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FEATURES OF “DÊMÈN PHIÊU LU’U KÝ” BY TO HOAI IN VIETNAMESE-RUSSIAN AND VIETNAMESE-ENGLISH TRANSLATION // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2021. Issue 6 (218). P. 83-89

Introduction. Though not being widely known abroad, Vietnamese literature managed to produce some texts enjoying vast popularity all around the world. One of such international masterpieces is “Dế mèn phiêu lưu ký” by To Hoai, which has been regarded as a classic children’s novel through seven decades. Up to now, “Dế mèn phiêu lưu ký” has been translated into more than 40 world languages including Russian and English. The book’s plot revolves around the adventures of a cricket in a world of animals and people, metaphorically introducing the ideas of good and evil, war and peace, ideals and life’s purpose in an insightful way. Aim and objectives. The purpose of the research is to analyze specific features of Russian and English versions of “Dế mèn phiêu lưu ký” by To Hoai. Material and methods. The research is based on 3 text sources: the Vietnamese original text of “Dế mèn phiêu lưu ký” by To Hoai, and its two versions: “Приключения кузнечика Мена” (transl. M. N. Tkachiov) and “Adventures of a Cricket” (transl. Dang Te Binh). The methods applied are general scientific (observation and description) and linguistic (text analysis, comparative analysis). Results and discussion. English and Russian versions of “Dế mèn phiêu lưu ký” may serve as an example of interdependence of the result of translation process and translator’s aims and objectives. Comparison of several aspects of the Russian and the English versions of the literary text (translation of proper names, description techniques, rendering of realia, transferring of folklore element) makes evident different translation techniques while translating the Vietnamese source text into the two languages. While the Russian interpreter emphasizes human features in animal characters and mainly amplifies description, having in mind younger audience, Dang Te Binh sticks to the Vietnamese original. One more distinctive feature widening the gap between the Russian and the English versions is visible intention of the Russian interpreter to emphasize Vietnamese flavor of the original text by deliberate foreignization of realia, preserving and even amplifying inserts of folk material. In this aspect, the English version, too, closely follows the Vietnamese text. Conclusion. Сomparative analysis of the two versions of To Hoai’s “Dế mèn phiêu lưu ký” shows two polar strategies of the Russian and the English interpreters. While Dang Te Binh’s version tends to stick to the source text and (in several utter cases) even simplifies it, the Russian interpreter chooses to amplify the Vietnamese text and underlines its ethnic affiliation.

Keywords: literary translation, fairytale, To Hoai, realia, proper names, description