The Translation Strategies Of The Cultural Terms Found in The Inheritances of Loss
THE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES OF THE CULTURAL TERMS
FOUND IN THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Strata One
Dede Nurillaila
1110026000029
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF
HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2015
THE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES OF THE CULTURAL TERMS
FOUND IN THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS
Dede Nurillaila
1110026000029
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF
HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2015
ABSTRACT
Dede Nurillaila, The Translation Strategy of the Cultural Terms Found in The
Heritance Of Loss. A Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities
Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, March 2015.
This research investigates types of cultural terms related to social system
and the strategies in translating them into Indonesian. The data were taken from
the novel entitled The Inheritance of Loss in English and its translation in
Indonesian translated by Rika Iffati Farihah.
The researcher uses the qualitative method by reading both English and
Indonesian version novels, marking the cultural terms, classifying, selecting and
analyzing them based on the theories of translation strategy which are taken from
some relevant references.
There are 10 cultural terms related to social system found in the novel
based on Ke Ping’s classification. It is also found that from 7 translation strategies
proposed by Mona Baker, 3 strategies can be used in translating the terms: first, 8
terms translated by translation using loan word and 1 terms translated by
translation using loan word with explanation and 1 terms translated by translation
using cultural substitution.
i
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best
of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or
written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been
accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other
institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in
text.
Jakarta, March 20th 2015
Dede Nurillaila
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
All praises be to Allah SWT, the Lord of Universe, on the overflow of
graces and mercies to mankind, who amazingly guides the researcher in the
process of making this thesis. Peace and Salutation be upon the greatest prophet
Muhammad SAW, his family, companions and adherents, who had changed the
world from the darkness into the lightness.
On this occassion, the researcher wants to say many thanks to her beloved
parents (Hambali and EncunSuryani) and her oldersister (Payuningsih) and
twoolder brothers (Awaludin and Maulana), who have kept, taught, advised and
prayed for her success. The researcher also wants to give her gratitude to Mr. Dr.
Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd and Mr. M. Agus Suriadi, M.Hum, as the researcher’s
advisors for their time, guidance, patience, kindness, contribution in correcting
and helping her in finishing her thesis.
The researcher would like to express her appreciation to the following
people, namely:
1. Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M.Ag, the Dean of Letters and Humanities
Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta;
2. Mr. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, the Assistant of Dean of Letters
and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah
Jakarta;
v
3. Mr. Drs. Saefuddin, M.Pd, the Head of English Letters Department and
Ms. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum, the Secretary of English Letters
Department;
4. All lecturers and the staffs of Adab and Humanities Faculty;
5. Special thanks to Agus Mujianto for being her fiancé, friend, beloved,
figures, and shoulders to rely on, “You’re my everything”;
6. The researcher’s beloved FRIENDS: Siti Khodijah, Ratu Shodfatul
Munifah, Hafizah Adha, Siti Lutfah Y, Sheila Khalidah W, and Aden
Irmat. Thanks for all support and memories.
7. All friends of class B and Translation class;
8. The researcher’s friends in Translation Class:Dwi Santika and Khilda
Nida.
9. To all people and friends that are not mentioned, “Thank you very much.”
May Allah, the all-Hearer and all-Knower, always bless’ protects, and gives
them more than they have given to the researcher. Hopefully, this thesis will be
advantageous for all people who read it.
Jakarta, March 20th, 2015
The Writer
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... i
APPROVEMENT ............................................................................................... ii
LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION ................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... vii
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION........................................................... 1
A. Background of the Research ....................................... 1
B. Focus of the Research ................................................. 4
C. Research Question ....................................................... 4
D. Objective of the Research ........................................... 5
E. Significance of the Research ....................................... 5
F. Research Methodology................................................ 5
1. Research Method ................................................... 5
2. Technique of Data Analysis ................................. 6
3. Instrument of the Research.................................... 6
4. Unit of Analysis .................................................... 7
5. Time and Place of the Research .......................... 7
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................ 8
A. Translation................................................................... 8
1. Definition of Translation ....................................... 8
2. The Types of Translation ...................................... 9
B. The Strategy of Translation......................................... 11
C. Cultural Words ............................................................ 14
1. Definition .............................................................. 14
2. The Types of Cultural Words ................................ 15
vii
D. Cultural Untranslatability Word .................................. 17
E. Types of Cultural Untranslatability............................. 18
F. Translation Novel ........................................................ 20
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS ................................................ 21
A. Data Analysis .............................................................. 22
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION .......................... 32
A. Conclusion .................................................................. 32
B. Suggestion ................................................................... 33
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................... 34
APPENDICES ..................................................................................................... 36
viii
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Research
Language is the important aspect in the life of all beings. We use language to
express our inner thought, to learn and to communicate each others. This is in
appropriate with the definition of language in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
of Current English ―Language is the system of communication in speech and writing
used by people of a particular country‖.2 It means that language consists of the
elements or components that are regularly arranged according to a certain pattern and
form a unity. We must be able to speak by using language that is structured according
to the correct system.
Essentially, language serves as a communication tool for people in the world
that is used in various levels, and diverse interests. Therefore, using communicative
language requires knowledge and skills using a wide variety of languages. In the field
of translation, the translators are required to translating any text communicatively
from various sources all over the world.
A.S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2000), p.752.
2
1
2
Meanwhile, translation is the liaison between countries in the world that have
a different language and custom. Translation can connect people between the
countries in the world, as Hoed states that, translation is the activity diverts messages
from one language (source language/SL) to another (target language/TL).3
Basically translating text is translating culture, because language is essentially
a product of a particular culture. As we know, language is a part of culture.
Meanwhile there were so many kinds of different cultures in the world, because every
country has its own culture, so that the language used varies also.
Moreover, every culture has its own incongruity that is not owned by another
culture. This fact may cause many kinds of unique cultural products that make other
people from different culture difficult to find the equivalence in their cultures and
languages. This is in line with Catford’s opinion that says ―The central problem of
translation practice is that of finding TL translation equivalents‖4. This means that the
main problem in translation is to find the equivalent as precise as possible.
In order to find the cultural equivalent, the translator will deal with the
concept of translatability and untranslatability. The larger the differences between
source language and target language in their language structures and cultures, the
more the untranslatable factors are produced. For example, the word ―Kejawen‖ in
Indonesian was not found the equivalent in English word, and ―Halloween‖ in
English was not found the equivalent in Indonesian. The differences of cultural
3
4
p. 21
Benny Hoed, Penerjemahan dan Kebudayaan, (Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya, 2006), p. 33.
J.C Catford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974),
3
between English and Indonesian language is the major problem that a translator needs
to concern about. Therefore, the translator should make the readers understand about
the message of the target language by giving an explanation about those cultural
words.
For instance, when translating the novel text, the translator will face some
problems of the way to translate a title, choose personal pronoun pronominal, and
translate metaphor and idiom.5 All of problems and difficulties that appear when
translating a novel text is a challenging job for a translator to produce the translation
result which is equal to the source text and also acceptable in the target text.
In this case, the researcher wants to analyze about what are the cultural terms
related to social system found together with what the translation strategies used in
translating The Inheritance of Loss into Senja di Himalaya in order to produce the
acceptable work also to keep the messages of the source language that can be
received by the target reader comprehensively. The Inheritance of Loss is authorized
by Kiran Desai, she is an Indian author, a citizen of India, also a permanent resident
of the United States. Her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss, launched in the
2006, won the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction
Award. This novel becomes the best seller which is translated into Indonesian
language by Rika Iffati Farihah. The Inheritance of Loss tells about two main
characters Biju and Sai. Biju is an illegal Indian immigrant living in the United
5
Frans Sayogie, Teori dan Praktek Penerjemahan Bahasa Inggris ke dalam Bahasa
Indonesia (Tangerang: Pustaka Aanak Negeri, 2009), pp. 208-212
4
States. Sai is a girl living in mountainous Kalimpong. Desai switches the narration
between both points of view. The action of the novel takes place in 1986. In this
novel, there are many words giving obstacles for translator to reach the equivalent
word in the target language, because of the cultural differences between source and
target language.
In this research, the researcher tries to find words containing cultural terms, to
classify them based on the categories of cultural terms related to social system
adapted from Ke Ping, indeed the researcher tries to analyze the translation strategies
used by the translator to translate the cultural terms in The Inheritance of Loss. This
research can lead the translator be more reasonable in translating cultural terms.
B. Focus of the Research
This research focuses only on the translation of cultural terms related to social
system found in the novel entitled The Inheritance of Loss written by Kiran Desai and
translated into Indonesian language by Rika Iffati Farihah also what translation
strategies are used by the translator.
C. Research Question
Based on the limitation above, the researcher formulates research questions as
follow:
5
1. What are the kinds of cultural terms related to social system found in
Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance of Loss and their translation in
Bahasa Indonesia?
2. What are kinds of translation strategies used by the translator to translate
the cultural untranslatability words in Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance
of Loss?
D. Objectives of the Research
Objectives of the research based on the problem statements are as follow:
1. To identify and classify the cultural terms related to social system found in
the novel based on Ke Ping’s classification.
2. To find the kinds of translation strategies used by the translator to translate
the cultural terms in Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance of Loss based on
Mona Baker’s classisication of translation strategies.
E. Significances of the Research
The result of this research expectantly will be advantageous to the writer
herself and the readers.
