A STUDY OF TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSLATING THE NAMES OF RAPID TRANSIT STATIONS NAMES WITHIN THE BANGKOK METROPOLITAN REGION FROM THAI TO CHINESE OF “BANGKOK METRO” APPLICATION

Abstract

This research article aims to study and analyze the techniques of translating the names of rapid transit stations within the Bangkok Metropolitan Region from Thai to Chinese. The data collection involved compiling station names that have been translated from Thai to Chinese for all four types of rapid transit systems: the BTS Skytrain, the MRT Subway, the ARL Airport Rail Link, and the SRT State Railway of Thailand. A total of 132 station names were analyzed from the "Bangkok Metro" application, excluding duplicate names. The study identified four distinct translation techniques employed: (1) Transcription, (2) Meaning-based translation, (3) Hybrid translation (half transcription and half meaning-based translation), and (4) Renaming. Among these techniques, transcription emerged as the most popular technique for translating station names, indicating a preference for preserving the phonetic sound rather than focusing on the physical attributes of the station's location. This research sheds light on the importance of vocal communication for ease of interaction, suggesting that station name translation prioritizes auditory convenience over conveying physical meaning.