Luận Văn Unreal conditionals and ways to translate them into Vietnamese

Khóa luận tốt nghiệp
Đề tài: A STUDY ON UNREAL CONDITIONAL SENTENCES AND WAYS TO TRANSLATE THEM INTO VIETNAMESE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I INTRODUCTION
1. Rationales .
2. The aims of the study .
3. The scopes of the study .
4. Methods of the study
5. The design of the study
PART II DEVELOPMENT .
CHAPTER I: GENERALIZATION ABOUT CONDITONALS IN ENGLISH
I. Sentences .
1.Definition of sentences .
2. Classification of sentence
2.1 Simple sentence .
2.2 Compound sentence
2.3 Complex sentence .
2.4 Compound – complex sentence
II. Conditionals sentences
1. Definition of conditional sentences .
2. Classification of conditionals .
2.1 Real conditionals
2.1.1 Zero conditionals
2.1.2 First conditionals
2.2 Unreal conditionals
2.2.1 Unreal conditionals in the present
a. Definition
b. Form
c. Use
d. Variations of second conditional sentences
2.2.2 Unreal conditionals in the past
a. Definition
b. Form
c. Use
d. Variations of third conditional sentences
2.2.3 Mixed conditionals
a. Definition
b. Form
c. Use
2.3 Implied conditionals
2.4 Short conditionals
2.5 Conditional inversions
2.6 Other conditional words and structures other than "if"
2.6.1. Using other conditional conjunctions
2.6.2. Using different structure
CHAPTER II: BACKGROUND ON TRANSLATION
I. Definition of translation
II. Methods of translation
III. Comments in two methods: Semantic and Communicative translation
CHAPTER 3: WAYS TO TRANSLATE UNREAL CONDITIONALS
INTO VIETNAMESE
I. Translation of unreal conditionals in the present.
II. Translation of unreal conditionals in the past.
III. Translation of Conditional inversions
IV. Translation of Mixed conditionals
V. Translation of Implied conditionals
VI. Translation of Implied conditionals
VII. Translation of other conditional words and structures other than “if”.
1. Translation of other conditional words
2. Translation of other structures
PART III CONCLUSION
REFERENCE


PART I
INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
To many Vietnamese learners who have been learning English for a long
time, English grammar still seems to be a puzzle. Among a number of complex
problems, conditional sentences are really a challenge. They are difficult because
of their complicated structures with two clauses: subordinate clause or if -clause
and main clause. In addition, there are many variations which may cause
confusion. The meanings of conditional sentences are subtle; therefore in order to
understand them, we need to be sensitive enough. Moreover, any conditional
sentence is a combination of tense and a range of auxiliaries which require learners
to grasp before being able to understand and use it.
Furthermore, conditional sentences represent an obstacle to Vietnamese
learners in the English-Vietnamese translation process. There are a large number of
problems they may have while translating these conditional sentences, especially
unreal conditional ones into Vietnamese. They may produce worse or even wrong
version to the original one, as many students do not really have full understanding
of unreal conditionals. In order to correctly and satisfactorily translate them into
Vietnamese, it is worth studying their definitions, types and characteristics. Also,
students should look into techniques of translation by examining unreal conditional
sentences translated by famous practitioners. Since they are such high barriers to
learners, I find it necessary to discuss the topic " Unreal conditionals and ways to
translate them into Vietnamese" in my paper.
2. The aims of the study
The aims of this study are:
- Categorizing English conditionals to help the readers have an insight into
English conditionals especially unreal conditionals which may cause confusion to
many learners of English.
- Introducing some common translating methods which may be helpful in
translating unreal conditionals.
- Suggesting some practical ways to translate English unreal conditionals into
Vietnamese equivalents.
3. The scopes of the study
Due to the time limitation, it doesn't have the ambition to cover all details
related to the conditionals. This study, therefore, mainly focuses on the features
and uses of the most striking cases of conditional structures in English. And the
study also concentrates on ways of translating unreal conditional structures and
sentences, which often cause troubles or mistakes to both Vietnamese translators
and interpreters.
4. Methods of the study
- Analyzing available translation materials in published books and novels.
- Consulting experienced people such as my supervisor, my teachers and
friends on the matter concerned.
- Relying on my observation and experience during my learning process.
5. The design of the study
This study is divided into 3 chapters:
Chapter 1 presents the definitions, elements and types of sentences. It also
gives the readers a generalization about conditionals, especially unreal
conditionals.
Chapter 2 attempts to present an overview of basic theoretical translation as
well as the two methods which are helpful in translating unreal conditionals.
Chapter 3 gives some ways to translate unreal conditionals and sentences
with other words and structures other than “if” into Vietnamese.


PART II
DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 1: GENERALIZATION ABOUT CONDITONALS
IN ENGLISH
To have an insight into conditionals, I would like to present the basic
knowledge of sentences including definition and types of sentences as well as
unreal conditionals.
I. Sentences
1. Definitions of sentences
There are a number of sentence definitions given by different grammarians.
According to L.G. Alexander (1988:2), a sentence is defined as “a complete unit of
meaning. When we speak, our sentence may be extremely involved or even
unfinished, yet we can still convey our meaning through intonation gesture, facial
expression, etc. When we write, these devices are not available, so sentences have
to be carefully structured and punctuated. A written sentence must begin with a
capital letter and end with a full stop (.), a question mark (?) o r an explanation
mark (!)"
Roloff and Brosseit in the book “Sentences” (1979:13) writes "sentence is a
group of related words that expresses a complete and meaningful thought; either a
statement, a question, a command or an exclamation".
In addition, the "New Webster's expanded dictionary" states, "Sentence is an
opinion, a maxim, a judgment, a number of words containing complete sense"
In short, a sentence is a group of words that you use to communicate ideas in
writing or in speaking. Every sentence is composed of one or more clauses and
expresses a complete thought.
According to Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum (1987:12), a sentence
may alternatively be seen as comprising five units called elements of structure:
subject, verb, complement, object, adverbial abbreviated respectively as S, V, C,O,
A.
2. Classification of sentences


REFERENCES
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