122 N. D. Sinh / VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.

6 (2020) 122-133

THE TRANSLATION OF ENGLISH TENSES AND ASPECTS

IN NARRATIVE MODE INTO VIETNAMESE

Nguyen Dinh Sinh*

Faculty of Foreign Languages, Hung Yen University of Technology and Education
Nhan Hoa, My Hao, Hung Yen

Received 13 March 2020

Revised 21 May 2020; Accepted 24 November 2020
Abstract: Confusion due to ambiguity in tenses and aspects while translating from English into
Vietnamese is still a common problem to translators. There are several causes to this problem, but the main
cause is the difference in viewing tense and aspect notions in the two languages by researchers or scholars.
The existence of tense and aspect identities in English clauses or sentences is a matter of fact whereas in
Vietnamese they are the topic of controversy among linguists and educators. This article investigates some
of the linguistic means that were employed to translate English tenses and aspects in narrative mode into
Vietnamese by three well-known translators, namely Mặc Đỗ, Hoàng Cường and Trịnh Lữ. The results
of the study prove the fact that though tenses and aspects are not always recognized in the Vietnamese
language, they can be translated from the English language via the use of temporal adverbials, aspectual
markers or situation types of Vietnamese verbs.
Keywords: aspects, aspectual markers, narrative mode, situation types of verbs, temporal adverbials,
tenses, translation.

1. Introduction 1
however, has not always been a simple task.
Normally, in any English expressions in This kind of equivalence belongs to grammar
the form of sentences, the use of correct tenses level as Bell (1993, p. 6) states that “Texts
and aspects is the matter of fact that every in different languages can be equivalent in
English user should be aware of. This implies different degrees (fully or partially equivalent),
that tenses and aspects are compulsory in all in respect of different levels of presentation
English sentences, whereas the notions of (equivalent in respect of context, of semantics,
tenses and aspects in Vietnamese are so vague of grammar, of lexis, etc.)”.
that they are even suspected of their existence With the main aim to find out what
as a grammatical identity. The vagueness equivalent means were used to translate
can be seen from the controversial views of English tenses and aspects into Vietnamese,
linguists. Some state that Vietnamese has the researcher carried out the current study.
tenses and aspects (Nguyen, 1963; Diep, 1992; To achieve that aim, selected data of 149
Nguyen, 1980), while the others affirm that sentences in the English source language (SL)
Vietnamese has no tense but aspect categories were taken from the novel “The Great Gatsby”
(Hoang, 1962; Nguyen, 1977; Xuan, 1984). (hereafter referred to as TG) by Francis Scott
Hence, in translation, finding equivalence Fitzgerald. Basically, sentences in a novel
with regard to tenses and aspects between the may fall into two modes, namely deictic mode
two languages like English and Vietnamese, and narrative one; however, due to the scope
of the present study, the former mode was
*
not considered, the later mode was examined
Tel.: 0943403168, Email: Mrsinh09@gmail.com.
VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133 123

