MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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FINAL EXAM

TOPIC: Applying House's model to evaluate the translation

quality of "DaVinci code"

Student’s name : Phạm Hoàng Nguyên

Student’s ID : 10543
Supervisor’s name: Prof. Tô Minh Thanh

Ho Chi Minh City, December, 2022

 Introduction
• Rationale for the study
The translation appeared long ago and split into many different fields, especially literary
translation. With the growing trend, the translation industry tends to develop more, but it still
leads to long-term controversies. There have been many scholars who have proposed many
theories as well as methods of approaching them to be able to determine what is a good
translation and meet the essential requirements of literary translation.
As we all know, there are many translations of foreign literary works in Vietnam, but there are
still controversies about which is a good translation. And research on how to help improve these
translations will partly help Vietnamese translators and readers alike to enhance the quality of
literary translations.
There have been many models and theories put forward to be able to evaluate what is a quality
translation. Typically Julian house's model has been widely accepted and popularized. Although
there are still many limitations in theory, in general, because Julian House's model is written
based on Halliday's theory of functional grammar, its applicability is perfect.
And for this research, I would like to choose a translation from the novel "Davinci code,"
translated by translator Do Thu Ha. This is a work about the conspiracy of a Catholic church to
hide concealing the truth about Jesus. After the novel was published, it caused curiosity all over
the world about Catholicism. For Vietnam, there was also a controversy about the translation of
the novel, which was rejected and criticized a lot. I will select chapters 1, 2, and 3 in the
translation to do my research.

• Aims of the study

The objective of this study is to use Julian House's model in assessing the translation quality of
the novel "Davinci code." More specifically, to analyze the original work and the translation to
find asymmetry between the two parties and conclude the quality of the translation. And to
achieve this, I would like to ask two research questions:
• How good is House's model in translation quality assessment?
• What should be done to improve translation quality?
• Scope of the study
Since it is impossible to analyze the whole novel, so I use chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the novel to
analyze. These chapters talk about evidence and events in the novel, opening the way for
 thrilling mysteries to be discovered later.
• Research methods
This study is conducted by applying House's model in surveying the translation quality of
chapters 1, 2, and 3 in the novel based on pragmatic theory. And to do the analysis, I used
qualitative analysis to study each text individually. Along with that, ST and TT analysis aims to
find the inconsistency between the two texts to assess the translation quality.

Literature Review
• Literacy translation
1.1 Definition
However, there is also an opinion that literary translation is like art. Still, Landers (2011) states
this art must include an equivalence aspect between the original text and the target text. The
translated product must also be continued and recognized as literature as the original text in the
target culture.
1.2 Difficulties
Each language has a different description, structure, and grammar rules, so this is a challenge
for translators involved in literary translation. Literary translation is complex in that we have to
copy almost all the content of the original text into the target text. Still, it must be suitable for
the original text's culture, and the translator must show the translation style of the translator in
the target text.
According to Nord (1997), a translator will have difficulty if he lacks any skills for translation,
such as culture, language, etc., and no matter how good he is, he will encounter specific
challenges in translation. That's why he gave four challenges that translators face, including
• Stylistic translation
• Cultural translation
• Text specific translation
• Linguistic translation

1.3 Translation quality assessment

Evaluation of translation quality plays a particular role in linguistics because, according to
Newmark (1995), the field of translation quality assessment (TQA) demonstrates the
practicality of translation theory and serves as the basis for linguistic comparison. To reinforce
this point of view, Newmark (1995) added that translation quality assessment helps translators
improve their skills in literary translation.
1.4 Translation quality assessment model
1.4.1 Koller’s model
Koller's TQA model proceeds through three steps:
• Considering the original text's transliteration, evaluate whether the source text can
translate into the target language. If it is possible to translate, it should be translated in
the most equivalent way, and if it is not possible, the original text must be preserved and
not be translated in any form.
• Decompile from the target text to the source text to evaluate the content equivalence of
both languages.
• Collect evaluations from native speakers of the target language when they read the
work that has been translated into the target language, the translation should please the
readers in the target language, and they should be able to read it without any language
barrier
=>>In my opinion, despite this model's strengths, in general, the approach of this model
in assessing translation quality does not have a specific approach. It lacks assessment
criteria for a text to be translatable. It is because of these shortcomings that Koller's
model does not seem to be applicable in practice.

1.4.2 Nida’s model

Nida's TQA model proceeds through 3 criteria:
• General efficiency of the communication process;
• Comprehension of intent;
• Equivalence of response.
=>> However, in my opinion, this model needs to be explained in more detail regarding
behavioral criteria and actual testing to check its effectiveness.

