Catford 1965:1 states that translation is a process of replacing a text from one source language into a target language. It means that translation is a
substituting operation done in two languages, source language and target language, and focused on a text. The translation includes textual material, such as
grammar, lexical items and graphological form 1965:20. In the book, it is added that equivalence between source language and target
language is the vital problem in translation Catford, 1965:21. Translating a text must consider the equivalence between two languages.
2. Translation Equivalence
Catford states that a textual translation is equivalent when source language text is replaced by target language equivalents. Target language equivalents mean
grammar, lexis and graphology 1965:20. A translation is considered as equivalent if the target text has the correct grammar, lexis and graphology which
are understandable by target text readers the way the source text readers do. In Baker‟s book, it is stated that the right and proper equivalence always
depends not only on the translator‟s linguistic methods, but also on the writer of the source text and the procedure of the target text 1992:18. Background of the
source text readers and the target text readers, socio-culture in particular, is a big factor which has to be concerned about.
3. Theory of Non-Equivalence
If the target text and the source text have an equivalence aspect in the term of meaning, there must be texts which are not equivalent to the source texts. Baker
1992:21-25 mentions eleven common problems of non-equivalence: a.
Culture-specific concepts It happens if the source language is translated into an idea that target readers feel
unfamiliar with. It usually associates with a social custom, a religious belief, or a type of food 1992:21.
b. The source-language concept is not lexicalized in the target language
A word in the source language is translated into target language, but it is not lexicalized. It means that the target language is not assigned to express it. For
example, the word „standard‟ in English, which means „ordinary‟ or „not extra‟, does not have any equivalent in Ara
bic. It happens so even though „standard‟ expresses an idea that people easily understand 1992:21.
c. The source-language word is semantically complex
It happens if a word in the source language is semantically complex that it does not have an equivalent word to translate in target language. For instance, English
does not have the equivalent of Brazilian word „arruaçāo‟ which means „clearing the ground under coffee trees of rubbish and piling it in the middle of the row in
order to aid in the recovery beans dropped during harvesting‟ 1992:22.
d. The source and target languages make different distinctions in meaning
There are few distinction words in meaning in target language than in source language. Indonesian words „kehujanan‟, that means „going out in the rain and not
