INTRODUCTION
Scope of the study
The beautiful romantic novel Beloved Oxford consists of sixteen chapters
This thesis emphasizes the first three chapters of the novel—The Surprising School Admission, The Challenger, and The Lonely Winter—due to time constraints These chapters are pivotal as they establish the novel's setting and provide insight into the main characters' backgrounds and personalities Additionally, they highlight the key strengths and weaknesses of the translation, enhancing readers' understanding of the narrative.
Aims of the study
The study is carried out to investigate the quality of the English version of the novel Beloved Oxford based on Newmark‟s theory of translation criticism.
Research methodology
In order to serve the aim of the study, two research questions are raised:
1 What are the strengths of the English version of Beloved Oxford in terms of linguistic aspect and translational aspect?
2 What are the weaknesses of the English version of Beloved Oxford in terms of linguistic aspect and translational aspect?
To achieve the goal of the study, contrastive analysis is employed The researcher conducts the study in the following steps:
Building up a theoretical background for the study
Choosing an approach for TQA, that is Newmark‟s
Analyzing and comparing source text and target text to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the translation in term of linguistic aspect and translational aspect
Organization of the study
Part I is the Introduction which provides readers an overview of the thesis including the rationale for the study, the aims, the scope, the methodology and the organization of the study
Part II is the Development, which includes two chapters
Chapter 1 introduces the theoretical background knowledge related to literary translation and TQA
Chapter 2 is the main part of the study It provides comparison and analysis between original texts and translation texts, and discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the translation
Part III is the Conclusion which summarizes the main ideas and findings of the study, draws some implications for Vietnamese - English literary translations, points out limitations of the study and makes suggestions for further research
PART II: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Literary translation
Translation is essential for fostering awareness and understanding among various cultures and nations, with literary translations playing a pivotal role in bridging these diverse communities As noted by Toury (1995, cited in Elkjør, 2010), a literary translation involves converting a text recognized as literary in the source culture to meet the standards of literary works in the target culture Consequently, for a translation to qualify as literary, it must be recognized as literature within the target culture, adhering to its specific literary criteria.
Schulte (2010) emphasizes that literary translation serves as a vital link between cultures and languages, enhancing our understanding of humanity across borders Through this process, the essence of a different culture is revealed, allowing the translator to express the nuanced emotions and sensibilities of foreign societies using the unique linguistic and artistic features of the target language.
According to Reiss (1976/ 1989, cited in Huang, 2011) literary text - as an
The "expressive" text type is characterized by its written, fictional, and canonical form, emphasizing aesthetic qualities It primarily focuses on conveying emotions through poetic language, often incorporating implicit meanings and creative deviations.
In literary translation, it is essential for translators to consider the unique features of the source text alongside the cultural and linguistic elements of the target audience Huang (2011) highlights five key aspects of literary translation's distinctiveness First, literary texts possess rhetorical and aesthetic qualities that must be preserved in translation Second, the relationship between form and content is integral in literary translation, unlike in non-literary translation where they can be separated Third, the translator's choice of words is heavily influenced by the target language and culture Additionally, understanding the target audience is crucial for effective literary translation Finally, literary translation is a complex process, and while there may not be a single correct translation, there are appropriate translations that align with specific criteria or perspectives.
Similarly, Belhaag (1997, cited in Hassan, 2011) summarizes the characteristics of literary translations:
- focusing on both form and content
- using special devices to “heighten” communicative effect
- tendency to deviate from the language norms
1.1.3 Methods used in literary translation
Nida (1964) identifies two main types of translation: formal equivalence, which aims to preserve both the form and content of the original message, and dynamic equivalence, which emphasizes generating an equivalent effect in the target language text.
Larson (1984) categorizes translation methods by their focus on form and meaning, identifying two primary trends: form-based and meaning-based translations Form-based translations, also referred to as literal translations, strive to preserve the original structure of the source language (SL) In contrast, meaning-based or idiomatic translations prioritize conveying the SL's meaning in a way that feels natural in the target language Translation exists on a continuum that ranges from very literal to idiomatic, with variations such as modified literal and near idiomatic, and can even extend to overly free translations.
Newmark (1988) introduces eight translation methods, categorized into two primary types: semantic translation and communicative translation, represented in a flattened V diagram.
Nida’s formal equivalence, Larson’s literal translation, and Newmark’s semantic translation emphasize the text's form but overlook its context In contrast, Nida’s dynamic equivalence, Larson’s idiomatic translation, and Newmark’s communicative translation aim to convey the original message to the audience in a dynamic manner Thus, translators should consider these approaches when translating literary texts to ensure both fidelity to the original and effective communication.
The first problem is that of equivalence Jakobson (1966, cited in Boushaba,
Equivalence in translation cannot be defined solely by sameness or synonymy, as no translation can fully replicate the original text; instead, it is a "creative transposition." Languages are intricate systems influenced by structural and extralinguistic factors, including social and cultural contexts Since no two languages have identical structures or associations, achieving equivalence in the sense of sameness is unattainable Therefore, equivalence should be understood as an approximate rendering of a source language (SL) text into a target language (TL) text The relationship between the source text (ST) and the target text (TT) is what allows the TT to be recognized as a translation of the ST, and translators should aim for equivalents that evoke similar effects in the translated text as intended by the original author.
Translators must approach literary translation as an ongoing negotiation with the author, ensuring that the new text reflects the original's linguistic values, dynamic elements, and aesthetic quality It is widely acknowledged that messages, rather than meanings, are what get translated, emphasizing the importance of considering the text in its entirety.
Literary translation presents challenges rooted in cultural differences, necessitating equal attention to both linguistic and cultural nuances between the source language (SL) and target language (TL) As noted by Nida (1964), cultural disparities can complicate translation more than differences in language structure Thus, translators must consider not only the lexical impact on the target audience but also how cultural elements are perceived, guiding their translation choices accordingly Language and culture are interdependent, and issues often arise in translating cultural terms unless there is significant overlap between the SL and TL A translator's role extends beyond mere word substitution; they must ensure that the target reader comprehends the original meaning as intended Consequently, texts with a strong cultural emphasis may encounter translation difficulties due to the cultural gap between the SL and TL.
Translating literary texts presents challenges due to the inherent ambiguity and multiple interpretations of the source text (ST) Each literary work can evoke diverse meanings based on the reader's context and personal reflections, complicating the translator's task Determining the author's intended meaning or purpose often proves elusive, making it difficult for both readers and translators to grasp the true essence of the work.
Translating literary texts poses significant challenges due to the multiple layers of meaning embedded in the original work A translator must first immerse themselves in the complete works of the author to grasp the nuances and intentions behind the text This process demands considerable time, dedication, and meticulous revision After completing the translation, the text requires multiple readings and edits to refine the language and align it with the author's original thoughts Consequently, machine translation is inadequate for literary works, as such translations necessitate the expertise and sensitivity of a skilled human translator.
1.2.1 Definition of translation quality assessment
There is no exact definition of TQA In his book A Textbook of Translation