Comparative Study of Metaphors used in Thai Translation of Original Korean Literature

Abstract

This article compares the use of metaphors in 'Mother... the missing heart, Please look after mom' written by Kyung-Sook Shin, translated into Thai by Kritini Upayokin, and edited by Anchalee Chaichanawijit with those in the original Korean book named ………….. - ……. (‘Mother... the missing heart, Please look after mom'). This study finds that there are 32 metaphors which may be divided into 5 different characteristics as

follows:

1) metaphors using exactly the same words (so that, the same metaphorical meanings are expressed) are most used, with 21 metaphors or 65.63 percent;

2) metaphors using words in the same terminological scope (which express the same metaphorical meanings) are the second most used, with 4 metaphors or 12.50 percent;

3) metaphors used only in the Thai translated literature, while the original Korean literature uses denotation, with 4 metaphors or 12.50 percent;

4) metaphors used only in the original Korean literature, while the Thai translated literature uses denotation, with 2 metaphors or 6.25 percent; and

5) metaphor using different words which still express the same metaphorical meaning is the least used, with 1 metaphor or 3.12 percent.

These findings reflect, through comparative literature, that the Thais and the Koreans have similar patterns in linking thoughts to the same topics.