Translation Tenchniques Found in Manufacturing Magazines

Manufacturing magazines sent to my company as monthly basis are the valuable data to understand what kinds of technique translators use to interpret the meaning from source language (English) into receptor language (Thai) or vice versa. As roughly take a look and review the data, the techniques are found as follows:

1. Adding Information
SL : The Chinese and Malaysia automotive markets are growing rapidly.
RL : ปัจจุบันตลาดรถยนต์จีนและมาเลเซียถือได้ว่ากำลังเจริญเติบโตอย่างรวดเร็ว

As can be seen, "ปัจจุบัน" and "ถือได้ว่า" are not found in SL. But, translator adds them to make the translated version explicit and to sound natural in RL.

2. Implicit to Explicit
SL : China represents an opportunity for Thai parts manufacturers to enter and penetrate these two markets.
RL : จึงเป็นโอกาสที่ผู้ผลิตชิ้นส่วนไทยจะเข้าไปเปิดตลาดทั้งสองประเทศนี้

As can bee seen in SL, the original text says "these two markets" which means "ทั้งสองตลาดนี้" in the translated text. But, translator selects "ทั้งสองประเทศนี้-these two countries" to make the meaning clearer and easier to understand for Thai readers as it sounds natural.

3. Changing Parts of Speech
SL : Therefore, the company turned to the development of its surface metal coating process to become more efficient.
RL : ดังนั้นบริษัทจึงหันมาพัฒนากระบวนการชุบโลหะที่มีอยู่แล้วให้มีประสิทธิภาพมากขึ้น

As can be seen, the word "development" must be translated as "การพัฒนา" which its parts of speech is noun. In order to sound natural, "พัฒนา" is selected for target language.

4. Omission of Sentence Connector
SL : As a result, the company expanded its working area from a few shop houses and 4-5 workers to a new factory of over 6,000 square meters area…
RL : บริษัทจึงได้ขยายพื้นที่การทำงานเพิ่มขึ้นจากเดิมที่เป็นห้องแถวมีพนักงาน 4-5 คน มาสร้างเป็นโรงงานใหม่พื้นที่กว่า 6,000 ตรม...

"As a result" is skipped in the translated version as you can see. The traslator intends to skip "as a result" because this omission will not affect the whole meaning of sentence and paragraph.

5. Switching Word Function/Location
SL : Difference is in the Expertise.
RL : ความเชี่ยวชาญคือความแตกต่าง

As can be seen, the translator changes the function of word between "difference" and "expertise" when translation is done. The "difference" as subject of sentence is changed to object of sentence while "expertise" is swithed from object to subject. This technique is also employed to make the translated text sound natural and clear.

Note : SL stands for Source Language. RL stands for Receptor Language.

To sum up, the techniques found in the translated version are mostly used to make the translated text sound natural and clear in meaning for Thai readers. The other point that we must take into account is the Thai structure and grammar which direct the impact to translation. So, the translated version sounds like it is written in Thai by Thai. This is one of the important objectives for all translators. The other techniques would be presented later in next article.