Equivalence of English – Vietnamese translation for subtitles of some documentary films Lê Thị Nhung University of Languages and International Studies M.A Thesis: English Linguistics; Code: 60 22 15 Supervisor : Prof.Dr. Lê Hùng Tiến Year of graduation: 2011 Abstract. The study investigates the equivalence for terminology in subtitles translation of the documentary series “Swamp loggers” broadcasted on Discovery Channel. The Introduction gives a rationale for the study and sets up the aims, scope, structure and methods of the study. Chapter I constitutes the study’s theoretical background. It presents the issues relevant to the paper’s topic: Translation, translation of drama and film, terminology in translation, translation equivalence and non-equivalence and some strategies. Chapter II presents the translation of the selected series with the introduction to the series, the problems of non-equivalence and explains how these problems are solved by translators’ using the strategies suggested in Chapter I. Keywords. Dịch thuật; Phim tài liệu; Tiếng Anh Content PART I- INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale Translation is recently considered a language skill – the fifth macro skill. Besides translation of television programs and motion pictures, especially subtitling, in which the text appears on the screen along with dialogue of the film is more and more popular. It is hoped that this research will make a small but critical contribution to the development of new theoretical foundation of subtitling in Vietnam. 2. Aims of the study This study will seek to answer the research question: "How equivalence in translation between English and Vietnamese is achieved through the Vietnamese subtitling of the documentary series “Swamp loggers” shown on Discovery Channel in association with Vietnamese Cable Television?" 3. Scope and method of the study The study focuses mainly on equivalence for terminology achieved in the subtitles of the documentary series “Swam loggers”. The evaluation of equivalence will be based on the approach suggested by Baker (1992) using a list of the two texts: the source text and the translated version. 4. Organization of the study The study consists of three parts: Part I is the Introduction which describes the reasons for the choice of the topic, the aims, the scope, method and organization of the study. Part II is the Development with Chapter I providing the literature review of translation, terminology and equivalence; Chapter II giving the synopsis as well as subtitling of the selected series; the problems of non-equivalence and subtitlers’ strategies to deal with those problems. Part III is the Conclusion and suggestion for further study. PART II-DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Film and subtitle translation 1.1 Definition of translation Translation is a variedly defined concept that has caused vigorous debate along its development history. Finding the closet equivalence while maintaining “style” and “meaning” as authentic as possible determines the authenticity of the translation in grammar, culture, comprehension, and message content. To have a deeper investigation into equivalence, film subtitles translation will be discussed in this research paper. 1.2 Translation of dramas/films Translators of drama have discomfort in having dramatic text, with emphasis on verbs, rather than that of more descriptive and explanatory. Therefore a translation of a drama must be concise – it must not be an over-translation. 1.3 Subtitle translation Subtitles, according to Baker, M. (Ed.) (1998) are “transcriptions of film or TV dialogue, presented simultaneously on the screen.” She also highlights the “authenticity” gained in subtitles, which includes the real voice quality and intonation of the actors. A more detailed view of subtitling in Vietnam can be seen in Appendix I – Subtitling instruction by Qnet Entertainment 1.4 Subtitle Quality According to James (2001), subtitles quality is to meet clients’ expectation. “Clients” here are the producer,the author/scripts writer expects his or her intention to be reflected accurately and authentically” in the translated subtitles (James 2001:152). Accuracy, clearness, credibility and consistency with the action on the screen are what to expect in subtitles. Moreover, subtitles are evaluated by the quality of translation and quality of typo accuracy. 2. Terminology and translation of terminology 2.1 Definition and features The distinction between words and terms are not fixed. Each term constantly interacts and intersects with general words because they consist of the same linguistic forms. 2.2 Terminology in translation Newmark (1988) considers new terminology as the central difficulty in technical translation. While Baker (1998) places translation and terminology in two different linguistic and cognitive tables with differently focused areas of language study. Baker (1998) argues that finding the terms which has the same concept in two languages does not require translators’ minimal theory of terminology. 3. Baker’s approach to equivalence 3.1 Equivalence and equivalence at word level In the most general meaning, equivalence is the relationship between a source text (ST) and a target text (TT) that allows the TT to be considered as a translation of the ST. Baker uses notion of equivalence “for the sake of convenience – because most translators are used to it rather than because it has any theoretical status” (1992:5-6). She also points out the three following types of equivalence: a) Grammatical equivalence b) Textual equivalence c) Pragmatic equivalence Baker also acknowledges that equivalence at word level is the first element to be taken into consideration by translators. 