VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
VŨ HẢI YẾN
A STUDY OF THE TRANSLATION OF ARCHITE
TEMS IN THE" ARCHITECTS' DATA NEUFERT"
BETWEEN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE

(NGHIÊN CỨU CÁCH DỊCH CÁC THUẬT NGỮ) 2009

TABLE OF CONTENT
PART A: INTRODUCTION 1

III.1 The translation of architecture terms of equivalence group 22
III.1.2 An overview of equivalence relationship in the translation of architecture
terms 22
III.1.3 The common strategies and procedures used in translation of Architecture
terms of equivalence group 24
III.1.3.1 The translation of single terms-Old words with new senses 24
III.1.3.2 The translation of compound terms by rank shift or transposition 25
III.1.3.3 The translation strategy which involves the deletion of "OF" 27
III.1.4 Concluding remarks 28

III. 2 The translation of architecture terms of non-equivalence group 28
III.2 .1The source of non-equivalence problem in the translation of Architecture
terms 29
III.2.2 The strategies, procedures and methods employed in dealing with non -
equivalence problem in the translation of Architecture terms 29
III.2.2.1 Translation of terms with transference procedure (the use of loan word) 29
III.2.2.3The translation of terms by paraphrase 31
III.2.2.4 The translation of terms with communicative method 32
III.2.2.5 Literal translation 34
III.3 Conclusion 35

PART C: CONCLUSION 36
I. The groups of terms and translation strategies and procedures used to translate
them 36
II. Suggestions for the methods, procedures and strategies 37
REFERENCES
APPENDICES

in this field.
Having studied and compared the original and translated version by different
translators, I have decided to make a study on how Architecture terms in Neufert are dealt
with. In the hope that the study, titled”A study on the Translation of architecture Terms in
the "Architects' data Neufert" between English and Vietnamese”, may be of some help to
those who has been and will do translation, or are teaching in the field.
2
2. Scope of the study
The study mainly focuses on the Architecture terms in the material “Neufert”. The
major aspects to be considered are their:
 classification of equivalence relationships
 structural patterns of AT in English
 their translation
3. Aims of the study
 To work out the similarities and differences between English and their Vietnamese
equivalents.
 To draw out the strategies, procedures and methods that may apply to the
translation of architecture terms (especially to the translation of non-equivalence
terms in the English architecture terms into Vietnamese).
4. Method of the study
4.1 Research questions:
a) What are the similarities and differences between English terms and their
Vietnamese equivalent?
b) What are strategies, procedures, methods that are appropriate to the translation of
English architecture terms in Neufert?
4.2 Research methods:
To carry out the thesis the author went through the following steps:

The conclusion summarizes the strategies, procedures and methods of translation,
as well as, makes relevant suggestions.
The appendixes give more examples of different groups of architecture terms.

4
PART B: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
I.1 Terminology
I.1.1 Definition:
Terminology has been defined by many different linguists to establish its structure
and meaning. According to Mr. Do Huu Chau (1981) "Terms are specialist word used
within a scientific field, a profession or any technological field". To identify technical
terms he also states: " Scientific and technical terminology consists of lexical units used to
denote phenomenal objects, activities in industrial technologies and natural or social
sciences". Sharing the same points of view about some common features in content with

I.1.2.1 Accurateness
A term needs to be accurate and clear because basically it reflects an exact concept
of a science. If a term is of absolute accuracy, people never mistake one concept for
another. Once a word has become term, it no longer has connotational, emotional meaning;
it also loses its polysemouness, synonymousness and antonymousness. In short,
terminology necessarily works on the principle that “once concept has only one term for it,
and one term indicates only one concept”. This relationship is called the one-to-one
equivalent between a concept and a term.
I.1.2.2 Systematicism
Any field of sciences has its own limited system of concepts, which are named by a
system of terms. Therefore, each term has its own position in the system of concepts and
belongs to a terminological system. The value of ech term is determined by its
relationships with other terms in the same system. As a result, a term loses its value when
isolated from its system. In short, a term has to be a dependent member of its system.
I.1.2.3 Internationality
Terms are used internationally because they are special words expressing common
scientific concepts to people of different languages. Therefore, it is useful to agree on
terms to be used among languages in order to push up the development of science. The
international links in science result in a number of terms presented in many different
languages. For example, video, radio, telephone… are found in French, German, English
and Vietnamese… with little difference in form.
I.1.2.4 Popularity
Terms need to be popular in the sense that they should be close to the language of
the masses, which is to say easy-to-remember, easy-to-understand and easy-to-understand,
because they will help to bring knowledge to and benefit men of all aspects of life.
6
I.1.2.5 Nationality

new terms are created in the target language.

