VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HA NOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
POST GRADUATE STUDIES DEPARTMENT
PHAN THỊ VÂN ANH A STUDY ON DIFFICULTIES AND STRATEGIES IN
ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF ADVERTISING
SLOGANS
(NGHIÊN CỨU CÁC KHÓ KHĂN VÀ CHIẾN LƯỢC CHO VIỆC
DỊCH ANH-VIỆT KHẨU HIỆU QUẢNG CÁO)

M.A. THESIS

Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60 22 15

HA NOI, 2011 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HA NOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
POST GRADUATE STUDIES DEPARTMENT

PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1. Rationale 1
2. Objectives of the study 2
3. Research questions 2
4. Scope of the study 2
5. Methods of the study 2
6. Structure of the study 3
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT 5
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 5
1. TRANSLATION THEORY 5
1.1. Translation definition 5
1.2. Translation methods 8
1.3. Translation equivalence 11
1.3.1. Translation equivalence 11
1.3.2. Types of translation equivalence 11
1.4. Translation process 12
1.5. Translation procedure 13
2. ADVERTISING AND ADVERTISING SLOGANS 14
2.1. Advertising 14
2.1.1. Types of advertising 16
2.1.2. Language in advertisement 18
2.1.3. Structure of an advertisement 20
2.2. Advertising Slogans 22
2.2.1. Definition of advertising slogan 22
2.2.2. Characteristics of advertising slogans 25

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CHAPTER 2: STUDY OF DIFFICULTIES AND STRATEGIES IN ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE
TRANSLATION OF AD SLOGANS 33
1. STUDY OF MODIFICATION IN LEXICAL AND STRUCTURE IN TRANSLATION


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ABSTRACTS

This thesis investigates the difficulties and strategies in translating ad slogans from
English to Vietnamese. The main theoretical basis of the study is involving concepts of
methods, equivalence, process and procedure of translation; as well as significant characters
of the subject- ad slogans. The research begins with comparison and quantitative and
qualitative analysis of 100 ad slogans and equivalents under three categories: lexical, structure
and puns. This aims at finding out common translating tendencies and typical characteristics
of English-Vietnamese translation of ad slogans. The result is also the base for later analysis
of common problems translators face to in translating practice. Later on, some techniques and
methods are suggested to help translators solve the difficulties and improve translation.
After the investigation, some significant findings have been discovered are: translating
ad slogans, especially translating puns or wordplays, are interesting but challenging. Thus,
translators tend to be flexible and creative in vocabulary features and rhetorical devices and
faithful to the organization of message and spirit of original slogans. It can come to a
conclusion that the adaptation and free methods are preferable and recommended in
translating the subjects. The conclusion clarifies research questions and gives some
suggestions for further research.