The document summarizes different translation methods from literal to free, including word-for-word translation, literal translation, faithful translation, semantic translation, communicative translation, idiomatic translation, and adaptation. It provides examples and explanations of when each translation method would be used, such as word-for-word translation for general information about the source language or literal translation for pre-translation work.

1. Translation Theory 1
TRANSLATIO
N METHODS

2. CORE READING
A TEXTBOOK OF TRANSLATION
Peter Newmark (1988)

3. Translation methods
SL TL
Word for word translation Adaptation
Literal translation Free translation
Faithful translation Idiomatic translation
Semantic translation Communicative translation

4. I- Word for word translation
 SL word-order is
preserved
 Non-grammatical
 Words are translated
by their most
common meanings,
out of context
Used for
 General information
about SL
 Pre-translation
process of difficult
text in order to gain
sense of meaning

5. II - Literal translation
 SL grammatical structures
are converted to their
nearest equivalent in the
TL
 BUT words are still
translated singly, out of
context.
e.g.
- He is a big liar.
Anh ta lµ mét kÎ nãi dèi lín.
- He looked up at the Milky
Way.
Used for
 Pre-translation
process to
identify problems

6. Practice
1. Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
2. PetroVietnam, the state-owned oil and gas giant,
has also found itself in hot water.
3. And I must follow on the road that lies ahead,
And I won't let my heart control my head,
4. She has a sweet tooth.

7. III - Faithful translation
 Words are translated in
context
 Transfer cultural words
 Does not naturalize
e.g.
+ He is as fast as a
kangaroo.
+ Nã nhanh nh mét con
kanguru.
Used for
 Literary
translation
 Authoritative texts
 Drafts

8. Practice
+ Despite his looks, he’s said to be
something of a Don Juan.
+ That computer science course was a
bear.
+ This is a Mickey Mouse course but
we still have to take it because it is on
the program.
+ Carry coal to Newcastle

9. IV - Semantic translation
9
- It is more flexible than faithful T
- Naturalizes in order to achieve aesthetic
effect
(may translate cultural words with neutral or
functional terms)
- Great focus on aesthetic features of ST
(Close rendering of metaphors, collocations,
technical terms, slang, colloquialisms,
unusual syntactic structures and
collocations, peculiarly used words,
neologism.
Used for
- Expressive texts: e.g., literature

10. Examples
1. Right in the heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem
Lake is an enchanting body of water, a
peaceful oasis away from all the hustle and
bustle of the city.
N»m ngay gi÷a tr¸i tim Hµ Néi, hå Hoµn
KiÕm lµ mét hå níc ®Ñp mª hån, mét èc ®¶o
yªn b×nh t¸ch biÖt víi tất cả những gi ồn ào
tấp nập của thành phố

11. Practice
1. She has a sunny smile on her face.
2. All men are created equal. They are
endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, among
these are Life, Liberty, and the
pursuit of Happiness"
(the Declaration of Independence of
the United States of America in
1776)

12. V - Communicative translation
12
 freer than semantic translation
 gives priority to the effectiveness of
the message to be communicated.
 focuses on factors such as readability
and naturalness
Used for
 informative texts

13. Semantic translation vs. communicative
translation
Right in the heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem
Lake is an enchanting body of water, a
peaceful oasis away from all the hustle
and bustle of the city.
S. N»m ngay gi÷a tr¸i tim Hµ Néi, hå Hoµn
KiÕm lµ mét hå níc ®Ñp mª hån, mét èc
®¶o yªn b×nh t¸ch biÖt víi sù hèi h¶ bËn
rén cña thµnh phè.
C. Hå Hoµn KiÕm lµ mét hå níc ®Ñp, yªn
tÜnh n»m ë trung t©m Hµ Néi ån µo.

14. Semantic translation vs.
communicative translation
1. Nhµ cã chã d÷.
S. There is a fierce dog in the house.
C. Beware of the dog.
2. Keep off the grass.
S. Tr¸nh xa b·i cá.
C. Kh«ng ®îc dÉm lªn cá.
3. Her face is all her fortune.
S. Bé m¨t lµ tÊt c¶ vèn liÕng cña c« nµng.
C. Con Êy chØ ®îc mçi c¸i xinh.

