A Brief Study on translation of Myanmar and English Proverbs into French by Third Year BA French Students

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Jemima Gilbert
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1 A Brief Study on translation of Myanmar and English Proverbs into French by Third Year BA French Students May Thwe Htoon Abstract This paper is a comparative study. French translation and interpretation are taught to the third year BA students who are studying French at Yangon University of Foreign Languages. Myanmar proverbs and s are translated into French in Tutorial Classes. Their translations are compared with French Original Proverbs. These proverbs are studied comparatively with the original s. According to the study, some difficulties occur when Myanmar proverbs are translated to French. When s are translated to French, it can be translated accurately. These proverbs of English and French also have the same meaning. The research area is demarcated and it involves fifteen proverbs which are metaphorical expressions concerning animals. Introduction Every nation has its own proverbs, adages and usages. It is very difficult to translate these proverbs, adages and usages correctly to other languages. When translation concerning proverbs is made from Myanmar to French, English to French, French to Myanmar, and French to English some proverbs are easy to be translated but some proverbs are difficult. In this paper, a study is made on English and Myanmar proverbs, which are metaphorical expressions concerning animals. According to the outcome of translation, some proverbs can be translated as the same meaning of the original French, some translations are different from the meaning of the original French and some translations are entirely different from the meaning of the original French. This paper intends to inform the students that the differences occur due to the differences in culture, customs and metaphorical expressions among nations. Assistant Lecturer, Department of French, Yangon University of Foreign Languages

2 92 Aim and Objective This paper will help students know that some difficulties will occur in translation of proverbs from Myanmar to French and English to French. This paper will help the students to use correct usages without making mistakes in translation. This paper will help the students to know that as there are differences of nations, the proverbs and metaphorical expression will also be different among the nations. This paper will also help the students when translation is made into other languages. This paper will help students to achieve more vocabularies from English and French. Materials and Methods Some French, English and Myanmar proverbs are downloaded from internet. Some data are collected from translations which are made by the third year BA students in their tutorial class. In this paper, a study is made by studying the similarities and differences of translation of proverbs along with the original French. Descriptive method and comparative method are used in this paper. Finding The original Myanmar and s are translated directly into French by the students and these translations are studied in comparison with original s. In this paper, fifteen proverbs of Myanmar and French are extracted. These are metaphorical expressions concerning animal. Translation is made by third year BA students in tutorial class. A study is made on the similarities and differences that occur in translation. 1. Myanmar Proverbs in English : amumifr½sd MuGufx? (The cat gone, the mice dance.) (When the cat is away, the mice will dance/ play.) : When the cat away, the mice will play.

3 93 (1). Le chat parti, les souris dansent. (The cat gone, the mice dance.) (2). Quand le chat n est pas là, les souris dansent. (When the cat is not there, the mice dance.) (3). Absent le chat, les souris dansent. (The cat is absent, the mice dance.) (1). Quand / S il n y a pas de chat, les souris sont amusantes/ dansent. (When / If there is no cat, the mice are amusing/ dance.) (2). Les souris sont amusantes sans le chat. (The mice are amusing, the cat is absent.) Quand le chat est parti, les souris dansent. (When the cat away, the mice will play.) Result (1) Translation is acceptable when Myanmar and s are translated into French as original meaning and metaphorical expressions are the same among Myanmar, English and s. 2. Myanmar Proverbs in English : zm;edkifzm;pm;?ig;edkifig;pm;? (If the frog is greater the frog wins, if the fish is greater the fish wins.) : Big fish eat little fish. Les gros poisons mangent les petits. (The big fish eat the little fish.)

