Abstract

This study aims to examine the translation techniques used in translating the short story
“A Pitiful Plaything” into Myanmar as “ ”. The objectives of this research

are (1) to observe how the translation strategies used by Sayar Mya Than Tint’s work in his
translation process, (2) to investigate the differences in culture and linguistics expression
between English and Myanmar Language. The data collected in this study have been analyzed
based on the translation techniques by Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) .The findings of this study
show that transposition is the most frequently used procedure. According to the different
culture, stylistic and grammatical form, transposition has been used 28 times as the most
frequently applied procedure throughout the translation process. Modulation is also used to
change the form of the text when a literal or transposed is unsuitable in TT and this procedure
can be found 11 times throughout this process. The translator uses adaptation procedure 6 times
as the least frequently procedure throughout the translation process. Moreover, the translator,
Mya Than Tint added some texts and messages that are not included in source language
(Myanmar) to target language (English) because he wanted to give further information to the
target reader.
 Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgements

List of Tables

Chapter

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Research
1.2 Rationale of the Research
1.3 Significance of the Research
1.4 Aim and Objectives
1.5 Organization of the Research

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical Background
2.2 Related Research

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Data Collection
3.2 Data Analysis
3.3 Data Interpretation

4. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

5. CONCLUSION

REFERENCES
 List of Tables

Table No. Page No.

Table 1: Frequencies of Translation Techniques 20

 1. INTRODUCTION

Translation is the process of translating words or texts from one language (SL) into another
(TL). It is also defined as the technique of changing something from one form to another.
Translation can perform in society in very effective way that it is the vehicle to communicate
different people in different culture and different region. Translation is defined in different ways
by different scholars and linguists at different times in history. Foster (1958) states that
translation is the act of through which the content of a text is transferred from the source
language into the target language. According to Foster, the translator needs to have good
knowledge of both the source and the target language, in addition to high linguist sensitivity as
he should transmit the writer’s intention, original thoughts and opinions in the translated version
as precisely and faithfully as possible.

According to Ghazala (1995, 1) translation is generally used to refer to all the process and
methods used to convey the meaning of the source language into the target language. Ghazala
also states that when translating, understanding the meaning of the source text is vital to have
the appropriate equivalent in the target text. Thus, it is meaning that is translated in relation to
grammar, style and sounds.

Catford (1995, 20) reports that translation is the replacement of textual material in one
language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL). According to Catford,
meaning is the most important process in both areas of language and translation. The translator
must be able to change the SL meaning in the TL meaning with the use of this translation
abilities and strategies. In this study, Vinay and Darbelnet’s oblique translation methods are
used to analyze the data collected from the texts of “A Pitiful Plaything” by Li Guangtian and
its Myanmar translation as “ ” by Sayar Mya Than Tint.

1.1 Background of the Research

Everyone loves to read or explore the literary works such as novels, short stories, tales, plays
and other works of literature. There are over seven billion people from different societies who
speak different languages in the world. People want to know the different cultures and values of
other societies and about people. Then they begin to learn the cultures and languages from other
societies and come to read their literature. But it is more convenient for people to read the books
written in their native language rather than written in other language. What people can do the
best way to acquire the other literature is to translate them conversely. That is why translation
has been performing as a major role in literature. Therefore, people in Myanmar who are fluent
in both English and Myanmar have translated the short stories, novel, tales, plays and other
literary works from English to Myanmar or from Myanmar to English for readers who are
interested in translated works. Like these translators, Sayar Mya Than Tint translated “A Pitiful

Plaything” in English language written by Li Guangtian into “ ” using

Myanmar language. By translating English to Myanmar, grammatical structure and lexical

system from source language can be compared with those of the target language. Moreover, the
different culture, usages, linguistic expression and grammatical structure between English and
Myanmar language can be analyzed in the research. Vinay and Darbelnet’s seven translation
techniques are used as translation strategies in this research.

