Vietnam/ese/ness in translation : a micro-cosmopolitan approach

This paper addresses issues of modern-day Vietnamese identity, through the lens of "micro-cosmopolitan" translation theory. Proposed by Michael Cronin in 2006, micro-cosmopolitanism was particularly well suited to the languages observed in this study: Vietnamese, English, and French. Translations from Vietnamese to English and French are presented along with the work of prominent Vietnam scholars from a variety of disciplines. These are observed through a theoretical framework that looks to undermine conventional wisdom, engage in "intercultural fractal traveling", and seeks to further complexify translation phenomena it encounters. The approach also allows for a broad range of topics to be explored, thereby providing translation studies a comprehensive introduction to a language and identity the field has yet to explore in any depth. This study looks at areas familiar to translation scholars in chapters on language, poetry, literature, the media, and internet. Substantial historical background is included in order to gain a deeper understanding of contemporary Vietnamese identity as expressed in translation. Along the way, research has revealed much about the practice of translation in contemporary Vietnam, as well as the prominent role translation has played throughout this ancient nation's history. The innovative tools offered by micro-cosmopolitanism have helped create a study that would be of interest to anyone interested in translation, Vietnam, and the current status of an identity crafted via translation.