HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGLISH AND MODERN LANGUAGES

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ASSIGNMENT ON TRANSLATION THEORY

SUBJECT IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE APPLICATION

Hanoi-March, 2011

CONTENTS

I. INTRUCTION

1.1. Rationale

1.2. Aims and scope of the study

II. DEVELOPMENT

2.1. Definition of subject

2.2. Overview of Subject

2.2.1. Realization of subject

2.2.2. Position of subject

2.2.3. Function of subject

2.3. Some notes on English and Vietnamese application

2.3.1. Impersonal pronouns as subjects

2.3.1.1. It

2.3.1.2. There

2.3.1.3. One

2.3.1.4. You

2.3.2. Some notes on positions of sentence subject

2.3.3. Skewing in English-Vietnamese translation

III. CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

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I. INTRUCTION

1.1. Rationale

When Immanuel Kant said in 1785 that “a person is a subject whose actions

can be imputed to him/her” he meant a subject in the sense of the do-er of a

verb, an active entity which was the source of its own actions and was

morally responsible for those actions. The sense of “subject” I take to mean

the type of answer to the subject-question: “who does?”

The subject has the grammatical function in a sentence of relating its

constituent (a noun phrase) by means of the verb to any other elements

present in the sentence, i.e. objects, complements and adverbials.

1.2. Aims and scope of the study

The primary aim of the study is to give students of English, who would be

translators, an overview of frequently seen applications of English and

Vietnamese subject. The study also aims at giving some notes of those-

which can deal with confusing of using proper vocabulary in translation. The

targeted subjects of this study are mainly students; nevertheless, all people

who are interested in translation work can consider it a useful data helping

improve their translation skill. In addition, the study touches upon a field of

study that is sill rather insufficient in Vietnam for further discussion by other

researchers.

Because of space and time limitation, the study can not cover the whole

aspects of subject sentence in English as well as in Vietnamese equivalents.

Thus, we only focus on researching some aspects mentions in the Contents.

The study was carried out by collecting data from books, e-book and

information from previous researcher and from internet.

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II. DEVELOPMENT

2.1. Definition of subject

The subject of a sentence is part of a sentence or clause that commonly

indicates what it is about, or who or what performs the action (that is, the

agent).

"The traditional definition of subject as referring to the “doer” of an action

(or agent), though it is adequate for central or typical cases, will not work for

all cases”.

2.2. Overview of Subject

2.2.1. Realization of subject

Although nouns and noun phrases most frequently function as the subject of

sentences, other grammatical forms can perform the grammatical function of

subject in the English language such as: verb phrases, preposition phrases,

adjectives, clauses, idioms, quotations, etc.,

Noun phrases as subjects: Noun phrases are the most frequent

grammatical forms that function as the subject.

Lan, my daughter, is in grade 6. Con bé Lan nhà tôi đang học lớp 6.

She was waving an American flag. Cô ta đang vẫy cờ Mỹ đấy.

My son is waiting for me over there Con tôi đang đợi ở kia rồi

The police interviewed all the

witnesses.

Cảnh sát đang thẩm vấn các nhân

chứng.

This is my husband Đây là chồng tôi.

Who asked the question? Ai hỏi câu đấy thế?

Mine is durable Túi này của tôi còn bền chán.

Two are absent today Hôm nay, có 2 học sinh không đi học

Some of the students are here. Một số học sinh ở đây

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Neither John nor I trust him. Cả tôi và John đều không tin anh ta

Verb phrases as subjects

To read is easier than to write. Đọc thì dễ hơn viết

Walking makes me feel better. Tản bộ làm tôi thấy thoải mái

Questioned a lot makes her confused Bị hỏi quá nhiều làm cô ta thấy bối rối

Whom to hire is a difficult question.

My drinking milk pleases my mother.

Preposition phrases as subjects

Sometimes a prepositional phrase appears to be either the subject itself

or part of the subject. Read the example that follows:

After nine is a good time to ring. Gần sáng là lúc mọi người ngủ say

In March is good to marry.Sang tháng 3 là bước vào mùa cưới

In the cave is dark Trong hang rất tối.

Behind the garage is a muddy mess Đằng sau gara toàn sình lầy

Under the bed needs cleaning Dưới gậm giường rất bẩn

Above the freezer needs dusted Từ Hà Nội tới Hải Phòng là 105km

Between seven and nine is when employees must arrive.

Khoảng từ 7-9h là lúc công nhân

phải có mặt

Adjectives as subjects

In English, alone adjective can not be the subject in sentence. However, in

Vietnamese, the subject can be an adjective:

Cần cù, chịu khó là đức tính tốt đẹp của nhân dân việt nam.

Lười biếng là một tính xấu

Clauses as subjects: In these cases, clauses can also perform almost all

the other functions as noun phrases.

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Cách mạng tháng 8 / thành công

đem lại độc lập, tự do cho dân tộc.

What he said is valuable Những gì ông nói đều rất có giá trị

The man I met last night was

interesting

Cái gã tớ gặp tối qua cực kỳ thú vị

All books you need are in the

library

Những sách em cần đều có trong thư

viện cả.