1.2 Rationale of the Research

In the study, the short story “A Pitiful Plaything” by Li Guangtian and its translated text by
Sayar Mya Than Tint are the main texts of this research. By doing this research, the culture and
linguistic expressions in both English and Myanmar language can be studied in this research.
The source language (English) used in the story “A Pitiful Plaything” by Li Guangtian can be
compared with the target language (Myanmar) used in this translated text. So, it is very
interesting to analyze the strategies the translator used to convey the message of the original
text.

1.3 Significance of the Research

This research analyzes translation strategies of Saya Mya Than Tint, one of the famous
translators in Myanmar and the occurrence of his use in the translation process. The reasons
why these strategies are used in the TT have explained with examples in each case in the
research. Finally, this research can deliver not only the main message of the source text to the
target readers but also contribute the translation strategies of the translator, Sayar Mya Than
Tint to the field.

1.4 Aim and Objectives

This research aims to contribute the translation strategies of Sayar Mya Than Tint employed
in the translated text “ ”.

The objectives of this research are;

(1) To scrutinize how the translation strategies used by Sayar Mya Than Tint’s works on
translating the texts.

(2) To investigate the differences in culture and linguistic expression between English and
Myanmar language.

1.5 Organization of the Thesis

This research is organized into fives main parts. Chapter 1 introduces the background of
research. In chapter 2, Literature Review is provided. Chapter 3 includes research methodology
and Chapter 4 consists of findings and discussion. And Chapter 5 is the conclusion of this
research.
 2. LITERATURE REVIEW

Translation is the process of translating words or texts from one language (source
language) into another language (target language). It is often regarded that translation is the
substitution of equivalence and style in target language from the source language. Peter
Newmark (1998) defines the translation as the act of translating as transferring the meaning of
the text from one language (SL) to another (TL), taking care mainly of the functional relevant
meaning. According to Peter Newmark, the translator must render on the message of SL and
convey the relevant meaning in TL by carrying adequate equivalence. Therefore, translation is
the replacement of equivalence and relevant meaning in target language from source language.
According to the experts, translation is the process of transferring background knowledge of
source language into target language.

Concerning with this research, it is a story about the social problems of a little boy. The
research will focus on the translated text of the short story “A Pitiful Plaything” by Li
Guangtian into its Myanmar translation “ ” by Sayar Mya Than Tint using

the seven translation strategies proposed by Vinay & Darbelnet. However it is found that four
translation techniques are not used in his translation. The three applied translation techniques
are transposition, modulation and adaptation. These techniques are significant in the translated
story because of the translator’s choice of words and sentence structure. Sayar Mya Than Tint
chose to use beautiful and meaningful words in describing the story of the boy. So the research
investigates the translation techniques employed in the story “ ”.

2.1 Theoretical Background

As the theoretical background, this research will focus on seven translation strategies
proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (1995).
 2.1.1 Techniques of Translation

The classical taxonomy of translation procedures dates back to 1958 and is the work of J. P.

Vinay and J. Darbelnet. It consists of seven categories:

1. BORROWING

Borrowing is a translation technique that involves using the same word or expression in original

text in the target text. The word or expression borrowed is usually written in italics. This is

about reproducing an expression in the original text as is. In this sense, it is a translation

technique that does not actually translate.

2. CALQUE

When a translator uses a calque, he or she is creating or using a neologism in the target

language by adopting the structure of the source language.

3. LITERAL TRANSLATION

Usually this is called a literal translation or metaphase. This means a word-for-word translation,

achieving a text in the target language which is as correct as it is idiomatic. According to Vinay

and Darbelnet, a literal translation can only be applied with languages which are extremely

close in cultural terms. It is acceptable only if the translated text retains the same syntax, the

same meaning and the same style as the original text.

4. TRANSPOSITION

Transposition involves moving from one grammatical category to another without altering the

meaning of the text. This translation technique introduces a change in grammatical structure.
5. MODULATION
Modulation is about changing the form of the text by introducing a semantic change or

perspective.