4 94 (1). Si la grenouille est grande, elle mangera des petits poissons et si le poisson est grand, il mangera des petites grenouilles. (If the frog is greater the frog will eat the little fish, if the fish is greater the fish will eat the frog.) (2). Si la grenouille gagne, elle mangera et si le poisson gagne, il mangera. (If the frog wins, the frog will eat and if the fish wins, the fish will eat.) Les gros poisons mangent les petits. (The big fish eat the little fish.) Result (2) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated. When s are translated into French, the original meanings do not change. 3. Myanmar Proverbs in English : a[mifvgef;aomacg; vlrav;? (Man is not afraid of the barking dog.) : (1). A barking dog does not bite. (2). Barking dogs seldom bite. Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.(barking dog doesn t bite.) (1). L homme n a pas peur du chien aboyé trop.(man is not afraid of the barking dog.) (2). La personne ne respecte pas le chien qui aboie trop. (Man does not respect a barking dog.) Chien qui aboie ne mord pas. (Barking dog doesn t bite.)

5 95 Result (3) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translation is made. When s are translated into French, the original meanings do not change. 4. Myanmar Proverbs in English : pdkifaoxuf? pdkif½sifudkrrufejy? (Don t want to have a live doe than a dead doe.) :(1). A bird in one hand is worth two in the bush. (2). A living dog is better than a dead lion. (1). Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l auras. (One of yours is better than two that you will have.) (2). Un chien vivant vaut mieux qu un lion mort. (A live dog is worth more than a dead lion.) (3). L alouette en main vaut mieux que l oie que vole. (The lark in the hand is better than the goose that flies.) Ne voudriez pas le cerf vivant plus que le cerf mort. (Don t want to have a live deer than a dead deer.) Un chien vivant vaut mieux qu un lion mort. (A living dog is better than a dead lion.) Result (4) The proverbs which have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated. When s are translated into French, the original meanings do not change.

6 96 5. Myanmar Proverbs in English : ESrf;wpfaphESifYqDrjzpfEdkif? (One sesame seed will not make oil.) : One swallow does not make a summer. Une hirondelle ne fait pas printemps. (A swallow does not make a summer.) Une seule graine de sésame ne fait pas de l huile. (One sesame seed does not make oil.) Une hirondelle ne fait pas printemps. (A swallow does not make a summer.) Result (5) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated. When s are translated into French, the original meanings do not change. 6. Myanmar Proverbs in English : udk,fhig;csof udk,fcsof? hi // (He praises the pickling of his own fish.) (Praise your own pickled fish.) : Every bird thinks his nest the finest. (1). A chaque oiseau son nid est beau. (Each bird his nest is beautiful.) (2). A tout oiseau son nid est beau. (All birds his nest is beautiful.)

7 97 (1). On pense qu on est le plus beau. (One thinks oneself the most beautiful.) (2). On pense qu on est le mieux. A chaque oiseau pense que son nid est le plus beau. (Every bird thinks his nest the finest.) Result (6) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated. When s are translated into French, the original meanings do not change. 7. Myanmar Proverbs in English : EGm;a½SY xgefusl;? (Harrow before the cow.) (The cow before the harrow) : Don t put the cart before the horse. (1). Il ne faut jamais mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.(one should never put the plow before the oxen.) (2). Mettre la charrue devant les bœufs.(put the plow before the oxen.) Mettre la charrue devant les bœufs. (Put the plow before the oxen.) Ne mettez pas la charrette avant le cheval. (Don t put the cart before the horse.) Result(7) The proverbs have the different meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are the same so when s are translated into French, the meaning is the same but metaphorical expressions are different, the translation is unacceptable.

8 98 8. Myanmar Proverbs in English : tvum;&onfhegm;?ogm;jzj rmunfhoifh? (Don t look at the teeth of the ox which is received as a gift.) : (1). Don t look a gift horse in the mouth. (2). Never look a gift horse in the mouth. (1). À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas la dent. (Don t look at the teeth of the horse received as a gift.) (2). À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas la bouche. (Don t look at the mouth of the horse received as a gift.) (3). À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas la bride. (One doesn t look at the reins of a horse given as a gift.) Il ne faut pas regarder des dents du bœuf gratuit. (One should not look at the teeth of gift ox.) Ne regardez pas le bouche à cheval donné. ( Don t look a gift horse in the mouth.) Result (8) Translation is correct when Myanmar and s are translated into French as original meaning and metaphorical expressions are the same among Myanmar, English and s. 9. Myanmar Proverbs in English : wpfaeywpfvh? yk*h b,fra½gy? (One day six feet where Bagan move to?) (One day one yard, Bagan cannot escape.) : Step by step one goes far.