1. To know deeply about cultural terms found in the source language.
2. To give a contribution to another researcher in analyzing the literary work,
in this research is a novel.
6
F. Research Methodology
1. Research Method
The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative method.
The writer reads both English and Indonesian version of the novel The
Inheritance of Loss, which tries to find the cultural terms and translation
strategies applied by the translator (Rika Iffati Farihah).
2. Technique of Data Analysis
To analyze the data, the researcher uses descriptive analysis technique
that is supported by the relevant theory, and the researcher uses the following
steps:
1) Reading both version English-Indonesian novels, marking all
cultural terms in both of versions and making notes about them in
a piece of paper. In The Inheritance of Loss, one side of the paper
consists of the English cultural term and the other side has the
translation;
2) Classifying the data to be more specific based on Ke Ping’s
category of cultural terms related to social system and the
translation strategy adapted from Mona Baker.
7
3. Instrument of the Research
The instrument of the research is the researcher herself by reading both
version novels comprehend, observing, signing, and grouping the SL cultural
terms and the target language translation used by translator in translating
novel The Inheritance of Loss that will be analyzed for the report.
4. Unit of Analysis
Unit of analysis in this research is The Inheritance of Loss, a novel by Kiran
Desai published by Penguin Group (Canada) in 2006 and its translation Senja
di Himalaya by Rika Iffati Farihah in 2007 published by PT Mizan Pustaka.
5. Time and Place of the Research
The writer starts doing the research from December 2013 in English Letter
Department, Letter and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of
―Syarif Hidayatullah‖ Jakarta. The research is located at the English Letters
Department, Library of State Islamic University of ―Syarif Hidayatullah‖
Jakarta, some of University Libraries in Jakarta, and the writer’s house.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Translation
In this chapter, the researcher will express some theories about the notion of
translation. Nowadays translation is seen as an important role in human
activities and for the translator as a mediator between cultures. In this
globalization era, the needs to the translated matter have increased intensely.
As quoted by Newmark of Jumpelt7, 20th century is said to be the
century of translation. As well since the 19th century translation is the only
way to communicate between the philosophy and other scientists.
1. Definition of Translation
There are a lot of understandings about translation which can be found
in all the books about translation. Some linguistic experts have similar opinion
about translation but formulated in different ways. Catford stated, ―Translation
may be defined as follows: the replacement of textual material in one language
(SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL).‖8 Here, Catford
emphasized that the subtitles should be commensurate with the original text.
7
Peter Newmark, Approach to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981), p. 3.
J.C Catford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (London: Oxford University Press,
1965), p. 20.
8
8
9
Here, Catford emphasized that the subtitles should be commensurate with
the original text.Furthermore, Nida and Taber stated, ―Translating consist in
reproducing in a receptor language the closest natural equivalent of a source
language message firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.‖9 It
means, when process of translating a language into another language, it cannot
omit the meaning and style. While Newmarkdefined translation as ―a craft
consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement in one
language by the same message and/or statement in another language.‖10 It means
the intention of the author of the text must be considered by the translator.
Therefore, in translation the intention of the author in the source language used as
a benchmark whether it is appropriate or not the meaning of the source language.
After explaining some definition above, the researcher makes a conclusion
that translation is the process of rendering the source language to target language
without changing the meaning. It means that before translating, the translator must
be recognizing the target reader about the result of translating.
2. The Types of Translation
Practically, there are some types of translation that have their own
characteristics and forms. To distinguish the concept of translation, Jacobson
differentiate translation into:11
9
Eugene A. Nida and Charles R. Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation (Leiden:
E.J. Brill, 1982), p. 12.
10
Peter Newmark, Approach to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, Ltd, 1981), p. 7.
11
Roman Jacobson, On Linguistic Aspects of Translation, in L.Venuti (ed.) (2004), pp.
138 – 43.
10
a. Intralingual translation or rewording (an interpretation of verbal signs
by means of other signs in the same language).12 This intralingual
translation is the conversion of a text into another text based on the
interpretation of the translator. For example, when we write back a
poem into prose in Indonesian, then we do intralingual translation.
b. Interlingual translation or translation proper (an interpretation of
verbal signs by means of the signs of some other language). 13 This
type of translation is a translation in the real sense. In this type, the
translator rewrote meaning of the source language text or message
text into the target language.
c. Intersemiotic translation or transmutation (an interpretation of verbal
signs by means of the signs of a nonverbal system). 14 This type
includes the interpretation of a text into a form or another sign
system. For example, interpretation of a novel into a soap opera with
the same title.
Those concept are to seek the presence of translation equivalence, but
Jacobson argued that the intralingual translation only have an idea of the process
of transfer from the source language into the target language.
12
Ibid.
Ibid.
14
Ibid.
13
11
B. The Strategy of Translation
Strategy is a plan or method for achieving a specific goal (the whole text).
Mona Baker states that there are eight types of translation strategy for
professional translation.15
1. Translation by a more general word
This is one of the most common strategies to deal with many types of
nonequivalence. As Baker believes, it works appropriately in most, if not all,
languages, because in the semantic field, meaning is not language dependent.
For example:
SL : My mother frightened about flooding at home constantly.
TL :Ibuku selalu takut akan banjir dirumah.
*contantly translated selalu.
This is a common strategy used by the translator to find the equivalent of a
variety words that do not have a direct equivalent.
2. Translation by a more neutral/ less expressive word.
This is another strategy in the semantic field of structure. This strategy is
used to reduce the negative impression by the word in the source language,
which is due to the meaning of which is owned by the words in the source
language. For example:
SL : Sophie is still looking deadly bored and sleepy.
TL : Sophie masih kelihatan sangat bosan dan ngantuk.
*Deadly translated sangat
15
Mona Baker, In Other Words Coursebook on Translation (New York: Routledge,
1992), pp. 26-42.
12
3. Translation by cultural substitution
This strategy involves replacing a culture-specific item or expression with a
target language item considering its impact on the target reader. This strategy
makes the translated text more natural, more understandable and more familiar
to the target reader.
For example:
SL :Next week will be halloween party.
TL :Minggu depan akan diadakan pestatopeng.
4. Translation using a loan word or loan word plus explanation
This strategy is usually used in dealing with culture-specific items, modern
concepts, and buzz words. Using the loan word with an explanation is very
useful when a word is repeated several times in the text. At the first time the
word is mentioned by the explanation and in the next times the word can be
used by its own. For example:
SL :This is true of Bali where the unique ornamentation of the gringsing
cloths of Tenganan village Are said to be designs painted in the sky,
creations of BataraIndra.
TL :Begitupun di Bali ragam yang unik pada kain gringsing dari desa
Tenganan, adalah desain yang terlukis di langit yang di ciptakan oleh
Batara Indra.
This strategy is very commonly used, especially if associated with culturespecific item, modern concepts and words that talk about rumors.
13
5. Translation by paraphrase using a related word
This strategy is used when the source item in lexicalized in the target
language but in a different form, and when the frequency with which a
certain form is used in the source text is obviously higher than it would be
natural in the target language. For example :
SL :Obama is an Afro-American man.
TL :Presiden Obama berdarah campuran Afrika-Amerika.
6. Translation by paraphrase using unrelated words
The paraphrase strategy can be used when the concept in the source item is
not lexicalized in the target language. When the meaning of the source item is
complex in the target language, the paraphrase strategy may be used instead
of using related words; it may be based on modifying a super-ordinate or
simply on making clear the meaning of the source item. For example:
SL :They have a totally integrated operation from the preparation of the yarn
through to the weaving it.
TL :Mereka mempunyai semua langkah – langkah produksi dalam pabrik ini
dimulai dari menyediakan benang hingga menggulungnya..
7. Translation by omission
This may be a drastic kind of strategy, but in fact it may be even useful to
omit translating a word or expression in some contexts. If the meaning
conveyed by a particular item or expression is not necessary to mention in the
understanding of the translation, translators use this strategy to avoid lengthy
explanations. For example:
14
SL : Tommy made the excuse of feeling tired and went up to his room.
TL : Tommy beralasan bahwa dia capek, dan dia naik ke kamarnya.
The word ―feeling‖ is omitted this step was taken while not reducing the
important messages conveyed.
8. Translation by illustration
This strategy can be useful when the target equivalent item does not cover
some aspects of the source item and the equivalent item refers to a physical
entity which can be illustrated, particularly in order to avoid over-explanation
and to be concise and to the point. For example :
SL: Beyond the veranda, speck insects suspended in a pod within which they
jigged tirelessly.
TL: Diseberang beranda, serangga – serangga sangat kecil yang tergantung
dalam sebuah kulit tempat mereka melompat – lompat tanpa lelah
didalamnya.
C. Cultural Words
1. Definition
As we know, translation arises as a result of communication problems
caused by different languages and language is a part of culture. It is important to
be remembered that culture cannot always be translated into the target language
well, because we have to know the culture of both source and target language.
Translation is not a simple message redirection activity. These transfers of
messages from the source language into the target language should pay attention
15
to several aspects, especially about culture. Translating the language that involves
elements of culture is very challenging for translators because many translators
who said that culture is difficult to be translated, or even impossible to translate.
According to Newmark, culture is ―… a way of life and its manifestations
that are peculiar to a community that uses a particular language as its means of
expression‖.
16
And Larson says that culture is a complex of beliefs, attitudes,
values, and rules which a group of people share.17 It can be concluded that cultural
words is a word, a group of words, or compound word which states specifically on
the cultural significance.
