Tóm tắt Luận án Address terms in the novel gone with the wind and their equivalents in Vietnamese translation Cuon theo chieu gio

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY TRAN THI KIM TUYEN ADDRESS TERMS IN THE NOVEL GONE WITH THE WIND AND THEIR EQUIVALENTS IN VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION CUON THEO CHIEU GIO Major: Theoretical Linguistics Code: 62. 22. 01. 01 SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS IN LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE NGHE AN - 2016 1 INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale 1.1. In language in general and in Vietnamese and English in particular, address terms are the reflection of the hierarchical relationship among participants of the conversations as well as their attitudes and emotion. In order for the conversation to go smoothly, speaker should choose suitable address terms basing on the relationship between listener and speaker. The choice and usage of suitable address terms with the context and content will depend on this interpersonal relationship; these address terms also have impacts on the development of the conversation. It is, therefore, meaningful and important to conduct a research into the respective expression of form of address in the two languages (English - Vietnamese). 1.2. In Vietnamese, address terms are diversified and they carry different connotations in different circumstances; the same role may have different address terms with different shades of emotions. Address terms in English are, however, different in both quantity, kind of speech (address) and structure of address terms. The difference between the two languages has created confusion for translators when choosing the equivalent address terms, especially when translating work from English into Vietnamese. In this thesis, the author will investigate the translation of address terms from the original version in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the wind (Macmillan Publisher, 2005) the translated Vu Kim Thu translator’s Cuon theo chieu gio (Thoi Đai Publisher, 2009) to identify the systematic characteristic and principles in the translation activity from English into Vietnamese and vice versa. 1.3. In real-life communication, personal pronouns are used more frequently than nouns to address people, meanwhile, in Vietnamese, personal pronouns are not as popular as nouns to address people, especially kinship noun. Therefore, in translating address terms that appear in conversations between characters from English into Vietnamese, there are both similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of the use of personal pronoun, addressing nouns (name and full name, kinship nouns, nouns expressing feeling, nouns expressing gender, nouns showing politeness, objectification noun, occupational titles) as well as emotion and culture and etc. It is an essential and practical to point out the similarities and differences among these issues for the teaching of English and Vietnamese. 2 1.4. In actual fact, both Vietnamese learners of English and foreign learners of Vietnamese encounter many difficulties in using address terms in learning as well as in translating from English to Vietnamese and vice versa. They make many mistakes in usage because of a lack of clear understanding of the functions, semantics, pragmatics and culture of each terms (whether to use personal pronoun or noun to address). Therefore, “Address terms in the novel Gone with the wind and their equivalents in Vietnamese translation Cuon theo chieu gio” is essential and need to be conducted. 2. Research objects and aims 2.1. Research objects For this paper, we choose to investigate address terms used in the dialogues of characters in Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the wind (Macmillan Publisher, 2005) and its Vietnamese translation Vu Kim Thu translator’s Cuon theo chieu gio (Thoi Đai Publisher, 2009). This novel was translated into Vietnamese by some authors such as Duong Tuong, Le Cong Thanh. In this thesis, we selected the translation of by Vu Kim Thu translator (Thoi Đai Publisher, 2009). 2.2. Aims of the study This study aims at: - In terms of theory, it aims to identify factors that influence address terms such as: role of communication, attitude in dialogues of the novel Gone with the wind (English version) and the translation Cuon theo chieu gio (Vietnamese version), and the similarities and differences in the use of personal pronoun and nouns of address in English and Vietnamese, thereby making contribution to the theory of address form in general theory of the translation of address form from English into Vietnamese in particular. The practical aim of the study is to apply findings of the study of address terms in the novel Gone with the wind (English) and the Vietnamese translation Cuon theo chiều gió into teaching - learning activity and English - Vietnamse and Vietnamese - English translation activity. 3. Tasks of the thesis To conduct this study, the thesis has the following tasks: a. Collect, classify the system of address terms which reflect the interpersonal relationship of communication participants in the novel Gone with 3 the wind by Margaret Mitchell and the translation Cuon theo chieu gio of Vu Kim Thu translator. b. Compare, collect address terms in novel Gone with the wind (English) and the translation Cuon theo chieu gio (Vietnamese), analyzed from two axis: b1) Vertical axis - reflecting social position, power and b2) Horizontal axis - reflecting close relationship, or distance between communicators to identify similarities and differences in terms of number of address terms, the variation in the usage of these terms depending on feelings, psychology, culture, characters' interpersonal relationship in family and society. c. Identify similarities and differences in the use of address terms with models of interpersonal relationships reflected through PPs, nouns of address, expressions of address (EA), and ellipsis (reduced address terms) which are used in communication in the English original and Vietnamese translation. d. Apply research findings which are reflected through models of interpersonal relationship in the teaching - learning activity and translation between English and Vietnamese. 4. Research material and methods 4.1. Research materials We collected and analyzed address terms in characters' conversations in the novel Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell and the translation Cuon theo chieu gio of translator Vu Kim Thu. In addition, we used the translation Cuon theo chieu gio by Duong Tuong to make comparison. 