In recent years, despite certain progress in bringing Vietnamese literature to international readers and vice versa, literary translation in Vietnam still faces many limitations and major challenges.
1. Limitations on Translators
In Vietnam, literary translation is often not a professional profession. Most translators are researchers, writers, and translators, and this is not often considered a main profession due to low royalties. The lack of economic motivation leads to a situation where the translator team is increasingly narrowing, and many people are not determined to stick with literary translation for a long time. In addition, the training of professional translators has not been focused on; most translators work based on personal passion and strengths without formal training. This poses a great challenge in building a team of translators with enough qualifications and passion to introduce Vietnamese literature to the world.
2. Sales Pressure on Literary Products
The quality of translated works in Vietnam also faces many problems due to pressure from the publishing market. Publishers often prioritize best-selling works, which appeal to readers’ psychology, leading to translations being done in a short time and not ensuring quality. Many translated works have errors in translation, do not understand the original content correctly, and have many errors in printing. This situation causes a difference between the original and the translation, reduces the literary value, and causes negative feelings for readers.
3. Lack of Professional Translator Training Program
One of the biggest barriers to the development of literary translation in Vietnam is the lack of a system to support and train professional translators. Literary translation requires not only language skills but also deep cultural knowledge and aesthetic perception. Currently, the attention to training and supporting young translators is limited, leading to a shortage of qualified translators to inherit and develop literary translation work.
Vietnam Should Establish a National Translation Institute
To overcome these challenges, Vietnam needs a specific and comprehensive literary translation development strategy. This includes establishing translation centers, cultural exchanges, training professional translators, and creating appropriate incentive policies to attract and retain translators. Promoting and translating Vietnamese literary to the world are also an important step to help raise the position of Vietnamese literature in the international arena.
