4A06 Tran Thi Thu Trang a Contrastive Analysis of the English Causative Structure With Have and Get...

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The English Causative Structure with Have and Get 1

A Contrastive Analysis of the English Causative Structure

with Have and Get and Its Translation Equivalence in

Vietnamese

Tran Thi Thu Trang

Class 4A - English Department

HCMC University of Education

Supervisor: Dr Nguyen Ngoc Vu

December 27th, 2009


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Table of Contents

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................2

Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3

The Causative stucture in English ..........................................................................3

Definitions ............................................................................................................3

The Form of the Causative Structure with Have and Get .............................. 3

The Meaning of the Causative Structure with Have and Get .........................4

THE vietnamese translation equivalence of the English causative structure ........4

Usage 1: Tell or Arrange for Somebody to Do Something for You .....................5

Usage 2: Cause Something To Be Done to You by Someone Else ...................7

Usage 3: Suffer the Effects of What Somebody Else Does to You ....................9

Discussion ............................................................................................................. 11

Implications in Language Teaching ...................................................................... 12

Usage Problems ............................................................................................... 12

Translation Problems ........................................................................................ 12

Vietnamese into English................................................................................ 13

English into Vietnamese ................................................................................ 13

Usage Solutions ................................................................................................ 13

Translation Solutions ......................................................................................... 13


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conclusion ............................................................................................................. 14

INTRODUCTION

Have and get are among the most frequently used verbs that ESL learners

are introduced to since the very beginning of their study. However, these two verbs are

really confusing because they appear in various structures in which they take on

different meanings. One of the structures that learners usually make mistakes in their

translation is the causative structure with have and get. In this essay, I will explore

the different meanings of these two causative verbs in English and their translation

equivalence in Vietnamese. The final parts of this paper are attributed to the discussion

and implications in language teaching.

THE CAUSATIVE STUCTURE IN ENGLISH

Definitions

The causative is a common structure in English. It is used when one thing or

person causes another thing or person to do something (Causatives,1999).

A causative verb is a verb that denotes causing something to happen. According

to Haines and Stewart (2000), it refers to actions which a person arranges for someone

else to do rather than doing themselves (p. 136). In English, a wide variety of verbs can

be listed as causative, some of which are have, get, make, let (McArthur, 1998).

However, in this paper, only the two most popular causative verbs have and get are

referred to.

The Form of the Causative Structure with Have and Get


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There are two basic causative structures. One is like an active, and the other is

like a passive (Causatives,1999). The form of these structures is shown in table

below.

Table 1

The Form of the Causative Structure with Have and Get

ACTIVE PASSIVE

HAVE S + HAVE + Agent + bare inf. S + HAVE + Object + past participle

GET S + GET + Agent + to inf. S + GET + Object + past participleHave and get are sometimes interchangeable although get is usually more

informal (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 136).

The Meaning of the Causative Structure with Have and Get

Basically, the causative structure with Have and Get is used to express the

following meanings:

1. Tell or arrange for somebody to do something for you

2. Cause something to be done to you by someone else

3. Suffer the effects of what somebody else does to you (Hornby, 2005)

THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION EQUIVALENCE OF THE ENGLISH

CAUSATIVE STRUCTURE

When the two languages are compared, it can be seen that the causative

structure in English has no semantic equivalence in Vietnamese; therefore, this paper

will hereafter focus on the Vietnamese translation equivalence of the causative structure

in English.


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In Vietnamese, have and get are usually translated as c meaning own or

possess something. However, this translation sounds very unnatural and is incapable

of expressing the meaning of having something done (you do not perform the action

yourself).

Now let us look back at the usage of causative in comparison with the

Vietnamese equivalence. In each usage, the translation for the usage will be worked on

first; then, this translation for the causative structure will be applied in the word-for-word

translation for each example followed by a translation equivalence (if any). Some brief

note on the differences of the two translations will also be given and finally is the

discussion based on all the examples in one usage.

Usage 1: Tell or Arrange for Somebody to Do Something for You

Meaning: Bo / ku hay thu xp / sp xp cho ai lm mt vic cho bn

In usage 1, the verbs that appear to be suitable for translation are bo, ku,

thu xporsp xp. Now we will look more closely at some examples.

(1) We had the carpenter fix our window (Causatives, 1999)

(Chng ti ku th mc sa ca s.)

Chng ti ku th mc n sa ca s.

The sentence will sound more natural if we add the word n although it is not

present in the original sentence. However, the two sentences are both meaningful and

quite similar in their meaning.

(2) She got him to dig away the snow (Thomson & Martinet, 1986, p. 122).

(C y ku/bo anh ta co ht tuyt.)

C y ku/nh anh ta co ht tuyt.


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(3) Susan had her brother do her homework (Causatives, 1999).

(Susan ku anh/em trai lm bi tp v nh.)

Susan nh anh/em trai lm gip bi tp v nh.

While the word-for-word translation sounds rather like a request or an order, the

translation equivalence carries the meaning of asking for help which corresponds to

what is really meant in the original sentence.

(4) The police had the suspect stop his car (Causatives, 1999).

(Cnh st bo nghi phm dng xe.)

