Language Of Graduation In English Literary Discourse Through The Lens Of Translation

Abstract

This thesis aims at investigating language of graduation, or rather intensification, in English literary discourse through the lens of translation. The study builds on the theoretical framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics by Halliday (1985; 2004) and the linguistic theory of Appraisal developed by Martin and White (2005) with a view to examining the realisations of intensification as embodied in English literary discourse. Via the lens of translation, the thesis stands on the translation models by Nida (2004), Vinay and Darbelnet (2004) and Munday (2012) to analyse the rendering of the expressions of intensification into Vietnamese as well as strategies employed in the process of translation. The study has been conducted using qualitative and descriptive method with quantitative information and basing on 2,121 samples of intensification taken from four selected English literary works of critical and socialist realism in the period of mid-18 th century and mid-19th century. Of the samples, 400 ones have been chosen with their Vietnamese translated versions for an analysis of translation. The research has expanded the category of intensification into three well prescribed sub-types namely (i) isolating intensification; (ii) infusing intensification; and (iii) intensification via rhetorical devices. This prescription can provide a detailed picture of intensification, especially the various realizations of intensification at different ranks from word level involving content words and function words to above-word level or ranks like groups and clauses. The research helps illuminate intensification from a more functional approach rather than from that of structural linguists and grammarians. Noticeably, the research has discovered the nuances of the meaning of intensification through the lens of translation. When it comes to communicating across languages, the level of intensity can be preserved or adjusted in the inclination of sliding-up or sliding-down. Also, the thesis has demonstrated strategies of translation used in the process of rendering the meaning of intensification into Vietnamese. Hopefully, the thesis helps language learners and researchers get better insights into the language of intensification as graduation in this genre and apply it to learning and the practice of translation.