In the world of culture and education, translation is a significant task for bringing outstanding literary works from one language to another. Below, we will explore some book titles that have been translated and how they were adapted to convey the spirit of the original works.
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People”: Dale Carnegie’s work has been translated as “Đắc nhân tâm” to create an easily understandable and relatable title in the Vietnamese language. Despite its concise wording, the Vietnamese title remains faithful to the original while ensuring that the essential principles of human relationships are clearly expressed.
2. When Breath Becomes Air”: Paul Kalanithi’s book marked profound reflections on life and death. The Vietnamese title “Khi hơi thở hóa thinh không” may describe death in a vague yet gentle manner, similar to the original work.
3. “For whom the bell tolls”: Ernest Hemingway’s English title has been translated into Vietnamese with a structure reversal: “Chuông nguyện hồn ai.” This translation helps readers understand the essence of the novel about war and death while creating parallel meanings and a sense of intimacy in both languages.
4. “Remains of the day”: This Vietnamese title captures the spirit of Kazuo Ishiguro’s original work, which explores the journey of an English butler through different landscapes during a post-service vacation. The Vietnamese title “Tàn ngày để lại” successfully reflects the nuanced colors of the work: deep thoughts about life and regrets of youth.
5. “Bungo Stray Dogs”: The Japanese title “Bungo Stray Dogs” has been translated into Vietnamese as “Văn hào lưu lạc.” This translation creates a spiritual parallel between the characters in the story and great historical figures in literary and cultural history, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of the work.
Translating famous book titles requires not only the ability to translate accurately but also to convey the spirit and meaning of the original work. This process is an essential task for bringing culture and knowledge from one language to another, making renowned literary works more accessible to readers worldwide.
Trương Anh Khoa