6. EQUIVALENCE OR REFORMULATION

This is a translation technique which uses a completely different expression to transmit the

same reality. Through this technique, names of institutions, interjections, idioms or proverbs

can be translated.

7. ADAPTATION

Adaptation, also called cultural substitution or cultural equivalent, is a cultural element which

replaces the original text with one that is better suited to the culture of the target language. This

achieves a more familiar and comprehensive text.

 2.2 Related Research

This paper aims to explore the translation strategies applied in translating ‘A Pitiful
Plaything’ by Li Guangtian into Myanmar as ‘ ့္ ဌက္ကေလး’ by Saya Mya Than Tint.

Translation techniques which are related to this research are reviewed in this section.

The first is Myo Min Than’s (2018) work entitled ‘An analysis of translation technique used
in the palace tale “The King’s Joke” and its translation “ ၏ဟ ” by Khin Than

Myint. In this research, he used oblique translation method proposed by Vinay & Darbelnet’s
(1995) and two translation techniques of amplification and reduction proposed by Molina &
Albir’s (2002). This research aims to explore the translation techniques used in translating the
palace tale ‘The King’s Joke’ by Fielding-Hall into Myanmar ‘ ၏ဟ ’ by Khin

Than Myint. The findings show that ‘reduction’ is the most used procedure and ‘modulation’ is
frequently used one and adaptation is the least used strategy.

The second is Zabu Aye Lwin’s (2018), thesis entitled “An analysis of translation
procedures in the short story “ ” (A Piece of Steak) by Nat Nwe”. In this

research, she used the translation theories proposed by Peter Newmark (1988) to examine the
translation procedures. The collected data are analyzed according to the foreignization and
domestication theories proposed by Venuti (1995). The aim of this research is to analyse the
effect of the use of translation procedures making the translated version of the text “A Piece of
Steak” readable and understandable in the target language in the translated short story
“ ” by Nat Nwe. The findings show that literal translation is the most used

translation technique and expansion and reduction is frequently used and then naturalization is
repeatedly used in the story. It is found that the use of literal translation makes the story to get
the ideology in a short time and moreover the use of other procedures makes the text more
attractive.

The last one is the thesis entitled “The translation of cultural Elements from English into
Arabic in Oliver Twist” by Tarek Atallah Saleh Al-Idhesat (2016). In his dissertation, Tarek
identified the cultural elements used in the Arabic translation and he applied Vinay &
Darbelnet’s (1995) translation procedures, Newmark’s (1988) functional equivalence and
Venuti’s (2008) notion of Foreignization and Domestication. The aim of the research is to
identify the cultural elements used in the Arabic translation of the novel Oliver Twist by
Charles Dickens, to explore the translation procedures that have been employed and to find out
whether the translator tends to domesticate or foreignize the translated cultural elements based
on the choice of translation procedures he makes. The findings show that the oblique translation
procedures (transposition, modulation, equivalence and adaptation) have been employed in
translation the vast majority of cultural elements in the novel.
 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This research focuses on Vinay & Darbelnet’s (1995) seven translation procedures which are
(1) Borrowing, (2) Calque, (3) Literal Translation, (4) Transposition, (5) Modulation, (6)
Equivalence or Reformulation, and (7) Adaptation. The framework for data analysis will
included the following seven criteria:

(1) Borrowing
(2) Calque
(3) Literal Translation
(4) Transposition
(5) Modulation
(6) Equivalence or Reformulation
(7) Adaptation

3.1 Data Collection

In this research, the data are collected from an essay “A Pitiful Plaything” by Li Guangtian
and its Myanmar translation as “ ” by Saya Mya Than Tint. There are

altogether 76 sentences in this essay and 75 of them are translated into Myanmar. There are
totally 103 sentences in Myanmar translation. Each and every word in the ST is compared to TT
to explore which translation strategies are applied in every single sentence. The total data
analyzed by the use of the seven translation techniques is counted and calculated. The
percentage of techniques applied in TT is shown in the table.

