NATURALNESS OF SUBTITLES ON DVD MOVIES.

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NATURALNESS OF SUBTITLES

ON DVD MOVIES

A THESIS

By:

ADE AINI NURAN

Registration Number: 082188330001

Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Magister Humaniora

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM

POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN

2009

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

The writer would like to thank ALLAH, the Almighty, who has granted countless blessings, knowledge, and opportunities.

On this very special occasion, she would like to extend her sincere appreciation to Prof. Tina Mariany Arifin, M.A. Ph.D., her first Adviser and as Head of the English Applied Linguistics Study Program, for her super advice, valuable time in giving the encouragement, guidance, suggestions, and for the information that has enable her to write this thesis until it comes to its present form. She also would like to express her special gratitude to Prof. Amrin Saragih, M.A. Ph.D., her second Adviser, for his outstanding supervision.

She also appreciate all the lecturers of the English Applied Linguistics Study Program for their valuable knowledge they have been transferred to her, in particular, she would like to render her special thanks to her reviewers: Prof. Dr. Lince Sihombing, M.Pd., Dr. Busmin Gurning, M.Pd., and Dr. Eddy Setia, M.Ed. TESP for their valuable inputs in the process of writing this thesis.

Her sincere indebtedness is rendered to her beloved father, Drs. H. Asfikar, and her mother, Hj. Dahliana for their endless love, prayer, financial, and moral support, in completing her education, and her lovely brother, Filli Azandi who is always annoying her.

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Her appreciation goes to all her friends Intake XIII at the English Applied Linguistics Study Program, Post Graduate School, especially Angel and Hanim who are always fight together for this “green table” (Thesis Examination). All of her friends that always give warm supports, K’Deb, K’Mei, Hamka, Poo, Nazly, K’Dini,

Apri, K’Santy, K’Ecy, Ipur, K’Het, Bg Stiva, and Kc- Wulandari. It seems impossible to name all those who are very helpful to her, but they deserve her special thankfulness.

May God bless us!

Medan, August 26, 2009 The writer,

Ade Aini Nuran

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iii ABSTRACT

Nuran, Ade Aini. Naturalness of Subtitles on DVD Movies. A Thesis. English Applied Linguistics Graduate School. State University of Medan. 2009.

This study is aimed at analyzing the naturalness of subtitles on DVD movies. The objective of the study is to investigate the naturalness of language in the subtitles on DVD movies and the factors that influence the naturalness of subtitles on DVD movies. The instrument of this study is DVD player. This study is based on qualitative research method, where the data collected are in the form of words or pictures rather than numbers. The source of the data is Digital Video Disc (DVD) movies, totaling to 3 DVD movies, and they are played for the ten minutes. The data are taken from the subtitles as the Target Language (bahasa Indonesia) in the DVD movies. After analyzing the data, it is obtained that the naturalness often appeared in the subtitle on movie’s DVD. A good or not- good subtitle is based on the background of the translator. Any kind of translation involves not only the languages, but also culture in the countries or regions where these languages are spoken. Translation is not only changing writings from one language to another, words by words, or sentences by sentences, but also interpretation of cultural differences. The dominant factor that appeared is personal factor (59%), and followed by linguistic factor (39%), and cultural factor (2%).

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REFERENCES

Bassnett, S. 1980. Translation Studies. London and New York: Routledge Bogdan, R.C & Biklen, S.K. 1992.Qualitative Research for Education. USA Caimi, A. 2006. The Journal of Specialised Translation. University of Pavia: Italy Fawcett, P. 1997. Translation and Language. Manchester: UK

Gorlée, D. L. 1994. Semiotics and the Problem of Translation, Amsterdam, Atlanta. Hatim, B. 2001. Teaching and Researching Translation. England:Pearson Education

Ltd

Hatim, B. & Munday, J. 2004. Translation An Advanced Recource Book. New York: Routledge

Jakobson, R. 2000. The Translation Studies Reader. New York: Routledge

Larson, M. L. 1984. Meaning Based Translation. University Press of America: USA Malmkjaer, K. 1998. Translation and Language Teaching. Cambridge

Munday, J. 2001. Introducing Translation Studies. New York: Routledge Newmark, P. 1988. A Textbook of Translation. Singapore: Prentice Hall Nida, E. A. 2000. The Translation Studies Reader. New York: Routledge

Nida, E. A. & Charles T. 1974. The Theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: E.J. Brill

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Darwish, A. 2000. “Is Translation Natural” (http://www.scribd.org/com). Accessed

on Mei 22, 2009

“Naturalness Theory”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/media). Accessed on Mei 22,

2009.

“Movie”. (http://simple.wikipedia) access on Mei 23, 2009

“Ambiguity”http://www.essex.ac.uk/linguistic/clmt/Mtbook/HTML/Ambiguity/node)

. Accessed on Mei 26, 2009

“Translation”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/translation). Accessed on Mei 26, 2009

“Linguistic”.

