymonsness, and autonymousness In short, terminology necessarily works

little difference in form