An Analysis of the Translation of Chinese Adverbial Modifiers with “地” into Thai Adverbial Modifiers using “อย่าง”: Based on the Hanyu Jiaocheng Textbook

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The Thai equivalent of the Chinese adverb modifier “地” is “อย่าง”. However, previous studies have not addressed the issue of the possibility of translating Chinese adverbial modifiers with “地” into Thai adverbial modifiers using “อย่าง”, particularly based on authentic language use contexts, especially the examples from Chinese language textbooks for foreign learners. Therefore, this study aims to explore and analyze the translation of adverbial modifiers with “地” into Thai equivalents using “อย่าง”, based on the Hanyu Jiaocheng Chinese textbook as the primary source of data.

Methods: This research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 195 phrases or sentences containing adverbial modifiers followed by “地” were collected from the Chinese language textbook Hanyu Jiaocheng. These examples were then analyzed to explore the situations in which such modifiers are translated into Thai adverbial modifiers using “อย่าง”. 

Results: The findings indicate that the examples can be categorized into two groups. Group 1 includes adverbial modifiers followed by “地” that can be translated into Thai using “อย่าง”, accounting for 79.49%. Group 2 includes those that cannot be translated with “อย่าง”, representing 20.51%. In the situations where translation is possible, the adverbial modifiers typically display predicate-like characteristics. In the cases where translation is not feasible, this is due not only to the absence of such characteristics, but also to differences in the cognitive logic of native speakers, leading to differences in language use. These include the meaning of words or phrases that function as adverbial modifiers, the semantic development of vocabulary, collocational patterns, and the strictness of the alignment between linguistic form and meaning.  

Application of this study: The above results suggest that most examples from this textbook can be effectively translated using “อย่าง”. This supports positive language transfer in learning Chinese as a foreign language for Thai learners. Therefore, such translation can be applied in teaching and learning.

Conclusions: By utilizing the results of the comparative analysis—specifically identifying the Thai word “อย่าง” as a functional equivalent of the Chinese particle “地”—as a foundation, this study further explores the translation of adverbial modifiers containing “地” into Thai expressions introduced by “อย่าง”. The findings reveal that most examples from the Hanyu Jiaocheng textbook can be translated using this method. For the cases where direct equivalence is not applicable, two key factors are identified: 1) the types of adverbial modifiers used, and 2) the cognitive logic of native speakers. The above findings can help build more confidence among Chinese language instructors in using these translation strategies when teaching the structural particle for adverbial modifiers “地” and the adverbial modifiers followed by “地”. Moreover, they can provide more reasonable explanation of what factors affect the translation and suggestions for translating into other linguistic forms.