15. Semantic translation vs. communicative translation
SEMANTIC
TRANSLATION
COMMUNICATIVE TRANSLATION
Written at author’s linguistic level Written at readership’s linguistic
level
Used for expressive texts Used for informative texts
Expressive components rendered
closely/literally
Normalized or toned down, neutral
terms
Personal and individual Social
Tends to over-translate Tends to under-translate
Pursues nuances of meaning Pursues message
Inferior to its original Better than its original
Has to interpret Has to explain
Less freedom More freedom15

16. Practice
"The country is developing so fast, they need
to change the attitude and the conduct of the
people, but it is not going to happen in one
day," he said. Drivers typically don't look
before darting into traffic or cutting across
multiple lanes of cars, motorbikes and
bicycles in a "you-look-out-for-me" driving
culture.
(Vietnam launches war on deadly traffic)

17. Note: There is no one communicative
nor one semantic method of translating
a text - these are in fact widely
overlapping bands of methods. A
translation can be more, or less,
semantic - more, or less,
communicative - even a particular
section or sentence can be treated
more communicatively or less
semantically. (Newmark)

18. VI - Idiomatic translation
18
 Reproduce the ‘message’ of the original
 Prefers colloquialisms and idioms which
do not exist in the original
 Outcome: lively, ‘natural’ translation

19. Practice: Idiomatic translation
Kh«ng ai nghe lêi khuyªn cña c« Êy
c¶.
Her advice fell on deaf ears.
Nã rÊt bíng bØnh.
He is as stubborn as a mule.
Chë cñi vÒ rõng
Carry coal to Newcastle

20. Practice
- No money, no honey
- Haste makes waste
- Timid as a rabbit
- Make hay while the Sun
shines
- Bite the bullet

21. VII - Free translation
21
 Reproduce the matter without the
manner; the content without the form of
the original
 Paraphrases much larger than the
original
Used for
Informative translation
In-house publication

22. Heartease (pansy) is used again for healing the
heart. It is for disappointment in love, and in
separation
Hoa păng-xê cũng được dùng để chữa lành
các vết thương lòng. Nó xoa diụ sự thất vọng
trong tình yêu, và cả nỗi đau phải sống trong
cảnh li thân.
PRACTICE

23. VIII - Adaptation
23
 The freest form of translation
 Preserves the theme, plots, characters only
 The SL culture is converted to the TL culture
 A kind of rewriting the text in translation
Used for
Plays, poems, songs, advertising, tourism

24. Vì Sao?
Bữa trước, riêng hai dưới
nắng đào,
Nhìn tôi cô muốn hỏi "vì sao
?"
Khi tôi đến kiếm trên môi đẹp
Một thoáng cười yêu thỏa
khát khao.
Vì sao giáp mặt buổi đầu tiên,
Tôi đã đày thân giữa xứ
phiền,
Không thể vô tình qua trước
cửa,
Biết rằng gặp gỡ đã vô
duyên?
……………………..
Why?
The other day, we met in bright
sunshine
Looking at me, you wanted to ask
"Why?"
When I came there to see on your
lips fine
A hint of smile that so much
pleased my eye.
Why was it that even on the first
day
I was so soon banished to great
sadness.
Hardly had I stepped in across the
way
Than I knew right then that we'd be
loveless.
Translated by Thomas D. Le
9 May 2004

25. 25
Vietnamese Version 1
“Mái nhà xưa yêu dấu,
Bức tường rêu phong cũ nơi cậu bé qua những
ngày thơ ấu.
Muốn mình mau khôn lớn.
Giữa lụa là yên ấm, em ngồi ước mơ bước chân
giang hồ.
Mơ bay theo cánh chim ngang trời, biển xa núi
chơi vơi.
Mơ bay đi khát khao cuộc đời. Một đêm nhớ
tiếng ai ru hời.”

26. 26
Vietnamese Version 2
“Có một người đàn ông, trước thềm nhà rêu phong
bỗng ngồi khóc nhớ những ngày thơ ấu.
Sống đời bao cay đắng, tóc bạc phai mưa nắng.
Tay đành trắng những giấc mơ thơ dại.
Đi qua bao núi sông gập ghềnh.
Cuộc tình mãi lênh đênh.
Đi qua bao tháng năm vô tình, một đêm nhớ tiếng ru
mẹ hiền.”

27. Adaptation
27
English Version:
“On a wagon, bound for market,
There’s a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him, there’s a swallow,
Winging swiftly through the sky.
How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Love and laugh the whole day through
And, half a summer’s night.”