7
Both primary and secondary term formation in technology suffer from a heavy
proliferation of variants and synonyms which appear either because of parallel industrial
development or in response to the need for popular versions of scientific terms and product
differentiation.
There is a co-existence of several methods of secondary interlingual term formation
including borrowing, loan translation, paraphrase, parallel translation, adaptation and
complete new creation. These methods may be used sequentially or simultaneously and
often give rise to several alternatives or competing new terms.
I.1.3.3 Guidance on the creation of term
+ Terms should consistently reflect some key features of the concepts they are
linked to in order to facilitate precise reference. At the same time, they should be as
economical as possible without giving rise to homonymy.
+ Terms should be lexically systematic and should conform to the phonological and
morphological rules of the language.
+ Terms must conform to the general rules of word-formation of the language that
is they should allow composition and derivation where appropriate.
+ The meaning of the term should be recognizable independently of any specific
context.
Those advices from International Organization for Standardization (ISO 1988)
(cited in Bac, N.T, 2003)
I.2 Translation theory
I.2.1 Definition of translation
Translation has been defined variously by different linguists through times.
Followings are some typical definitions:
According to Marlone (1988), “Translation is the expression in another language
(or target language) of what has been expressed in another, (source language) preserving
semantic and stylistic equivalences”. Bell (1991) says that “Translation is basically a

of any translation except for two cases: (a) If the purpose of the SL text is to affect and the
TL translation is to inform or vice versa; (b) If there is a pronounced cultural gap between
the SL and the TL text.
Koller (1979) considers five types of equivalence:
 Denotative equivalence: the SL and the TL words refer to the same thing in the
real world.
 Connotative equivalence: this type of equivalence provides additional values
besides denotative value and is achieved by the translator’s choice or synonymous words
or expressions.
 Text-normative equivalence: The SL and the TL words are used in the same or
similar context in their respective languages.

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 Pragmatic equivalence: With readership orientation, the SL and the TL words
have same effect on the respective readers.
 Formal equivalence: This type of equivalence produces an analogy of form in
the translation by their exploiting formal possibilities of TL, or creating new forms in TL.
Kade (1968) and other writers on lexical equivalence, in particular in the area of
terminology, categorize equivalence relationships as follows:
 One-to-one: There is single expression in the TL for a single expression in the
SL
 One-to-many: There is more than one expression in the TL for a single SL one.
 Many-to-one: There is more than one expression in the SL, but there is only a
single expression in the TL that is equivalent to them.
 Many-to-many: There is more than one expression in the SL and they are
equivalent to more than one in TL.
 Whole-to-part/ Part-to-whole: A TL expression is only equivalent to part of the
concept designated by a single expression in the SL, or the equivalent in the TL has
broader meaning than the concept in the SL.
 One-to-zero: There is no expression in the TL for a single expression in the SL.

process of transferring a SL word to a TL text as a translation procedure”. When it comes
to the role of a translator with respect to this translation procedure, he/she has to decide
whether or not to transfer a word unfamiliar in the TL. Generally, only cultural objects or
concept should be transferred to show respect for the SL’s culture. Words and expressions
that are normally transferred are: names of all living and most dead people; geographical
and topographical names including newly independent countries except for those which
already have recognized translation; name of periodicals and newspapers; titles of
untranslated literary works; plays, films, names of private companies and institutions,
public or nationalized institutions; street names, addresses, etc.
I.2.3.4 Shifts or transpositions
A “shift” (Catford’s term) or “transposition” (Vinay and Darbelnet) is a translation
procedure involving a change in the grammar from SL to TL. Newmark (1995: 85)
mention four sub-types of shifts: (1) the change from singular to plural or in position of the
adjective; (2) the change when a SL grammatical structure does not exist in the TL; (3) the
change where literal translation is grammatically possible but may not accord with natural
usage in the TL; (4) the replacement of a virtual lexical gap by a grammatical structure.
I.2.3.5 Paraphrase
Paraphrase is an amplification or explanation of the meaning of a segment of the
text. According to baker (1992:40), the main advantage of the paraphrase is that it achieves
a high level of precision in specifying propositional meaning. 11
I.2.4 Technical translation
Sofer (1991, cited in Bac,N.T.2003) approaches technical translation by
distinguishing it from literary translation “ The main division in the translation field is
between literary and technical translation” and “the translation of a text may be called
technical when it requires specialized terms in a particular field”. According to him, literal
translation covers such areas as fiction, poetry, drama and humanities in general and is
done by writers of the same kind in the TL, or at least by translators with the required

