VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF WORKPLACE CHINESE BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE CASE OF PUBLIC SIGNS

Abstract

With the deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Vietnam, workplace language in Vietnam has increasingly exhibited features of multilingualism and cross-cultural coexistence. Among these, Chinese public signs play an important role in safety management and communication. However, students majoring in Chinese often encounter difficulties in understanding and translating such texts due to limited vocabulary, cultural differences, and variations in pragmatic conventions. This study focuses on Chinese-major undergraduates at Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology (HUFLIT). Employing a mixed-methods approach that combines questionnaires and interviews, this study examines their translation strategies, attitudes, and difficulties in translating Chinese public signs into Vietnamese. The findings reveal that students predominantly rely on literal and free translation, while rarely employing domestication and politeness strategies, indicating a limited awareness of cross-cultural adaptation and tone adjustment. Although students generally acknowledge the importance of this competence for their academic development and future careers, their practical experience remains insufficient, highlighting a gap between awareness and actual practice. This study provides empirical evidence for the teaching of Chinese–Vietnamese translation and contributes to enhancing students’ translation competence as well as their cross-cultural communication skills.