3.2 Data Analysis

In this section, the data is done through the data collected from the essay “A Pitiful
Plaything” by Li Guangtian and its Myanmar translation as “ ” by Saya

Mya Than Tint.

Firstly, the entire SL text is divided into sentence by sentence. To compare ST and TT, the
respective translated texts are put under each and every single SL sentence. Vinay and
Darbelnet’s (1995) seven translation procedures are used to analyze words by words, phrase by
phrase, sentence by sentence to explore which strategies are applied in each sentence.

3.2.1 Sample analysis of the data

It is found that the translator used only three translation techniques of Vinay and
Darbelnet (1995), which are transposition, modulation and adaptation. As a sample analysis of
the data, 5 sentences out of the 76 sentences in both texts analyzed are compared and interpreted
as follow.

(i) Transposition
(1) Sentence no (6)

ST: My world at that time was both so restricted and so vast.

TT: ၍

The word ‘restricted’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which denote the same

meaning of the word ‘narrow’ and also ‘ ’ in the TT which denote the same meaning of the word

‘widen’. The translator used different word class without changing the meaning of the original word. The words
‘restricted’ and ‘vast’ are ‘adjective forms’ in ST. But the translator chose to use different word class ‘verbs’ in
the place of them in TT. This change in word class does not effect on the message of ST and it can be regarded
as the optional transposition technique of Vinay and Darbelnet.

(2) Sentence no (40)

ST: Poor little fledgling! But now I had a fine plaything.

TT:

The word ‘poor’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which denote the same
meaning of the word ‘pity’. The translator used different word class without changing the meaning of the
original word. The word ‘poor’ is an adjective form in ST. But the translator chose to use different word class
‘verb’ in its place in TT. This change in word class does not effect on the message of ST and it can be regarded
as the optional transposition technique of Vinay and Darbelnet.
 (3) Sentence no (50)

ST: As usual, the sight of him depressed me; but how could I know it was wrong to keep a sparrow?

TT:

The word ‘the sight’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which denote the same meaning
of the word ‘after seeing’. The translator used different word class without changing the meaning of the original
word. The word ‘the sight’ is a noun form in ST. But the translator chose to use different word class
‘conjunction’ in its place in TT. This change in word class does not effect on the message of ST and it can be
regarded as the optional transposition technique of Vinay and Darbelnet.

(4) Sentence no (60)

ST: Granny sworn under her breath, “Your dad’s heartless, with no feeling for old or young.

TT:

The word ‘under her breath’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which denote the same

meaning of the word ‘heartless’ and also ‘heartless’ in the TT which denote the same meaning of the word
‘ ’. The translator used different word class without changing the meaning of the

original word. The word group ‘under her breath’ is a ‘phrase’ and ‘heartless’ is an ‘adjective form’ in ST. But
the translator chose to use different word class ‘ ’ and ‘ ’ which are TL
equivalence phrases. The translator replaced these phrases in the place of SL phrase and adjective in TT. These
changes in word class do not effect on the message of ST and it can be regarded as the optional transposition
technique of Vinay and Darbelnet.

(5) Sentence no (70)

ST: Besides, born and bred on the land, from boyhood he had watered it with his sweat, hoping the sandy soil
would produce enough to support his family.

TT:

ဟ
 The word ‘hoping’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which denote the same
meaning of the word ‘with an expectation’. The translator used different word class without changing the
meaning of the original word. The word ‘hoping’ is a ‘participle form’ in ST and ‘with an expectation’ is a
adverb phrase in TL. But the translator chose to use different word class ‘with an expectation’ in its place in TT.
This change in word class does not effect on the message of ST and it can be regarded as the optional
transposition technique of Vinay and Darbelnet

(ii) Modulation
(1) Sentence no (2)

ST: I’d never left our village except to visit my mother’s old home and I was unfamiliar, even rather afraid of
our own village.