9 99 (1). Petit à petit l oiseau fait son nid. (Little by little, the bird builds its nest.) (2). Rome ne s'est pas faite en un (seul) jour. (Rome wasn t built in a day.) (3). Pas à pas, on va très loin. (Step by step one goes far.) Un jour un mètre, Bagan ne s enfuit pas. (One day one yard, Bagan cannot escape.) Pas à pas, on va très loin. (Step by step one goes far.) Result (9) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated. When s are translated into French, the original meanings are the same and translation is acceptable. 10. Myanmar Proverbs in English :,kefr&cif? ohyk&m½sm? (Searching for a lime before he gets the hare.) :(1). Don t count your chickens before they re hatched. (GB) (2). Don t count your chickens before they hatch. (US) (3). Don t sell the bearskin until you have killed the bear.

10 100 Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l ours avant de l avoir tué. (You shouldn t sell the bearskin before killing the bear.) Avant d avoir le lapin, chercher le citron. (One should not search for a lemon before he gets the rabbit.) Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l ours avant de l avoir tué. (You shouldn t sell the bearskin before killing the bear.) (Don t sell the bearskin until you have killed the bear.) Result (10) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated. When s are translated into French, as the original meanings are the same, translation is acceptable. 11. Myanmar Proverbs in English : ESHjynfpkwf? tajrmufesifhcsdef? // ( Point the cannon at the tailor bird.) (Aim a cannon at a sunbird) : He takes a spear to kill a fly. (1). Ecraser une mouche avec un marteau pilon. (Crush a fly with a power hammer.) (2). Tuer une mouche avec un canon. (Kill a fly with cannon.) (3). Pointer un canon sur l oiseau - couturier. (Point the cannon at the tailor bird.)

11 101 (1). Pointer un canon sur l oiseau - couturier. (Point the cannon at the tailor bird.) (2). Qui vise un petit oiseau avec un canon. (One aims the cannon at the bird.) (3). Le canon vise au petit oiseau. (The cannon point at the small bird) On prend une lance pour tuer une mouche. (He takes a spear to kill a fly.) Result(11) The proverbs have the different meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are the same so the translation is acceptable when translated from Myanmar into French. When English proverbs are translated into French, as the meaning is the same but metaphorical expressions are different, the translation is unacceptable. 12. Myanmar Proverbs in English : usm;aoudk? toufrogif;ygesifh? (1). Don t make alive a dead tiger. (2). Don t wake up sleeping tiger. : Let sleeping dogs lie. (1). Ne réveillez pas le chat qui dort. (2). Il ne faut pas réveiller un chat qui dort. (Don t wake the sleeping cat.)

12 102 (1). Ne réveillez pas le tigre qui dort. (Don t wake up sleeping tiger.) (2). Ne touchez pas la ruche avec le bâton. (Don t poke a beehive with stick.) Laissez dormir le chien qui est couché. (Let sleeping dogs lie.) Result (12)When translated from Myanmar and s into French as the original meaning and usage among Myanmar, French and s are the same but metaphorical expressions are different, there a bit difference in meaning the original proverbs. 13. Myanmar Proverbs in English : wpfcgaozl;? ysofzdk;em;vnf? (Once you have known death, you come to know the price of a coffin.) : (1). Once bitten, twice shy. (2). A burnt child dreads the fire. Chat échaudé craint l eau froide. (Scalded cat fears cold water.) Mourir une fois, comprendre le prix du bois. (Once you have died, you know the price of wood.) L enfant brulé a peur du feu. (A burnt child is afraid of fire.) Result(13) Translation is entirely unacceptable when Myanmar and English proverbs are translated into French as original meanings are the same but metaphorical expressions are different. Incorrect translation occurs because of different usages. 14. Myanmar Proverbs in English : ig;&huespfaumifrzrf;esifh?

