Abstract:
This thesis is a comparative study of the Thai translations of ‘the Rubaiyat of Omar
Khayyam’ by H.R.H. Prince Narathipprapanpong and by Suriyachat Chaimongkol
respectively. The objectives of the study are to analyze and to compare the two styles of
translation as well as the translators’ techniques. The results of the study are as follows:
In terms of translation strategies for proper nouns, both translators used coinages,
transliteration, phrase added transliteration, Thai words instead of the original words, Thai
words that have broader meaning than the originals, and omitting words. Furthermore,
Suriyachat Chaimongkol also used noun added transliterations as well as footnotes. For
exclamatory speeches, both translators used literal translation but Suriyachat Chaimongkol
used adaptation as well. For personal pronouns, they both used literal translation and
adaptation but Suriyachat Chaimongkol occasionally omitted personal pronouns.
With regard to the comparison of language styles, both translators used a combination
of Pali and Sanskrit. In addition, adding sounds, omitting sounds, adapting sounds, Smas-
Sonti, sound overlapped words, and reversing sound orders were seven styles that both
translators used. Yet, putting at least two words with the same meaning together was used only
by Suriyachat Chaimongkol. On the other hand, separating words that are always used
together can be found only in H.R.H. Prince Narathipprapanpong’s version.
According to the survey of readers’ satisfaction, the researcher found that the readers
prefer the version of Suriyachat Chaimongkol to that of H.R.H. Prince Narathipprapanpong
with the percentage of 70.33%: 29.67%. The readers specified that Suriyachat chaimongkol’s
version is easier to understand than H.R.H. Prince Narathipprapanpong’s version.