Types of Cultural Words and Translation Strategies in Translating Cultural Terms in Abstracts Presented in Phayao Research Conference 9 11 (2020-2022)
Abstract:
The independent study entitled Types of Cultural words and Translation Strategies in Translating Cultural Terms in Abstracts Presented in Phayao Research Conference 9-11 (2020-2022)" is a mixed method research consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data. It was aimed to study types of cultural words and translation strategies used in translating cultural terms in Phayao Research Conference 9-11 (2020-2022). The main sources of the study were 24 abstracts chosen from Phayao Research Conference 9- 11 (2020-2022) and related to Thai culture only. The research tools were cultural words and translation strategies recording form and an abstract recording form. The frequencies of each type of cultural words and translation strategy found in the abstracts were calculated and presented in percentage. According to Newmark (1988), the qualitative research results showed that there were 4 cultural word types found in the abstracts namely 1) social organization customs, activities, procedures, and concepts 2) social culture 3) material culture and 4) ecology. The types of cultural words found in the abstract were 47 times in social organization (40.52 %), 38 times in social culture (32.76 %), 30 times in material culture (25.86 %), and 1 time in ecology (0.86 %). Regarding quantitative data found in translation strategies used in the abstracts, there were 9 translation strategies used consisting of 53 times of couplet (45.69%), 24 times of transference (20.69%), 12 times of literal translation (10.34%), 9 times of neutralization (7.76%), 6 times of accepted standard translation (5.17%), 5 times of paraphrasing (4.31%), 5 times of cultural equivalent (4.31%), 1 time of label translation (0.86%), and 1 time of deletion (0.86%). A translator has to be aware of cultural sensitivity and choose the suitable translation strategies when it comes to translating the meaning of a cultural words in order to deliver the correct meanings to a receptor in a target language. However, this awareness has to be applied to translation teachers and learners, too. Lastly, in the era of borderless cross-cultural communication, it is also necessary for everyone global citizen to be cautious about this problem.