Idioms, quotations, slogans, mottos… as subjects

Today, “ Do you... Yahoo!? ” becomes

popular to younger generations

Slogan “Hãy nói theo cách của bạn” dần trở nên phổ biến với người sử dụng mạng điện thoại di động ở VN.

I love you is often heard these days. “Biết rồi, khổ lắm, nói mãi” đã trở

thành câu nói bất hủ của cụ cố Hồng

In that situation, to have a good head on

one’s shoulders became her weak side.

Chỉ tay năm ngón chẳng bao giờ

được việc cả.

“No smoking” is seen in everywhere Biển báo “Cấm dẫm lên cỏ” dường

như vô hình với đại đa số người dân

khu vực quanh đây.

2.2.2. Position of subject

Most statements begin with the subject.  However, many questions begin with a word that is part of the complete predicate. 

The subject of a sentence may be at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end.

The predicate also precedes the subject in statements beginning with There is, There are, Here is, or Here are.

 In commands the subject is usually not stated.  It is understood.

Position of the subject: Sentence

at the beginning The children were complaining about the amount

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of homework.

in the middleAlthough learning is valued, the children complained about the amount of homework.

at the end There are the children.

not stated Do your homework.     (You)

When you are identifying the subject in an interrogative sentence (a

question) it may help to put the question in the form of a statement:

Do the children understand the homework?

The children understand the homework.

You may also simplify the task of identifying subjects by identifying any

prepositional phrases.

2.2.3. Function of subject

The most familiar grammatical function is the subject. In notional terms, we

can think of the Subject as the element which performs the "action" denoted

by the verb.

The subject has the grammatical function in a sentence of relating its

constituent (a noun phrase) by means of the verb to any other elements

present in the sentence, i.e. objects, complements and adverbials.

2.3. Some notes on English and Vietnamese application

2.3.1. Impersonal pronouns as subjects

Impersonal pronouns, such as: it, there, you, one do not refer to particular

things or replacement of previous one

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With the role of impersonal subject in the sentence, they have no exactly

equivalent meanings in Vietnamese. Thus, they will be translated into

Vietnamese differently in each case.

2.3.1.1. It

Non-

people

Time,

date

It’s nearly one o’clock. Bây giờ là gần 1 giờ

It’s my birthday. Hôm nay là sinh nhất tớ

weather It’s raining. Trời đang mưa

It was getting cold. Thời tiết đang lạnh dần

Give

opinion

To -inf

It’s nice to meet you.Rất vui được gặp anh

It was interesting to meet your

brother at last.

Rât vui là cuối cùng thì

cũng gặp được anh trai

bạn

-ingIt’s great living in Spain Sống ở TBN thích lắm

It can be hard work looking

after young children

Trông trẻ con vất vả lắm

đấy

+adj It’s wonderful! Thật tuyệt!

Tuyệt quá/ Tuyệt thật

It’s noisy! Thật ồn ào!

Ồn quá/ Ồn thật đấy

People

Hello! It’s George. Xin chào! Là Georger đây.

(Mary knocks on door) It’s me. It’s Mary

Là tôi đây. Mary đây

2.3.1.2. There: After “there” you use a form of “be” and a noun group.

Generally, “there” is translated “có” into Vietnamese. The subject in English

sentence may be subject in Vietnamese translation version or not.

There are two people Có hai người biết rõ

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The existence

or presence

of someone or

something:

who might know what

happened

chuyện gì đã xảy ra.

There is plenty of

bread. Có/còn nhiều bánh mỳ

lắm

Something

that happens There's a meeting every

week

Hàng tuần, có một buổi

gặp họp

A number

or amount

There are forty of us, I

think

Tôi cho là chúng tôi có

40 người

There is a great deal of

anger about his

decision.

Có rất nhiều người tức

giận vì quyết định của

anh ta.

2.3.1.3. One

As a determiner, the word one is sometimes used before a proper noun to

designate. But we also use one as a pronoun, and this is where one becomes

surprisingly complex.

As a pronoun, one can also function in an impersonal, objective manner,

standing for the writer or for all people who are like the writer or for the

average person or for all people who belong to a class. In the United States,

one sometimes has a literary or highfalutin feel to it; the more it is used, the

more pretentious it feels. In British English, the use of the impersonal or

generic one is more commonplace and has no such stigma. In the U.S., one

is often replaced by you. In this paper, we deal with “one” as subject. In each

case or context, “one” can be translated into Vietnamese in different ways.

Followings are examples of “one” replaced by “you”:

One would think the airlines would have to close down.

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One would [You'd] think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.

The young comedian was awful; one felt embarrassed for him.

If one fails, then one must try harder next time.

When the pronoun one is used in the numerical sense, a different pronoun

can be used in a subsequent reference.

We watched as one [of the ospreys] dried its feathers in the sun.

One [driver] pulled her car over to the side.

