A Study of Thai – Chinese Translation for Streets Names in Chiang Rai Municipal Area การศึกษาการแปลชื่อถนนภาษาไทยเป็นภาษาจีนในเขตเทศบาลนครเชียงราย

Abstract

The study aim to 1. Analyze the translation strategies of Thai to Chinese translation of street names in Chiang Rai municipal area, 2. Examining the problems of the translation and propose translation guideline for street names in Chiang Rai municipal area. The study employs purposive sampling method by collecting photographic materials of Chinese street signs in Chiang Rai municipal area. The research finds that from all 244 of Chinese street signs, the Chinese street names translation in Chiang Rai municipal area employs 3 strategies 1) Transcription strategy, 2) Free translation strategies, 3) Transcription plus free translation strategies. In term of the translation errors, there are

4 major aspects 1) Strategy selection aspect, 2) Translation aspect, 3) Chinese character selection aspect, 4) Production process aspect. As for the guidelines to translate the street names correctly and appropriately, the study proposes 4 strategies 1) Use transcription strategies as the primary tool, 2) Use high frequency used with monophonic Chinese characters, 3) Use the same Chinese transliteration character of cognate vocabulary across Tai language family. 4) Review by Chinese translation experts. This study will contribute to the street names translation in Chiang Rai municipality area and proper name translation field.