These words, as claimed by Newmark (1995), do not normally refer to new objects
and processes, therefore, they are non-cultural and non-technical. They are usually
translated either by that already exists in the TL, or by a brief functional or descriptive
terms, for example, “structural support - đỡ kết cấu” or “canopy – mái che cửa ra vào”.
Existing collocations with new sense are a translator’s trap. They may be cultural or
non-cultural; if the referent (concept or object) exists in the TL, there is usually a
recognized translation or through translation. If the concept does not exist or the TL
speakers are not aware of it, an economical descriptive equivalent has to be given.
I.3.2.2 Collocations
Newmark (1995) says that new collocations (noun compounds or adjectives plus
nouns) are particular common in social sciences. Collocations or terms in architecture such
as “Compressive strength”, “Compound unit”, or “Covered porch” can serve as a good
example. These terms represent problems as some of them like “SFB instructions” do not
exist in TL. Therefore, in such cases, what a translator is expected to do is transfer them
and then add a functional-descriptive term. Otherwise, we might create our own
neologism, but it really is a challenging task.
I.3.2.3 Acronyms
Newmark (1995:200) defines an acronym as “the initial letters of words that form a
group pf words used (vertiginously) for denoting and object, institution or procedure”.
Sometimes, the acronym can be specially coined for the text and can be found there, so it
would be a waste of time if one tries to look for it in the numerous reference books.
Besides, there are many cultural reasons why the acronym may or may not be worth
transferring (depending on the standard contextual factors as readership, translation,
prospects…). In sciences, the letters are occasionally joined up and become
internationalisms, e.g, “laser”, “master” and analysis is required only for a less educated
TL readership. In translation, the importance of the acronyms decides on the way they are
translated. It can be transferred if they stand for institutions or names of companies. When
a political or social organization become important, it is common to transfer its acronym
and translate its name. The acronyms can be translated by a standard equivalent term, or a
descriptive term if the standard does not yet exist.
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CHAPTER II: AN OVERVIEW OF ARCHITECTURE
TERMS
In this chapter, a brief introduction to architecture terms is given to examine the
modes of word formation which are used in Primary Term Creation.
II.1 Architecture terms possess typical features of terminology:
II.1.1 Accurateness
Architecture terms are emotionally neutral with denotative meaning and most of
them have one-to-one relationship with the concept they refer to.
Examples:
The term “Voltmeter” (vôn kế) refers to the only one concept that denotes an
instrument for measuring in volts the differences of potential between different points of an
electrical circuit.
Or the term “Hygrometer” (ẩm kế) refers to the only one concept that denotes An
instrument for measuring the degree of moisture of the atmosphere.
Similarly, there are enless examples of single meaning terms such as
“Thermometer” (nhiệt kế); “sound pressure meter” (đồng hồ đo áp suất âm thanh)… that
respectively refer to a single concept.
II.1.2 Systematicism:
An architecture terms take on a different meaning in the field of architecture. This
meaning is decided by its relations with other terms in the same system or by its position in
the system.
Example:
The term “section” means (mặt cắt) (not đoạn) when it is used in the field of
architecture terms; or the term “plan” means (mặt bằng) (not kế hoạch) in its relation with

Support Đỡ
Excavate Đào đất
Construct Xây dựng
Build Xây
Lay Trải/ rải
Install Lắp đặt
One important feature of these terms is that they are not “fixed” i.e. they can appear
either in the form of a verb or a noun at different time in the same text or in the same
sentence to avoid repetition. Almost all the verbs have their nouns to be used as
alternatives:
Verbs Nouns
Erect Erection Sự lắp dựng
Decorate Decoration Sự trang trí

16
Fix Fixation Sự cố định
Support Support Sự đỡ
Excavate Excavation Sự đào đất
Another important feature of these verbs is that each verb usually goes with (in
collocation) one or two certain nouns. The followings are examples of verbs and nouns that
go together:
Excavate the ground Đào đất nền
Construct the concrete foundations Xây dựng móng bê tông
Fix the column base plates Cố định tấm đế chân cột
Erect the steel columns Lắp dựng các cột thép
II.2.1.2 Single term in form of a noun
The terms that are nouns (also including those deriving from verbs) can be divided
into subgroup as follows:
Sub-architecture terms
Many architecture terms are ordinary words that lose their normal sense and take