2. The Types of Cultural Words
Newmark sets the comprehensive cultural categories according to Nida’s
divisions, to make it easier to understand the researcher categorizing into a table
as following below:18
Table 1.1
Cultural Categories by Newmark’s classification
No.
16
Categories
1.
Ecology
2.
Material culture
3.
Social culture
Sub Catagories/ Elements
Concerns the geographical surrounding
of nature such as flora, fauna, winds,
plains, hills, etc.
This category includes what is related
to every day supplies for instance
foods, drinks, clothes etc.
It concerns work and leisure such as the
names of music, mass media, games
and dance.
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p 94.
Mildred L. Larson, Meaning Based Translation (New York: University Press of
America, 1988), p. 94.
18
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 95.
17
16
4.
5.
Organizations,
customs, activities,
procedures, concepts
Gestures and habits
Political, religious, artistic activists.
Body gestures and habits.
Another classification is done by Ke Ping.19 He defines that culture is
normally regarded as comprising, with some slight variations. The variations of
these cultural terms follow four sub-systems:
Table 1.2
Cultural categories by Ke Ping’s classification
No.
1.
Categories
Techno-economic
System
19
2.
Social system
3.
Ideational system
Sub Catagories
a. Ecology (flora, fauna, climate, etc.);
b. Means of production, exchange, and
distribution of goods;
c. Crafts, technology, and science;
artifacts (material culture);
a. Social classes and groups;
b. Kinship system (typology, sex and
marriage, procreation and paternity,
size of family, etc.);
c. Politics and law
d. Education;
e. Sports and entertainment;
f. Customs;
g. General history.
a. Cosmology;
b. Religion;
c. Magic and witchcraft;
d. Folklore;
e. Artistic creations as images;
f. Values (moral, aesthetic, etc.);
g. Cognitive focus and thinking
patterns;
h. Ideology.
Ke Ping, Cultural Presuppositions and Misreadings. META, Vol 44, No 1 (1999): 133143. Retrieved September 28th, 2014 from http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/003296ar.online.
17
4.
Linguistic system
a. Phonology and graphemics;
b. Grammar (morphology and syntax);
c. Semantics and pragmatics.
Ke Ping’s classification of cultural terms is used in this research as the
background story of the novel. This is the most important point in using Ke Ping’s
classification. In addition, Ke Ping also gives the details of four classifications
which are useful in classifying the terms and preventing ambiguity
.
D. Cultural Untranslatability Word
The translation that involves cultural items needs serious attention because
the translator will be faced with complex problems, namely the untranslatability.
Catford distinguishes two types of untranslatability, linguistic and cultural.20
Linguistic untranslatability occurs when there is no lexical or syntactic substitute
in language for the Source language item. This is the result of the differences
between the Source language and the Target language. Cultural untranslatability is
due to the absence in the target culture of a relevant situational feature for the
Source language text.
Translation is a part of a continuous process of intercultural transfer. The
translator has to present the aspects of social culture that is unfamiliar to the
receiving audience. They consist of elements of the material culture like food,
dress and tools, factors of social structures like customs and law, features of the
natural world like weather, flora and fauna, and social functions like festivals,
rituals and ceremonies.
20
J.C. Catford (1965), op. cit., p. 94
18
E. Types of cultural untranslatability
According to translation, cultural obstructions or cultural differences, reflects
five aspects: historical culture, geographical and psychological culture, material
culture, customs and traditions as well as religious culture.21
1. The historical culture
The historical culture refers to the culture settled and formed during the
development of society. Different nations have different historical
development, so their historical cultures are different. This kind of difference
impedes the communication between languages. For example, the word
―prabu‖ must be translated in a direct way with the some explanations, for
there are lacks of such historical background in western country.
2. The geographical and psychological culture
Different nations’ geographical and psychological culture is also a main
barrier in translation. Because of the different geographical environment and
different nation’s mentalities, the same word will have totally different
meanings in two different cultures. For example, ―East wind‖ in Chinese and
English is a vivid example. Chinese people and favors the east wind, for it is
always a symbol of ―spring‖ and ―warmness‖ while people in Britain dislike
the east wind, because the east wind is from the northern part of the European
continent, so it is always symbolize ―coldness‖ and ―sadness‖.
21
Cultural Differences and Untranslatability, http://www.21jfs.com/Item/596.aspx,
accessed on September 26th 2014.
19
3. The material culture
Many words reflecting the distinctive material culture in the source
language should be paid much attention to when translated them. For example,
the word ―cricket‖ is a peculiar word in the English language, for it is a
popular outdoor game in Britain, and plays an important role in people’s daily
life. There is a saying ―It is as significant as a game of cricket.‖ If we want to
translate this sentence, we should add some background information for the
Indonesian readers, because playing cricket is rare in Indonesia.
4. Customs and traditions
The different customs and traditions in the daily activities and
communications in Indonesia and Western countries reflect the different
cultural mentality. The naming system is a good example, which reflects the
different standards of the degrees of people’s close relations, the relations
between people in the higher and lower levels. For example, in Indonesia
people used to call others by their degree of family relation to show the
respect while in western countries people call each other’s name directly to
show the close relations.
5. The religious culture
Religious culture means the culture formed by a nation’s religious beliefs
and common sense .Its difference lies in the difference in the beliefs and
the prohibitions of different countries. For example shalat, dzikir, lebaran,
etc.
20
F. Translation Novel
Novel is a literary work that reveals the stories are fictional using elements
of character, plot, setting and style to express a particular theme. Novel much in
demand among readers because the story is interesting, straightforward language,
and its contents were impressed realistic due to reveal things that are very close to
reality. As a work of imaginative, novel can be used for the researcher to express
their thoughts and feelings. While novel translation is a novel that is structured by
way of divert translated foreign novels into Indonesian.
In translation novel there are some differences with the original Indonesian
novel. The difference is reflected in the language elements, customs, cultures, and
values.Sayogie says that the good novel translation occurs when the impression of
source language readers.22 It means that the translation of novel should be
interesting in the way of presenting the wholly story and must gives the same
message and impression between both source and target language readers. In
translating novel, thereare some techniques of novel translationthere are:1) the
translator should be masteringthe source language, 2) mastering the target
language, 3) mastering the translated material, 4) familiar with all types of
dictionaries, 5) easy and accustomed to seeing ―overall description‖ of the novel
and 6) read as many other similar novel.
22
FransSayogie (2009), op.cit.p. 204.
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
This chapter presents and discusses the results of the research. The cultural
terms related to social system and strategies in translation are presented in one
section. The section discusses the types of cultural terms based on Ke Ping’s
classification and the strategies in translating the terms according to Mona
Baker’s classification.
A. Data Analysis
This section discussed the cultural terms found in the novel. There are 10
cultural terms related to social system found from the source text, the original
version, and it can be classified under types of cultural terms related to social
system based on Ke Ping’s theory. There are 2 strategies of translation of this
novel which is related to social system, and it classified based on Mona Baker’s
theory of translation strategies.
Datum 1:
SL : The wedding party lasted a week and was so opulent that nobody
in Piphit could doubt but the family lived a life awash in ghee
and gold, so when Bomanbhai bent over with a Namaste and
begged his guests to eat and drink, they knew his modesty was
false—and of the best kind, therefore.
21
22
TL :Pesta pernikahan itu berlangsung selama seminggu dan
sedemikian mewah sampai tak ada orang di Piphit yang
meragukan bahwa keluarga tersebut hidup berkelimpahan ghee
dan emas, jadi ketika Bomanbhai membungkukkan badan sambil
mengucapkan Namaste dan memohon agar tamu-tamunya makan
dan minum, mereka tahu sikap rendah hati ini cuma pura-pura—
dan dengan demikian merupakan sikap rendah hati yang paling
baik.
The term Namaste in sentence (8) above belong to the social system
related to custom. Namaste is a common valediction or salutation originating from
the Hinduism the Indian Subcontinent. It is a customary greeting when individuals
meet, and a valediction upon their parting.20Namaste in this novel is also
explained in the same way. When spoken to another person, it is commonly
accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching
and fingers pointed upwards, in front the chest.
Namaste is translated into Namaste, it can be said that the translator used
the strategy of translation using loan word. The researcher identified that the
translator borrowed Hindi cultural word by using italic for the word, so this
strategy can be mentioned as pure borrowing with ―wholly italic‖. In the
researcher’s opinion, the translator used italic form in the translation because SL
word is used in italic form. This translation cannot be accepted as it is not clearly
described the term, because the translator did not give more explanation and
information about the term. Thus, the translation should be better added more
explanation by putting it in the bracket, making a note or giving appendix of the
term.
20
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/namaste, accessed on January 5th 2015
23
Datum 2 :
SL : "Babaji, just look outside—how are we to keep them dry? It is
humanly impossible, they are getting wet as we transfer them
from van to office."
TL : ―Babaji, lihat saja di luar—bagaimana kita bisa menjaga agar
surat-surat itu tetap kering? Secara manusiawi, itu mustahil,
surat-surat tersebut menjadi basah saat kami memindahkannya
dari van kekantor.‖
The example of kinship system is shown in datum (2). From this sentence,
it can get an example of phrase related to paternity. The word "baabaa" [originally
from Persian] means "daddy" still used with this meaning in Urdu. However, this
word has come to signify an "old man". So, when one is addressing an old man
(or anyone older for that matter) one adds "jii" (or jaan in Urdu) to convey
respect.21
The term Babaji in the sentences above is not translated. The translator
used the term as it is in the SL text. It’s function to introduce the Hindi culture
about the social classes of calling for father. Though, it is still possible to translate
the term to Indonesian as Bapak or Ayah. Thus, the way that the translator used in
this case is translation using a loan word. This translation is cannot be accepted,
because the translatoronly borrowing the term from source language without
providing a clear explanation or information, so it will make the readers confused
about the term. Thus, the translator would be better to addexplanation by putting it
in the bracket of the term, or making a note and giving appendix.