instead. Of these data, 58 sentences are in which relates to time”. Specially, in judging
simple present tense, 46 sentences belong to the deictic state of the action, i.e., the time of
simple past tense and 45 sentences are in past the action with other related time, Salaberry
progressive tense. The data in Vietnamese and Shirai (2002) hypothesize tense to be a
were equivalent translated sentences taken deictic category situating in time concerning
from three translated novels. Furthermore, some other time, normally the speech moment.
the researcher employed the traditional
The term “aspect” originated from Russian
theories stating that English has a system of
word “vid” to become popular in English in
12 tenses and aspects, the combination of
the mid-18th century. In fact, aspect category
using adverbials in expressing time in the
has been studied since ancient times. Since
Vietnamese language, aspectual markers
then, quite many definitions of aspect have
and theories of situation types of verbs and
been proposed. Compared to the definitions
equivalence in translation. The study is
of tense, aspect is observed differently.
expected to obtain useful results serving as a
According to Comrie (1976, p. 3), aspect
good reference for those who are interested in
refers to the internal time of a situation, while
translation.
tense cares about how a situation is related
2. Literature review to a time-point. His popular aspect definition
is “aspects are different ways of viewing the
2.1. The notions of tense and aspect internal temporal constituency of a situation”.
Likewise, in showing the concern about the
Vietnamese learners when first studying
time point of the action, Jarvie (1993) stresses
English may confuse between tense and
the starting point of the action then comes to
aspect categories. These two categories seem
view it as aspect. Besides, under grammatical
simple, but differentiating them requires
view, Greenbaum and Quirk (2003, p. 51)
extensive understanding, given their various
state “aspect is a grammatical category that
definitions. Tense, for example, has been
reflects the way in which the action of a verb
variably interpreted under dissimilar linguistic
is viewed with respect to time”. Then, taking
perspectives. Jespersen (1931) regards tenses
the metaphorical comparison of aspect with
as the relations of time through the indications
a camera, Smith (1997) views aspect under
of verb forms. Sharing the view of tenses
the angle like the lens of a camera as it helps
through forms of verbs, Finch (2005) believes
the receiver see objects that are situations. In
tenses make changes to the form of a verb.
general, both tense and aspect are concerned
Likewise, Richards and Schmidt (2002,
about time of the action, the former is
p. 545) remark the connection of the verb form
pertained to other time points while the later
and time as affirming tense as “the relationship
deals with the time within the situation itself.
between the form of the verb and the time of
As a result, the forms of the verbs vary in
the action or state it describes”. Apart from
pursuance to different tenses and aspects they
the above definitions, tense is deemed to bear
bear. Nonetheless, meanings of the verbs are
the relation with grammar as Comrie (1985)
justified not only by the forms of the verbs
believes that tense is the location in time and
but also by situation types of verbs. Thus,
it is grammaticalized. Similarly, considering
Vendler (as cited in Geeraerts & Cuyckens,
tense as a category of grammar, Trask (2008)
2007) divided English verbs into four types.
says that tense is “the grammatical category
They are states, activities, accomplishments
124 N. D. Sinh / VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133

and achievements. According to Vendler seven tenses namely present tense, past tense
(1967), state verbs are verb phrases that or ‘preterite’, future tense, present perfect,
express stative, durative and atelic situations, past perfect or ‘pluperfect’, conditional tense
such as sit, hold, like, stand, think, know, live, and conditional perfect.
love. Activities are those verbs expressing
While mentioning verb tenses, Alexander
dynamic and durative situations such as look
(1998) divides English tenses into the simple
for, run, talk, speak, walk, push, read, write,
present, present progressive tenses, the
eat, beat, dance. Accomplishments are verb
simple past tense, the past progressive tenses,
phrases stating dynamic and telic situations
the simple present perfect, present perfect
such as read a book, eat a bowl of rice, write
progressive, the simple past perfect, past
a letter, wash the face, go to school, stand
perfect progressive tenses, the simple future
up. Achievements consist of verb phrases
tense, the future progressive, the future perfect
that indicate punctual or instantaneous telic
and going to and other ways of expressing the
situations, such as die, explode, find, break,
future. This division of tenses and aspects by
nod the head, blow out.
Alexander (1998) seems to conform with the
Besides, along with the different views reseacher’s expectation in later analyses, thus
towards the notions of tense and aspect the it will be taken as a theoretical base for the
classification of them does not seem to be less current study.
various. In categorizing types of tense and
In general, Vietnamese scholars of other
aspect, linguists perceive different opinions
fields rather than languages are not aware of
towards the number of tenses and aspects in
the notions of tenses and aspects. Even among
English. Even, one linguist may have dissimilar
linguistic researchers, there exist different
viewpoints towards tenses and aspects
trends in arguing if tenses and aspects are
himself. That is the case of Davidsen (1990)
present in the Vietnamese grammar. The
who affirms that he gets influence from Bach
arguments not only captivate Vietnamese
(1947) and Comrie (1985), by whom tense
linguistic researchers but also linguistic
is described as ‘’grammaticalised location in
researchers abroad. The first trend claims
time’’. As a result, he states “in my book from
that Vietnamese has tenses as expressed in
1990 I operate with eight tenses in English:
đã, đang, sẽ in Vietnamese which are the
present, present perfect, past, past perfect,
indicators of past tense, present tense and
future, future perfect, future past and future
future tense respectively (Nguyen, 2009; Bui,
perfect of the past” (Davidsen, 1990, p. 148).
1952; Nguyen, 1988; Diep, 1992; Nguyen
Then after analyzing other linguists’ views
& Nguyen, 1998). The second trend states
with respect to tense and aspect, he concludes
that Vietnamese has no tenses (Tran, Bui &
that “English has two tenses (present and past)
Pham, 1940; Emeneau, 1951; Hoang, 1962;
and two aspectual distinctions (perfect: non-
Nguyen, 1996). Besides, Cao (1998) claims
perfect and progressive: non-progressive)”
that Vietnamese has no category to show tense
(Davidsen, 1990, p. 154). Viewing tenses
though it has the category of aspect.
under morphological angle, according to
Downing and Locke (2006), “English has Practically, the expression of the time of
just two tenses: the Present and the Past, as in an action in Vietnamese, according to Tran
goes/went, respectively”. Besides, Declerck et (1940), can be relied on various adverbials
al. (2006) state that English traditionally has like hôm qua, bữa ấy, tháng trước, ngày xưa
VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133 125

