สำนักงานราชบัณทิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume IV - 2012 133  development of Ploy’s life along with the cultural and political changes in Thailand. The winner of the SEATO Prize for Thai Literature, Chotmai Chak Mueang Thai ( Letters from Thailand) by Botan, is the story of Tan Suang U who leaves China to make his fortune in Thailand at the close of World War II. His life is unfolded through the letters he writes from Bangkok Chinatown to his mother in China. Translations of the S.E.A. Write award-winning novels include Kathang Chaniang Rim Natang (The Chaniang Pot by the Window) by two-time winner Win Lyovarin and Khwam Suk Khong Kati ( The Happiness of Kathi) , a novelette by Jane Vejjajiva. The fi rst story is a psychological novel with a twist ending about a paralyzed victim of a head-on collision who is hospitalized and unable to speak. His suffering makes him want to end his life but a kind nurse convinces him to change his mind by telling him about her own miserable life. The second one, a story of love and sorrow from the viewpoint of Kati, a nine-year-old girl, has been translated into English, French and Japanese. The aforementioned examples seem to show that only popular and award-winning books get translated, often by native speakers of foreign languages, but also by competent Thai translators. In modern days, globalization not only leads us into the world of technology and computerized space but also the realm of translation as well. The impact of globalization is the functional determinant for the translator to choose between “what to translate” and “for whom the translation is meant.” In the past, translated literatures in Thailand generally dealt with religious and cultural themes. After Western literature was introduced into the country there have been constant translations mostly through the medium of English. Many of them, from the Greek plays and Shakespeare’s dramas to Steinbeck’s novels, have been adapted and staged. Modern Thai readers tend to read translated novels with themes based on romances or action-packed thrillers. The makeshift trends of readers’ interest from religious and classical literary texts could possibly be the impact of globalization. Translation needs not be the sole means for the translation of literary texts. Because of business expansion in today’s world, we see the shift of translation purposes from entertainment to business and economic development in our competitive world. “Know-how” books in translation are trendy with modern Malithat Promathatavedi