1.4.3 Newmark’s model

For Newmark, TQA is essential to improving translation ability and expanding the translator's
knowledge. And according to Newmark, his TQA model is implemented through 5 steps:
• Step 1. Briefly analyze the translation and evaluate the criteria and its meaning and
functions.
 • Step 2. Explain the purpose and function of the SL, the style the translator used, and the
number of readers reading the text.
• Step 3. Selectively compare the original and the translation
• Step 4. Evaluate translations from the perspective of translators and critics.
• Step 5. Assess the place of translation in the culture of TT

1.4.4 House’s model

And especially with House's TQA model. This model emphasizes the equivalence of the theory
of pragmatics and semantics, and ST and TT must be functionally equivalent to each other.
To put it more precisely, every ST and TT must be placed in a situation that can be identified
explicitly by the translator. Because if there is a difference between ST and TT in terms of
function, there will be problems of imbalance and equivalence between the two documents,
leading to poor translation quality.
House’s model is also divided into 2 periods:
• Original model
House's TQA model is created based on the theory of pragmatic linguistics. In this
model, ST and TT will be analyzed in detail in terms of language - situation, then
evaluate the degree of compatibility of both ST and TT.
This model requires functional equivalence between ST and TT, and to do so requires a
separate analysis for each document to establish the corresponding text function. This
will lead to binding the purpose of analysis to the text, and this has been divided into
many aspects by House through the following model:

Dimensions of Language User Dimensions of Language Use

• Geographical Origin • Medium: simple/complex
• Social Class • Participation: simple/complex
• Time • Social Role Relationship
• Social Attitude
• Province
Figure1: House’s model (1997)

The primary purpose of this model is to analyze and find situations where text in both
ST and TT is transformed into aspects syntactically, lexically, and textually to specific
situational dimensions. So that it can form a configuration of the text, and from here, we
 can use ST as a criterion to evaluate TT.

And it is accompanied by identifying incompatibilities in terms of content as well as

functions of both ST and TT, and House describes these incompatibilities:
• Covertly errors occur when both ST and TT are incompatible with each other
in one aspect of the situation.
• Overtly errors occur when the text violates the target language system rules
and the language usage standards.

• New Model
Julian House has received a lot of mixed opinions and criticism because of the old
model. That is why Julian House improved his model in 1997. According to many other
scholars, the controversial point in House's model is the overlap of data when analyzing
text.
And to improve on this in the new model, House has added a "Genre" section to make
the analysis more comprehensive. And according to House (1997), "Genre" is a derived
category of the text as well as the function and purpose of the text. In addition, House
also stated that "Genre" is the bridge between Register and Function. And the
application of House's new model in TQA allows reviewers to evaluate the text at more
granular levels:
• Functions,
• Register,
• Language.
 Figure 2: House’s model (1997)

=>> In summary, with the new model, Julian House added "Genre" to be able to determine the origin
of the text as well as the purpose and function of the text. House also built its model through Haliday's
theory by using Field, Mode, and Tenor as the foundation, making House's TQA model easier to apply.

• Conclusion
In summary, in my opinion, all four models have their strengths, but the three models of Nida,
Koller, and Newmark all have certain limitations. Most of the tests about the practicality of all
three models cannot give good results. In my shallow view, all three models face limitations in
terms of use (specifically, confusing) and lack of reference to ST.
• As for Koller's model, although he has given the development of a more
comprehensive, linguistic TQA model, the concepts that Koller put forward are only
general in meaning and not any specific details.
 • As for the evaluation criteria of Newmark, although detailed and easy to understand, the
re-evaluation must depend on the translator's experience, so Newmark's model will be
easy for translators with whole experience but challenging for young translators.
• But unlike these models, House's TQA Model is based on pragmatics and semantics, so
it is suitable for all advanced language learners and young and old translators.
Therefore, House's model has become more popular and practical in assessing
translation quality.

Result and discussion

Since this is a controversial translated work, I will provide an analysis and recommendations for a
better translation.
• Covertly errors
Medium:
ST TT
Chapter 1 • Robert Langdon • Robert Langdon từ từ tỉnh giấc. The noun phrase "a plu
awoke slowly. A Điện thoại reo trong bóng tối tiếng into a subordinate claus
telephone was ringing chuông leng keng nghe lạ lẫm. author's change to clari
in the darkness a Ông dò dẫm tìm ngọn đèn cạnh
then, in the second text
tinny, unfamiliar ring. giường và bật lên. Nheo mắt nhìn
He fumbled for the xung quanh ông nhận thấy đó là make the sentence mor
bedside lamp and một phòng ngủ thời Phục Hưng
turned it on. sang trọng với đồ đạc theo phong
Squinting at his cách thời Louis XVI với những
surroundings he saw a tranh vẽ thẳng lên tường, và một
plush Renaissance chiếc giường gỗ gụ đồ sộ bốn cột.
bedroom with Louis • Mình đang ở chỗ quái quỷ nào thế
XVI furniture, này? Chiếc áo tắm mắc trên cột
hand-frescoed walls, giường mang dòng chữ: Hotel Ritz
and a colossal Paris. Màn sương tan dần.
mahogany four-poster Langdon nhấc ống nghe trả lời:
bed. "Hello?". "Ông Langdon phải
không ạ?", một giọng đàn ông
• Where the hell am I? vang lên. "Tôi hy vọng là không
The jacquard đánh thức ông chứ ạ?".
bathrobe hanging on
his bedpost bore the
monogram: Hotel
Ritz Paris Slowly, the
fog began to lift.
Langdon picked up
 the receiver. “Hello?”
“Monsieur Langdon?”
a man’s voice said. “I
hope I have not
awoken you?”

