Looking for expert Thai translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and Thai to clients worldwide. We specialize in sectors like legal, governmental, medical, and business industries. Our team ensures accurate, culturally sensitive translations tailored to your specific requirements. Get a fast, free Thai translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Thai Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Thai translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to both formal and regional variations of Thai, ensuring accuracy and cultural relevance.
- Central Thai (the official language of Thailand)
- Isan Thai (spoken in Northeastern Thailand)
- Northern Thai (Lanna)
- Southern Thai
We specialize in both English to Thai and Thai to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Thai language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Thai translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished for most professional or formal use cases. While typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Thai text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Thai Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Thai communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Thai Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Thai translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Thai Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Thai language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Thai, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Thai. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Thai and Thai to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Thai and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Thai and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Thai medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Thai language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Thai translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects such as Northern Thai, Central Thai, and Isan. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Thai dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Thai
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Thai localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Thai-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Thai, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Thai-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Thai-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Thai/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Thai or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Thai and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Thai and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Thai to English or English to Thai translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Thai- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Thai Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Thai-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Thai, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Thai-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Thai and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Thai or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully Thaied or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Thai
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Thai and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Thai language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Thai Language
Thai, known locally as "ภาษาไทย" (Phasa Thai), is the official language of Thailand, spoken by over 60 million people. It is part of the Kra-Dai language family and is known for its unique tonal system, which plays a crucial role in determining the meaning of words. The language has a rich history influenced by Pali, Sanskrit, and Old Khmer, contributing to its diverse vocabulary and script.
The Cultural Context and Linguistic Features of Thai
Thai is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch or intonation used when pronouncing a word can completely change its meaning. There are five main tones: mid, low, falling, high, and rising. For example, the word "mai" can mean "new" (ใหม่), "not" (ไม่), "burn" (ไหม้), "wood" (ไม้), or "silk" (ไหม) depending on the tone used.
The Thai language is deeply rooted in Thai culture, with its script and formal speech levels reflecting hierarchical social structures. The use of royal, formal, and colloquial registers must be carefully considered when translating to ensure the appropriate tone for the target audience.
The Writing System: A Linguistic Challenge
Thai is an abugida writing system that includes 44 consonants and 32 vowels, which combine in complex ways to form syllables. Additionally, Thai lacks spaces between words, making it crucial for translators to have a deep understanding of sentence structure to correctly segment and interpret a text.
Tonal Markers:
While spoken Thai is well-known for its five tones, written Thai uses tonal markers to indicate pitch changes, helping readers discern the correct meaning of words. These markers are essential in ensuring that the intended meaning is preserved, as a change in tone can completely alter the meaning of a word. For example, the word "ma" can mean "come" (มา) or "horse (ม้า)," depending on the tone.
No Punctuation:
Thai script traditionally does not use punctuation, aside from the occasional use of a space to mark the end of a sentence. This lack of punctuation increases the complexity of translation, as translators must carefully determine where sentences and phrases begin and end based solely on context.
A Broad Inventory of Consonants:
Thai has a broad inventory of consonants, many of which share similar sounds but represent different letters. This complexity arises from the incorporation of Pali, Sanskrit, and Old Khmer into the Thai language. For instance, the sound "t" has multiple representations, including "ต" (to tao), "ท" (tho thung), "ธ" (tho thahan), "ฐ" (tho montho), "ฒ" (tho phuthao), "ศ" (so sala), and "ส" (so suea), with these last two making a "t" sound only if they come at the end of a syllable. Each consonant not only alters the meaning of words but also reflects the historical and cultural interactions between Thailand and its neighboring countries, enriching the language's depth and complexity.
The Thai script consists of:
- 44 consonants: (ก, ข, ค, ฆ, ง, จ, ฉ, ช, ซ, ฌ, ญ, ฎ, ฏ, ฐ, ฑ, ฒ, ณ, ด, ต, ถ, ท, ธ, น, บ, ป, ผ, ฝ, พ, ฟ, ภ, ม, ย, ร, ล, ว, ศ, ษ, ส, ห, ฬ, อ, ฮ)
- 32 vowels: ะ (a), า (aa), ิ (i), ี (ii), ึ (ue), ื (uee), ุ (u), ู (uu), ั (am), ย (ai mai muan), เ (e), แ (ae), โ (o), รัก (au), ำ (a:), ิ้ (ii:), เ้ (e:), แ้ (ae:), โ้ (o:), ย้ (ai mai muan), ํ (silent vowel)
- 4 tone markers: (่ (low tone), ้ (falling tone), ๊ (high tone), ๋ (rising tone))
The Thai writing system combines consonants, vowels, and tone markers to represent both phonetic sounds and meaning, with tone being crucial to avoid ambiguity.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Thai and English for Translation
When translating between Thai and English, several linguistic factors must be considered to ensure accurate communication. Below are some of the key differences:
Sentence Structure:
Thai often follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern, similar to English. However, Thai lacks the need for subject pronouns when context makes them clear, which can sometimes lead to implied subjects that require careful interpretation in translation.
Verb Conjugation:
One of the major differences between Thai and English is the absence of verb conjugation in Thai. In English, verbs change form based on tense, subject, and mood (e.g., "I walk," "she walks," "they walked"). In Thai, however, verbs remain in their base form, and time is indicated by context or the addition of time-related words such as "กำลัง" (kamlang) for ongoing actions, "จะ" (ja) for future tense, and "แล้ว" (laew) for past actions.
Lack of Articles:
Thai does not use articles like "a," "an," or "the" as found in English. This absence requires translators to use context to decide when and how to incorporate articles appropriately in English translations.
Plurality:
In English, nouns are pluralized by adding "-s" or "-es," but Thai does not have distinct plural forms. To indicate more than one of something, Thai often repeats the noun (e.g., "เด็กเด็ก" [dek dek] for "children") or adds quantifiers such as "หลาย" (lai, meaning "many") or "ทุก" (thuk, meaning "every").
By understanding and adapting to these differences, Green Crescent ensures that our Thai translation services are linguistically accurate and culturally sensitive. Whether your project involves legal documents, marketing materials, or technical content, we provide translations that resonate effectively with Thai-speaking audiences.
An Insight into Thai Wit and Expression
This passage is from the novel The Judgement by Chat Koporn, first published in the early 20th century. This work remains significant in Thai literature, known for its exploration of human morality, choices, and consequences within a rapidly modernizing society.
- Thai: "ความดีความชั่วของคนไม่ได้ถูกกำหนดจากโชคชะตา แต่จากการกระทำของพวกเขา."
- English Translation: "The goodness or evil of a person is not determined by fate, but by their actions."