and so forth to show the action happened in This shirt is surely not under 300,000 VND.
the past. Such adverbs as bây giờ, lúc này, As can be seen from the above stated
nay, hôm nay, tuần này and so on can be used parts and examples, the equivalents of tense
to indicate action happening at present. To and aspect in English can be found in the
express the action happening in the future, Vietnamese language under the forms of
Vietnamese people may use adverbs like adverbials, aspectual markers or expletives,
chốc nữa, lát nữa, mai này, về sau, ngày mai, though they are not always completely
tuần tới, hai tháng nữa and so on. Besides, satisfied and correct choices. However, this
in telling if the action has finished or not or it issue in practice may become even more
is still in progress, Vietnamese has different difficult as how a translator can deal with
adverbs like đã, rồi, còn, vẫn, đang and sẽ. sentences in English that have no adverbs
Furthermore, Dinh (2012) states that such of time. Then, the issue is supposed to be
solved counting on the use of situation types
expletives like đã, đang, sẽ, từng còn, vừa,
of verbs as Nguyen (2006) provides a more
mới, etc. have been considered as indicators
detailed description of Vietnamese types of
referring to past tense, present tense and future
situation based on the descriptions provided
tense for a long time by Vietnamese linguists.
by Vendler (1967) and Smith (1997). He
He affirms that the tense-aspect relationship
differentiates five types of situations:
in the Vietnamese language is integrated as a
activities, accomplishments, achievements,
grammar-state relationship. Such words as đã,
states and semelfactives. This classification is
đang, sẽ on one hand are to express the state the same as Vendler and especially as Smith’s
meaning of the whole sentence, and on the classification. Thus, it is hypothesized that the
other hand are to maintain the tight relationship three Vietnamese translators of the novel “the
between tense and aspect meaning of the Great Gatsby” would have been aware of and
predicate. In the below examples, he points come to employ a number of different adverbs
out those words indicate the relationship but and situation types of verbs in Vietnamese to
not kind of tense and aspect meaning. Firstly, translate tenses and aspects into Vietnamese.
đã in the subsequent sentence is not used as an
Translation is normally, in reality,
indicator for past tense:
the process of finding an appropriate
(1) Đã viết tiểu thuyết lại còn làm thơ. translation approach to identify equivalent
Not only writing novels but also items. Therefore, the following part will be
discussions of translation approaches and
composing poems.
equivalence.
Or đang is not the expression of present
tense in: 2.2. Notions of translation and translation
equivalence
(2) Đang giữa trưa hè, không một ngọn gió.
Notions of translation
It was in a summer noon, there was not
any wind. Translation practice dates back to
thousands of years. Translation theories,
And sẽ does not refer to future tense in:
however, have just been developed in recent
(3) Cái áo này chắc chắn sẽ không dưới decades. Noteworthy, since the emergence
ba trăm ngàn. of theories in translation, there have been
126 N. D. Sinh / VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133