4.2. Research methods 4.2.1. Listing and classification We listed the number of address terms including personal pronoun, sub-group of nouns and expressions of address in characters' talk in specific context and classified them into groups and subgroups to draw general observation. 4.2.2. Discourse analysis On the basis of address terms collected using discourse analysis, we described the equivalence between the original and translation in terms of semantics, content, reference system of address terms, communication target and etc. In addition, we analyzed and explained the relationship between language and psychology, culture, society to describe characteristics and translation methods of address terms in characters' conversations in the English original and the Vietnamese translation. 4.2.3. Comparison method 4 We compared characteristics and use of address terms which are suitable with communication role, context and functions of address terms used in the translation from the English original into Vietnamese translation. We did this in order to find similarities and differences in the use of address terms between these two languages. Apart from the above methods, our thesis also used some other methods, such as, systemization, modeling the use of address terms in the two languages (English and Vietnamese), using both qualitative and quantitative methods to have appropriate results. 5. Contribution of the thesis This is the first study about the number of address terms and their translation from English and Vietnamese and the differences in the use of address terms in communication between the English original and Vietnamese translation. 6. Structure of thesis In addition to Introduction, Conclusion, and References, the thesis has 4 chapters: Chapter 1: An overview of past studies and literature review Chapter 2: Personal pronouns were used by characters in the orginal novel Gone with the wind and equivalent translation in Cuon theo chieu gio Chapter 3: Nouns of address were used by characters in the orginal novel Gone with the wind and equivalent translation in Cuon theo chieu gio Chapter 4: Application of research findings into teaching - learning activities and translation of address terms 5 Chapter 1 AN OVERVIEW OF PAST STUDIES AND LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1. An overview of studies into address terms Until now, many authors have mentioned the topic of address terms (AT) , however, there has not been an agreement on the concepts of address. In the world and in Vietnam, there has been major achievement in the studies of address terms. 1.1.1. History of studies into address terms The issue of AT in English has been studied for a long time: In 1961, Brown, Roger W. and Marguerite Ford in their article Address in American English analyzed address form (AF) in conversations between two participants in many different contexts, with the influence from socio-psychological factors basing on the close relationship of three kinds of AF (first name or surname to address, words of address for absent people (first name or surname) [127, p.371]. In 1968, Hanning, Robert W mentioned the use of AF in middle-aged literature [135, tr.325]. In1973, Eliason Norman E. studied AF and references [133, p.137]. In 1985, Lou Quangquinh wrote about society and culture in naming principles [138, p.3]. In 1988, Braun, F wrote an article about models and the multilingual, multicultural use of AF [126]. Also in 1988, Thai Duy Bao in Constrative analysis of etiquette in English - VietNamese dialogue [5] mentioned PP (PP) and nouns of address (NA) in English. The author wrote: “In English conversation, the use of PP is compulsory and traditional such as PP I, we for the first-person pronoun, interlocutor (the addressor) and PP you for second-person, who is the participant (addressee). These personal pronouns appeared in all communication and social relationships despite differences in social positions, ages and intimacy level between speakers. In other words, it reflects relationships between communication partners, between interlocutor and addressee” [5, tr.45-46]. In addition, the author also mentioned types of address in English which reflect position but not politeness, and not affected by different shades of communication in different situations Although address terms in English show equality of address terms and they cannot be replaced by other address terms, depending on characters' attitude and feelings, we can see variation of temporary address terms such as my love, my pet. In 2006, authors Bull, Peter, Fetzer, and Anita mentioned the strategy of using AF in interviews with government leaders, typically issues surrounding the questions [128, tr.1]. Generally speaking, there have been many studies and articles about AF in English or comparison between English and Russian, Sino, Swiss, Japanese, South African or Vietnamese but no articles have mentioned the translation of AF in the novel Gone with the wind from English into Vietnamese. 1.1.2. Studies of address terms in Vietnamese 6 In Vietnamese, address terms were first studied by Alexandre De Rodhes in his Dictionary of Vietnamese - Portuguese – Latin, in 1651, he mentioned PP, as well as the nouns indicating kinship (NIK) with addressing functions such as ong, ba, chu, bac, cau However, in this dictionary, these AF were not complete and did not reflect all terms used in real life. In 1884, Truong Vinh Ky spent 30 pages in his book Grammare de langueannamite to describe PP. Nguyen Van Chien had articles about Locality of kinship nouns in Vietnamese [18], Address terms in Vietnamese [20], Address terms in Vietnamese [21]. In Semantics of conversational lines [58] and pragmatics textbook [59, p.191-197], Do Thi Kim Lien mentioned relevant issues of AF in conversation or in communication between communication participants such as as pairs of interactive AF in asking and answering; the development and conversion of AF with the content of conversation; the development in psychology and emotion of characters which influence the usage. In addition, we must also mention articles about address terms by Bui Minh Yen in the doctoral thesis Addressing in family and society of Vietnamese [119]. The doctoral thesis Address terms originating from kinship nouns in Vietnamese surveyed, described and analyzed carefully, completely and comprehensively about all kinship nouns used to address in communication [31]. In 2012, Truong Thi Diem wrote about Address terms originating from kinship nouns in Catholic community of Vietnamese [32]. In 2012, Truong Thi Minh Phương in her article about Address terms of Vietnamese [79] emphasized some basic characteristics in the use of layers of AF in Vietnamese and some practical applications in communication. In 2014, La Thi Thanh Mai in her doctoral thesis Addressing characteristics of Korean and Vietnamese [64] discussed similarities and differences in address terms in family and society contexts between Koreans and Vietnamese. Having a look at studies about address terms in English and Vietnamese, we see that no studies mentioned the comparison of address terms in communication between English and its Vietnamese translation, with the analysis into a specific novel, therefore, we chose this topic: “Address terms in the novel Gone with the wind and their equivalents in Vietnamese translation Cuon theo chieu gio”. 