“An Indian Priestess: The life of Chundra Lela”: Analysis of translation strategies from English to Lanna

Abstract

The article presents a study of the “Chundra Lela the brahmin priestess” - the writing was published with Lanna Tham script by American Wang - singkham Printing in 1916. With the translation theory, that study about characteristics of manuscript and compares this writing with “An Indian Priestess; The life of Chundra Lela” (the original in English) to analyze the translation strategies from English into Lanna.

This study found it was translated through participation between missionaries and local scholars. The translators have used translation strategies including: 1) The translation: the characteristic of this writing is a free translation. There are modification literary style, dilatation, summarizing, excision, addition, and modification content. 2) Expressions: that writing used the Lanna literature’s expression style, that is, the Lanna Buddhist literature’s expression style and using Synonymous compounds words.

This translation strategies have positive effects are: That translation process helps readers understand the story better. And hidden by inculcating Christian beliefs and views. Meanwhile, the using Lanna literature’s expression style is helps to close in language and culture for readers. It makes the story about Christianity accessible to Lanna people. This writing was therefore an implement for propagating Christian ideas by using the Lanna language and literature’s wisdom effectively.