numerous viewpoints towards the notions of equivalence a core notion; therefore, it can be
translation. Jakobson (1959) was regarded also a topic of controversy.
as one of the first researchers of the 20th
The theories about translation equivalence
century to propose a concept of translation. proposed by Nida (1964) pointed out
Translation, according to Jakobson (1959), two equivalence types, namely dynamic
is the substitution of the whole messages equivalence and formal equivalence.
rather than the separate code-units only. Nida Dynamic equivalence puts more emphasis on
states, “definitions of ... translating are almost context and the adaptation of sense whereas
as numerous and varied as the persons who formal equivalence is aware of the method of
have undertaken to discuss the subject” (Nida, translating word for word and the faithfulness
1964, p. 161). While observing the translation towards the content. Besides, Baker (1992)
process, Catford (1965) simply believes seems to provide the most detailed condition
that translation is the alternative of meaning index for the definition of equivalence
of a language with another one. He states concept. Equivalence concept is then viewed
“the replacement of textual material in one at various levels of translation equivalence
language (SL) by equivalent textual material namely equivalence of word, equivalence of
in another language (TL)” (Catford, 1965, grammar, equivalence of text and equivalence
p. 20). In defining the notion of translation, of pragmatics. In the grammatical level,
Newmark (1988) is concerned more about number, voice, tense and aspect, person and
the author of the text as he thinks that the gender receive more attention. As the present
translator should understand the intention of study is aimed at finding out how to translate
the author in transferring the meaning of the temporal items and aspectual items, thus the
text into another language. study is targeted at identifying equivalence of
Translation equivalence grammatical expressions.

Translation can be regarded as a process of 3. Methodology

finding equivalents from the target language
Due to the small scope of the study, the
for the source language. Thus, equivalence has
present study merely explored the means
an adjacent correlation with semantic entity.
that the translators had employed to translate
Jakobson (1959) believes that “equivalence in
some selected tense and aspect sentences from
meaning” emphasizes more on “differences in
English in a narrative manner. The sentences
the structure and terminology of languages”
selected as data for analysis are expressed in
than on the non-equivalent items between the
the simple present tense, the past progressive
two languages.
tense and the simple past tense in the
When discussing equivalence in translation Vietnamese version via the use of adverbs of
Venuti (2000, p. 5) believes “equivalence has time, especially via the use of situation types
been understood as ‘accuracy’, ‘adequacy’, of verbs. The data of 149 sentences were taken
‘correctness’, ‘correspondence’, ‘fidelity’, or from “The Great Gatsby” novel written in 1925
‘identity’; it is a variable notion about how by American author  Francis Scott Fitzgerald
the translation is connected to the foreign as the source language (SL). Bearing in mind
text”. Munday (2001) takes equivalence that there would be no differences in the use
in translation as the central focus in his of a particular English tense or aspect in
studies. Kenny (1998) states that translation different cases, hence these sentence data
VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133 127

were only randomly selected from the whole into Vietnamese?

nine chapters of the novel. The corresponding
Basing on the afore-mentioned
Vietnamese translated sentences are from
literature review, the researcher created
“Anh chàng hào hoa” by Mặc Đỗ (hereafter
himself a theoretical framework in the form
called T1), “Gatsby vĩ đại” by Hoàng Cường
of a table to analyze equivalents and non-
(hereafter called T2) and “Đại gia Gatsby” by
Trịnh Lữ (hereafter called T3). Notably, within equivalents as regards tense and aspect of
the extent of this study, only narrative sentences the two languages English and Vietnamese.
of present simple tense, past progressive tense The three selected tenses were evaluated
and simple past tense from the English novel concerning the means of translations used
(TG) are taken into account. The study aimed by the three translators T1, T2 and T3.
at investigating possible linguistic means The used means were temporal adverbials
applied by T1, T2, and T3 to translating tenses referring to present, past or future. They can
and aspects from English into Vietnamese. also be aspectual markers like progressive
Therefore, the following questions are proposed or perfective. Unless those two sorts of
to be answered so as to obtain the objectives of means were used, the means could belong
the study:
to situation types of verbs such as state,
1. How can English tenses be translated activity, accomplishment or achievement.
into Vietnamese? The proposed table below serves as a
2. How can English aspects be translated framework to collect data for the study.
Table 1: Framework for translating of tense and aspect from English into Vietnamese

Target texts
Source Adverbs of Time Markers of Situation Types of Verbs
sentences Fre Trans Aspect
Pre Pas Fu Pro Per Stat Acti Acco Achi
LA LA LA
T1
Simple Present T2
T3
T1
Simple past T2
T3
T1
Past Progressive T2
T3
Legend: Fre: frequency; Acti: activity; Acco: accomplishment; Achi: achievement; Stat: state; Trans:
Translators; Pre: Present; Fu: Future; Pro: progressive; Per: perfect; LA: Locating adverbials
The author employed descriptive, differences in expressing tenses and aspects
comparative and contrastive methods to form between English and Vietnamese.
a theoretical framework for the present study.
4. Results and discussion
Moreover these methods were also employed
to analyze the data, These methods helped to The aims of the current study are to find out
analyze and synthesize the similarities and the answers to the questions of how English tenses
128 N. D. Sinh / VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133

and aspects can be translated into Vietnamese. progressive tense were translated via different
The results of the study show that tenses and means by the three Vietnamese translators. These
aspects present in the sentence data of the means of translation would serve as answers to
present simple tense, the past tense and the past the questions of the present study.
Table 2: Translation of English tenses and aspects into Vietnamese