13 103 ( Don t catch two catfish at the same time.) : Don t try to do two things at once. Il ne faut jamais courir deux lièvres à la fois. (One should never run after two hares at the same time.) (Don t follow two rabbits at the same time.) Il ne faut jamais attraper les deux poissons à la fois. (Don t catch two catfish at the same time.) Il ne faut pas essayer de faire deux affaires à la fois. (Don t try to do two things at once.) Result(14) Translation is entirely incorrect when Myanmar and English proverbs are translated into French as original meanings are the same but metaphorical expressions are different. Incorrect translation occurs because of different usages. 15. Myanmar Proverbs in English : axmifjrif?&mpgefy? (Risk a hundred to reap a thousand.) : Give a little to get a lot. (1). Il faut savoir donner un œuf pour avoir un bœuf. (You have to know how to give an egg to get an ox.) (2). Donner un œuf pour avoir un bœuf. (Give an egg to get an ox.)

14 104 Si on voit mille, on donne cent. (Give a hundred to get a thousand.) Donner un peu pour avoir beaucoup. (Give a little to get a lot.) Result(15) Translation is entirely incorrect when Myanmar and English proverbs are translated into French as original meanings are the same but metaphorical expressions are different. Incorrect translation occurs because of different usages. Discussion and Conclusion According to finding, discussion and conclusion are as follows: (a) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are different so it is different from the original s when translated into Myanmar (1) Myanmar proverb : a[mifvgef;aomacg; vlrav;? (Man is not afraid of the barking dog.) : A barking dog does not bite. : Chien qui aboie ne mord pas. (Barking dog doesn t bite.) (2) Myanmar proverb : pdkifaoxuf? pdkif½sifudkrrufejy? (Don t want to have a live doe than a dead doe.) : A living dog is better than a dead lion. : Un chien vivant vaut mieux qu un lion mort. (A live dog is worth more than a dead lion.) (3) Myanmar proverb : ESrf;wpfaphESifhqDrjzpfEdkif?

15 105 (One sesame seed will not make oil.) : One swallow does not make a summer. : Une hirondelle ne fait pas printemps. (A swallow does not make a summer.) (4) Myanmar proverb : udk,fhig;csof?udk,fcsof? hi // (He praises the pickling of his own fish.) : Every bird thinks his nest the finest. : A chaque oiseau son nid est beau. (Each bird his nest is beautiful.) (5) Myanmar proverb : wpfaeywpfvh? yk*hb,fra½gy? (One day one yard, Bagan cannot escape.) : Step by step one goes far. : Petit à petit l oiseau fait son nid. (Little by little, the bird builds its nest. (6) Myanmar proverb :,kefr&cif? ohyk&m½sm? (Searching for a lime before he gets the hare.) : Don t sell the bearskin until you have killed the bear. : Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l ours avant de l avoir tué. (You shouldn t sell the bearskin before killing the bear.) (7) Myanmar proverb : wpfcgaozl;? ysofzdk;em;vnf?

16 106 (Once you have died you have to know how to lay out the corpse.) (Once you have known death, you come to know the price of a coffin.) : A burnt child dreads the fire. : Chat échaudé craint l eau froide.(scalded cat fears cold water.) (8) Myanmar proverb : axmifjrif?&mpgefy? (Risk a hundred to reap a thousand.) : Give a little to get a lot. : Il faut savoir donner un œuf pour avoir un bœuf. (You have to know how to give an egg to get an ox.) (b) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French and though the animals are different, metaphorical expressions are the same so it is close to the original French proverbs when translated into Myanmar (1) Myanmar proverb : zm;edkifzm;pm;?ig;edkifig;pm;? (If the frog is greater the frog wins, if the fish is greater the fish wins.) : Big fish eat little fish. : Les gros poisons mangent les petits. (The big fish eat the little fish.)