These highly architecture terms can be really problematic if the users are equipped
with little knowledge of both their subject discipline and of English.
II.2.1.3 Single term in form of an adjective
Unlike technical terms in the form of a verb, almost all the terms in the form of an
adjective do not have their nouns to be used as alternatives:
English terms Vietnamese terms
Trabeated Kết cấu dạng dầm cột
Framed Kết cấu dạng khung
Arcuated Kết cấu dang vòm
Corrugated Lượn sóng
Longitudinal Dọc
One important feature of these adjectives is that all of them usually collate with one
or two certain nouns to form collocations:
Internal/ external surface Bề mặt trong/ ngoài
Longitudinal section Mặt cắt dọc
Corrugated iron roof Mái sắt lượn sóng
Machined flat Bề mặt gia công bằng máy
We have studied single architecture terms that account for significant proportion of
the collected terms.
II.2.2 Compound terms
These are terms which are composed of two words or more; these words, which are
of different part of speech, combine and create terms that have the form of nominal group
(Haliday’s term).

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II.2.2.1 The nominal group
Before examining the terms, which appear in the form of nominal groups, we
would like to go through a brief investigation of the experiential structure of the nominal
group.
According to Halliday (1985: 180), the nominal group structure comprises the

The Numerative element indicates some
numerical feature of the subset: either (1)
quantity or (2) order, either exact or inexact.
(1) One, two…
(2) First, second, few,
little, many …
Epithet
This item, usually in the form of an adjective,
indicates some quality of the subset. This can be
(1) an object property of the thing itself; or (2) it
may be an expression of the speaker’s subjective
attitude towards it.
(1) Old, short, heavy …
(2)Wonderful, splendid,
silly …
Classifier
The Classifier indicates a particular subclass of
the thing in the question. It can be (1) an
adjective or (2) a noun.
(1) Structural support
(2) Frame construction

Thing
The Thing is the semantic core of the nominal
group, which may be common noun, proper
noun, or personal noun.

Qualifier
This element follows the Thing and
Hard water occurs in

fast”, and functions as Classifier since it classifies as subtype of train, that is “expresses
train”.
It is noted that usually several classifiers cluster around a thing to indicate
subclasses of more concreteness. Nouns, adjectives, participles, positioned near the Thing,
are most common classifier in English.
Example:
Wellness office visit

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Classifier (Cs) Cs thing
II.2.2.2 Architecture terms in the form of nominal group
A number of high-frequency nominal groups have been found among terms
collected for this study.
II.2.2.2.1 Term consisting of Classifier (noun) + Thing
These terms consist of two nouns with the first one functioning as Classifier. It
distinguishes the Thing (the second noun) form the other concept of the same group. For
example, roof in “roof beam” (dầm mái) helps to distinguish this type of beam from other
types such as “floor beam”(dầm sàn), “steel beam” (dầm thép), “concrete beam” (dầm bê
tông). Other examples of this group are:
Frame construction (Xây dựng khung)
Plannar construction (Xây dựng tấm phẳng)
Mass construction (Xây dựng khối)
II.2.2.2.2 Terms consisting of Classifier (adjective) + Thing
A term of this group is formed by an adjective that serves as Classifier and the
Thing (the head noun).
Examples:
Uneven/ flat surface Bề mặt không phẳng/ phẳng
Long/ short side Cạnh dài/ ngắn
Spatial dimension Kích thước không gian
Sectional area Diện tích mặt cắt

Long axis of the building Trục dài của toà nhà
Blocks of materials Khối vật liệu
Factor of safety Hệ số an toàn
II.3 Conclusion:
We have studied the structural patterns of the nominal group in English in general
and of architecture terms in the form of nominal group in particular. We also have tried to
classify and dividing them into groups namely “single terms” and “compound terms”.
Single terms are further grouped into sub-architecture terms and high-architecture terms,
and there are also some subgroups of terms under the head “compound terms”.
In the next part, we will study the translation strategies and procedures have been
used currently to translate architecture terms and then draw out the ones that may be best
applicable.
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CHAPTER III: THE TRANSLATION OF
ARCHITECTURE TERMS
III.1 THE TRANSLATION OF ARCHITECTURE TERMS OF EQUIVALENCE
GROUP
III.1.2 An overview of equivalence relationship in the translation of architecture
terms
From collected data we can group equivalence relationship into four categories,
excluding the one-to-zero which will be studied in chapter III:
+ One-to-one equivalence
+ One-to-many equivalence
+ Many-to-one equivalence
+ Many-to-one equivalence
The four following tables present some typical examples of each type:
One-to-one equivalence