DECODING ENGLISH NAMES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN VIET NAM: UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSLATION PROCEDURES

Nguyen Viet Khoa1,
1 School of Foreign Languages, Hanoi University of Science & Technology

Main Article Content

Abstract


In today's era of the internationalization of higher education, the name of a higher education institution (HEI) plays a crucial role. This study investigates the Vietnamese and English names of 276 HEIs in Viet Nam that are authorized to offer university-level education or higher, and the translation procedures used to create their English names. The research applies both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyze data, statistically categorizing the translation procedures based on the category of HEI, academic subject area, and descriptors of personal and place names. By providing an overview of the English names of HEIs in Viet Nam, the study acknowledges efforts to translate them in accordance with international practices, but also exposes inconsistencies and inaccuracies in several name translation cases. It is recommended that education officials set more stringent criteria for approving institutional names. and that HEIs choose names that reflect both their identity and reputation while adhering to international norms.


Article Details

References

Anderson, J. M. (2007). texts: Strategies and challenges. In M. E. Placencia & C. García Sánchez (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of forensic linguistics (pp. 332-345). Routledge.
Chính phủ Việt Nam. (Vietnam Government) (2019). Nghị định số 99/2019/NĐ-CP quy định chi tiết và hướng dẫn thi hành một số điều của Luật sửa đổi, bổ sung một số điều của Luật Giáo dục đại học (Decree No. 99/2019/NĐ-CP on detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Higher Education). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=198740
Coillie, J. V. (2006). Character names in translation: A functional approach. In J. Van Coillie & W. P. Verschueren (Eds.), Children's literature in translation: Challenges and strategies. St. Jerome Publishing.
Crystal, D. (2004). The Cambridge encyclopedia of the English language. Cambridge University Press.
Dang, H. T. (2018). An analysis on translation procedures from Vietnamese to English for names of higher education institutions in Vietnam [Undergraduate Graduation Paper, VNU University of Languages and International Studies]. Repository. http://repository.vnu.edu.vn/handle/VNU_123/99827
GOV.UK. (2023). Check if your university or college can award a degree. https://www.gov.uk/check-university-award-degree
Hanaoka, O. (2002). Proper names in the media: Problems for translators/interpreters and L2 learners. Interpretation Studies: The Journal of the Japan Association for Interpretation Studies, 2, 28–42. https://doi.org/10.50837/istk.0203
Hermans, T. (1988). On translating proper names, with reference to De Witte and Max Havelaar. In M. J. Wintle (Ed.), Modern Dutch studies: Essays in honour of Professor Peter King on the occasion of his retirement. The Athlone Press.
Hough, C. (1994). Scotland: A concise history. Thames & Hudson.
Huddleston, R. (1988). English grammar: An outline. Cambridge University Press.
Klink, R. R. (2001). Brand names as drivers of brand equity. Journal of Advertising Research, 41(3), 49-58.
Le, H. T. (2022). An overview of didactic approaches to translation and implications to translator and interpreter education in Vietnam. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 38(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4802
Ministry of Education and Training. (2023). Danh sách các cơ sở giáo dục đại học [List of higher education institutions]. Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo. https://moet.gov.vn/cosogiaoduc/Pages/danh-sach.aspx
Newmark, P. (1988). A textbook of translation. Prentice Hall.
Newmark, P. (1993). Paragraphs on translation, on proper name translation. In M. Baker (Ed.), Approaches to translation (pp. 44-58). Routledge.
Nguyen, V. K. (2021). Challenges in translation of English phraseological units with onomastic constituents into Vietnamese equivalents. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 37(3), 60-78. https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4624
Nick, I. M. (1998). The personal names of the Isle of Man: A linguistic survey. Edwin Mellen Press.
Nyangeri, N. A., & Wangari, R. (2019). Proper names in translation: Should they be translated or not? Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies, 5(3-4), 347-365. https://doi.org/10.1080/23277408.2019.1680914
Office for Students. (2023, Jan 29). Degree awarding powers: Orders made by the OfS. https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/the-register/degree-awarding-powers-orders-made-by-the-ofs/
Pym, A. (2004). The moving text: Localization, translation, and distribution. John Benjamins.
Quốc hội Việt Nam. (Vietnam National Assembly) (2018). Luật sửa đổi, bổ sung một số điều của Luật Giáo dục đại học (Law No. 34/2018/QH14 on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Higher Education). https://vbpl.vn/bogiaoducdaotao/Pages/vbpq-van-ban-goc.aspx?ItemID=137459
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. (2018). The right to award UK degrees. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/guidance/the-right-to-award-degrees-18.pdf?sfvrsn=4a2f781_14
Xu, L. (2005). Translating proper names: A case study in English-Chinese translation. Babel, 51(3), 223-237.
The grammar of names. Oxford University Press.
Calderón, Á. G., & López, P. I. (2019). Translating proper names in legal