3.2 Problems of non-equivalence and strategy Baker (1992) also points out 11 common problems of non-equivalence at word level: - Culture-specific concepts - The source-language concepts are not lexicalized in the target language - The source-language word is semantically complex - The source and target languages make different distinctions in meaning - The target language lacks a super-ordinate - The target language lacks a specific term (hyponym) - Differences in physical or interpersonal perspective - Differences in expressive meaning - Differences in form - Differences in frequency and purpose of using specific forms - The use of loan words in the source text She also figures out strategy by professional translators as: a. Translation by a more general word b. Translation by a more neutral/less expressive word c. Translation by cultural substitution d. Translation by a paraphrase e. Translation by omission In short, all above translation theories will make a steady background for the study’s development for further investigation in the next parts. CHAPTER II: TRANSLATION AND SUBTITLING OF THE SELECTED SERIES 1. Synopsis of the series “Swam loggers” “Swamp loggers” is a reality television show made by Discovery Channel. The show tells a story about the working and social life of loggers in North Carolina swamps with hardship, dangers and joy and special experiences. Logging itself is a tough job; logging in swamps, especially swamps with no bottom in North Carolina. The main characters are Goodson’s All Terrain Logging Company, with the fourth generation logger and also the owner of the company, Bobby Goodson, his son, Justin Goodson – the foreman and the united logging team: the loader Dave Muller and the veteran logger – Simitrio. 2. Linguistic features in the relationship with subtitles translation In the selected documentaries, it is possible to divide the language into two forms, which is narrating and speaking/talking. Narrating voices often tell the story which is going on, while characters’ voices, on the other hands, are used to express the characters themselves. 3. Problems of non-equivalence - Different distinction in meaning - Semantic complexion - Target language lacks a specific term - Word form difference - Cultural specific term 4. Strategy to deal with non-equivalence 4.1 Different equivalence to a source word as a method of subtitles shortening “Haul” is used in both noun and verb form and translated differently in different cases: But we're glad we're back. We got plenty wood to haul… Thật vui khi quay lại. Có nhiều gỗ cần kéo Every hour that Simitrio isn't cutting wood Mỗi giờ Simitrio không xẻ gỗ means the truckers will catch up to him and have nothing left to haul. có nghĩa lái xe tải sẽ bắt kịp và hết gỗ để chuyển đi Trucker Wayne Sauers has just returned from the pulp mill, Lái xe Wayne Sauers vừa quay về từ nhà máy giấy after his latest haul. sau chuyến xe vừa đi Together, they risk it all as they cut, load, Họ cùng nhau mạo hiểm khi xẻ, chất lên xe, and haul over 100,000 tons of timber each year. Harrison (2010) chở hơn 100.000 tấn gỗ mỗi năm Similarly, in another case, the word “tract” is differently translated in different context: Good tract of wood. Corbett, actually they gave us a really good tract. Họ giao cho chúng tôi khoảnh rừng Corbett rất tốt It's actually not near as wet as a lot of the tracts that we used to cut. Nó không gần đầm lầy như nhiều nơi chúng tôi từng đốn The tract runs up against the Cape Fear River, Chỗ này chạy ngược sông Cape Fear and years ago, the Cape Fear would flood every winter. Vài năm trước con sông gây ngập mỗi mùa đông, … I'm glad you got us on this good tract. Harrison (2010) Thật vui vì anh đã giao 1 khoảnh tốt As for the listed words with semantic complexity as “shovel logging”, “shovel road”, drag racing”, one way is not sutbtilers’ choice of solution This weekend will mark her drag racing debut. And to give her a fighting chance at a win, Cuối tuần này chị sẽ thi và để có cơ hội chiến thắng, husband, Buddy, is making sure everything is shipshape in her 355 small block, Chevy pickup truck. Harrison (2010) Buddy kiểm tra lại để đảm bảo chiếc Chevy mui trần tốt nhất Along the line, “shovel logging” and “shovel road” will be discussed: Shovel logging is different than conventional logging. Đốn gỗ bằng máy khác cách truyền thống We actually use the trees. Chúng tôi dùng cây gỗ Simitrio will cut them, laying them in front of him. Simitrio đốn và đặt chúng nằm phía trước, And then he'll take the other trees in there and overlap them. It actually makes a grid. rồi lấy cây khác chồng lên tạo ra 1 mạng lưới, And what that does, it keeps the tract dirt above the mud instead of running through the mud. Harrison (2010) giữ đất bên trên thay vì chảy qua bùn “Shovel logging”, as explained before, is logging by gradually dragging and swinging logs/trees to forest road, which cannot be fully and accurately expressed by “Đốn gỗ bằng máy”. The suggested term can be “đốn gỗ đầm lầy” to ensure time and word restriction in this subtitles. Even though this tract is dryer than most, Dù khoảnh rừng này khô hơn các nơi khác, Bobby's heavy equipment still needs support in this swampy terrain. thiết bị hạng nặng của Bobby vẫn cần vật đỡ ở nơi lầy lội Simitrio began felling trees a week earlier, Simitrio bắt đầu đốn cây 1 tuần trước, so that he and the shovel loader could build the log road, để anh và máy bốc xếp có thể làm đường gỗ, known as the shovel road, gọi là đường bốc xếp, the first step in logging any new site. Harrison (2010) bước đầu tiên để đốn gỗ ở 1 địa điểm mới In short, for one word in the source language, different equivalence with different expressive meaning is produced in the target language to fit with different situation in subtitling. 