Social role

ST TT Analyze Recom
chapter 3 “Did you mount her?” “Ông đã từng trèo lên trên In the above text, we can see a little From
the agent asked, ấy chưa?” Viên cảnh sát bit of cultural difference between ST House
looking over. hỏi, liếc nhìn. Langdon and TT. For ST, the author wanted to into "c
Langdon glanced up, ngước lên, chắc chắn ông ấy show respect and love for the Eiffel the tex
certain he had đã hiểu lầm. “Tôi mong Tower, so ST used "her" and "she." to mee
misunderstood. “I beg nhận được sự thứ lỗi ông.” But in Vietnam, we didn't have that text fu
your pardon?” “She is “Cái tháp thật đáng yêu, sentiment, so when translated into reader
lovely, no?” The không phải sao?” TT, the translator used "trên ấy, trên native
agent motioned Viên cảnh sát ra hiệu qua đó, cái tháp, nó." So the meaning of
through the cánh cửa chớp về phía tháp ST has not been preserved.
windshield toward the Eiffel, “Ông đã từng trèo
Eiffel Tower. “Have lên trên đó chưa?” Langdon
you mounted her?” đảo mắt: “Chưa, tôi chưa
Langdon rolled his từng trèo lên tháp.” “đó là
eyes. “No, I haven’t biểu tượng của nước Pháp,
climbed the tower.” tôi nghĩ nó thật hoàn hảo.”

“She is the symbol of

France. I think she is
perfect.”

Social attitude

ST TT Analyze
Chapter 3 • As they entered the deserted • Khi vào trong công viên • In segment 1 a
park, the agent reached under trống vắng, viên cảnh sát 2, TT violated
the dash and turned off the với tay xuống dưới bảng rules of style w
blaring siren. Langdon điều khiển, tắt cái còi adding many r
exhaled, savoring the sudden đang rú ầm ĩ. Langdon words to incre
quiet. Outside the car, the thở phào, thưởng thức sự the closeness a
pale wash of halogen im lặng đột ngột. Bên create a more
headlights skimmed over the ngoài chiếc xe, ánh sáng natural story th
crushed gravel parkway, the nhạt của những ngọn đèn helps Vietnam
 rugged whir of the tires pha halôgien lướt trên readers feel
intoning a hypnotic rhythm. con đường rải sỏi vụn, comfortable
Langdon had always tiếng lốp xe nghiến lạo reading.
considered the Tuileries to be xạo thành một nhịp ru • However, in
sacred ground. ngủ. Langdon luôn coi segments 3 an
• “I saw the photo,” Langdon khu vườn này như một the translator
said. “Your agent said nơi linh thiêng. omits specific
Jacques Sauniere himself • "Tôi đã xem tấm ảnh", texts, thus lead
did” “Mr. Langdon,” Fache’s Langdon nói. "Nhân viên to the TT
ebony eyes locked on. “What của ông nói rằng Jacques becoming less
you see in the photo is only Saunière đã làm việc precise than th
the beginning of what đó…". ST and unable
Sauniere did.” "Ông Langdon", đôi mắt describe what
• My French stinks, Langdon đen như gỗ mun của ST wants to
thought, but my zodiac Fache lóe lên, ông ta convey.
iconography is pretty good . ngắt lời langdon "Điều
Taurus was always the bull. ông nhìn thấy trong ảnh
Astrology was a symbolic chỉ là khởi đầu của
constant all over the world. những gì ông Saunière
• Langdon strode to the main đã làm".
entrance an enormous • “Tiếng Pháp của tôi rất
revolving door. tệ, Langdon nghĩ, nhưng
hiểu biết về các cung
hoàng đạo của tôi thì rất
tốt".
• Langdon đi thẳng đến lối
vào chính, một cánh cửa
khổng lồ