21
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=babaji+ki+booti, accessed on
January 5th 2015
24
Datum 3:
SL : ―Better get it straight before you get on the plane, bhai.‖
TL : ―Lebih baik kau paham itu sebelum naik pesawat, bhai.‖
Bhai in datum (3) belongs to social system which is part of kinship
system. Bhai translated from hindi/gujarati as brother. Bhai used to call your
younger brother if he has a stupid name you can't be arsed to say or to embarrass
him in front of friends.22 In this novel, bhai was not described clearly. The term
bhai in the novel used for talking in a friendly way to a man.
From the example above, the translation of the word bhai is transferred
directly into the TL. Whereas, it still possible to translate the terminto Indonesian
language as Mas or Abang. Therefore, the translation strategy used to translate
this term is translation using a loan word. The researcher identified that the
translator borrowed Hindi cultural word by using italic for the word, so this
strategy can be mentioned as pure borrowing with ―wholly italic‖. In the
researcher’s opinion, the translator used italic form in the translation, because SL
word is used in italic form.
Datum 4:
SL : They looked at Sai. ―Didi . . ., ―the woman said.
TL :Mereka menatap Sai, ―Didi . . ., si perempuan berkata.
In the Oxford dictionary, didi is an older sister or older female cousin
(often as a proper name or form of address) a respectful form of address to any
22
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bhai, accessed on March 23rd 2015
25
olderwoman familiar to the speaker.23 In the sentences above didi can be
classified as social system, such as kinship system. Didi in this novel is used for
talking in a friendly way to a woman.
The example above shows that the translator translates the term didi into
didi. Though, the word didi is still possible to be translated in Indonesia as mbak
or kakak. The translator translated the term directly in the target language. It can
be said that the translator used the strategy of translation using loan word. In
Indonesian culture the word didi is widely used by Indonesia society as a name of
someone, so the translation of the term will exactly make the reader confused to
understand and bring a different understanding as the translator translated didi as
didi without italicizing the term or giving more explanation about the term.
Datum 5:
SL : ―A great shikari he was, Saibaby.
TL : ―Sungguh shikari yang hebat dia, Saibaby.
The term shikari in datum (5) above belongs to the social system related
to kinship system. A shikari is a big game hunter or hunting guide in India.24
Shikari in this novel is also explained in the same way. Shikari is someone who
is experienced in hunting, especially a wild animal.
The translation of the term in the target language clearly uses borrowing. It
means that the translation uses the strategy of translation using a loan word.
Though, it is still possible to translate the term to Indonesia as pemburu. In
23
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/didi, accessed on March 23rd
24
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/shikari, accessed on March 23rd 2015
2015
26
addition, based on the context, there is an explanation of the word by putting it in
the appendix in the novel, so it is not enough to just borrow that word. The word
shikari is translated to shikari. It can be assumed that the translator wants readers
to know that the word shikari is a foreign word. This translation is cannot be
accepted, because the translator only borrowing the word without giving more
explanation about the term, in order to makes readers understand what the
sentences are about.
Datum 6:
SL : Indian who lived abroad, Indians who traveled abroad, richest
and poorest, the back-and-forth ones maintaining green cards.
TL : Orang – orang India yang tinggal diluar negeri, yang paling kaya
dan yang paling miskin, orang – orang yang mondar mandir
mempertahankan green card mereka.
Green card is alien registration card issued by the US immigration
authorities to non-US citizens permitted to live and work in the US for an
indefinite period. So called like this, because it was originally printed on green
paper.25The translator explained green card as surat izin yang memungkinkan
warga negara asing untuk tinggal dan bekerja di Amerika Serikat. According to
the explanation of the text above, Green card is the example of social system
related to politics and law. The translator does not put the explanation directly.
The information puts in the foot note while the translator retains the original term
of green card in order to inform to the Indonesian reader about the term.
25
2015
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/green-card.html, accessed on March 23rd
27
In translating the two sentences above, the translator uses the strategy of
using a loan word with explanation. The use of this strategy is needed with some
of the considerations firstly, when the cultural term translated was not described
clearly in the novel. Secondly, there are equivalent that if approached in the target
language, although not entirely accurate. Third, the translator tries to retain the
authenticity of the narrative.
Datum 7:
SL : A bit of ―sir sahib huzoor‖ for politeness’ sake, but that was just
residual veneer now; he knew what they really thought of him.
TL: Sekelumit ―tuan sahib huzoor‖ demi basa-basi, tetapi itu hanya
polesan sisa sekarang; dia sudah tau apa sebenarnya anggapan
mereka tentang dirinya.
Huzoor is an Indian of high rank, or a title of respect for such a person.26
The term huzoor in the sentence can be classified as social system which is part
of kinship system. In the bilingual Hindi-Indonesian dictionary, the term of
huzoor has the same meaning as tuan. The translator not only put tuan as the
similar meaning in Indonesian language, but also huzoor in the target language,
so it has two terms in the sentences of target language.
The term huzoor in the sentences above is not translated. The translator
uses the term as it is in the source language text. The aim is to introduce the Hindi
culture about the kinship system of calling for master. It can be identified that the
strategy which is used by the translator is translation using a loan word. This
26
2015
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/huzoor, accessed on March 23rd
28
translation is cannot be accepted as the translator only borrow the word without
give more explanation or information of term, as it can make the reader confuse to
understand the sentences. Thus the translator should give some explanation by
putting it in the bracket of term or make a note and appendix in the novel.
Datum 8:
SL :―Please, sahib. . . .‖ It was the same wife and father of the tortured
man.
TL : ―Tolonglah, sahib. . . .‖ Mereka adalah istri dan ayah dari pria
yang di siksa waktu dulu itu.
The term sahib in the sentence (8) above belongs to the social system
related to kinship system. Sahib is (in India) sir; master: a term of respect used,
especially during the colonial period, when addressing or referring to a
European.27 In bilingual English-Indonesian dictionary, the term sahib has an
equivalent as tuan. The term sahib is transferred directly into the target language
without any change.
In this case, the translator uses the strategy of translation using loan word
to translate the term. In researcher’s opinion this translation is cannot be accepted,
because the translator only borrows the term from source language without
provides a clear explanation or information, so it will makes the readers confused
about the term. Thus, the translator would be better to adding more explanation by
putting it in the bracket of the term, or making a note and giving appendix.
27
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sahib?s=t, accessed on March 23rd 2015
29
Datum 9:
SL : She had left India a meek bride, scrolled and spattered with
henna, so much gold in her sari she set off every metal detector
in the airport—and now here she was—white pantsuit, bobbed
hair, vanity case, and capable of doing the macarena.
TL: Wanita itu meninggalkan India sebagai seorang mempelai yang
penurut, terlukis dan terpecik henna, sarinya dihiasi emas begitu
banyak sehingga dia menyalakan semua detector logam di
bandara—dan sekarang inilah dia—mengenakan jaket dan celana
panjang yang serasi, rambut dipotong pendek, tas make-up dan
mampu bergoyang macarena.
Datum (9) shows, macarena as the cultural words that belongs to social
system related to entertainment. Macarena is (often initial capital letter) a dance
performed in a group line or solo and followed by arrhythmic pattern of arm,
hand, and hip movements in time to a Spanish song.28 According to Oxford
dictionaries Macarena is a dance performed with exaggerated hipmotion to a
fast Latin rhythm.29 Yet, Indonesian culture does not have this kind of dance.
Therefore, there is not an equivalent word in Indonesian language. It is identified
that the translator uses translation using a loan word as the strategy to translate the
term in which she preserves the term Macarena in its original word. It can be
assumed that the translator wants readers to know that the word Macarena is a
foreign word.This translation is cannot be accepted, because the translator only
borrowing the term from source language without providing a clear explanation or
information, because there is no term of such dance in Indonesian culture. Thus,
the translator would be better to add explanation by putting it in the bracket of the
term, or making a note and giving appendix.
28
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/macarena?s=t, accessed on March 23rd 2015
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Macarena?q=macarena, accessed
on March 23rd 2015
29
30
Datum 10:
ST :
TT :
He met his friend the MetalBoxwatchman, and they walked
together to the Mela Ground, through the entrance gate that was
mounted with a statue of Gandhi to commemorate Indian
Independence.
Dia bertemu dengan temannya si satpam MetalBox, dan mereka
berjalan bersama menuju Lapangan Mela, melalui gerbang masuk
yang diatasnya dipasang patung Gandhi untuk memperingati
kemerdekaan India.
