Translation Practice 2

Chapter 2…

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 EDITING AND
PROOFREADING IN
TRANSLATION
 Editing vs Proofreading
Editing and proofreading are two different essential stages of document preparation
before it is published or shared.

Editing involves improving the text by correcting errors and making words and sentences
clearer, more precise, and as effective as possible. It can involve adding, deleting, and
rearranging words.

Proofreading is the stage of reading the text carefully and correcting the spelling and
punctuation mistakes, typos, formatting issues and inconsistencies.
 1. Editing
There are different types of editing, including copyediting, stylistic editing, structural
editing, and content editing.

1.1. Copy editing:

Copy-editing deals with checking and correcting a text to ensure its conformance with
the rules on spelling, grammar and punctuation of a specific language. The goal of copy
editing is to improve the overall clarity, correctness, and professionalism of the text,
making it readable and error-free. Copyediting is line-by-line work.
 1. Editing
1.1. Copy editing:

ST: Những bông hoa đỗ quyên cuối cùng trên đỉnh Bạch Mã nở muộn giữa tiết trời xuân
chuyển sang hạ dường như đợi chờ những lữ khách cuối cùng đến để tận hưởng hương sắc
của loài hoa rừng đặc trưng của đất trời.

TT: The last azaleas on the top of Bach Ma during the season change between Spring and
Summer seem to be waiting for the last travelers to come and enjoy the beauty of this
flower species of nature.

ET: The late-blooming azaleas on the top of Bach Ma during the Spring-Summer transfer
seem to be waiting for the last travelers to come and enjoy the beauty of this flower
species of nature.
 1. Editing
1.2. Stylistic editing:

Stylistic editing focuses on making changes that improve the text by adding a natural
flow and a better construction of sentences.
 1. Editing
1.2. Stylistic editing:

ST: This scholarship was established and operated by the Department of Integrative Arts
to recognize outstanding full-time students enrolled in Graphic Design who have
achieved positive academic records.

TT: Học bổng này được thành lập và điều hành bởi khoa Nghệ thuật tổng hợp để công nhận
những sinh viên chính quy xuất sắc ghi danh vào ngành Thiết kế đồ hoạ đã đạt thành tích
học tập tích cực.

ET: Học bổng này do khoa Nghệ thuật tổng hợp thành lập và điều hành để công nhận
những sinh viên chính quy ngành Thiết kế đồ hoạ xuất sắc đã đạt thành tích học tập tích
cực.
 1. Editing
1.3. Structural editing:

Structural editing rearranges the order of sentences, paragraphs and any other elements
of the text to ensure readability and a coherent and logical presentation of arguments.
 1. Editing
1.3. Structural editing:

ST: Trong màn mưa bay bay, cái màu đất nâu vàng như sậm hơn và càng bám chặt vào
những củ khoai từ căng tròn.

TT: In the grey rain, the brown soil seems darker and stickier to the plump yams.

ET: The brown soil seems darker and stickier to the plump yams in the grey rain.
 1. Editing
1.4. Content editing:

Content editing includes adding or subtracting parts of the translation if deemed

appropriate.
 1. Editing
1.4. Content editing:

Steps in content editing:

- Look at the target text as a whole to see if it is logical and understandable. Detect and
correct errors in spelling, syntax and meaning.

- Read between the source and the target texts to make changes including sentences
being restructured and expressions replaced.
 1. Editing
1.4. Content editing:

Translation criteria:

Accuracy:

- Meaning

- Syntactic structures of sentences, formation of paragraphs, and spelling

- Style and register

 1. Editing
1.4. Content editing:

Translation criteria:

Cultural and functional adaptation:

Idioms, proverbs and sayings, figurative language, metaphors, units of measurement,

ways of addressing people, dates, etc. must be adapted to the target audience and
culture.
 2. Proofreading
Proofreading is a careful check for any remaining errors, such as misspelled words,
misplaced punctuation, and stylistic inconsistencies.

While editing involves revisions resulting in major changes of the document to ensure
the accuracy of information and style, proofreading ensures the final content is free of
linguistic and formatting errors.
 2. Proofreading
Examples:

SS: As of April 20, 2020, the total amount of newly registered capital, additional capital,
contributed capital and share purchase rights of foreign investors reached $12.33 billion,
equivalent to 84.5% of the same period in 2019.

TS: Tính đến ngày 20/04/2020, tổng số vốn đăng ký mới, vốn bổ sung, vốn góp và quyền
mua cổ phần của nhà đầu tư nước ngoài đạt 12,33 tỷ USD, tương đương 84,5% cùng kỳ
năm 2019.

à Check number, measurement and currency errors.

 2. Proofreading
Examples:

SS: The car was traveling at 70 miles per hour.

TS: Chiếc xe đã đi với vận tốc 112km/giờ.

à Check number, measurement and currency errors.

 2. Proofreading
Check number, measurement and currency errors.
 2. Proofreading
Check number, measurement and currency errors.
EXERCISES
 EXERCISE 2
ST1: Được biết đến là người thiết kế đài tưởng niệm Chiến sĩ trận vong (Bia Quốc Học), họa
sĩ Tôn Thất Sa còn là người họa sĩ tài hoa góp phần lưu giữ những hình ảnh nghệ thuật cổ
của Huế.

TT1: Ton That Sa was known not only as the designer of the Memorial of the *Martyrs
(Quoc Hoc Screen), but also as a talented artist who has contributed to preserving the
ancient artistic images of Hue.

Edited: Ton That Sa was known not only as the designer of the War Memorial (Quoc Hoc
Stele), but also as a talented artist who has contributed to preserving the ancient artistic
images of Hue.
 EXERCISE 2
ST2: Chiều 19/4, Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh Phan Ngọc Thọ có buổi tiếp, làm việc với Đại sứ Cộng
hòa liên bang Đức tại Việt Nam, Tiến sĩ Guido Hildner.

TT2: On the afternoon of April 19, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Phan
Ngoc Tho had a meeting with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to
Vietnam, Dr. Guido Hildner.

- Structure: the ambassador of [Country A] to [Country B]/the [Country A] ambassador

to [Country B] à the ambassador of France to the United States

Edited: Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Phan Ngoc Tho had a meeting
with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam, Dr. Guido Hildner,
on the afternoon of April 19.