Mt68: XIN ĐỀ NGHỊ "NGÀY QUỐC HẬN 30-4-75" DỊCH RA TIẾNG ANH LÀ "30-4 VIETNAM SORROW DAY" (*Cả đất nước Việt Nam đều là NẠN NHÂN ĐAU BUỒN của Ngày 30-4-1975)./- Mt68

Dear Linda,

Nice try! I don’t think we can easily put this issue to rest, I doubt that we can come to conclude the debate for Quốc Hận’s standard English name. Maybe we just have to accept the fact “ Quốc Hận” is “Quốc Hận”. Just like other holidays, we still have to explain why we have the Day, how or where it came from. “D Day”, “Valentine”, “Memorial Day”, “Veterans Day”, etc… Children or those who don’t like history, still someone will have to explain the meanings of such day to them.

Believe me, I have searched in many English French dictionaries, discussed with many fairly highly educated friends, but we cannot agree with ONE COMMON translation for Ngày Quốc Hận.  I could not find the words that I can satisfy with, because it cannot express all the feeling of Hận. That’s why I said below that we need many short and long stories to describe Quốc Hận Day. Just your below list of names tell us that we can probably never agree on just ONE translation, but we surely can agree on one name: Quốc Hận Day, April 30^th.

Also, why do we (the Vietnamese) need to use just ONE or TWO words to tell the foreigners to understand us? Foreigners will NEVER understand “Hận” unless you tell them a story or unless they are in it, like the Jews in Germany under Hitler. You tell them if their wives and children were abused by those low class communist soldiers, how will they feel? Outrage, painful or not?. If you tell the foreigners if they have the allies in a conflict, all the sudden the allies tell them to drop the weapon and surrender, how will they feel? Upset and being betrayed or not? The Army of the Republic of VN ( ARVN or QLVNCH)) were put into the same situation.

We must remember one thing thou: “Vietnamese problem should be solved by the Vietnamese people, not by foreigners”.

Thank you for sharing,

ĐỗXSơn

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From: Linda Nguyen [mailto:lindanguyenvv@gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 11:54 AM
To: chinhnghia@yahoogroups.com; Chinh Nghia Viet; Dien Dan GVQHVN
Cc: DD phungsuxahoi; Dien Dan Dap Loi Song Nui; diendandantoc@yahoogroups.com; levanthang10@gmail.com; son.do3@verizon.net; francis_duong@hotmail.com; Fanxico Tran; dzung dakao
Subject: Re: (CHÍNH NGHĨA): Định nghĩa hoặc dịch chữ Quốc Hận

Within a month, there were many articles and documents written about Ngày Quốc Hận  30/4, in Vietnamese and also in English.

Within a week, many Vietnamese communities shall have the Commemoration of Ngày Quốc Hận in various English speaking Nations.

 There were emails in various forums requesting the correct translation to English for the phrase Ngày Quốc Hận.

I too, found many English translation of Ngày Quốc Hận to be incorrect.

But more important is the inconsistent used of this phrase in English that had caused confusion and animosity in the Vietnamese communities and general public.

 This email is not an intention to change the name, in Vietnamese it always be Ngày Quốc Hận; but what should we call Ngày Quốc Hận in English?

 I would like to suggest some English phrases for debate so that the Vietnamese communities shall use this standard phrase in the future.

I have collected some suggestions, reviewed many articles with English, and have researched some possible definitions in English. Below are some samples:

 1.      Day of Mourning

2.      National Vietnamese Remembrance Day

3.      National Hatred Day

4.      Vietnamese Perish Day

5.      Black April Day

6.      Wrath Day.

7.      "Quốc Hận Day",

8.      Suffering Murdering Day

9.      National Hatred Day

10.  National Day of Outrage

11.  Anger

12.  Hatred

13.  Grief

14.  Animosity

15.  Resentment

16.  National death-feud day

17.  Rage

18.  Enragement

19.  Fury

20.  Resentment

21.  Outrage

22.  Indignation

23.  Exasperation

24.  Grudge

25.  Antipathy

 I have also considered not to translate it into English, and just call it “Quốc Hận Day”, but if this is use, it will beg for a translation, and once again incorrectly translated.  It’s a vicious circle that has to be broken. There will be time where a translation is required, so we might as well expend resources now to establish standardization. This is good for the Vietnamese Community and good for Vietnam as well.

 For me, the closest translation of  Ngày Quốc Hận is “National Day of Grudge”; however, for optic reason I didn’t like it.

 Therefore, my 1^st choice is “National Day of Resentment”.

 2^nd choice is “National Day of Indignation”.

3^rd choice is “National Day of Antipathy”.

 Please note that is only something to start the debate with.  I’m sure there are many more English names we could call Ngày Quốc Hận.

 Please provide your input, so that we can put this issue to rest…temporary?

 Linda Nguyen