Now, many countries complete to know up – to – date science, news, and technology from the progressive countries. By translation, foreign language barrier is
no longer a problem to grasp the knowledge from other countries. Translation helps the people to understand better the influence of the one
language on the other, and because translation involves contrast, it enable the people to explore the potential of both language; their strength and weaknesses Duff,
1989:6.
2.4 Strategies of Translation
Based on the diagram above, the people can now look at examples of strategies that are used by professional translators for dealing with various types of
non – equivalence. In each example, SL word which represents a translation problem is underlined. The strategy used by the translator is highlighted bold in both the
original translation and the back translated version. Only the strategies used for dealing with non – equivalence at word level will be commented on.
According to Baker 1992, there are eight strategies that are used by professional translators. The eight strategies are :
1. Translation using loan words in the source text.
2. Translation by cultural substitution.
3. Translation using a loan word or loan words plus explanation.
4. Translation by paraphrase using related words.
5. Translation by paraphrase using unrelated words.
6. Translation by omission.
7. Translation by illustration.
8. Translation by a more general word superordinate.
In the “Memoirs of a Geisha” movie, the translator only uses the three strategies based on Baker’s Theory. The three strategies are 1. Translation using
loan words in the source text, 2 Translation by cultural substitution and 3. Translation using a loan word or loan words plus explanation.
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1. Translation using loan words in the source text. The using of loan words in the source text poses a special problem in
translaion. Quite apart from the respective propositional meaning, loan words such as “au fait, chic, and alfresto” in English are often used for the prestige value, because it
can add an air of sophistication to the text or its subject matter. This is often lost in translation because it is not always possible to find a loan word with the same
meaning in TL.
Example : ST : I certainly wasn’t born to the life of a Geisha. TT : Aku tidak dilahirkan dalam kehidupan seorang Geisha.
2. Translation by cultural substitution. This strategy involves a culture – specific items or expression with a target
language item which does not have the same propositional meaning, but it is likely to have a similar impact on the target reader. The main advantage of using this strategy
is that it gives the reader a concept with which the reader can identify, something fimiliar and appealing.
On individual level, the translator’s decision to use this strategy will largerly depend on a how much licence is given to him her by those who commission the
translation and b the purpose of the translation. On more general level, the decision will also reflect, to some extent, the norms of translation prevailing in a given
community. Linguistic communities vary in the extent to which they tolerate the strategies that involve significant departure from the propositional meaning of the
text. In the “ Memoirs of a Geisha” , there are some words that used the cultural
substitution. The translator uses this strategy because the word is Japanese cultural in communication that has the close relationship with others.
Example : ST : He looked at me, that’s all oneisan. TT : Dia melihatku. Itu saja, kakak.
3. Translation using a loan word or loan words plus explanation. This strategy is particularly common in dealing with culture – specific items
and modern concepts. Following the loan word with an explanation is very useful
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when the words in question are repeated several times in the text. Once explained, the loan word can be used on its own ; the reader can understand it and is not
distracted by further lengthy explanations. In the “ Memoirs of a Geisha”, the translator uses this strategy in order to the
reader can uderstand the meaning of the Japanese culture. The translator also uses this strategies for the words that have some meaning for a Geisha, so that the
translation take the close meaning or right meaning, especially for a Geisha.
Example : ST : The Baron is a very special man to me, my ‘ danna’. TT : Baron orang yang spesial bagiku, Danna–ku pelindung.
2.5 Translation and Culture
