14
5. When a sentence consists of two subtitles, the first subtitle is closed with
three sequence dots to inform the viewer that the subtitle does not end yet continued.
25
The linking dots, three dots at the beginning of the second subtitle, are used to inform the viewer that the current subtitle is the
continuation of the preceding subtitle. 6.
Etc.
The rules of subtitling stated above are strict, as it involves technical matters such as timing, space, etc. However, the strict rules of subtitling are meant to
produce the best result. Rather than being burdened by the rules, a good subtitler need to take advantage of it. For example, a difficult message in subtitle can be
translated by shortening or simplifying it. This can be treated as a “freedom” of translation within subtitling, despite being restricted.
C. Translation Procedures
Translation procedures are used for translations of sentences and the smaller units of language.
26
Subtitle, which is the subject of this research, fits the definition of “small units of language”. This is because subtitles are mainly made
of sentences, phrases, and such, not paragraphs. For this reason, the writer used Newmark‟s translation procedures to analyze the subtitle of Monsters University.
The procedures are outlined below:
25
Ibid. p.17
26
Peter Newmark, Op.cit. p.81
15
a Transference
Transference, or also known as loan word or transcription, is a process of transferring a SL word into a TL text.
27
In other words, it is a process that leaves the SL word completely unchanged in the TL text.
Example: -The names of all living things - The names of private companies
- Geographical and Topographical names - The names of cultural items.
Etc. In short, transference is mostly used to transfer common terms. In some instances,
cultural terms would be transferred as a whole if there is no recognized translation for it.
Here‟s another example to give a clearer picture of transference:
- I need to reload my thompson. Translates into:
- Aku harus mengisi peluru thompson-ku Thompson is the name of a firearm. Due to the exclusive nature of the name, it
cannot be translated or change in any way in TL. The only thing that the translator should do for this kind of situation is to transfer the SL as it is in TL. Therefore,
the SL name is preserved in TL.
27
Ibid.
16
b Naturalisation
An advanced form of transference that adapts the SL word to the normal pronunciation, then to the normal morphology of the TL.
28
Notable examples are : -
“Pancake” into “Panekuk” -
“Gangster” into “Gengster“ -
“Humour” into “Humor” -
“Escalator” into “Eskalator”
Etc. As the name implies, this procedure naturalizes the term in SL into a more natural
form in TL.
c Cultural Equivalent
A procedure that uses TL cultural words to translate SL cultural words.
29
The explanation of this procedure is best shown in example such as:
- “Killing two birds with one stone” into “Sekali dayung dua pulau”
- “Out from frying pan, into the fire” into “Keluar dari kandang buaya,
masuk kandang singa”
- “Two peas in the same pod” into “Seperti pinang dibelah dua”
The first three examples are idioms, which is a culture-specific feature found in any language. The translation of the idioms above has a matching equivalent with
each other, making them a perfect match. Simply put, it‟s a translation of culture
28
Ibid. p.82
29
Ibid.
17
into culture. However, not every cultural word can be treated like this, which makes the usage of cultural equivalent procedure very limited.
d Functional Equivalent
A procedure that uses culture-free word or a new specific term to translate cultural words.
30
In other words, the cultural words is neutralized or generalized in TL. As such, Newmark regards this as the most accurate way in translating or
deculturalising cultural word. Examples: -
Howdy hotshot Translates Into
- Apa kabar, jagoan
- Oh bugger, I forgot my homework.
Translates into -
Sial, aku lupa mengerjakan PR.
e Descriptive Equivalent
A procedure that describes the meaning of SL word in TL text.
31
This procedure sometimes combines the functional equivalent strategy on its usage.
For example, “golok” is translated into “A type of large-sized knife that is used to cut things with its sharp blade”. Notice that in the example, it contains both
description and function of “golok”. This shows that description and function are essential elements in translation process.
30
Ibid. p.83
31
Ibid.
18
f Synonymy
A procedure which is used when a precise equivalent in TL may or may not exist, thus the translator needs to use synonym to compensate for it.
32
Example: -
He is a cocky, arrogant, and haughty king. Translates into
- Dia itu raja yang sombong, angkuh, dan congkak.
- There‟s no broken bone, just a broken pride.
Translates into -
Tak ada tulang yang patah, hanya harga diri yang rusak. From examples above, there are actually various ways to translate those words.
It is only a matter of words selection or diction. Thus, the mentioned “precise equivalent” refers to the fact that a literal translation is not always possible.
Here is a bad example of the version above: -
He is a cocky, arrogant, and haughty king. Translates into
- Dia itu raja yang sombong, sombong , dan sombong. X
- There‟s no broken bone, just a broken pride.
Translates into -
Tak ada tulang yang patah, hanya harga diri yang patah. X To avoid bad translation like the examples above, a good translator should
always use synonymy to translate words with similar meaning.
32
Ibid. p.84
19
g Transposition
A translation procedure that involves in a change of grammar or word class from SL to TL.
33
Examples revolve in grammatical categories such as changing a singular to plural, changing the position of the adjective, etc. For instance,
sentences like this “He was transported to Alchemilla hospital that night” would be translated using transposition into “Malam itu, dia dipindahkan ke rumah sakit
Alche milla”.
Transposition is frequently used by translators to overcome numerous grammatical problems that occur in translation process. Knowing its function,
Transposition should serve as a great tool to avoid any untranslatability or grammatical changes that may hinder the translator‟s progress.
h Modulation
A translation procedure that focuses in a change of viewpoint or perspective of the view in SL.
34
Gérard Hardin and Gynthia Picot defines modulation as a change in point of view that allows us to express the same phenomenon in a
different way.
35
For instance, using the name of a category for a specific member of the category, using a part for the whole and vice versa, active for passive,
changing polarity etc. Modulation occurs in sentences such as this one: “He is a
coward” into “Dia bukan seorang yang pemberani”.
33
Ibid. p.85
34
Ibid. p.88
35
Gérard Hardin Cynthia Picot. 1990. Translate: Initiation à la pratique de la traduction, Bordas. Paris: Aubin Imprimeur. p. 21.
20
i Reduction and Expansion
A procedure which is used for adding or removing elements in translation. These two procedures are usually used in poor written texts and changes the
lexical and stylistic aspects of the text.
36
However, for a specific purpose of this research, this strategy is used to draw out possibilities that the translator might add
or remove components in subtitle. Not to be confused that the subtitle itself is a poorly written text. Examples:
- “Heat-seeking Rocket Launcher” into “Peluncur Roket” Reduction
- “I look out for him, He look out for me” into “Kami saling menjaga”
Reduction -
“Beckoning Ghost” into “Hantu yang Memancing orang untuk datang” Expansion
In example above, the reduction is used to inspect a deletion of words or simplification of words. This is especially useful to label simplified subtitle
segments in the writer‟s movie research. As for expansion, as the name suggests, is used to label any addition of words that occurred in the translation of subtitle
segments of the research.
36
Peter Newmark, Op.cit p.90
21
j Couplets
A combination of two couplets, three triplets, or four quadruplets translation procedures in order to deal a single problem.
37
This procedure is especially useful to translate complex texts with cultural words. Example:
Couplets: -
Hey squirt, beat it
Translates into: -
Hei, enyahlah Reduction + Functional Equivalent
Triplets: -
You knucklehead mcspazastron You just ruined my beautiful calico It costs a lot more than your salary
Translates into: -
Dasar bodoh Kau merusak calico-ku yang indah Gajimu tak akan cukup untuk bisa menggantinya Functional Equivalent + Transference +
Modulation
37
Ibid, p.91
22
D. Meaning Equivalence