The term watchman in the sentences above can be classified as social
system which is part of law. In bilingual English-Indonesia dictionary, the word
watchman has an equivalent as Penjaga. In the example above the translator
translated watchman into satpam. In the oxford dictionary watchman is
a man employed to look after an empty building, especially at night. The
Indonesian translator replaced it with satpam which does not have the same
meaning since the term satpam refers to the men who usually wear the more
official looking white uniforms. The term satpam is an abbreviation of Satuan
Petugas Keamanan, roughly tr
FOUND IN THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Strata One
Dede Nurillaila
1110026000029
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF
HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2015
THE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES OF THE CULTURAL TERMS
FOUND IN THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS
Dede Nurillaila
1110026000029
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF
HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2015
ABSTRACT
Dede Nurillaila, The Translation Strategy of the Cultural Terms Found in The
Heritance Of Loss. A Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities
Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, March 2015.
This research investigates types of cultural terms related to social system
and the strategies in translating them into Indonesian. The data were taken from
the novel entitled The Inheritance of Loss in English and its translation in
Indonesian translated by Rika Iffati Farihah.
The researcher uses the qualitative method by reading both English and
Indonesian version novels, marking the cultural terms, classifying, selecting and
analyzing them based on the theories of translation strategy which are taken from
some relevant references.
There are 10 cultural terms related to social system found in the novel
based on Ke Ping’s classification. It is also found that from 7 translation strategies
proposed by Mona Baker, 3 strategies can be used in translating the terms: first, 8
terms translated by translation using loan word and 1 terms translated by
translation using loan word with explanation and 1 terms translated by translation
using cultural substitution.
i
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best
of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or
written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been
accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other
institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in
text.
Jakarta, March 20th 2015
Dede Nurillaila
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
All praises be to Allah SWT, the Lord of Universe, on the overflow of
graces and mercies to mankind, who amazingly guides the researcher in the
process of making this thesis. Peace and Salutation be upon the greatest prophet
Muhammad SAW, his family, companions and adherents, who had changed the
world from the darkness into the lightness.
On this occassion, the researcher wants to say many thanks to her beloved
parents (Hambali and EncunSuryani) and her oldersister (Payuningsih) and
twoolder brothers (Awaludin and Maulana), who have kept, taught, advised and
prayed for her success. The researcher also wants to give her gratitude to Mr. Dr.
Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd and Mr. M. Agus Suriadi, M.Hum, as the researcher’s
advisors for their time, guidance, patience, kindness, contribution in correcting
and helping her in finishing her thesis.
The researcher would like to express her appreciation to the following
people, namely:
1. Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M.Ag, the Dean of Letters and Humanities
Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta;
2. Mr. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, the Assistant of Dean of Letters
and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah
Jakarta;
v
3. Mr. Drs. Saefuddin, M.Pd, the Head of English Letters Department and
Ms. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum, the Secretary of English Letters
Department;
4. All lecturers and the staffs of Adab and Humanities Faculty;
5. Special thanks to Agus Mujianto for being her fiancé, friend, beloved,
figures, and shoulders to rely on, “You’re my everything”;
6. The researcher’s beloved FRIENDS: Siti Khodijah, Ratu Shodfatul
Munifah, Hafizah Adha, Siti Lutfah Y, Sheila Khalidah W, and Aden
Irmat. Thanks for all support and memories.
7. All friends of class B and Translation class;
8. The researcher’s friends in Translation Class:Dwi Santika and Khilda
Nida.
9. To all people and friends that are not mentioned, “Thank you very much.”
May Allah, the all-Hearer and all-Knower, always bless’ protects, and gives
them more than they have given to the researcher. Hopefully, this thesis will be
advantageous for all people who read it.
Jakarta, March 20th, 2015
The Writer
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... i
APPROVEMENT ............................................................................................... ii
LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION ................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... vii
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION........................................................... 1
A. Background of the Research ....................................... 1
B. Focus of the Research ................................................. 4
C. Research Question ....................................................... 4
D. Objective of the Research ........................................... 5
E. Significance of the Research ....................................... 5
F. Research Methodology................................................ 5
1. Research Method ................................................... 5
2. Technique of Data Analysis ................................. 6
3. Instrument of the Research.................................... 6
4. Unit of Analysis .................................................... 7
5. Time and Place of the Research .......................... 7
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................ 8
A. Translation................................................................... 8
1. Definition of Translation ....................................... 8
2. The Types of Translation ...................................... 9
B. The Strategy of Translation......................................... 11
C. Cultural Words ............................................................ 14
1. Definition .............................................................. 14
2. The Types of Cultural Words ................................ 15
vii
D. Cultural Untranslatability Word .................................. 17
E. Types of Cultural Untranslatability............................. 18
F. Translation Novel ........................................................ 20
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS ................................................ 21
A. Data Analysis .............................................................. 22
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION .......................... 32
A. Conclusion .................................................................. 32
B. Suggestion ................................................................... 33
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................... 34
APPENDICES ..................................................................................................... 36
viii
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Research
Language is the important aspect in the life of all beings. We use language to
express our inner thought, to learn and to communicate each others. This is in
appropriate with the definition of language in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
of Current English ―Language is the system of communication in speech and writing
used by people of a particular country‖.2 It means that language consists of the
elements or components that are regularly arranged according to a certain pattern and
form a unity. We must be able to speak by using language that is structured according
to the correct system.
Essentially, language serves as a communication tool for people in the world
that is used in various levels, and diverse interests. Therefore, using communicative
language requires knowledge and skills using a wide variety of languages. In the field
of translation, the translators are required to translating any text communicatively
from various sources all over the world.
A.S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2000), p.752.
2
1
2
Meanwhile, translation is the liaison between countries in the world that have
a different language and custom. Translation can connect people between the
countries in the world, as Hoed states that, translation is the activity diverts messages
from one language (source language/SL) to another (target language/TL).3
Basically translating text is translating culture, because language is essentially
a product of a particular culture. As we know, language is a part of culture.
Meanwhile there were so many kinds of different cultures in the world, because every
country has its own culture, so that the language used varies also.
Moreover, every culture has its own incongruity that is not owned by another
culture. This fact may cause many kinds of unique cultural products that make other
people from different culture difficult to find the equivalence in their cultures and
languages. This is in line with Catford’s opinion that says ―The central problem of
translation practice is that of finding TL translation equivalents‖4. This means that the
main problem in translation is to find the equivalent as precise as possible.
In order to find the cultural equivalent, the translator will deal with the
concept of translatability and untranslatability. The larger the differences between
source language and target language in their language structures and cultures, the
more the untranslatable factors are produced. For example, the word ―Kejawen‖ in
Indonesian was not found the equivalent in English word, and ―Halloween‖ in
English was not found the equivalent in Indonesian. The differences of cultural
3
4
p. 21
Benny Hoed, Penerjemahan dan Kebudayaan, (Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya, 2006), p. 33.
J.C Catford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974),
3
between English and Indonesian language is the major problem that a translator needs
to concern about. Therefore, the translator should make the readers understand about
the message of the target language by giving an explanation about those cultural
words.
For instance, when translating the novel text, the translator will face some
problems of the way to translate a title, choose personal pronoun pronominal, and
translate metaphor and idiom.5 All of problems and difficulties that appear when
translating a novel text is a challenging job for a translator to produce the translation
result which is equal to the source text and also acceptable in the target text.
In this case, the researcher wants to analyze about what are the cultural terms
related to social system found together with what the translation strategies used in
translating The Inheritance of Loss into Senja di Himalaya in order to produce the
acceptable work also to keep the messages of the source language that can be
received by the target reader comprehensively. The Inheritance of Loss is authorized
by Kiran Desai, she is an Indian author, a citizen of India, also a permanent resident
of the United States. Her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss, launched in the
2006, won the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction
Award. This novel becomes the best seller which is translated into Indonesian
language by Rika Iffati Farihah. The Inheritance of Loss tells about two main
characters Biju and Sai. Biju is an illegal Indian immigrant living in the United
5
Frans Sayogie, Teori dan Praktek Penerjemahan Bahasa Inggris ke dalam Bahasa
Indonesia (Tangerang: Pustaka Aanak Negeri, 2009), pp. 208-212
4
States. Sai is a girl living in mountainous Kalimpong. Desai switches the narration
between both points of view. The action of the novel takes place in 1986. In this
novel, there are many words giving obstacles for translator to reach the equivalent
word in the target language, because of the cultural differences between source and
target language.
In this research, the researcher tries to find words containing cultural terms, to
classify them based on the categories of cultural terms related to social system
adapted from Ke Ping, indeed the researcher tries to analyze the translation strategies
used by the translator to translate the cultural terms in The Inheritance of Loss. This
research can lead the translator be more reasonable in translating cultural terms.
B. Focus of the Research
This research focuses only on the translation of cultural terms related to social
system found in the novel entitled The Inheritance of Loss written by Kiran Desai and
translated into Indonesian language by Rika Iffati Farihah also what translation
strategies are used by the translator.
C. Research Question
Based on the limitation above, the researcher formulates research questions as
follow:
5
1. What are the kinds of cultural terms related to social system found in
Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance of Loss and their translation in
Bahasa Indonesia?
2. What are kinds of translation strategies used by the translator to translate
the cultural untranslatability words in Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance
of Loss?
D. Objectives of the Research
Objectives of the research based on the problem statements are as follow:
1. To identify and classify the cultural terms related to social system found in
the novel based on Ke Ping’s classification.
2. To find the kinds of translation strategies used by the translator to translate
the cultural terms in Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance of Loss based on
Mona Baker’s classisication of translation strategies.
E. Significances of the Research
The result of this research expectantly will be advantageous to the writer
herself and the readers.
1. To know deeply about cultural terms found in the source language.
2. To give a contribution to another researcher in analyzing the literary work,
in this research is a novel.