4.2 Equivalence of logging machines and equipments Cutter Máy xẻ Trailer Xe moóc Tractor Máy kéo Loader Máy bốc xếp Dozer/bulldozer Xe ủi đất Shovel/shovel loader/shovel machine Máy xúc Feller buncher/feller Máy xẻ Skidder/ clambunk skidder Máy kéo gỗ Stacker Máy xếp It is not difficult to identify the linguistic structure of these terms, which is “V + er in English” and “Máy + function” in Vietnamese. However, the unsolved problems stay still where there are different machines assigned to one task such as “cutter” and “feller buncher” above or “clambunk skidder” and “Bogey skidder”. The situation seems to be much more relaxing for the subtilers to deal with general terminology: Pick-up Xe bán tải Lowboy Xe tải sàn thấp Springs Lò xo Axles Trục Dump truck Xe chở vật liệu Crane Cần cẩu Pile Chồng (gỗ) Teeth/carbide teeth Răng/răng các-bua Carbide Các-bua Pneumatic ratchet Chốt khí nén holder Mâm cặp disk Đĩa yoke Vòng đai Figure 1: Equivalence for General Terminology 4.3 Equivalence of logging activities and environment Terminology Equivalence Short form (if any) Quota Hạn mức/hạn ngạch Hạn Truckload Chuyến xe Chuyến Load Chuyến/Chở/Chất gỗ Haul Kéo/Chuyển/Chuyến xe/Chở Swampland Vùng đầm lầy Đầm Stuck Sa lầy Tract Khu gỗ/Khoảnh rừng Khu Wet Lầy lội Quality pulpwood Gỗ giấy chất lượng cao Gỗ Paper mill/mill Nhà máy giấy Nhà máy Figure 2: Equivalence for logging activities and environment Come to the wood names, a cultural substitution as suggested by Baker (1992). Risky as it is, the substitution turns out to be fairly appropriate to subtitles translation. Cypress Gỗ bách/Cây bách Bald cypress Cây bách gỗ đặc Mockernut hickory Cây/Gỗ hồ đào đầm lầy Pig nut hickory Cây/Gỗ hồ đào trắng Hickory Cây/Gỗ hồ đào Ash tree Cây/Gỗ tần bì Tupelo Cây/Gỗ keo Figure 3: Equivalence for Wood Names These equivalences are not necessarily true to every situation where such cultural concepts appear. It is required that all the concepts are left untranslated. Therefore, Vietnamese terms tend to be used to fill in the gap, not to transfer the meaning. 5. Concluding remarks The study identifies three groups of equivalence with nine sub-groups achieved in Vietnamese subtitles of the series “Swamp loggers”, which are: 1. Equivalence of words with meaning complexity a. Unlexicalized concepts b. Semantically complexity c. Different distinction in meaning d. Lack of specific term/super-ordinate e. Different in form 2. Equivalence of words with technical complexity a. Equivalence of logging machines and equipment b. Equivalence of logging activities and environment c. Equivalence of wood names To satisfactorily solve the above problems, which is establishing equivalence for these terminology, translators/subtitlers flexibly apply Baker (1992)’s strategies in each different situation PART III: CONCLUSION 1. Addressed issues and some applications It can be said that translators/subtitlers working on the series use various strategies, from the most common to the risky one, to deal with problems of non-equivalence as suggested by Baker (1992). Not all of the equivalence meets the translator/interpreter’s expectation, however, from subtilers’ point of view, the equivalence achieved in subtitles of “Swam loggers” is clear and credible, and gives the impression of being part of the action on the screen. However, shortcomings of the study are unavoidable, for which the author would like to appreciate readers’ tolerance. 2. Suggestions for further study The research author is fully aware that this study is far from being satisfisfactory and other issues should be taken into consideration so that it can possibly draw out an overall conclusion of equivalence in subtitles translation. The following topics can be considered for further studies: - Equivalence above word level in subtitles translation - Types of terminology in finding equivalence for subtitles translation References 1. Baker, M. (1992). In other words: A course book in translation. London: Routledge. 2. Baker, M. (Ed.). (1998). Routledge encylopedia of translation studies. London New York: Routledge. 3. Catford J.C. (1976). A linguistic Theory of Translation. Oxford: OUP. 4. Gambier, Y., & Cottlied, H. (Eds.). (2001). (Multi) Media Translation: concepts, practices and research. Berlin: John Benjamin Publishing. 5. Harrison, P. (Producer). (2010). Swamp logger [Growing Pain]. In 60 minutes. California. USA : Pilgrim Films & Television. 6. 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(2010). Modern Sniper [Army]. In 60 minutes. California, USA: Legion Productions. 21. Ton, T. Q. T. (2001). A study on translation of idiomatic expressions in some TV dramas. College of Foreign Languages, Hanoi National University, Hanoi. . Equivalence of English – Vietnamese translation for subtitles of some documentary films Lê Thị Nhung University of Languages and International Studies M.A Thesis: English Linguistics;. paper’s topic: Translation, translation of drama and film, terminology in translation, translation equivalence and non -equivalence and some strategies. Chapter II presents the translation of the selected. conclusion of equivalence in subtitles translation. The following topics can be considered for further studies: - Equivalence above word level in subtitles translation - Types of terminology