Target texts
Source Adverbs of Markers Situation Types of Verbs
sentences Fre Trans Time of Aspect
Pre Pas Fu Pro Per Stat Acti Acco Achi
LA LA LA
T1 3 1 2 35 8 3 6
Simple Present 58 T2 4 1 42 3 3 5
T3 5 3 4 37 5 1 3
T1 3 21 11 7 4
Simple past 46 T2 1 4 2 24 10 3 2
T3 2 3 20 9 7 5
T1 12 1 22 2 6 2
Past Progressive 45 T2 3 8 5 16 2 8 3
T3 1 1 26 1 2 7 6 1
Legend: Fre: frequency; Acti: activity; Acco: accomplishment; Achi: achievement; Stat: state; Trans:
Translators; Pre: Present; Fu: Future; Pro: progressive; Per: perfect; LA: Locating adverbials
4.1 The result analysis simple past tense are 58, thus accounting for
39 percent of the total sentences and becomes
4.1.1 The translation of tenses and aspects from the biggest. Coming next are the sentences
English into Vietnamese translation by T1. of simple past tense rated the second as they
constitute 31 percent i.e. 46 sentences while
A number of 149 sentences in (TG) were
45 sentences of the past progressive tense are
taken as corpus. The selected tenses are simple
smallest as they account for 30 percent. The
present tense, past progressive tense and
contrast of tense and aspect translation will be
simple past tense. The number of sentences of
clearly seen in the following illustrations:
Table 3: Means applied to translating tenses and aspects by T1

Total sentences 149

Direct adverbs 22 (14.7%) Situation types of verbs 127 (85.3%)
PerAM 6 (27.3%) Stat 78 (61.4%)
AoT 3 (13.6%) Acti 21 (16.5%)
ProAM 13 (59.1%) Acco 16 (12.6%)
Achi 12 (9.5%)
Legend: Acti: activity; Acco: accomplishment; Achi: achievement; Stat: state; PerAM: Perfect Aspectual
Markers; AoT: Adverbs of Time; ProAM: Progressive Aspectual Markers
Only 22 (14.7%) out of the 149 sentences tense or aspect. Progressive aspectual markers
were found to be explicitly transferred into were found the most frequently used in 13
Vietnamese via a direct adverb indicating sentences (59.1%). Followed by perfect
VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133 129

aspectual markers indicating tense detected of activity verbs (16.5%), followed by

in 6 sentences (27.3%). Then adverbs of time accomplishment verbs found in 16 sentences
were utilized the least frequent, noticed in 3
(12.6%) are also located. The achievement
sentences (13.6%). The rest of 127 sentences
(85.3%) were found to be conveyed by means verbs belonged to the least often used group,
of the situation types of verbs. Among them discovered in 12 sentences (9.5%).
state verbs were identified to be the most
frequently used, observed in 78 sentences 4.1.2 The translation of tenses and aspects from
making up 61.4 percent. Then 21 sentences English into Vietnamese translation by T2.

Table 4: Means applied to translating tenses and aspects by T2

Total sentences 149

Direct adverbs 28 (18.8%) Situation types of verbs 121 (81.2%)
PerAM 8 (28.6%) Stat 82 (67.8%)
AoT 12 (42.8%) Acti 15 (12.4%)
ProAM 8 (28.6%) Acco 14 (11.6%)
Achi 10 (8.2%)
Legend: Acti: activity; Acco: accomplishment; Achi: achievement; Stat: state; PerAM: Perfect Aspectual
Markers; AIT: Adverbs of time; ProAM: Progressive Aspectual Markers
Taking the same data of (SL) sentences to aspectual markers were equally employed
contrast with the equivalent translation by T2, in 8 sentences (28.6%). The remainder of
however, the results are somehow different 121 sentences (81.2%) was discovered to be
from the means of translation applied by translated via the use of the situation types
T1. The difference can be reflected from the of verbs. Interestingly, state verbs once more
illustrations below: were found out to be the most regularly
used, present in 82 sentences making up 67.8
The 28 (18.8%) out of the 149 sentences in
percent. Following was activity verbs found in
narrative manner, were recognized to be directly
15 sentences (12.4%). Accomplishment verbs
translated into Vietnamese via a direct adverb
were found in 14 sentences (11.6%) whereas
indicating tense or aspect. Different from the
the achievement verbs were the least frequently
result by T1 as adverbs of time showing tense
applied, seen in 10 sentences (8.2%).
and aspect were the most frequently used by T2
found in 12 sentences (42.8%). Surprisingly, 4.1.3 The translation of tenses and aspects from
perfect aspectual markers and progressive English into Vietnamese translation by T3.