6
F. Research Methodology
1. Research Method
The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative method.
The writer reads both English and Indonesian version of the novel The
Inheritance of Loss, which tries to find the cultural terms and translation
strategies applied by the translator (Rika Iffati Farihah).
2. Technique of Data Analysis
To analyze the data, the researcher uses descriptive analysis technique
that is supported by the relevant theory, and the researcher uses the following
steps:
1) Reading both version English-Indonesian novels, marking all
cultural terms in both of versions and making notes about them in
a piece of paper. In The Inheritance of Loss, one side of the paper
consists of the English cultural term and the other side has the
translation;
2) Classifying the data to be more specific based on Ke Ping’s
category of cultural terms related to social system and the
translation strategy adapted from Mona Baker.
7
3. Instrument of the Research
The instrument of the research is the researcher herself by reading both
version novels comprehend, observing, signing, and grouping the SL cultural
terms and the target language translation used by translator in translating
novel The Inheritance of Loss that will be analyzed for the report.
4. Unit of Analysis
Unit of analysis in this research is The Inheritance of Loss, a novel by Kiran
Desai published by Penguin Group (Canada) in 2006 and its translation Senja
di Himalaya by Rika Iffati Farihah in 2007 published by PT Mizan Pustaka.
5. Time and Place of the Research
The writer starts doing the research from December 2013 in English Letter
Department, Letter and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of
―Syarif Hidayatullah‖ Jakarta. The research is located at the English Letters
Department, Library of State Islamic University of ―Syarif Hidayatullah‖
Jakarta, some of University Libraries in Jakarta, and the writer’s house.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Translation
In this chapter, the researcher will express some theories about the notion of
translation. Nowadays translation is seen as an important role in human
activities and for the translator as a mediator between cultures. In this
globalization era, the needs to the translated matter have increased intensely.
As quoted by Newmark of Jumpelt7, 20th century is said to be the
century of translation. As well since the 19th century translation is the only
way to communicate between the philosophy and other scientists.
1. Definition of Translation
There are a lot of understandings about translation which can be found
in all the books about translation. Some linguistic experts have similar opinion
about translation but formulated in different ways. Catford stated, ―Translation
may be defined as follows: the replacement of textual material in one language
(SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL).‖8 Here, Catford
emphasized that the subtitles should be commensurate with the original text.
7
Peter Newmark, Approach to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981), p. 3.
J.C Catford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (London: Oxford University Press,
1965), p. 20.
8
8
9
Here, Catford emphasized that the subtitles should be commensurate with
the original text.Furthermore, Nida and Taber stated, ―Translating consist in
reproducing in a receptor language the closest natural equivalent of a source
language message firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.‖9 It
means, when process of translating a language into another language, it cannot
omit the meaning and style. While Newmarkdefined translation as ―a craft
consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement in one
language by the same message and/or statement in another language.‖10 It means
the intention of the author of the text must be considered by the translator.
Therefore, in translation the intention of the author in the source language used as
a benchmark whether it is appropriate or not the meaning of the source language.
After explaining some definition above, the researcher makes a conclusion
that translation is the process of rendering the source language to target language
without changing the meaning. It means that before translating, the translator must
be recognizing the target reader about the result of translating.
2. The Types of Translation
Practically, there are some types of translation that have their own
characteristics and forms. To distinguish the concept of translation, Jacobson
differentiate translation into:11
9
Eugene A. Nida and Charles R. Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation (Leiden:
E.J. Brill, 1982), p. 12.
10
Peter Newmark, Approach to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, Ltd, 1981), p. 7.
11
Roman Jacobson, On Linguistic Aspects of Translation, in L.Venuti (ed.) (2004), pp.
138 – 43.
10
a. Intralingual translation or rewording (an interpretation of verbal signs
by means of other signs in the same language).12 This intralingual
translation is the conversion of a text into another text based on the
interpretation of the translator. For example, when we write back a
poem into prose in Indonesian, then we do intralingual translation.
b. Interlingual translation or translation proper (an interpretation of
verbal signs by means of the signs of some other language). 13 This
type of translation is a translation in the real sense. In this type, the
translator rewrote meaning of the source language text or message
text into the target language.
c. Intersemiotic translation or transmutation (an interpretation of verbal
signs by means of the signs of a nonverbal system). 14 This type
includes the interpretation of a text into a form or another sign
system. For example, interpretation of a novel into a soap opera with
the same title.
Those concept are to seek the presence of translation equivalence, but
Jacobson argued that the intralingual translation only have an idea of the process
of transfer from the source language into the target language.
12
Ibid.
Ibid.
14
Ibid.
13
11
B. The Strategy of Translation
Strategy is a plan or method for achieving a specific goal (the whole text).
Mona Baker states that there are eight types of translation strategy for
professional translation.15
1. Translation by a more general word
This is one of the most common strategies to deal with many types of
nonequivalence. As Baker believes, it works appropriately in most, if not all,
languages, because in the semantic field, meaning is not language dependent.
For example:
SL : My mother frightened about flooding at home constantly.
TL :Ibuku selalu takut akan banjir dirumah.
*contantly translated selalu.
This is a common strategy used by the translator to find the equivalent of a
variety words that do not have a direct equivalent.
2. Translation by a more neutral/ less expressive word.
This is another strategy in the semantic field of structure. This strategy is
used to reduce the negative impression by the word in the source language,
which is due to the meaning of which is owned by the words in the source
language. For example:
SL : Sophie is still looking deadly bored and sleepy.
TL : Sophie masih kelihatan sangat bosan dan ngantuk.
*Deadly translated sangat
15
Mona Baker, In Other Words Coursebook on Translation (New York: Routledge,
1992), pp. 26-42.
12
3. Translation by cultural substitution
This strategy involves replacing a culture-specific item or expression with a
target language item considering its impact on the target reader. This strategy
makes the translated text more natural, more understandable and more familiar
to the target reader.
For example:
SL :Next week will be halloween party.
TL :Minggu depan akan diadakan pestatopeng.
4. Translation using a loan word or loan word plus explanation
This strategy is usually used in dealing with culture-specific items, modern
concepts, and buzz words. Using the loan word with an explanation is very
useful when a word is repeated several times in the text. At the first time the
word is mentioned by the explanation and in the next times the word can be
used by its own. For example:
SL :This is true of Bali where the unique ornamentation of the gringsing
cloths of Tenganan village Are said to be designs painted in the sky,
creations of BataraIndra.
TL :Begitupun di Bali ragam yang unik pada kain gringsing dari desa
Tenganan, adalah desain yang terlukis di langit yang di ciptakan oleh
Batara Indra.
This strategy is very commonly used, especially if associated with culturespecific item, modern concepts and words that talk about rumors.
13
5. Translation by paraphrase using a related word
This strategy is used when the source item in lexicalized in the target
language but in a different form, and when the frequency with which a
certain form is used in the source text is obviously higher than it would be
natural in the target language. For example :
SL :Obama is an Afro-American man.
TL :Presiden Obama berdarah campuran Afrika-Amerika.
6. Translation by paraphrase using unrelated words
The paraphrase strategy can be used when the concept in the source item is
not lexicalized in the target language. When the meaning of the source item is
complex in the target language, the paraphrase strategy may be used instead
of using related words; it may be based on modifying a super-ordinate or
simply on making clear the meaning of the source item. For example:
SL :They have a totally integrated operation from the preparation of the yarn
through to the weaving it.
TL :Mereka mempunyai semua langkah – langkah produksi dalam pabrik ini
dimulai dari menyediakan benang hingga menggulungnya..
7. Translation by omission
This may be a drastic kind of strategy, but in fact it may be even useful to
omit translating a word or expression in some contexts. If the meaning
conveyed by a particular item or expression is not necessary to mention in the
understanding of the translation, translators use this strategy to avoid lengthy
explanations. For example:
14
SL : Tommy made the excuse of feeling tired and went up to his room.
TL : Tommy beralasan bahwa dia capek, dan dia naik ke kamarnya.
The word ―feeling‖ is omitted this step was taken while not reducing the
important messages conveyed.
8. Translation by illustration
This strategy can be useful when the target equivalent item does not cover
some aspects of the source item and the equivalent item refers to a physical
entity which can be illustrated, particularly in order to avoid over-explanation
and to be concise and to the point. For example :
SL: Beyond the veranda, speck insects suspended in a pod within which they
jigged tirelessly.
TL: Diseberang beranda, serangga – serangga sangat kecil yang tergantung
dalam sebuah kulit tempat mereka melompat – lompat tanpa lelah
didalamnya.
C. Cultural Words
1. Definition
As we know, translation arises as a result of communication problems
caused by different languages and language is a part of culture. It is important to
be remembered that culture cannot always be translated into the target language
well, because we have to know the culture of both source and target language.
Translation is not a simple message redirection activity. These transfers of
messages from the source language into the target language should pay attention
15
to several aspects, especially about culture. Translating the language that involves
elements of culture is very challenging for translators because many translators
who said that culture is difficult to be translated, or even impossible to translate.
According to Newmark, culture is ―… a way of life and its manifestations
that are peculiar to a community that uses a particular language as its means of
expression‖.
16
And Larson says that culture is a complex of beliefs, attitudes,
values, and rules which a group of people share.17 It can be concluded that cultural
words is a word, a group of words, or compound word which states specifically on
the cultural significance.