Cnh st yu cu nghi phm dng xe.The first translation is meaningful and natural enough but it misses the meaning

of forcing somebody to do something as understood in this context.

(5) How can parents get their children to read more? (Let/Make/Have/Get, n.d)

(Lm th no cha m bo con ci c thm?)

Lm th no cha m khuyn khch con ci c thm?

(6) The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking

(Let/Make/Have/Get, n.d).

(Cc chng trnh qung co ca nh nc ang bo/ku mi ngi ngng ht

thuc.)

Cc chng trnh qung co ca nh nc ang ku gi mi ngi ngng ht

thuc.

In examples 5 and 6, the causative verb get does not merely mean to tell or

arrange for somebody to do something, but it somewhat conveys the meaning of

encouraging or convincing somebody to do something. Therefore, verbs like bo or


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ku should not be used. Instead, the causative verb should be translated as khuyn

khch, ku gi, or maybe thuyt phc.

As we can see from the examples above, thu xp or sp xp are hardly used.

In examples (1) and (2) in which the topic is on services that people pay for, kuor

boas in the translation for the usage are quite suitable verbs to be used for the

causative structure. However, in other cases, how to translate the causative structure

depends very much on the context of the saying. Nh, yu cu, khuyn khch, ku gi

are among the most appropriate ways to make the translation equivalence in

Vietnamese. Sometimes the naturalness of the translation should also be considered as

in example (1) n is added although this element cannot be found in the original text.

Usage 2: Cause Something To Be Done to You by Someone Else

Meaning: Lm cho mt vic g c thc hin cho bn bi mt ngi khc

In this usage, the word-for-word translation sounds fairly foreign and confusing. A

Vietnamese can hardly figure out what is meant by this definition; therefore, proper

translation must be context-based.

(7) I have my hair cut every six weeks (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 137).

(Ti lm cho tc c ct mi su tun)

Ti ct tc mi su tun.

(8) Shes had her ears pierced (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 137).

(C y mi lm cho l tai c x l)

C y mi x l tai.

(9) You can have your photographs developed here (Haines & Stewart, 2000,

p. 137).


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(Bn c th lm cho hnh ra ti y)

Bn c th ra hnh ti y.

(10) Anthony had a tattoo done on his left arm (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p.

137).

(Anthony c hnh xm c lm trn cnh tay tri)

Anthony xm hnh trn cnh tay tri.

The causative verbs are not translated, only the past participle verbs appear in

the translation equivalence. Consequently, the passive meaning is not clearly

expressed in Vietnamese. Although the translation sounds active rather than passive,

Vietnamese can absolutely understand that the action is not done by the subject but by

another person. However, admittedly, this active translation is confusing in meaning;

therefore, when the Vietnamese want to emphasize the passive meaning (the action is

done by someone else), they may use some extra words like i (go), or em

i/n (bring/take something to) or change back to the structure cho/ ku ngi

(have somebody do something or get somebody to do something). Look back at the

examples above:

(7) Ti i ct tc mi su tun.

(8) C y mi i x l tai.

(9) Bn c th em hnh n ra ti y.

We now consider the following examples:

(11) I always used to repair the car myself, by these days I have it repaired at

the local garage (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 136).


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(Lc trc ti thng hay t sa xe, nhng gn y ti hay lm xe c sa

ga-ra a phng.)

Lc trc ti thng hay t sa xe, nhng gn y ti hay em xe i sa ga-

ra gn nh.

(12) Were going to get the house painted its too much for us to do ourselves

(Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 136).

(Chng ti sp lm ngi nh c sn - vic qu nhiu chng ti t lm.)

Chng ti sp cho ngi n sn nh chng ti khng t lm ni.

To sum up, for this usage, the causative verb can be ignored as illustrated in

examples (7) to (10), or we can emphasize the passive meaning by adding some extra

words like i (go), or em i/n (bring/take something to) as in (11) or

change back to the structure cho/ ku ngi (have somebody do something or get

somebody to do something) as in (12).

Usage 3: Suffer the Effects of What Somebody Else Does to You

Meaning: Chu tc ng ca vic ngi khc gy ra cho bn

The causative structure in this case is used to refer to events like accidents or

disasters which happen to someone but which are outside their control.

(13) Hugh had his car stolen last weekend (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 137).

(Cui tun ri, Hugh c xe b mt)

Cui tun ri Hugh b mt xe.

(14) He had his telephone disconnected because he didnt pay his bill (Haines

& Stewart, 2000, p. 137).


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(Anh y chu tc ng ca vic in thoi b ngt/ct do anh y khng tr tin

ha n.)

Anh y b ngt/ct in thoi do anh y khng tr tin ha n .

(15) We had our roof torn off in the storm (Haines & Stewart, 2000, p. 137).

(Chng ti chu tc ng ca vic mi nh b tc trong cn bo.)

Chng ti b tc mi nh trong cn bo.

(16) George had his nose broken in a fight (Murphy, 1994, p. 90).

(George c mi ca anh y b gy trong mt ln nh nhau.)

