Culture-Specific Concepts The Non-Equivalence Problems Found in the Indonesian and English
village and do not want to spend much money on buying gas for cooking. They also usually use it for cooking in great amount, like in a traditional wedding.
However, it is unfamiliar in where the TT readers live. They usually use electrical oven or stove to cook.
Culture-specific concept problems can cause different understanding for TT readers in reading the TT. It is because what TT readers have in their homeland is
not similar to what ST readers have.
Data ST
Data TT
3ST Ic
Aroma bakmi
bercampur dengan
asap dari
arang, menciptakan
aroma yang
menggugah selera. 3TT
Ic The
noodles‟ aroma mixes with the charcoal smoke, making for
a distinct and delectable aroma.
a b
c d
e f
g h
i j
k √
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
How the noodles‟ aroma mixes with the smell of the charcoal smoke in ST may not be usual for TT readers. They know how the charcoal smoke mix with the
noodles if they cook them in a camp with open fire. The ingredients used to cook noodles in ST readers‟ place and in TT readers‟ are different. Therefore, they
make different aroma. Unless TT readers have tasted Bakmi Jawa in Jogja, they never know how the smell of noodles mixed with the charcoal smoke.
The culture-specific concept can be no problem or it can be said that the texts are equivalent if it is checked through the TT readers‟ background. In this
case, they have experienced eating Bakmi Jawa where Bakmi Jawa is offered.
Data ST
Data TT
9ST IIIa
Penjual Bakmi Jawa bisa ditemukan dimana saja dan
warung mereka bisa dengan 9TT
IIIa Bakmi
Jawa vendors
are scattered all over the place and
the stalls
can be
easily
mudah dikenali
dengan: warung
tenda sederhana,
dilengkapi tungku
arang, bangku
panjang, gerobak
dorong, dan daging ayam digantung sebagai display.
identified as
simple tents,
equipped with a charcoal stove, long bench and pushcart, along
with chicken meat hanging on display.
a b
c d
e f
g h
i j
k √
√ -
- -
- -
- -
- √
The first problem is culture-specific concept. As said in the previous data, “clay
oven ” is unfamiliar for TT readers. In my observation, gerobak dorong in
Indonesia and “pushcart” in where the target people live have different shape.
Gerobak dorong which is used for Bakmi Jawa is made of wood. It also has a traditional shape. While
“pushcart” is made of steel. Its canopy is usually made of plastic or fabric.
Picture 4.1. Gerobak dorong Picture 4.2.
“Pushcart”
www.doktergerobak.blogspot.com www.pushcartusa.com
Picture 4.1. and Picture 4.2. show that gerobak dorong used for selling Bakmi Jawa
and “pushcart” used for selling foods are different. The materials and shapes of both gerobak dorong
and “pushcart” are not similar and not equivalent.
The words tenda intended in the ST and “tent” is the TT are in different
shape and function. Tenda which is for selling foods in Indonesia is like a small shop made from wood as the frame and plastic or fabric as the cover and canopy.
According to Oxford Dictionary 8th Edition, “tent” is a shelter made of canvas or
nylon which is used for camping, not for selling foods 2010:1540.
Picture 4.3. Tenda Picture 4.
4. “Tent”
www.kulineronline.com www.globe-views.com
Picture 4.3. shows tenda with its banners made of fabric to cover the food stall and its long wooden benches. Compared to Picture 4.3., Picture 4.4. is
extremely different. The two things have excessively different functions, tenda in Picture 4.3. is for selling foods while “tent” in Picture 4.4. is for camping.
In addition, the words “chicken meat” also have the culture-specific concept
problem. “Chicken meat” here are literally translated from the words daging
ayam. As said by Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia Pusat Bahasa Edisi Keempat, daging means a part of slaughtered-
animal‟s body which is eaten as food 2008:286. Indonesians add ayam after the word daging to show what kind of
meat they intend. In this case, daging is translated into “meat” and ayam into
“chicken”. However, most of TT readers only use the word “chicken” to describe the chicken meat.
Chart 4.1. Culture-Specific Concepts Percentage
The chart shows that data 1STIa - 1TTIa, 2STIb - 2TTIb, 3STIc -
3TTIc, 8STIIe - 8TTIIe, 9STIIIa - 9TTIIIa, 10STIIIb - 10TTIIIb and 13STVa - 13TTVa are categorized as non-equivalent with the problem of
culture-specific concepts by Baker. 33.3
33.3 33.3
Culture-Specific Concepts
Culture-specific concepts The SL concept is not lexicalized in
the TL The SL word is semantically complex
The SL and TL make different distinctions in meaning
The TL lacks of superordinate The TL lacks a specific term
Differences in physical or interpersonal perspective
Differences in expressive meaning Differences in form
Differences in frequency and purpose of using specific forms
The use of loan words in ST