Thạc Sĩ An investigation into english - vietnamese translation of euphemism

ABSTRACT
This thesis has been done in an effort to investigate how euphemism is
translated from English into Vietnamese in translated works as well as to
find out what are the main approaches taken by translators in translating
euphemism from English into Vietnamese. A collection of samples taken
from literary works written in English and their Vietnamese versions have
been analyzed to explore ways in which euphemisms are transferred.
Besides, quantitative analyses have also been carried out to show
distribution of ways of translating, on the basis of which to identify
preferences. The findings, it is hoped, will help to put forward some
suggestions for the translation as a profession and for the teaching and
learning of English to overcome the misunderstandings and barriers during
the cross-cultural communication.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DECLARATION i
ABSTRACT ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iii
LIST OF FIGURES vi
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 1
1.1. Rationale 1
1.2. Signification of the Study . 2
1.3. Scope of the Study . 2
1.4. Research Questions 2
1.5. Definition of Terms 2
1.6. Organisation of the Study . 3
CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL
BACKGROUND . 4
2.1. A Review of Previous Studies 4
2.2. Theoretical Background . 5
2.2.1. Theory of Translation 5
2.2.1.1. Definitions of Translation 5
2.2.1.2. Language and Culture 7
2.2.1.3. Translation Equivalence 9
2.2.1.4. Translation Methods . 11
2.2.1.5. Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation 14
2.2.2. Euphemisms 16
2.2.2.1. Concepts and Definitions of Euphemisms . 16
2.2.2.2. Characteristic Features of Euphemisms . 19
2.2.2.3. Euphemisms and Other Linguistic Units . 21
iv
2.2.3. Semantic Characteristics of English Words 25
2.2.3.1. Word Meaning . 25
2.2.3.2. Sense Relations 27
2.2.3.3. Componential Analysis in Translation . 28
2.2.4. Classification of Euphemisms and Theorists’ Ways for
Translation of Euphemisms 29
2.2.4.1. Classification of Euphemisms 29
2.2.4.2. Theorists’ Ways for Translations of Euphemisms . 31
CHAPTER 3 - METHOD AND PROCEDURE . 34
3.1. Aims and Objectives . 34
3.1.1. Aims 34
3.1.2. Objectives 34
3.2. Research Design . 34
3.3. Method of Research 35
3.4. Data Collection and Description 35
3.5. Research Procedures . 36
CHAPTER 4 - DISCUSSIONS OF FINDINGS . 37
4.1. The Ways of English-Vietnamese Translation of Euphemisms as
Manifested in Translated Works . 37
4.1.1. Translation of Euphemisms expressing Death 37
4.1.2. Translation of Euphemisms expressing Sex 49
4.1.3. Translation of Euphemisms expressing Pregnancy 63
4.1.4. Translation of Euphemisms expressing Childbirth . 71
4.2. Three main Approaches to Translation of Euphemism 79
4.2.1. Translation of Euphemism into an Equivalent Euphemism by
Finding the Exact Counterpart in the TL text . 79
v
4.2.2. Translation of Euphemism into a Non-equivalent Euphemism by
Translating the Euphemistic Meaning of the SL text or by
Adding Footnotes and Explanatory Words in the TL text 81
4.2.3. Translation of Euphemism into a direct form in the TL text 82
CHAPTER 5 – CONCLUSIONS . 83
5.1. Summary of the Findings 83
5.2. Implications for Translation 85
5.3. Implications for Language Teaching and Learning 85
5.4. Some Limitations of the Study 86
5.5. Some Suggestions for Further Research . 87
REFERENCES 88
QUYÊT Đ
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