The Study of Strategies for Translating Titles of Japanese Novels into Thai

Abstract

This study examines translation strategies in 832 Japanese novel titles translated into Thai language between 2003 and 2023. Results are that among strategies, direct translation is commonest, followed by partial direct translation and partial adaptation; retitling novels; transliteration; and partial transliteration and partial direct translation. Insights from interviews with professionals involved in title translation suggest that the strategy choice is influenced by the need for titles to accurately convey content; maintaining natural, idiomatic terminology; and appealing to Thai readers. These findings offer practical guidelines for translators and publishers for crafting compelling titles for readers in Thailand; they may be applicable for analyzing title translation in other media, such as anime, movies, manga, and diverse publishing formats.