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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
In this modern era, the translation of films continues to develop as the industry of films keeps progressing. For that matter, a specialized translation branch that
focuses on film is created in order to deal with its translation process. This branch is called subtitling, which is the sub-branch of audiovisual translation AVT; a
translation branch that focuses on the transfer of one language to another with verbal components contained in audiovisual works and products.
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As for the definition of translation, Catford defines translation as a way to replace the text
material of source language by an equivalent text material in target language.
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By that definition, it can be said that one could easily decode the discourses verbal or
non-verbal of foreign languages. Examples of audiovisual products include feature films, television programs,
theatrical plays, musicals, opera, web pages, and video games. From this fact, it should be expected that there would be strong demand on AVT on vast array of
media in today‟s society. For that purpose, the AVT had sub-branches of translation of its own, in order to focus on particular audiovisual product.
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Carol A. 2013. The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Oxford : Blackwell Publishing Ltd p.1
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J.C Catford. 1965. A Linguistic Theory of Translation. London : Oxford University Press p.20
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One particular AVT sub-branch that specializes on videos and the like would be the subtitling. Subtitling involves the translation process of the spoken source
language dialogue into the target language in the form of synchronized captions. The captions are usually located in the bottom screen and enable the target
audience to be aware of the source language‟s „foreignness‟ at all times.
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The „foreignness‟ refers to the original dub of the source language‟s dialogue, as it is
left unaltered. With the help of subtitles, the audience gets t o enjoy the „foreign
voice‟ of the source language while understanding its meaning at the same time. However, like any other translation branches, subtitling has a degree of
difficulty in its process. For instance, subtitle usually consist one or two lines of an average maximum of 35 characters per lines.
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This is the standard rule of subtitling; not following it would certainly ruin the end result. Example, if a
translator makes their subtitles‟ lines and characters exceed the standard amount, the captions would definitely fill up the entire screen. Not only this makes it
harder to watch the movie, but it also consumes the audience‟s time to read the entire subtitle or paragraph, in this case. In any rate, subtitling is a delicate
translation process that had a certain rules to follow. These rules restrict some of the process on the translation itself, and thus, subtitling is considered a
constrained translation.
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Agnieszka Szarkowska. 2005. The Power of Film Translation Translation Journal, vol. 3, no. 3.. Cited in Balsam A Mustafa. Film Translation: Subtitling vs. Dubbing., College of
Arts : Translation Department, Al Mustansirriya University
p.7
www.iasj.netiasj?func=fulltextaId=49262 Accessed on February 2nd, 2014
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Frans Sayogie. 2009. Teori Praktek Penerjemahan, Tangerang: Pustaka Anak Negeri p.240
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Constrained translation refers to the constraints of space and time contained within the audiovisual products.
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The space and time itself refers to the words placement and duration in the subtitle itself, something which needs to be handled
carefully by the subtitler. With that fact, the subtitler needs to keep in mind the technical aspects of the cinematography such as the camera cuts and the rhythm
match of the subtitles‟ duration to the movie‟s dialogue.
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These technical difficulties would hinder the translator or the subtitler from using their translation
strategies freely. In addressing this problem, the translator needs to choose an appropriate translation strategy which is suited to subtitling.
Despite the existence of many technical difficulties of subtitling, a subtitle would still manage to be produced as a good translation product. Examples of
good translated subtitles would be the ones from TV‟s or official release of VCD‟s, DVD‟s, or Blu-ray‟s. The official translated subtitles usually possess a
high readability rate or good translation quality. This means that the official subtitles‟ translator must have followed the subtitling rules and used an
appropriate translation procedures. The procedures that were
used by official subs‟ translators are most likely adjusted or modified to suit subtitling purposes. The mentioned “adjust” or
“modify” conforms with Clifford‟s statement that a translation strategy needs to be flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions in the text.
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This applies
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Jeremy Munday. 2008. Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and applications, New York : Routledge p.185
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Ibid.
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Clifford E. Landers. 1998. Literary Translation: A Practical Guide. Sydney : Multilingual Matters LTD p.55
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especially in subtitles, where the constraints of translation demand a careful handling of its process. For example, long lines in subtitles cannot be fully
translated; as a result, the line needs to be simplified. This is done in order for it to fit into the screen, and also to make it easier to read for the audience. After all, the
purpose of translation is not to make things confusing for the reader, but to give a clear meaning of the source text. This holds true for subtitles; since a good subtitle
would never make the audience to be too “occupied” in reading it. For that matter, subtitles need to be precise, short, and simple for the sake of the audience.
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The process of translation in official subtitles has sparked the w riter‟s
curiosity in studying it. For that matter, the writer chose “Monsters University”
movie to analyze the translation process of its subtitle. The reason why the writer chose that movie is because its translation is handled by an official company;
which makes it worthy to be studied into. The publisher, Vision Interprima Pictures Company, is a company which is well known in publishing official
DVD‟s of Disney Movies in Indonesia. Also, the other reason is because Monsters University gained a 74 rating on Imdb, an international movie rating site.
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Film with the average rating of 70 is considered a good rating in Imdb. With that fact,
it has become more than enough reason for the writer to choose Monsters University as a research subject. Below is a sample of the translation of Monsters
University‟s subtitle:
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Frans Sayogie, Loc.cit.
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http:www.imdb.comtitlett1453405
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Table 1.Monsters University Subtitle Sample
SL TL
but the crown jewel of MU is the Scaring School.
Tapi jurusan favorit UM adalah Kelas Menakuti.
Salisbury steak, that hurts Minta ampun, sakit sekali
The translation sample data on the table above has a neutralization procedure applied on it. Notice the crown jewel in the first sample and salisbury
steak on the second sample. Both of them are translated into a neutral word, which is crown jewel into jurusan favorit and salisbury steak into minta ampun. This is
done to ensure an easy understanding for the meaning towards the audience. The sample above is just a few of the many translation that lies within Monsters
University. Looking at that fact, the writer tries to find out how the translation approac
h really works on Monsters University‟s subtitle translation. By finding out the translation approach, notably its procedures and equivalence, the writer
hopes to know more about the essence of film translation.
B. Focus of the Study
Kategori