1.2. Literature review 1.2.1. Overview of address terms AF include PP and NA or EA (this is the basis for our analysis and comparison in chapter 2 and 3) and we call them units of AT used by characters to “address themselves” (self-reference) and “address others” (refer to other people) with the function to position, establish interpersonal relationship and express attitude, feeling, psychology, awareness in communication in family and society. At the same time, AF reflects the intellectual level and national culture, which have been long established in the community and have become the habits of conversation participants. 7 The main function of AF is to establish relationship among communication participants and reflect the attitude and feeling of interlocutors through their three main functions: positioning, reference and showing interpersonal relationship. Units of AT in Vietnamese usually have three functions namely positioning, reference and interpersonal relationship. 1.2.1.3. Address terms in English and Vietnamese Address terms in English and Vietnamese consist of personal pronoun and nouns of address (NA) (surname and first name, NIK, nouns denoting feelings, nouns denoting gender, nouns denoting politeness, objectification nouns, and status nouns) and EA used in specific contexts. 1.2.2. Overview of communication Communication is the exchange and interaction through difference means. In our opinion, communication is information exchange between two or more people in specific contexts and situations. When the first person addresses the second person using a PP or a NA, this created an activity, which is a communication activity. It includes influencing factors such as communication role, communication content, communication purpose, communication context and attitude. 1.2.3. Some relevant issues to equivalence in translation When translating from source language A (English) to target language B (Vietnamese), there may be some circumstances such as complete equivalence, partial equivalence or no equivalence. On this basis, we proposed a diagram showing the interpersonal relationship, which are the expression and the expressed. (see Thesis p.32). Therefore, translation is about finding equivalence (from source language to target language). The equivalent language itself is the communication of language (translation of language determined by the expressed - the content, type, intention, purpose and style of the author and the expression - the characteristics of the language and the translation of the source culture to target culture. 1.2.3.3. Address terms in translation Translation of AT is a linguistic translation activity (about certain units of speech or texts from source language into target language) but it should maintain the content of source language. This is the intercultural process between two or more languages, requiring translators to understand clearly cultural features of both source and target languages so that they can express correctly and accurately the content and meaning of source language. 1.2.3.4. Differences in translating between two languages in terms of cultural issues In translating between two or more languages, AT of both Vietnamese and English reflect politeness and feelings. PP in English only have neutral meaning (he/ him, she/ her, you, we/ us, they/ them), no other PP reflects a sense of formality or informality. Meanwhile, PP in Vietnamese do not show politeness and 8 formality but only neutral feelings (toi, chung toi), or informality (tao, han...). Apart from PP, there is a large number of NA such as surname and first name, NIK, status nouns, expressions of address (EA) which can replace PP, even used more than PP. From the above analysis, we can see that the use of AT in Vietnamese has unique cultural meanings, which is different from the use of AT in English 1.2.4. Introduction of Gone with the wind and the translation Cuốn theo chiều gió Gone with the wind [I] is the famous novel by Margaret Mitchell, published in 1936 and won Pulitzer prize in 1937; it was one of the most well-known book and translated into many different languages in the world. The story plot is as follows: The context is in Georgia and Atlanta; the story told how a strong woman living in South America, Scarlett O’Hara, had two find all ways to survive through the war and the difficult life that she experience with her friends, family and beloved people in the South of America during the civil war and reconstruction period. The story was also about a romantic and beautiful love story between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. Rhett Butler was in love with Scarlett. But Rhett could not express his love to Scarlett because she was “very cruel towards those who loved her. She took their love and used it as a rod to hit those who loved her”. This is considered a classic, romantic and wonderful love story of our time. 1.3. Summary of chapter 1 In chapter 1, we draw some conclusions: We described the concepts of AF in English and Vietnamese to compare AT between source language (English) and target language (Vietnamese), in a limited scope which is the conversations between characters in Gone with the wind and Vietnamese translation Cuon theo chieu gio: - Basic components of AF are: positioning function, reference function, interpersonal relationship function to describe AT. These functions can mark the role of communication participants to develop their conversations. - Subgroups of AT in Vietnamese communication including: PP, NA such as first name and surname, nouns denoting feelings, nouns denoting gender, status