Below is the chart describing the result of the analysis and coding phrase with respect to the frequency of each translation method:
Figure 4.1.1: Translation methods applied by Nguyen Tam
84%
9%
3% 2%2%
Literal translation method Semantic translation method Faithful translation method Adaptation translation method Free translation method
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As can be seen from the chart, literal is the most frequently used translation method by Nguyen Tam; this method alone accounts for more than 80% of the total translation. The other 4 methods applied are semantic, faithful, free and adaptation translation methods which make up 9%, 3%, 2% and 2% of the total units respectively. The other 3 translation methods defined by New Mark, namely word- by-word, idiomatic and communicative translation methods are not applied.
For the translator aiming at the most faithful translation which is able to convey most closely the messages created by the author to the readers of the target language, literal translation method becomes the dominant method employed.
Example 1:
Source text Literal translation method applied by Nguyen Tam
„There‟s Toad Hall,‟ said the Rat;
„and that creek on the left, where the notice board says, “Private. No landing allowed,” leads to his boat- house, where we‟ll leave the boat.
The stables are over there to the right. That‟s the banqueting-hall you‟re looking at now- very old, that is. Toad is rather rich, you know, and this is really one of the nicest houses in these parts, though we never admit as much to Toad.‟
(The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame)
“Kia là Lâu đài C c,” Chuột Nước nói,
“còn cái nhánh s ng mé tay trái, nơi c bảng th ng cáo „Tư gia. Cấm đậu thuyền,‟ dẫn tới nhà để thuyền của nó.
Chúng mình sẽ để thuyền tại đ . Các chuồng gia súc thì ở đằng kia, bên mé tay phải. Kia là phòng tiệc, cái chỗ cậu đang nhìn ấy, đã cũ rồi. Thằng Cóc khá là giàu, cậu biết đấy, và tòa nhà này thật sự là một trong những tòa nhà đẹp nhất ở vùng này, tuy rằng bọn tớ không bao giờ thừa nhận như thế với thằng Cóc cả.”
(Gió qua rặng liễu, translated by Nguyên Tâm)
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The use of literal translation method in the above example is apparent; details are translated literally, structures are kept almost the same with the origin even when some of them are not commonly used in the target language. For example, in Vietnamese spoken language, it sounds a little bit unnatural to add “cậu biết đấy” between 2 clauses in a complex sentence.
Besides the equivalent effect, Nguyen Tam also pays certain attention to the cultural of the target readers as well as the aesthetic values of a literary, reflected by the fact that non-literal translation methods still account for about 15% of all the listed cases.
One among the non-literal translation methods applied by Nguyen Tam is semantic translation, which is faithful but concerns more with the aesthetic value of both the source and the target text. In this translation, this method is presented with rhetorical devices and flowery expressive images.
Example 2:
Source text Literal translation method applied by Nguyen Tam
„He must be a very nice animal,‟
observed the Mole, as he got into the boat and took the sculls, while the Rat settled himself comfortably in the stern..
(The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame)
“Anh chàng ấy hẳn phải là một con vật rất tế nhị,” Chuột Chũi nhận xét khi n bước lên thuyền và nắm lấy mái chèo, trong khi đ Chuột Nước thoải mái ngồi vào một chiếc ghế bành phía đu i thuyền.
(Gió qua rặng liễu, translated by Nguyên Tâm)
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In English, “stern” refers to the front part of the ship which means “mũi thuyền” in Vietnamese. However, instead of literally translating it this way, Nguyen Tam uses a much more imagery ones that is “chiếc ghế bành phía đu i thuyền”, helping to make the characters more human-like and liven up the story.
Since appeared, Mole, Rat and Toad have always been adored by their little readers not only because of their interesting adventures but also thanks to them being depicted like real close friends of kids.
Example 3:
Source text Semantic translation method applied by Nguyen Tam
„Now, you dear good old Ratty,‟ said Toad, imploringly, „don‟t begin talking in that stiff and sniffy sort of way, because you know you‟ve got to come.
(The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame)
“Th i nào, bạn Chuột Nước rộng lượng thân mến,” thằng Cóc nói, giọng cầu khẩn, “xin cậu đừng nói bằng cái cách đay nghiến và khinh khỉnh ấy nữa, bởi vì cậu cũng biết là cậu phải đến.
(Gió qua rặng liễu, translated by Nguyên Tâm)
As semantic method is employed, the use of the rhetorical device alliteration in the source text “stiff and sniffy” is nicely translated as “đay nghiến và khinh khỉnh” which is still faithful to the original version in the source text, but much more aesthetic than “cứng nhắc và khinh người” or “gay gắt và khinh miệt”.
Another non-literal translation method employed was faithful translation, with which the contextual meaning is guaranteed to be conveyed fully from the author to the readers by replacing the cultural specific items of the source language with the nearest equivalence in terms of denotative meaning in the target language.
25 Example 4:
Source text Faithful translation method applied by Nguyen Tam
At last the horse was caught and harnessed, and they set off, all talking at once, each animal either trudging by the side of the cart or sitting on the shaft, as the humor took him. It was a golden afternoon.
(The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame)
Cuối cùng cũng bắt được ngựa và thắng yên cương, rồi bọn chúng khởi hành, cả bọn lập tức chuyện trò, mỗi đứa hoặc lê bước bên cạnh cỗ xe hoặc ngồi trên càng xe, tùy theo sở thích.
Buổi chiều h m đ thật là hạnh phúc.
(Gió qua rặng liễu, translated by Nguyên Tâm)
The “golden” here is the “golden” in “a golden age” which refers to such a period of time when everyone is happy. The expression makes sense and would be accepted by all English speakers in the world; however, to literally translate it as “1 buổi chiều vàng” or even “1 buổi chiều hoàng kim” would just confuse Vietnamese readers. Besides, putting in the context of the beginning of the adventure when everything is carried out smoothly and in controlled, it is also reasonable for the characters to feel happy. Hence, applying faithful translation method with this case is very appropriate.
In short, though literal translation method is most favored by Nguyen Tam, when needed and possible, he also tried to apply some other suitable non-literal methods.