However, it is generally regarded as a bad idea to mix the impersonal or

generic pronoun one with another pronoun, especially in the same sentence,

as in "If one fails, then he/you must simply try harder."

2.3.1.4. You

“You” is often used in general statements when we are talking about anyone,

at any time. “You” is directed to the listener. It does not include the speaker.

“You” as an impersonal pronoun is informal.

In ancient times, you believed in dog-spirits.

(Use people. This is in a time before the speaker or listener.)

Insteading for a number of people:

(In the class, teacher tells to her students) You should try your best if you

want to gain the scholarship

2.3.2. Some notes on positions of sentence subjects

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Generally, but always, the subject comes before the verb, as in the entire

examples above. There are, however, exceptions, like these in following

cases:

2.3.2.1. In questions

Questions are typically formed by inversion– putting an auxiliary verb or

modal verb at the front for yes/no questions, or an interrogative word

followed by an auxiliary or modal verb.

"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" Are you ready?"

“What is the difference between a king penguin and an emperor

penguin?”

2.3.2.2. In expletive constructions: involve a couple of the stylistic errors

outlined in this article .They are wordy and employ weak verbs. Many

sentences that begin with "it is," "it was," "there is" or "there are" have

expletive constructions.

There were four basic cause of the Civil War

Here is the book.

It was the final goal of the game that determined the state championship

It is Saturday when I get to spend time at the animal shelter

2.3.2.3. In attributing speech

Striking students who miss exams will be given fail marks” said the

vice-chancellor Ms Anna

2.3.2.4. To give prominence or focus to a particular word or phrase by

putting the predicate in the initial position:

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Even more important is the chapter dealing with ordnance

2.3.2.5. When a sentence begins with an adverb or an adverbial phrase

or clause

Seldom has so much been owed by so many to so few.

Only then did I understand the problem

Only after understanding the situation does the teacher make a comment.

2.3.2.6. In negative constructions: Everybody knows "not". Other negative

constructions are possible. Because English does not allow double or triple

negatives, it is important to avoid using "not" with other negative

constructions. When "not" is included, use the affirmative forms of other

adverbs:

I don't believe a word she says, nor does my brother .

Come to think of it, neither does her father .

2.3.2.8. After “so”

“I believe her; so does my brother”

“I like oranges; so does my sister”

2.3.2.9. Version with conditional sentences.

“Had I remembered Tomomi's birthday, she wouldn’t be mad at me now.”

“Had I remembered = If I had remembered”

“Should you need a hand, I will be more than happy to help you.”

“Shoul d you need a hand = If you should need a hand”

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2.3.3. Skewing in translating subject from English into Vietnamese or

vice versa:

In English, alone adjective can not be the subject in sentence. However,

in Vietnamese, the subject can be an adjective. An adjective must be and

may be converted to a noun phrase in Vietnamese – English translation

and vice versa:

Laziness is one of bad characteristics Lười biếng là một tính xâu N Adj Single form may be converted to plural one or vice versa:

His advice is always helpful Những lời khuyên của anh luôn rất bổ ích Sl. Pl A noun Phrase can be converted to a clause:

The success of the August Revolution brings back independence and NP

freedom to our nation.Cách mạng tháng Tám thành công đem lại độc lập tự do cho dân tộc.

S V Pronoun is converted to adverb phrase in order to express the distance:

It is 105km form Hanoi to Hai PhongTừ Hà Nội đến Hải Phòng là 105km

III. CONCLUSION

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All in all, this study is carried out so as to give the learners an overview

about subject in English and Vietnamese application, help them find the way

of translation it effectively. By dealing mainly the overview of subject and

some notes on English and Vietnamese application, we want to show that to

translate is not difficult if we master its realization, position function of

subject. Hopefully, our work will be helpful for the learners in studying

academic translation.

REFERENCES

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1. Dao Minh Thu. Dao Thi Minh Ngoc, Nguyen Mai Van, Le Kim Ngan, Le

Thanh Huong, Nguyen Phuong Tai, Do Ba Lam (2010) “Tap quy tac cu

phap Tieng Viet”, SP8.5 –Đề tài KC.01.01.05/06-10

2. Wlodarczyk André & Hélène (2006) “Subject in the Meta-informative

Centering Theory” in Études cognitives / Studia kognitywne 7, SOW, PAN,

Warsaw

3. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/subject.htm

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject_(grammar)

5. http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/agr_pronouns.html

6. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/one.htm

7. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/function/position.htm

8. http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=193816

9. http://home.mira.net/~andy/works/subject.htm

10. http://www.english4dummies.com/grammar/typesofsubject.html

11.http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=vi&q=cache:sshlwtBuMzwJ:http://www.english-for-students.com/Subject-Verb-Inversion.html+subject+verb+inversion+In+questions+(routinely)&ct=clnk

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Members of Group

1. Nguyễn Thị Lệ (K14C)

2. Nguyễn Thị Lợi

3. Hoàng Thị Mai (K14C)

4. Nguyễn Thị Thu (K14C)

5. Trần Thị Thu (K14C)

Class: K14C

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