TT:

The ST phrase ‘I was unfamiliar’ has been rendered into the TT phrase ‘

’ which literally means ‘I haven’t been to the entire village’. The translator changed the

semantics of the ST to express familiar meaning for the readers of TT. The translated meaning gives a better
understanding for the readers. If the translator chose to translate the ST phrase ‘I was unfamiliar’ directly into
TT, the readers would find it unusual usage. The point of the view in the ST has also been changed in the TT
with the use of Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation technique.

(2) Sentence no (17)

ST: “They won’t play with me,” I’d say, running into my Granny’s arms.

TT:

The ST phrase ‘They won’t play with me’ has been rendered into the TT phrase ‘

’ which literally means ‘ ’. The translator changed the semantics of

the ST to reveal the implied meaning of the ST. The translated meaning gives a better understanding for the
readers. If the translator chose to translate the ST phrase ‘They won’t play with me’ directly into TT, the readers
wouldn’t find it a good translation. The point of the view in the ST has also been changed in the TT with the use
of Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation technique.
 (3) Sentence no (22)

ST: I don’t believe I ever saw him smile.

TT:

The ST phrase ‘I don’t believe’ has been rendered into the TT phrase ‘ ’ which literally means ‘I
don’t think’. The translator changed the semantics of the ST to express implied meaning for the readers of TT.
The translated meaning gives a better understanding for the readers. If the translator chose to translate the ST
phrase ‘I don’t believe’ directly into TT, the readers would find it unusual usage. The point of the view in the
ST has also been changed in the TT with the use of Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation technique.

(4) Sentence no (46)

ST: I shan’t go out any more.

TT:

The ST phrase ‘I shan’t go out any more’ has been rendered into the TT phrase ‘ ’

which literally means ‘I won’t just play with them’. The translator changed the semantics of the ST to express
implied meaning for the readers of TT. The translated meaning gives a better understanding for the readers. If
the translator chose to translate the ST phrase ‘I shan’t go out any more’ directly into TT, the readers would find
the translated text is far from the previous knowledge of the story. The point of the view in the ST has also been
changed in the TT with the use of Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation technique.

(5) Sentence no (51)

ST: “What’s that?” he demanded sternly.

TT: ‘

The ST phrase ‘What’s that?’ has been rendered into the TT phrase ‘ which literally
means ‘What is in your hand?’. The translator changed the semantics of the ST to express implied meaning for
the readers of TT. The translated meaning gives a better understanding for the readers. The point of the view in
the ST has also been changed in the TT with the use of Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation technique.
 (iii) Adaptation
(1) Sentence no (16)

ST: Often I would sneak home alone, skirting the walls.

TT:

The phrase ‘skirting the walls’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT

which is a familiar daily usage in sub urban areas and countryside. Li Guangtian used this word for ST reader.
When translating this, the translator had to change the situation that is less familiar in the TT for the target
readers. In other words, translator needs to adapt the situation to the new one that is concerned with Myanmar
culture and TT readers. For translating this essay, translator created a new situation of equivalence in the TT by
using the translation technique of adaptation.

(2) Sentence no (17)

ST: “They won’t play with me,” I’d say, running into my Granny’s arms.

TT: ‘

The word ‘Granny’s arms’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which is a more obvious

description for the TT readers. Li Guangtian used this word for ST reader. When translating this, the translator
had to change the situation that is not clear description in the TT for the target readers. In other words, translator
needs to adapt the situation to the new one that is concerned with better understanding for the TT readers. For
translating this essay, translator created a new situation of equivalence in the TT by using the translation
technique of adaptation.

(3) Sentence no (25)

ST: Small as I was, I knew quite well what she meant; so whenever I saw grown-ups or other children crowd
round the sweet pedlar at the song of his gong, which set my mouth watering.

TT:

The word ‘set my mouth watering’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which is a

more obvious description for the TT readers. Li Guangtian used this word for ST reader. When translating this,
the translator had to change the situation that is not clear description in the TT for the target readers. In other
words, translator needs to adapt the situation to the new one that is concerned with better understanding for the
TT readers. For translating this essay, translator created a new situation of equivalence in the TT by using the
translation technique of adaptation.

