The Lost Artistry of Language Expression in Translating Chinese SUYU in The Thai Version of the Novel "WENCHENG"

Abstract

   This article aims to examine the lost artistry of language expression in translating Chinese SUYU in the novel "WENCHENG", thai dubbed version. The study found that the translator primarily employed the literal translation technique to preserve the distinctiveness of the expressions and balance a syllabic structure in Thai. However, certain implicit meanings of Chinese SUYU and the true emphasis of their meaning were lost or overlooked in some aspects, resulting in the translator inadvertent, diminishing the artistry of language expression in the Thai translation version compared to the original Chinese text.

   The study indicates that preserving the artistry of language expression in the translation of Chinese SUYU requires a strong emphasis on contextual interpretation. The translators should adopt comparative translation strategies by selecting Thai idiomatic expressions that share similar rhetorical features, such as metaphors, imagery, and tone, in order to preserve the reader’s aesthetic experience. In addition, attention should be paid to the cultural, historical, and underlying messages conveyed through idioms in the literary context. Furthermore, due to the inherently colloquial nature of Chinese SUYU, translators may consider using colloquial Thai equivalents that incorporate figurative comparisons and evoke similar imagery and conceptual associations to preserve the artistry of Chinese SUYU expression.