A Comparison of Translation Techniques in Translating English Personal Pronouns into Thai: A Case Study of Little Lord Fauntleroy

Abstract

This research aims to compare the personal pronouns translation techniques used in translating the original English literature, Little Lord Fauntleroy, written by Frances Hodson which is translated by three Thai translators: Nawanak, Kaewkhamthip Chai, and Nengnoi Sattha. The data analyzed in this paper was collected from the translation of the narration and the dialogue of the characters. Baker’s framework (2018) was used as a criterion. 12 techniques were found in translating English pronouns to Thai. They are 1) the use of pronouns, 2) omission of personal pronouns, 3) the use of kinship terms, 4) the use of nouns or noun phrases, 5) the use of occupation terms, 6) the use of personal names, 7) the use of demonstratives, 8) inference, 9) the use of the antecedent, 10) the use of numbers, 11) the use of cultural words, and 12) the use of common nouns. The factors influencing translation techniques are grammatical features, such as number, and cultural factors, such as seniority, characters’ relationships, and speech situation.