Function of Translation REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

13 the sense of the original in such a way that the reader is unaware that he is reading a translation”

2.2 Function of Translation

It is by now clear that translation means more than substitution of words in one language with those from another. In some ways it is the attempt to bring two cultures together, because as we all know, language and culture are two things that relate to each other. We cannot separate language with culture. Based on the connection between language and culture, Kridalaksana 1983:128 declares that “Terjemahan ialah pengalihan amanat antarbudaya danatau antarbahasa dalam tataran gramatikal dan leksikal dengan maksud, efek atau wujud yang sedapat mungkin tetap dipertahankan” Translationisthe transfer ofthe mandate ofinterculturalandorinter-language at the level ofgrammaticalandlexicalby retaining its purpose, effectormanifestationas good as possible. Translation is transferring message among cultures or among languages in grammatical and lexical point by preserving the message, effect or structure as possible as it can be. In brief, he views translation as transferring message which across culture among languages. The definition by Kridalaksana clearly explains that translation is one of activity which tries to bring culture from one nation into another different culture of the nation. Supporting Kridalaksana’s definition about translation related to the function of translation, Newmark 1988:10 states “Translation is now used as much to transit knowledge and to create understanding between groups and nations, as to transmit 14 culture.” This statement confirms that the function of translation is not only just to deliver one message of certain language to another language, but also to deal with the aspect of culture; thus, the message through which the real writer conveys would be directly sent to the reader without any misconception. It is an accepted fact that one language is different with other language, not just in grammatical structure but also the way in which they conceptualize abstractions. The question of how to bridge the gap between SL and TL is decided by the aim of the translator and its intended reader; this is a perspective agreed upon by most theoreticians in the field. Venuti 2000:341 says that the basic issues in translation theory remain “equivalence and shifts, audience and function, identity and ideology”. Nida 2000:127 lists three basic factors that decide the nature of translation. They are: “the nature of the message to be translated, the purpose of the writer or translator, and the type of readership”. Basically, translation functions as a medium of communications. As Nida states, “Translation means communication because it has three essential elements to form a process of communication. The three essential elements are source, message, and receptor, and these elements must be found in all communication activities” Nida, 1981:2 In brief words, translation means inter-lingual communication by involving two different languages. Moreover, Duff 1989:5 says, “As a process of communication, translation functions as the medium ‘across the linguistic and cultural barriers’ in conveying the messages written in the foreign languages”. In other words, the function of translation is 15 as a bridge, that is, to carry the messages meanings from the SL to the TL. Translation is very helpful for people to face a barrier in understanding a text written in a foreign language, for example. There are identifiable contexts to which particular modes of translation are suitable. For example is as communication of information. In some cases, the content gets precedence over form. For instance, notices put up in airports or railway stations are bilingual, if not multilingual. Important notices that give information have to be in different languages in international airports where you have travelers from all parts of the world. Here the translation has to be such that it gives the meaning without any distortion. The same is true for manuals that come with appliances. In these cases, the translator might not be able to do a literal translation, as languages differ from each other in structure as well as semantics. But the emphasis is on the reader and the aim is to make the reader who does not know the other language, understand what is being said. This is very much a reader-oriented translation where the translator is completely submissive to the message that is to be communicated. The translator can safely claim that there is no loss in translation here or rather; he cannot afford loss in translation. In some cases sign language is used to avoid confusion. This is quite common with traffic signals which are a universal language of sorts. Road signs are usually accompanied by pictures or signs that are universally understood. Here a semiotic system or sign language is utilized to overcome the potential hazards of not comprehending a road sign in another language. In other words this is a context where the translators cannot afford breakdown of communication or loss in translation. 16 They might have to make suitable changes in the word order or choose a word that might not be the literal equivalent of the original to make the message clear. What is significant here is that the aim of the translator is not just to pass on information but also to ensure that the readers have understood the message. The readers are kings in these forms of translation as the whole process is aimed at them.

2.3 Translation Process