2. The Types of Cultural Words
Newmark sets the comprehensive cultural categories according to Nida’s
divisions, to make it easier to understand the researcher categorizing into a table
as following below:18
Table 1.1
Cultural Categories by Newmark’s classification
No.
16
Categories
1.
Ecology
2.
Material culture
3.
Social culture
Sub Catagories/ Elements
Concerns the geographical surrounding
of nature such as flora, fauna, winds,
plains, hills, etc.
This category includes what is related
to every day supplies for instance
foods, drinks, clothes etc.
It concerns work and leisure such as the
names of music, mass media, games
and dance.
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p 94.
Mildred L. Larson, Meaning Based Translation (New York: University Press of
America, 1988), p. 94.
18
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 95.
17
16
4.
5.
Organizations,
customs, activities,
procedures, concepts
Gestures and habits
Political, religious, artistic activists.
Body gestures and habits.
Another classification is done by Ke Ping.19 He defines that culture is
normally regarded as comprising, with some slight variations. The variations of
these cultural terms follow four sub-systems:
Table 1.2
Cultural categories by Ke Ping’s classification
No.
1.
Categories
Techno-economic
System
19
2.
Social system
3.
Ideational system
Sub Catagories
a. Ecology (flora, fauna, climate, etc.);
b. Means of production, exchange, and
distribution of goods;
c. Crafts, technology, and science;
artifacts (material culture);
a. Social classes and groups;
b. Kinship system (typology, sex and
marriage, procreation and paternity,
size of family, etc.);
c. Politics and law
d. Education;
e. Sports and entertainment;
f. Customs;
g. General history.
a. Cosmology;
b. Religion;
c. Magic and witchcraft;
d. Folklore;
e. Artistic creations as images;
f. Values (moral, aesthetic, etc.);
g. Cognitive focus and thinking
patterns;
h. Ideology.
Ke Ping, Cultural Presuppositions and Misreadings. META, Vol 44, No 1 (1999): 133143. Retrieved September 28th, 2014 from http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/003296ar.online.
17
4.
Linguistic system
a. Phonology and graphemics;
b. Grammar (morphology and syntax);
c. Semantics and pragmatics.
Ke Ping’s classification of cultural terms is used in this research as the
background story of the novel. This is the most important point in using Ke Ping’s
classification. In addition, Ke Ping also gives the details of four classifications
which are useful in classifying the terms and preventing ambiguity
.
D. Cultural Untranslatability Word
The translation that involves cultural items needs serious attention because
the translator will be faced with complex problems, namely the untranslatability.
Catford distinguishes two types of untranslatability, linguistic and cultural.20
Linguistic untranslatability occurs when there is no lexical or syntactic substitute
in language for the Source language item. This is the result of the differences
between the Source language and the Target language. Cultural untranslatability is
due to the absence in the target culture of a relevant situational feature for the
Source language text.
Translation is a part of a continuous process of intercultural transfer. The
translator has to present the aspects of social culture that is unfamiliar to the
receiving audience. They consist of elements of the material culture like food,
dress and tools, factors of social structures like customs and law, features of the
natural world like weather, flora and fauna, and social functions like festivals,
rituals and ceremonies.
20
J.C. Catford (1965), op. cit., p. 94
18
E. Types of cultural untranslatability
According to translation, cultural obstructions or cultural differences, reflects
five aspects: historical culture, geographical and psychological culture, material
culture, customs and traditions as well as religious culture.21
1. The historical culture
The historical culture refers to the culture settled and formed during the
development of society. Different nations have different historical
development, so their historical cultures are different. This kind of difference
impedes the communication between languages. For example, the word
―prabu‖ must be translated in a direct way with the some explanations, for
there are lacks of such historical background in western country.
2. The geographical and psychological culture
Different nations’ geographical and psychological culture is also a main
barrier in translation. Because of the different geographical environment and
different nation’s mentalities, the same word will have totally different
meanings in two different cultures. For example, ―East wind‖ in Chinese and
English is a vivid example. Chinese people and favors the east wind, for it is
always a symbol of ―spring‖ and ―warmness‖ while people in Britain dislike
the east wind, because the east wind is from the northern part of the European
continent, so it is always symbolize ―coldness‖ and ―sadness‖.
21
Cultural Differences and Untranslatability, http://www.21jfs.com/Item/596.aspx,
accessed on September 26th 2014.
19
3. The material culture
Many words reflecting the distinctive material culture in the source
language should be paid much attention to when translated them. For example,
the word ―cricket‖ is a peculiar word in the English language, for it is a
popular outdoor game in Britain, and plays an important role in people’s daily
life. There is a saying ―It is as significant as a game of cricket.‖ If we want to
translate this sentence, we should add some background information for the
Indonesian readers, because playing cricket is rare in Indonesia.
4. Customs and traditions
The different customs and traditions in the daily activities and
communications in Indonesia and Western countries reflect the different
cultural mentality. The naming system is a good example, which reflects the
different standards of the degrees of people’s close relations, the relations
between people in the higher and lower levels. For example, in Indonesia
people used to call others by their degree of family relation to show the
respect while in western countries people call each other’s name directly to
show the close relations.
5. The religious culture
Religious culture means the culture formed by a nation’s religious beliefs
and common sense .Its difference lies in the difference in the beliefs and
the prohibitions of different countries. For example shalat, dzikir, lebaran,
etc.
20
F. Translation Novel
Novel is a literary work that reveals the stories are fictional using elements
of character, plot, setting and style to express a particular theme. Novel much in
demand among readers because the story is interesting, straightforward language,
and its contents were impressed realistic due to reveal things that are very close to
reality. As a work of imaginative, novel can be used for the researcher to express
their thoughts and feelings. While novel translation is a novel that is structured by
way of divert translated foreign novels into Indonesian.
In translation novel there are some differences with the original Indonesian
novel. The difference is reflected in the language elements, customs, cultures, and
values.Sayogie says that the good novel translation occurs when the impression of
source language readers.22 It means that the translation of novel should be
interesting in the way of presenting the wholly story and must gives the same
message and impression between both source and target language readers. In
translating novel, thereare some techniques of novel translationthere are:1) the
translator should be masteringthe source language, 2) mastering the target
language, 3) mastering the translated material, 4) familiar with all types of
dictionaries, 5) easy and accustomed to seeing ―overall description‖ of the novel
and 6) read as many other similar novel.
22
FransSayogie (2009), op.cit.p. 204.
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
This chapter presents and discusses the results of the research. The cultural
terms related to social system and strategies in translation are presented in one
section. The section discusses the types of cultural terms based on Ke Ping’s
classification and the strategies in translating the terms according to Mona
Baker’s classification.
A. Data Analysis
This section discussed the cultural terms found in the novel. There are 10
cultural terms related to social system found from the source text, the original
version, and it can be classified under types of cultural terms related to social
system based on Ke Ping’s theory. There are 2 strategies of translation of this
novel which is related to social system, and it classified based on Mona Baker’s
theory of translation strategies.
Datum 1:
SL : The wedding party lasted a week and was so opulent that nobody
in Piphit could doubt but the family lived a life awash in ghee
and gold, so when Bomanbhai bent over with a Namaste and
begged his guests to eat and drink, they knew his modesty was
false—and of the best kind, therefore.
21
22
TL :Pesta pernikahan itu berlangsung selama seminggu dan
sedemikian mewah sampai tak ada orang di Piphit yang
meragukan bahwa keluarga tersebut hidup berkelimpahan ghee
dan emas, jadi ketika Bomanbhai membungkukkan badan sambil
mengucapkan Namaste dan memohon agar tamu-tamunya makan
dan minum, mereka tahu sikap rendah hati ini cuma pura-pura—
dan dengan demikian merupakan sikap rendah hati yang paling
baik.
The term Namaste in sentence (8) above belong to the social system
related to custom. Namaste is a common valediction or salutation originating from
the Hinduism the Indian Subcontinent. It is a customary greeting when individuals
meet, and a valediction upon their parting.20Namaste in this novel is also
explained in the same way. When spoken to another person, it is commonly
accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching
and fingers pointed upwards, in front the chest.
Namaste is translated into Namaste, it can be said that the translator used
the strategy of translation using loan word. The researcher identified that the
translator borrowed Hindi cultural word by using italic for the word, so this
strategy can be mentioned as pure borrowing with ―wholly italic‖. In the
researcher’s opinion, the translator used italic form in the translation because SL
word is used in italic form. This translation cannot be accepted as it is not clearly
described the term, because the translator did not give more explanation and
information about the term. Thus, the translation should be better added more
explanation by putting it in the bracket, making a note or giving appendix of the
term.
20
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/namaste, accessed on January 5th 2015
23
Datum 2 :
SL : "Babaji, just look outside—how are we to keep them dry? It is
humanly impossible, they are getting wet as we transfer them
from van to office."
TL : ―Babaji, lihat saja di luar—bagaimana kita bisa menjaga agar
surat-surat itu tetap kering? Secara manusiawi, itu mustahil,
surat-surat tersebut menjadi basah saat kami memindahkannya
dari van kekantor.‖
The example of kinship system is shown in datum (2). From this sentence,
it can get an example of phrase related to paternity. The word "baabaa" [originally
from Persian] means "daddy" still used with this meaning in Urdu. However, this
word has come to signify an "old man". So, when one is addressing an old man
(or anyone older for that matter) one adds "jii" (or jaan in Urdu) to convey
respect.21
The term Babaji in the sentences above is not translated. The translator
used the term as it is in the SL text. It’s function to introduce the Hindi culture
about the social classes of calling for father. Though, it is still possible to translate
the term to Indonesian as Bapak or Ayah. Thus, the way that the translator used in
this case is translation using a loan word. This translation is cannot be accepted,
because the translatoronly borrowing the term from source language without
providing a clear explanation or information, so it will make the readers confused
about the term. Thus, the translator would be better to addexplanation by putting it
in the bracket of the term, or making a note and giving appendix.
