An Analysis of Problems and Errors in English-to-Thai Translation by English Major Students

Abstract

This study aims to analyze English-to-Thai translation errors made by undergraduate English majors, with a focus on grammatical structures, lexical choices, phrasal verbs, and cultural references. These factors play a crucial role in determining the accuracy and clarity of meaning in the target language. Data were collected through translation tests and in-depth interviews with students to investigate the underlying causes of errors and challenges in the translation process. The findings reveal that the most frequent type of error involves the translation of tenses and aspects, accounting for 41.5% of all errors. This is followed by errors in translating phrasal verbs inconsistent with context (28.7%), misinterpretation of polysemous words (18.2%), and inaccuracies in translating cultural references (11.6%). Insights from the interviews indicate that these errors predominantly result from a lack of confidence in restructuring sentences and interpreting contextual meaning in the target language. Students often rely on literal translation, driven by concerns that altering sentence structures might distort the intended meaning of the source text. These findings underscore the imperative to enhance translation proficiency, particularly in contextual interpretation, precise lexical selection, and cultural competence. Such skills are vital to ensuring that students can convey meaning accurately and comprehensively in the target language.