Translating Non-literary Texts From Chinese To Vietnamese

Key words: Non-literary interpretation, interpretation at vocabulary level, political writing, functional interpretation, professional interpretation, Chinese-language original works, Vietnamese-translated versionFunctionalism (the thesis uses the term "functionalism" which is limited to interpretation) is a school of interpretation reasoning theory flourished in Germany in the 1970s and 1980s in the 20th century. It harvested a lot of valuable research outcomes of practical applications.The focal theoretical point of functionalism is that interpretation purpose decides interpretation strategy (teleological). Seen from the perspective of functionalism followers, there are no specific methods of appropriate interpretation which can be applied properly to all cases. The specific purpose of each act of interpretation will determine the fact that whether interpreters must comply with the principle of interpretation or can select interpretation methods and strategies.Functionalism especially emphasizes the importance of the subject to commit acts of interpretation. Apart from teleological theory, functionalism's school of interpretation reasoning theory suggests such two principals as 1, the translated version must be fluent (loyal to the original version) and 2, translated version and original version must be consistent (faithful to the original author).The thesis selectively absorbs the findings of Western interpretation theory, makes profound research on the features of the two Sino-Vietnamese and Vietnamese languages, based on the study of the translated version of non-literary works (a sub- discipline of interpretation studies), based on the evidence of over 50 Sino-Vietnamese translated articles, documents of the Communist Party of China with the content reflecting current political information and newsreel, in order to detect and summarize some rules during the interpretation process of non-literary works from Chinese into Vietnamese. The thesis has harvested specific research outcomes as follows:1.To point out three major issues in interpretation process of SinoChinese-Vietnamese vocabulary: meaning transformation of SinoChinese-Vietnamese vocabulary, meaning of vocabulary (basic meaning as well as associated meaning), conflict of vocabulary (vocabulary gap between the two languages) 2.To suggest four principles in the interpretation process of non-literary. Sino-Vietnamese literature:maximum respect for expression form of the source language, absolute but not rigid sticking to the original version, caution in determining the meaning of SinoChinese words in the translated version, identification of strategy and methods of specific interpretation based on the interpretation purpose (for example, per request of those who need the interpretation/translation)3.Basing on the characteristics of language and interpretation strategies acquired when based on the analysis outcomes of the actual translated version of politics and newsreels, from Sino-Chinese into Vietnamese, the thesis clearly points out four phenomena of language with high-frequency use which affect directly to the effectiveness of the translated versions, including: regular use of new four-syllable vocabulary items; frequent appearance of words with high repeating rates in a sentence, in a paragraph or in a document; regular use of words of exotic roots; and use of abbreviated language. At the same time, the thesis also tries to find an interpretation policy for the above-mentioned phenomena.The thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter One: Introduction. This chapter briefly introduces the reasons for topic selection, research purpose, research methods and scope of linguistic materials.Chapter Two: Introducing the current state of interpretation studies, focusing on the introduction of applications of the functional interpretation theory to interpreting services.Chapter Three: Reviewing of some issues which need attention during the Han-Viet translation process at vocabulary level from the point of view regarding interpretation as a career activity, in which vocabulary translation in a non-literary document from Han-Chinese into Vietnamese is emphasized.Chapter Four: Focusing on the analysis, at vocabulary level, of the actual translation versions published in Vietnam with the content reflecting current political information and newsreels, through which issues of laws nature are forged.Chapter five: Presenting some comments in the capacity-building process for professional interpreters of Sino-Vietnamese. At the same, pointing out the imperativeness of standardization and professionalization, which provides society with a team of Sino-Vietnamese translators of formal academic training. To do this requires the intervention of the competent authorities, learning by experience, professionalization of interpretation teams according to developed countries' standard, specific application into the real situation in Vietnam. At the same time, proposing regulations of legal nature for interpretation career in Vietnam.