Table 5: Means applied to translating tenses and aspects by T3

Total sentences 149

Direct adverbs Situation types of verbs
46 (30.9%) 103 (69.1%)
PerAM 8 (17.4%) Stat 59 (57.3%)
AoT 7 (15.2%) Acti 21 (20.4%)
ProAM 31 (67.4%) Acco 14 (13.6%)
Achi 9 (8.7%)
Legend: Acti: activity; Acco: accomplishment; Achi: achievement; Stat: state; PerAM: Perfect Aspectual
Markers; AIT: Adverbs of time; ProAM: Progressive Aspectual Markers
130 N. D. Sinh / VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133

Likewise, data of English sentences keep These types of adverbs and verbs were all
unchanged, however, the employment of mentioned in the literature review. Following
tense and aspect equivalents by T3 are a bit are some detailed illustrations. Firstly, adverbs
different from the other two translators. The indicating a finished action in Vietnamese are
difference seems to be unavoidable yet if the so-called perfect aspectual markers like rồi, đã,
difference would distort the plot of the novel etc. For example:
or not, a detailed analysis would be able to (4) I knew his whole family history before
make it clearer. he left. (TG, p. 136)
Table 4 above shows that 46 (30.9%) T2: Trước khi hắn đi em đã biết hết lai
out of the 149 sentences in narrative manner lịch nhà hắn.
were directly translated into Vietnamese via
a direct adverb indicating tense or aspect. Looking at the Vietnamese translation of
Correspondingly, progressive aspectual the above example, the adverb or aspectual
markers were observed the most frequently marker “đã” successfully conveys the
used in 31 sentences (67.4%). Then the meaning of a completed action of the verb
frequency of perfect aspectual markers ranked “knew”. However, “đã” in the following
the second as being noted in 8 sentences example does not imply the finished action of
(17.4%). Besides, adverbs of time indicating the verb “give”
tense and aspect were observed to be used (5) Only Gatsby, the man who gives his
the least often, found in 7 sentences (15.2%). name to this book, was exempt from my
The leftover of 103 sentences (69.1%) was reaction (TG, p. 4)
identified to be translated through the use T3: Chỉ có Gatsby, người mà tôi đã lấy
of the situation types of verbs. Surprisingly, tên đặt cho quyển sách này…
state verbs were repeatedly found out to
Or “rồi” in the following sentence does
be the most regularly used, exhibited in 59
not mean the action of getting married is
sentences making up 57.3 percent. This was
finished; instead, it is used for emphasizing.
then followed by activity verbs found in 21
sentences (20.4%). Besides, the achievement (6)‘When they do get married,’ (TG, p. 37)
verbs were used the least often, found in 9 T1: Khi lấy được nhau rồi.
sentences (8.7%) whereas accomplishment
But “rồi” in the translation below really does
verbs were found in 14 sentences (13.6%)
express a completed action of the verb “came”
which are in contrast to the analysis results of
the afore translated versions. (7) I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly
that I came back restless. (TG, p. 5)
4.2 Discussion T3: Tôi khoái cuộc phản công ấy đến nỗi
As can be seen from the above data analyses, đã về rồi mà vẫn bồn chồn không yên.
English tenses and aspects were translated into Secondly, adverbs of time like tuần trước,
Vietnamese via different means, such as direct tháng trước, hôm qua, etc. were used. The
adverbs and situation types of verbs. While use of adverbs of time is the same in English
different types of Vietnamese adverbs were and Vietnamese and this was mentioned in the
utilized, various verbs of different situation literature review. Illustration for this can be
types were the most frequently employed. seen in the translation below.
VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133 131