Province
In addition, the translator has made a few more mistakes, such as the lexical means about humans in the
chapter 1 section has not been maintained as in the ST, and so this has led to the impact on the
"Province" of ST:
 ST TT Re
Sitting up now, Langdon frowned at his Khi đã ngồi dậy, Langdon cau mày nhìn cuốn Hãy ngủ như một
bedside Guest Relations Handbook, whose sổ tay liên hệ khách hàng được ghi những lời say giấc nồng ở kh
cover boasted: Sleep Like a Baby in the City hoa mỹ: Hãy ngủ như một đứa trẻ tại kinh đô
of Lights. Slumber at the Paris Ritz ánh sáng. Hãy thiếp ngủ ở khách sạn Paris
Ritz

In terms of syntactic means, ST used the simple past, which is suitable for a novel with a narrative
form, but when switching to TT, due to the characteristics of Vietnamese, words indicating the simple
past in ST won't translate. Some sentences will use the word "đã" instead.
Ex:
ST TT
His books on religious paintings and cult symbology had made him a Các cuốn sách của ông về tranh tôn giáo v
reluctant celebrity in the art world ông nổi danh trong giới nghệ thuật khiến m
công nhận ông

• Overtly errors
In addition to not achieving the necessary equivalence for ST, TT also violates the rules of the
target language system, in particular, is grammatically incorrect:

ST TT Mistake
“‘This symbol here, and the way his body “Biểu tượng ở đây và cách đặt thi Passive voice
is so oddly...’ ‘Positioned?’ the agent thể ông ấy thật kỳ lạ
offered.” ‘vị trí’? viên cảnh sát hỏi?”

In addition, there are some cases where translation makes sentences forced or literal, making TT
 a bit "raw."

ST TT Mistake
“Boston Magazine clearly has a gift for “tạp chí Boston rõ ràng đã có “Gift”
fiction.” một món quà bịa đặt”

In addition, TT also made a mistake in word choice, causing TT to deviate from the original
meaning when compared to ST.

ST TT Mistake
“As they entered the deserted park, the “khi họ vào trong công viên bị bỏ the deserted park
agent reached under the dash and turned hoang, viên cảnh sát phóng
off the blaring siren.” nhanh rồi đột ngột dừng lại tắt
cái còi kêu ầm ĩ”

Statement of quality
From the above data and apply House's TQA model. The translation errors appear. Most of the
errors come from two main errors, "covertly" and "overtly."
For the "Covertly" error, it is adding richer words than ST increases the naturalness and
closeness of TT. Next, in terms of "Social role," translating words like "her" or "she" into "nó,"
"trên đấy" loses the artistry of the pronoun as well as the purpose of the text. That is to express
ST's affection for Eiffel Tower.
Moreover, the omission of details in the ST causes the TT to lose meaning. Although this does
not affect the pragmatic definition much, this does lose the interpersonal function in the text.
For the "overtly" error, in TT, there were grammatical errors, wrong word choice, incorrect
translation, and excessive literal translation, making the sentence look rough. And, of course,
when the ST is translated into TT, which is seen through the "cultural filter" of House (2001),
the ST's unique qualities and cultural core are barely conveyed to the TT.
In short, when applying House's TQA model, the translation errors of the "DaVinci coder" work
appeared very clearly. And this seems to be the result of sloppy compilation. These are just the
errors I found in the first three chapters of the work, and in the later chapters, there will
probably still be severe countless translation errors. Therefore, TT with poor quality has
 reduced the rate and impression of ST when approaching readers.

Conclusion
• Recapitulation
Because the translation of the novel "Davinci code" has received a lot of criticism, I carried out
this study intending to explore the quality of translation based on House's TQA model and also
consider how good House's model is at translation quality assessment.
This study used the qualitative method and answered two questions posed previously through
ST and TT analysis in a "Result and Discussion" part. Along with that is to compare the
difference between ST and TT to find out the errors about "Covertly" and "Overtly." And
finally, TT did not meet the expectations nor convey the meaning, purpose, and function of the
text from ST.
• Limitations of the study
As I mentioned in the introduction, because of some limitations, the research, and application of
House's model to assess translation quality only stop at the first three chapters of the novel
"Davinci code." In addition, House's TQA model is still not considered perfect because there
are still some shortcomings, so all the core of ST when translating to TT may not be fully
considered.
• Recommendation
Although the first three chapters alone cannot tell the quality of a translated product, here are
some of my suggestions. I will suggest ideas for a better translation from the data obtained in
the first three chapters of the work. From that, we can preserve the realism of a novel such as
"The Davinci code," especially its symbolic and stylistic meaning. That is, the translator should
be faithful to the text function of the ST and be more subtle in the selection of words to
translate.

References
1. House, J. (1997). Translation Quality Assessment: A Model Revisited. Gunter Narr,
Tubingen.
2. House, J., (2001). Translation Quality Assessment: Linguistic Description versus Social
Evaluation”, Translators’' Journal,