George b gy mi trong mt ln nh nhau.Of course, this structure does not mean the subject arranges for somebody to

steal the car (13), disconnect the telephone (14), tear off the roof (15) or break his nose

(16) but in these cases, the causative structure is like a passive. This passive meaning

is clearly expressed through the presence of the word b in all the examples.

However, the subject in the original English sentence does not necessarily the

subject in the Vietnamese translation.

(17) The cat had her tail singed through sitting too near the fire (Thomson &

Martinet, 1986, p. 122).

(Con mo c ci ui b chy do ngi qu gn ng la.)

Con mo b chy ui do ngi qu gn ng la.

ui con mo b chy do n ngi qu gn ng la.

Similarly, this subject change can also be applied in the previous examples:

(14) in thoi b ngt do anh y khng tr tin ha n.

(16) Mi ca George b gy trong mt ln nh nhau.


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All in all, the meaning of suffer is signified by the element b in all Vietnamese

equivalence. Sometimes a subject change can occur: the object in the original sentence

turns to be the subject in the Vietnamese translation.

DISCUSSION

The causative structure in English has no semantic equivalence in Vietnamese.

Many different lexical items can be used to make Vietnamese translation equivalence

but there is no fixed verb or word that can be used as a causative verb like the case in

English.

The question How to translate the causative structure? cannot be answered in a

single sentence. In order to make proper translation, we should take into consideration

the two factors: usage and context. Given a causative structure, we should first identify

which usage (among the three ones listed above) the sentence falls into and at the

same time pay attention to its context. Failure to consider these two factors may lead to

translation that may be totally wrong or foreign sounding.

As for the usage, if it belongs to the first usage tell or arrange for somebody to

do something for you, some suggested ways to translate causative verbs are ku,

boor nh, yu cu, khuyn khch, ku gi.

If it falls into the second usage cause something to be done to you by someone

else, the causative verb can be ignored as or in order to emphasize the passive

meaning we can add some extra words like i (go), or em i/n (bring/take

something to) or change back to the structure cho/ ku ngi (have somebody

do something or get somebody to do something).


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In the last usage suffer the effects of what somebody else does to you, b

are used to express the misfortune that happened to the subject. One special thing to

remember is that the subject in the original English sentence does not necessarily the

subject in the Vietnamese translation. Sometimes it sounds even better if we change

the object of the English sentence into the subject of the Vietnamese translation.

As for the context, since life changes and is full of unexpected situations that no

one can foretell, there is no fixed formula to rely on not only when working with

causative structures but in the translation work as a whole. Only a correct and full

understanding of the context can help to make good translation. However, interpretation

of one specific circumstance varies from person to person, so here only personal gut

can help individuals to make their own best translation.

IMPLICATIONS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Causative structures are very popular and frequently used in English; however, it

is quite unfamiliar with Vietnamese students. Vietnamese has no equivalent structure

meaning that you do not perform the action yourself. As a result, students, if not taught

about this carefully, usually face the following problems:

Usage Problems

Students may not understand the usage of the causative structure or they may

understand it when seeing it in books but they cannot use it effectively in their speaking

or writing.

Translation Problems


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Vietnamese into English.

Vietnamese students tend to use the SVO structure Ive just cut my hair rather

than the causative structure Ive had my hair cut when they are asked to give the

English translation equivalence of Ti mi ct tc.

English into Vietnamese

Vietnamese students may find it difficult to apply an appropriate way to

translating causative structures due to the variety ways of translation as discussed in

this paper.

Usage Solutions

Teachers should draw learners attention to the core meaning of causative

structures you do not perform the action yourself and notify students of the popularity

of this structure in English.

Translation Solutions

Vietnamese into English

It is advisable that teachers frequently remind students of using causative

structures when they talk about services or actions that are not performed by

themselves.

English into Vietnamese

It is a good idea for teachers to get students to bear in mind that context is of

great importance in translation. Students must understand the meaning in English first,

then question themselves How do a Vietnamese convey such an idea in our own

language? The focus changes from translating a structure into finding out how to make

an idea fully understood.


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CONCLUSION

Causative structures, though popular in English, are so new to Vietnamese

learners. Therefore, much emphasis should be put on this part so that students are able

to make use of this structure in the appropriate context and to give natural Vietnamese

translation equivalence regarding causative. In order to translate causative structures,

learners must first understand their usage, consider the structure in context and try to

find an equivalence that best demonstrates the core meaning of the original sentence.

With these in mind, students translation of causative structures will surely improve.


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WORKS CITED

Causatives. (1999). Retrieved December 2, 2009, from

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/caus.htm

Haines, S & Stewart, B. (2000). Landmark(Intermediate Students Book). Oxford:

Oxford University Press.

Hornby, A.S. (2005). Have. In Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary International

Students Edition (7th ed., p.686). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

McARTHUR, T. (1998). Causative Verb. Retrieved December 23, 2009 from

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-CAUSATIVEVERB.html

Murphy, R. (1994). English Grammar in Use (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Thomson, A.J. & Martinet, A.V. (1986).A Practical English Grammar(4th ed.). Oxford:

Oxford University Press.
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/caus.htmhttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-CAUSATIVEVERB.htmlhttp://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/caus.htmhttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-CAUSATIVEVERB.html

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