(8) but we met you here about a month situation types of verbs as stated in the above
ago. (TG, p. 47) section. Hence, the first example of this type
is the use of an activity verb for tense and
T1: Nhưng tháng trước chúng tôi đã gặp
aspect translation.
chị ở đây một lần.
(12) He walked around the room quickly,
Thirdly, adverbs indicating the action in
ringing bells. (TG, p. 109)
progress like đang, sẽ etc. as an example:
T1: Anh nhanh nhẹn đi lại trong phòng,
(9) I had that familiar conviction that life
rung chuông
was beginning over again ... (TG, p. 6)
Then coming next is the case of using
T3: Tôi lại tin rằng cuộc sống đang khắp
accomplishment verb for translation.
khởi sự lại từ đầu..
He reads deep books with long words in
The use of adverb “đang” was used by the
them. (TG, p. 16)
author to express action in progress but in this
situation, the progress was in the past not at T3: Anh ấy đọc những sách thâm thúy
present. có những chữ rất dài.
Or “sẽ” was used to indicate the action in Finally, an achievement verb in
present perfect tense but not in the progressive Vietnamese is used to convey the meaning
aspect. of similar achievement verb type containing
tense and aspect meaning in English.
It is invariably saddening to look through
new eyes at things upon which you have Making a short deft movement Tom
expended your own powers of adjustment. Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.
(TG, p. 112) (TG, p. 41)
T1: Không tài tránh khỏi đau buồn khi ta T2: Bằng 1 động tác gọn và chính xác,
nhìn bằng cặp mắt mới những thứ gì mà chính Tom Buchanan xòe tay đánh chảy máu mũi
ta sẽ bỏ công sức điều chỉnh người tình của mình.
Fourthly, situation types of verbs carrying 5. Conclusion and implications
tenses and aspects in English are translated
With the aims set out to seek for methods
into equivalent verbs in Vietnamese. An
or ways to translate English tenses and
illustration is as follows:
aspects into Vietnamese, the author applied
(11) God, how I hated that town! (TG, p. 38) descriptive, comparative and contrastive
T2: Trời ạ, tôi ghét thành phố ấy đến thế. methods for his study to find out the results
for the stated aims. The study found that with
The verb “hate” is a state verb and it was
the use of the resources of adverbs indicating
discussed in the literature review, thus in the
tenses and aspects and especially the use of
above-said example the verb “hated” was
situation types of verbs in Vietnamese, the
translated into “ghét”
three Vietnamese translators could render
Or sentences in which no adverbial is sentences as regards tenses and aspects from
recognized and their verbs may fall into a richly tensed language like English into
activity, accomplishment or achievement a non-tense language. It is noteworthy that
types according to Vendler (1967) theory of in this research, only sentences of the three
132 N. D. Sinh / VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.36, No.6 (2020) 122-133

selected tenses are analyzed. Hence, based on Reference

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VIỆC DỊCH THÌ VÀ THỂ

TỪ TIẾNG ANH SANG TIẾNG VIỆT

Nguyễn Đình Sinh

Trường Đại học Sư phạm Kỹ thuật Hưng Yên

Tóm tắt: Nhầm lẫn hoặc tối nghĩa trong việc dịch thì và thể từ tiếng Anh sang tiếng Việt vẫn còn khá
phổ biến ở nhiều bản dịch, nguyên nhân chủ yếu là do sự khác biệt trong quan niệm về khái niệm thì và thể
của các nhà nghiên cứu và học giả của hai ngôn ngữ. Trong khi thì và thể tồn tại trong các mệnh đề hoặc
câu tiếng Anh như một điều hiển nhiên thì trong tiếng Việt lại là chủ đề gây tranh cãi trong giới các nhà
ngôn ngữ và nhà giáo dục. Nghiên cứu này nhằm tìm ra một số phương tiện ngôn ngữ được ba dịch giả nổi
tiếng Việt Nam là Mặc Đỗ, Hoàng Cường và Trịnh Lữ sử dụng để dịch thì và thể trong câu thức trần thuật
từ tiếng Anh sang tiếng Việt. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy mặc dù thì và thể không luôn được công nhận
trong tiếng Việt, chúng vẫn có thể dịch được từ tiếng Anh qua cách sử dụng trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian, chỉ dấu
thể hoặc động từ cảnh huống trong tiếng Việt.
Từ khóa: thể, chỉ dấu thể, thức trần thuật, động từ cảnh huống, trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian, thì, dịch thuật.