21
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=babaji+ki+booti, accessed on
January 5th 2015
24
Datum 3:
SL : ―Better get it straight before you get on the plane, bhai.‖
TL : ―Lebih baik kau paham itu sebelum naik pesawat, bhai.‖
Bhai in datum (3) belongs to social system which is part of kinship
system. Bhai translated from hindi/gujarati as brother. Bhai used to call your
younger brother if he has a stupid name you can't be arsed to say or to embarrass
him in front of friends.22 In this novel, bhai was not described clearly. The term
bhai in the novel used for talking in a friendly way to a man.
From the example above, the translation of the word bhai is transferred
directly into the TL. Whereas, it still possible to translate the terminto Indonesian
language as Mas or Abang. Therefore, the translation strategy used to translate
this term is translation using a loan word. The researcher identified that the
translator borrowed Hindi cultural word by using italic for the word, so this
strategy can be mentioned as pure borrowing with ―wholly italic‖. In the
researcher’s opinion, the translator used italic form in the translation, because SL
word is used in italic form.
Datum 4:
SL : They looked at Sai. ―Didi . . ., ―the woman said.
TL :Mereka menatap Sai, ―Didi . . ., si perempuan berkata.
In the Oxford dictionary, didi is an older sister or older female cousin
(often as a proper name or form of address) a respectful form of address to any
22
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bhai, accessed on March 23rd 2015
25
olderwoman familiar to the speaker.23 In the sentences above didi can be
classified as social system, such as kinship system. Didi in this novel is used for
talking in a friendly way to a woman.
The example above shows that the translator translates the term didi into
didi. Though, the word didi is still possible to be translated in Indonesia as mbak
or kakak. The translator translated the term directly in the target language. It can
be said that the translator used the strategy of translation using loan word. In
Indonesian culture the word didi is widely used by Indonesia society as a name of
someone, so the translation of the term will exactly make the reader confused to
understand and bring a different understanding as the translator translated didi as
didi without italicizing the term or giving more explanation about the term.
Datum 5:
SL : ―A great shikari he was, Saibaby.
TL : ―Sungguh shikari yang hebat dia, Saibaby.
The term shikari in datum (5) above belongs to the social system related
to kinship system. A shikari is a big game hunter or hunting guide in India.24
Shikari in this novel is also explained in the same way. Shikari is someone who
is experienced in hunting, especially a wild animal.
The translation of the term in the target language clearly uses borrowing. It
means that the translation uses the strategy of translation using a loan word.
Though, it is still possible to translate the term to Indonesia as pemburu. In
23
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/didi, accessed on March 23rd
24
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/shikari, accessed on March 23rd 2015
2015
26
addition, based on the context, there is an explanation of the word by putting it in
the appendix in the novel, so it is not enough to just borrow that word. The word
shikari is translated to shikari. It can be assumed that the translator wants readers
to know that the word shikari is a foreign word. This translation is cannot be
accepted, because the translator only borrowing the word without giving more
explanation about the term, in order to makes readers understand what the
sentences are about.
Datum 6:
SL : Indian who lived abroad, Indians who traveled abroad, richest
and poorest, the back-and-forth ones maintaining green cards.
TL : Orang – orang India yang tinggal diluar negeri, yang paling kaya
dan yang paling miskin, orang – orang yang mondar mandir
mempertahankan green card mereka.
Green card is alien registration card issued by the US immigration
authorities to non-US citizens permitted to live and work in the US for an
indefinite period. So called like this, because it was originally printed on green
paper.25The translator explained green card as surat izin yang memungkinkan
warga negara asing untuk tinggal dan bekerja di Amerika Serikat. According to
the explanation of the text above, Green card is the example of social system
related to politics and law. The translator does not put the explanation directly.
The information puts in the foot note while the translator retains the original term
of green card in order to inform to the Indonesian reader about the term.
25
2015
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/green-card.html, accessed on March 23rd
27
In translating the two sentences above, the translator uses the strategy of
using a loan word with explanation. The use of this strategy is needed with some
of the considerations firstly, when the cultural term translated was not described
clearly in the novel. Secondly, there are equivalent that if approached in the target
language, although not entirely accurate. Third, the translator tries to retain the
authenticity of the narrative.
Datum 7:
SL : A bit of ―sir sahib huzoor‖ for politeness’ sake, but that was just
residual veneer now; he knew what they really thought of him.
TL: Sekelumit ―tuan sahib huzoor‖ demi basa-basi, tetapi itu hanya
polesan sisa sekarang; dia sudah tau apa sebenarnya anggapan
mereka tentang dirinya.
Huzoor is an Indian of high rank, or a title of respect for such a person.26
The term huzoor in the sentence can be classified as social system which is part
of kinship system. In the bilingual Hindi-Indonesian dictionary, the term of
huzoor has the same meaning as tuan. The translator not only put tuan as the
similar meaning in Indonesian language, but also huzoor in the target language,
so it has two terms in the sentences of target language.
The term huzoor in the sentences above is not translated. The translator
uses the term as it is in the source language text. The aim is to introduce the Hindi
culture about the kinship system of calling for master. It can be identified that the
strategy which is used by the translator is translation using a loan word. This
26
2015
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/huzoor, accessed on March 23rd
28
translation is cannot be accepted as the translator only borrow the word without
give more explanation or information of term, as it can make the reader confuse to
understand the sentences. Thus the translator should give some explanation by
putting it in the bracket of term or make a note and appendix in the novel.
Datum 8:
SL :―Please, sahib. . . .‖ It was the same wife and father of the tortured
man.
TL : ―Tolonglah, sahib. . . .‖ Mereka adalah istri dan ayah dari pria
yang di siksa waktu dulu itu.
The term sahib in the sentence (8) above belongs to the social system
related to kinship system. Sahib is (in India) sir; master: a term of respect used,
especially during the colonial period, when addressing or referring to a
European.27 In bilingual English-Indonesian dictionary, the term sahib has an
equivalent as tuan. The term sahib is transferred directly into the target language
without any change.
In this case, the translator uses the strategy of translation using loan word
to translate the term. In researcher’s opinion this translation is cannot be accepted,
because the translator only borrows the term from source language without
provides a clear explanation or information, so it will makes the readers confused
about the term. Thus, the translator would be better to adding more explanation by
putting it in the bracket of the term, or making a note and giving appendix.
27
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sahib?s=t, accessed on March 23rd 2015
29
Datum 9:
SL : She had left India a meek bride, scrolled and spattered with
henna, so much gold in her sari she set off every metal detector
in the airport—and now here she was—white pantsuit, bobbed
hair, vanity case, and capable of doing the macarena.
TL: Wanita itu meninggalkan India sebagai seorang mempelai yang
penurut, terlukis dan terpecik henna, sarinya dihiasi emas begitu
banyak sehingga dia menyalakan semua detector logam di
bandara—dan sekarang inilah dia—mengenakan jaket dan celana
panjang yang serasi, rambut dipotong pendek, tas make-up dan
mampu bergoyang macarena.
Datum (9) shows, macarena as the cultural words that belongs to social
system related to entertainment. Macarena is (often initial capital letter) a dance
performed in a group line or solo and followed by arrhythmic pattern of arm,
hand, and hip movements in time to a Spanish song.28 According to Oxford
dictionaries Macarena is a dance performed with exaggerated hipmotion to a
fast Latin rhythm.29 Yet, Indonesian culture does not have this kind of dance.
Therefore, there is not an equivalent word in Indonesian language. It is identified
that the translator uses translation using a loan word as the strategy to translate the
term in which she preserves the term Macarena in its original word. It can be
assumed that the translator wants readers to know that the word Macarena is a
foreign word.This translation is cannot be accepted, because the translator only
borrowing the term from source language without providing a clear explanation or
information, because there is no term of such dance in Indonesian culture. Thus,
the translator would be better to add explanation by putting it in the bracket of the
term, or making a note and giving appendix.
28
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/macarena?s=t, accessed on March 23rd 2015
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Macarena?q=macarena, accessed
on March 23rd 2015
29
30
Datum 10:
ST :
TT :
He met his friend the MetalBoxwatchman, and they walked
together to the Mela Ground, through the entrance gate that was
mounted with a statue of Gandhi to commemorate Indian
Independence.
Dia bertemu dengan temannya si satpam MetalBox, dan mereka
berjalan bersama menuju Lapangan Mela, melalui gerbang masuk
yang diatasnya dipasang patung Gandhi untuk memperingati
kemerdekaan India.
The term watchman in the sentences above can be classified as social
system which is part of law. In bilingual English-Indonesia dictionary, the word
watchman has an equivalent as Penjaga. In the example above the translator
translated watchman into satpam. In the oxford dictionary watchman is
a man employed to look after an empty building, especially at night. The
Indonesian translator replaced it with satpam which does not have the same
meaning since the term satpam refers to the men who usually wear the more
official looking white uniforms. The term satpam is an abbreviation of Satuan
Petugas Keamanan, roughly tr