(4) Sentence no (57)

ST: As a child I couldn’t understand her psychology.

TT:

The word ‘Granny’s lap’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which is a more

obvious description for the TT readers. Li Guangtian used this word for ST reader. When translating this, the
translator had to change the situation that is not clear description in the TT for the target readers. In other words,
translator needs to adapt the situation to the new one that is concerned with better understanding for the TT
readers. For translating this essay, translator created a new situation of equivalence in the TT by using the
translation technique of adaptation.

(5) Sentence no (58)

ST: Finally I climbed on to Granny’s lap to weep disconsolately.

TT:

The word ‘Granny’s lap’ in the ST has been rendered as ‘ ’ in the TT which is a more

obvious description for the TT readers. Li Guangtian used this word for ST reader. When translating this, the
translator had to change the situation that is not clear description in the TT for the target readers. In other words,
translator needs to adapt the situation to the new one that is concerned with better understanding for the TT
readers. For translating this essay, translator created a new situation of equivalence in the TT by using the
translation technique of adaptation.

3.3 Data Interpretation

In this research, the data has been analyzed based on Vinay and Darbelnet’s (1995)
transposition, modulation and adaptation. For the data of the analysis, numbers are counted and
shown in the tabular form as follow.
 Translation techniques Numbers (45) Percentage

Transposition 28 62.22%

Modulation 11 24.45%

Adaptation 6 13.33%

According to the above table, it is found that the total frequency of transposition is 28
(62.22%) followed by modulation 11 (24.45%) and adaptation 6 (13.33%) respectively. The
translator used the procedure of transposition most frequently to help the clear understanding of
the source text.
 4. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

In this research, transposition is found the most frequently used procedure. The translator

changes the ST grammatical category to another in TT without altering the meaning of the

source text. According to different culture, stylistic and grammatical forms, transposition has

been used 28 times as the most frequently applied procedures throughout the translation

process.

The translator used modulation to change the point of view in the source text when

translating it into the TT. On the other hand, it is used to change the form of the message when

a literal or transposed translation is unsuitable in the TT. The translator used this procedure 11

times throughout this process.

The translator used adaptation to replace cultural terms and equivalence in which the

original text is substituted with one that is better suited to the culture of the TT. This procedure

achieves a more familiar and comprehensive text for the readers of TT. The translator used this

procedure 6 times as the least frequently applied procedures throughout the translation process.

It is found that the translator used completely different stylistics and grammatical forms to

produce an equivalence text. The author, Li Guangtian wrote this short story for the readers of

source language to give the aesthetic value. The translator, Mya Than Tint added some texts or

messages that are not included in the ST to the TT when translating from English to Myanmar

because he wanted to give further information to the target readers.

 5. CONCLUSION

This research is an analysis of the source text “A Pitiful Plaything” and its Myanmar
translation ‘ ့္ ဌက္ကေလး’. The analysis of the data is based on Vinay and Darbelnet’s

translation proceudres: transposition, modulation and adaptation. In the analysis, 45 data from
75 sentences of the short story “A Pitiful Plaything” are investigated as the result. Then they are
classified into three categories: transposition used in transforming parts of speech from ST to
TT, modulation used in changing points of view and the form of the message and adaptation
used in creating the new situation of equivalence. Transposition is found the most frequently
applied procedure to help the clear understanding of the source text to the readers of the target
text and adaptation is found as the least frequently used procedure to achieve a more familiar
and comprehensive text for the readers of TT.
REFERENCES

Vinay & Darbelnet (1958). The seven translation procedures

Myo Min Than (2018). An analysis of translation techniques used in the palace tale “The
King’s Joke” and its translation “ ”.

Zabu Aye Lwin (2018). An analysis of translation procedures in the short story “

” (A Piece of Steak) by Nat Nwe.

Al-Idhesat’s. (2016). The translation of cultural Elements from English into Arabic in Oliver
Twist.