Department of English
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
2202124 Introduction to Translation
Test 4 Discussion
The translations given on this page are neither comprehensive nor definitive. They are here to give you an idea of the range of possibilities and to spark discussion. Suggestions and comments are welcome. |
Translate the following into English.
ข้าวที่เรารับประทานเป็นอาหารหลักนี้เป็นเมล็ด พืชชนิดหนึ่งที่อยู่ในตระกูลหญ้า ลักษณะภายนอกบางอย่างของต้นข้าว เช่น ใบ ลำต้น และรากนั้นคล้ายกับต้นหญ้า ชาวนาที่อยู่ในภาคเหนือและภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือในประเทศไทยจะปลูกข้าว เหนียวและข้าวเจ้า ในขณะที่ชาวนาในภาคกลางและภาคใต้จะปลูกข้าวเจ้าเป็นส่วนใหญ่ ประเทศอื่น ๆ ที่มีสภาพภูมิอากาศคล้ายประเทศไทยก็ปลูกข้าวด้วย เช่น ลาว เขมร และเวียดนาม ส่วนในประเทศที่มีอากาศหนาว เช่น สหรัฐอเมริกาและญี่ปุ่น ปลูกข้าวได้เฉพาะในฤดูร้อนเท่านั้น แม้จะมีหลายประเทศที่ปลูกข้าวได้เอง แต่บางประเทศก็ยังจำเป็นต้องนำเข้าข้าวจากประเทศอื่น เนื่องจากมีประชากรมากและผลิตข้าวได้ไม่เพียงพอสำหรับการบริโภคภายใน ประเทศ ตามสถิติล่าสุดขององค์การอาหารและเกษตรแห่งสหประชาชาติ ประเทศไทยเป็นผู้ส่งออกข้าวรายใหญ่ที่สุด คิดเป็นร้อยละ 34 ของการส่งออกข้าวทั่วโลก แต่ละปีสามารถนำรายได้เข้าประเทศได้หลายหมื่นล้านบาท
Translation 1 The rice that we eat as our staple food is the seed of a plant belonging to the grass family. Certain physical characteristics of rice such as its leaf, stem and root resemble those of grass. Farmers in the Thai north and northeast plant sticky and long grain rice, while those in the central and southern regions grow mainly the latter type. Countries with climates similar to Thailand's like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam also cultivate rice. Those with cooler climates like the United States and Japan can plant it only in the summer. Although several countries can grow rice, some still need to import it from others because domestic production alone is insufficient to feed their large populations. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, Thailand is the largest rice exporter, accounting for 34 percent of the global share. This crop brings in tens of billions of baht each year. |
Translation 2 The rice which is our main diet is the seed of a plant in the grass family. Some characteristics of its external parts such as the leaf, stem and root resemble those of grass. Farmers in the north and northeast of Thailand plant sticky and long grain rice, while those in the central and southern regions grow mainly the latter type. Countries with climates similar to that of Thailand like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam also cultivate rice. Those in the temperate zone like the United States and Japan can plant it only in the summer. Though several countries have domestic rice crops, some still need to import from others due to a large population whose consumption its domestic production is insufficient to supply. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Thailand is the largest exporter of rice, accounting for 34 percent of world exports, and brings in tens of billions of baht each year. |
Reference
Discussion
cold countries, countries in the temperate zone, countries with temperate climates
summer v. the summer
oneself ≠ by oneself ≠ on one's own
inadequate ≠ insufficient; one is more about quality, the other quantity
1 billion = 10,000,000,000
หลายหมื่นล้านบาท = 3 or 4 ×10,000,000,000
10,000,000,000 baht = $ 302,431,430.29 (at the currency rate $1 = 33.0653 baht)
So, tens of billions of baht would be close to one billion US dollars.
Vocabulary
eat
consume
staple food (see Staple Foods)
diet
diet (Merriam-Webster)
1 a: food and
drink regularly provided or consumed b: habitual nourishment
c: the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person or animal for
a special reason d: a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly
so as to reduce one's weight <going on a diet>
2: something provided or experienced repeatedly <a diet
of Broadway shows and nightclubs — Frederick Wyatt>
More examples of usage:
Diets (plural)
- There are many different types of diets. Some, like a vegetarian diet, don't include meats. Others, like the Mediterranean diet, describe a pattern of eating with an emphasis on less saturated fat than most Americans eat. (Diets)
- Many people follow specific diets to lose weight. Some of these diets are fad or crash diets that severely restrict calories or the types of food you are allowed to eat. These diets rarely lead to permanent weight loss and often don't provide all of the nutrients your body needs. (Diets)
phenotype
physical characteristics
outward appearance
rice parts (see also rice links below)
seed, grain, kernel
leaves
stem, stalk
root
types of rice (see also rice links below)
long grain rice
long grain white rice
white rice
plain rice
plain white rice
sticky rice, glutinous rice
local
domestic
national
billion
billion: cardinal number (pl. billions or (with numeral or quantifying word) same) (Compact Oxford Dictionary)
1: the number equivalent to the product of a thousand and a million; 1,000,000,000 or 109.
2: dated, chiefly Brit. a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 1012).
3: (billions) informal a very large number or amount.
billion (Merriam-Webster)
1: 1,000,000,000 or 109 in the United States
2: a very large number
See also: How may is a billion?
baht, like yen, does not take an s
each year, annually
Links
Rice Is Life (extensive links to resources on rice; some are obsolete)
Rice Online (the business side of rice)
"Global Rice Trade: What Does It Mean for Future Food Security?" by Samarendu Mohanty
"The Rice Genome: Opening the Door to Comparative Plant Biology" by Jeffrey Bennetzen
Similar articles:
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Last
updated
March 30, 2015