Let's See Some Interesting Findings!
แฝด (Alone) 2007
Source Text: แฝด
Target Text: Alone
Technique: Re-naming by not relating to original name but referring from movie content
'Alone' is a horror film directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom. It is one of the clearest examples of this strategy since the meaning of the original title is totally opposite to the English title. The word ‘แฝด’ in Thai actually means ‘twin’ in English. However, the reason why the title was translated in that way is because it is based on the main story. The plot is about two twin women who were born conjoined, then one of them died unavoidably during an operation of twin separation surgery. So, how the strategy was employed to the title is allowed the viewers to predict what will happen to another twin.
ทองพูน โคกโพ ราษฎรเต็มขั้น
(The Citizen) 1977
Source Text: ทองพูน โคกโพ ราษฎรเต็มขั้น
Target Text: The Citizen
Technique: Partial Translation
It is a classical drama Thai film directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol. The plot is about a protagonist named Thongphoon Kokpho (ทองพูน โคกโพ), a farmer who move to Bangkok and try to make a better life for his son and himself. Noticeably, the partial translation strategy was only employed to the word ‘ราษฎร’ in the title, the protagonist’s name ทองพูน โคกโพ and the adjective phrase เต็มขั้น or ‘full-fledged' in English, was abandoned. So, if the original title is translated and transliterated as ‘Thongphoon Kokpho, The Full-fledge Citizen,’ it might be too long.
ร่างทรง (The Medium) 2021
Source Text: ร่างทรง
Target Text: The Medium
Technique: Translation using equivalent English word
The translation using equivalent English word was employed to the whole title without any additional explanation. The word ‘ร่างทรง’ or ‘คนทรง’ in Thai means a person who can allow a spirit possessing oneself to control the body and communicate with human. Meanwhile, this practice is associated with the concept of Spiritualism in Western culture which was popular during the nineteenth century called ‘Mediumship.’ So, it could be easily understood for the foreigners about the film genre regarding the similar words between the title and the Western practice.
บอสฉันขยันเชือด
(My Boss is a Serial Killer) 2021
Source Text: บอสฉันขยันเชือด
Target Text: My Boss is a Serial Killer
Technique: Partial translation and enlarging with explanation
The phrase ‘บอสฉัน’ was literally translated to ‘My Boss,’ while the rest of the title was left and translated into a different meaning instead. Generally, the phrase ‘ขยันเชือด’ means ‘frequently slash.’ Rather than translating as ‘My Boss Frequently Slash,’ the translator chose to interpret and explain it that one person who frequently slashes or kills someone is possibly a serial killer. The strategy is suitably employed to decrease the violent sense within the original name.
คุณนายโฮ
(Crazy Crying Lady) 2012
Source Text: คุณนายโฮ
Target Text: Crazy Crying Lady
Technique: Translation using equivalent and extra words
The translation using equivalent English word was employed to the phrase “คุณนายโฮ” which was translated into ‘Crying Lady.’ Then, an extra word Crazy was added to enlarge the characteristics of the protagonist who is afflicted with an unusual condition, unreasonably crying all the time. That word was suitably added because it could make the viewers’ doubt that how is she crazy.
มะลิลา
(Malila: The Farewell Flower) 2017
Source Text: มะลิลา
Target Text: Malila: The Farewell Flower
Technique: Entire transliteration with explanation
A drama film was directed by Anucha Boonyawatana. The whole title in Thai was applied by the entire transliteration. The word Malila is transliterated from มะลิลา which is a specific name of Arabian Jasmine in Thai. The name is directly related to the main protagonist who are the owner of jasmine garden. However, the phrase ‘The Farewell Flower’ was enlarged to allow the viewers predict and receipt the mood of the movie, grief and sad.
