Linguistic Analysis of Cultural Adaptation in Thai Translations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series: A Comprehensive Study of Translation Strategies from a Linguistic Perspective

Thananya  Viriyapanyanont

doi:10.60027/iarj.2025.291664

Authors

Thananya Viriyapanyanont Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8229-0843

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60027/iarj.2025.291664

Keywords:

Translation Linguistics, Morphological Adaptation, Semantic Analysis, Cultural Adaptation, Thai Language

Abstract

Background and Aims: This comprehensive linguistic analysis examines the cultural adaptation strategies employed in Thai translations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, focusing specifically on the first three volumes from a systematic linguistic perspective. The study aims to investigate how translators navigate the complex interplay between morphological, phonological, semantic, and pragmatic considerations when adapting culturally specific elements for Thai readers.

Methodology: The study employs qualitative content analysis grounded in contemporary linguistic theory, utilizing a comprehensive linguistic analysis framework that systematically examines translation choices across multiple levels of linguistic structure. The research corpus consists of sixty systematically selected passages from Thai translations of the first three Harry Potter volumes, analyzed using established techniques from applied linguistics, incorporating insights from morphological analysis, phonological theory, semantic analysis, and pragmatic research.

Results: The linguistic analysis reveals sophisticated patterns of morphological adaptation in character nomenclature, phonological adjustment in magical terminology, semantic shifts in cultural references, and pragmatic accommodation in dialogic expressions. The findings demonstrate systematic patterns where translators employ consistent principles for adapting English morphological complexity to Thai patterns while maintaining recognizable lexical relationships. Phonological adaptation strategies reveal a sophisticated understanding of how sound symbolism contributes to meaning construction in fantasy literature.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate how translators function as linguistic mediators, employing systematic phonological, morphological, and semantic processes to bridge the gap between English and Thai linguistic systems while preserving the fantastical essence of the source material. The study contributes to applied linguistics and translation studies by illuminating the complex linguistic mechanisms underlying successful cross-cultural literary adaptation, offering insights into how linguistic structure influences translation decision-making processes.

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