17 107 (2) Myanmar proverb : tvum;&onfhegm;? ogm;jzjrmunfhoifh? (Don t look at the teeth of the ox which is received as a gift.) : Don t look a gift horse in the mouth. : À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas la dent. (Don t look at the teeth of the horse received as a gift.) (3) Myanmar proverb : usm;aoudk? toufrogif;ygesifh? (Don t wake the sleeping tiger.) : Let sleeping dogs lie. :Ne réveillez pas le chat qui dort.(don t wake the sleeping cat.) (4) Myanmar proverb : ig;&huespfaumifrzrf;esifh? (Don t catch two catfish at the same time.) : Don t try to do two things at once. : Il ne faut jamais courir deux lièvres à la fois. (One should never run after two hares at the same time.) (Don t follow two rabbits at the same time.)

18 108 (c) The proverbs have the different meaning between Myanmar and French but metaphorical expressions are the same so they can be translated exactly the same as the original s. (1) Myanmar proverb : EGm;a½SYxGefusL;? (The cow before the harrow) (Put the plow before the oxen. : Don t put the cart before the horse. : Mettre la charrue devant les bœufs. (Put the plow before the oxen.) The proverb of French about The cow before the harrow and the proverb Put the plow before the oxen have the same metaphorical expression but the meaning is entirely different. In French it means someone does the latter work first inconsistently instead of doing former work first. But in Myanmar it means the unimportant person does the work in the place of the important person. (d) The proverbs have the same meaning between Myanmar and French and also the metaphorical expressions concerning animals are the same so they can be translated exactly the same as the original s. (1) Myanmar proverb : amumifr½sd MuGufx? (The cat gone, the mice dance.) : When the cat away, the mice will play. : Le chat parti, les souris dansent. (The cat gone, the mice dance.) (2) Myanmar proverb : ESHjynfpkwf? tajrsmufesifhcsdef? // (Point the cannon at the tailor bird.)

19 109 : He takes a spear to kill a fly. : Pointer un canon sur l oiseau - couturier. (Point the cannon at the tailor bird.) (e) Proverbs in English are translated into French and proverbs in Myanmar are translated into French. The comparison expression of translation is as follows: Subject matter Proverbs in Myanmar are translated into French Proverbs in English are translated into French The percentage of students which translated correctly The percentage of students which translated incorrectly 43% 57% 76% 24% (f) A Comparative study of translation from original s into French and Myanmar proverbs into French Subject matter Original Myanmar Proverbs are translated into French Original English proverbs are translated into French The translation which is the same as the original French proverbs The translation which is different from the original s 25% 75% 75% 25% According to observation of translation done by students, the weakness is found when proverbs in Myanmar are translated into French. This weakness occurs because of the differences of culture, customs,

20 110 geographical condition, and climate between Myanmar and French. Due to the differences of metaphorical expression, the mistake in usage and grammar will occur. When translated from the original proverbs of English into French, it is found that students can translate correctly because these two countries of English and French have intimate culture, customs, geographical condition and climate along with the same metaphorical expressions. In summary, the student will come to know that every nation has proverbs and adages, but the metaphorical expressions are different because there are differences of geographical and climatic condition among the nations. Proverbs and adages cannot be translated directly into different languages. It is crucial to know the culture and customs of original nation before translation is done. It is also essential to look for the same usage before translation is done. According to observation, it is crucial to know one s own culture and customs before translation is done. By knowing one s own culture and customs exactly, the translation will be precise when we translation a text from foreign languages to one s own mother language. Acknowledgement I am deeply grateful to Rector Dr. Lwin Lwin Soe, Pro-Rectors Dr. Myo Han and Dr. Tin Htwe of Yangon University of Foreign Languages. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my teachers, Part-time Professor Daw Mu Mu Nwe, Lecturer, Head of Department Daw Mi Mi Pyone, all my teachers and my colleagues from the Department of French, Yangon University of Foreign languages for their valuable advice, opinions and kind help and also to 3 rd year B.A French specialization Students. References Le Robert. (1989). Dictionnaire du Proverbes et Dictions. Paris: Le Robert. Pyin Nyar kyaw. (2009). Myanmar proverbs and Dictions. Ynagon : Unity Sarpay,. s and s Retrieved from Terebess Asia Online, Myanmar proverbs http: // people/ proverb.htm. Retrieved from

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