(http://www.essex.ac.uk/linguistic/clmt/Mtbook/HTML/node55.html#Idiom). Accessed on Mei 26, 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... i

ABSTRACT ... iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... iv

LIST OF FIGURES ... vii

LIST OF APPENDICES ... viii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 The Problems of the Study ... 4

1.3 The Objectives of the Study ... 4

1.4 The Scope of the Study ... 4

1.5 The Significance of the Study ... 5

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Translation ... 6

2.2 Naturalness ... 11

2.3 Movies ... 14

2.3.1 Fiction Movie ... 14

2.3.1.1 Action ... 15

2.3.1.2 Thriller ... 17

2.3.1.3 Comedy ... 18

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2.3.1.5 Science Fiction ... 20

2.3.1.6 Western ... 22

2.3.1.7 Horror ... 23

2.3.1.8 Animated ... 24

2.3.1.9 Documentary ... 26

2.4 Subtitles ... 26

2.5 Digital Video Disc (DVD) ... 31

2.6 Conceptual Framework ... 32

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD 3.1 Research Design ... 34

3.2 Source of the Data ... 34

3.3 Instrument of Data Collection ... 35

3.4 Procedure of Data Collection ... 35

3.5 Technique of Data Analysis ... 36

CHAPTER IV DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS, AND DISCUSSION 4.1 The Description of Data ... 37

4.1.1 Occurrence of Linguistic Factor... 37

4.1.2 Occurrence of Cultural Factor ... 37

4.1.3 Occurrence of Personal Factor ... 38

4.2 Data Analysis ... 39

4.2.1 Linguistic Factor ... 39

4.2.2 Cultural Factor ... 39

4.2.3 Personal Factor ... 39

4.3 Findings ... 40

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CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusions ... 43 5.2 Suggestions ... 44

REFERENCES ... 45

APPENDICES ……… 47-77

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viii

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page

A ... 47

B ... 57

C ... 63

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vii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

2.1 A functional theory of language ... 9

2.2 Action movie picture ... 15

2.3 Thriller movie picture ... 17

2.4 Comedies movie picture ... 18

2.5 Buddy movie picture ... 19

2.6 Science Fiction movie picture ... 20

2.7 Western movie picture ... 22

2.8 Horror movie picture ... 23

2.9 Animation movie picture ... 24

2.10 Documentary movie picture ... 26

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1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study

At present, DVD (short for Digital Video Disc) movies can be found everywhere and anytime in little pieces that are affected by technology. DVD as the latest satisfying entertainment in widescreen format now offers various options with different language dubbing and subtitling. Many movies are transferred into many countries with different subtitles, depending on the target language or the country that adopted the movie. Subtitle is a printed translation of the dialogue(s) of a foreign- language film shown at the bottom of the screen. People can even choose to watch the movies in their own choice of language with the same language text in subtitling.

Subtitles on screen are seen almost everyday, everywhere on television, film screen, and nowadays on DVD. Usually the viewers watch the programs and read subtitles without thinking or knowing how the translation has been done. Subtitle is the key to understand the meaning of the contents in foreign languages. In DVD movie, the subtitle can be natural or unnatural, depending on that the translation that makes sense; and that it reads naturally, that it is written in ordinary language, the common grammar, idioms and words that meet that kind of situation. On the other hand, interpretation, which is considered as part of translation studies, developed side by side with the text translation text. Later, when the entertainment world booms entering almost every door of household through television and radio, a new kind of interpretation is born to serve the need of understanding the language of overseas

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movie, telenovela, and other dramas. Subtitling then becomes a new field of income generating. Far before subtitling appeared on television set, movies in which words of actor and actress are translated text per text came to us in a very amusing and amazing way.

Sometimes, clumsy words or phrases are found in the translation from source language (SL) into target language (TL). To exemplify, here are some of them:

- Please don’t bore everyone with your question (SL) - Jangan banyak tanya (TL)

- It’s spooky! (SL) - Omong kosong (TL)

The appropriateness of subtitle is determined by the background of the translator. Any kind of translation involves not only the languages, but also the cultures of the countries or regions where these languages are spoken. Translation is not only changing writings from one language to another, words by words, or sentences by sentences, but also interpretation of cultural differences. Adding to the complexity of the usual translation, subtitles for film and television programs involves very unique and interesting procedure which does not exist in other works of translation.

Etymologically, translation is a carrying across or bringing across. The Latin translatio derives from the perfect passive participle, translatum, of transferre (to transfer -from trans, across + ferre, to carry or to bring). The modern Romance, Germanic and Slavic European languages have generally formed their own equivalent terms for this concept after the Latin model — after transferre or after the kindred

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traducere (to bring across or to lead across). Additionally, the Greek term for translation, με άφ α ι (metaphrasis, a speaking across), has supplied English with metaphrase (a literal translation, or word-for-word translation)—as contrasted with paraphrase (a saying in other words, from the Greek πα άφ α ι , paraphrasis). Metaphrase corresponds, is one of the more recent terminologies, to formal equivalence, and paraphrase to dynamic equivalence. At the early time of the translation of serial on television, we do not find text- per- text translation. It can be found the extraction of the story into text telling the plot of the story. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/translation. 2009).

In many translation projects, there are advisors or consultants who are willing to help the translator. The translator(s) will expect that the consultant is interested in three matters: 1) accuracy of content, 2) naturalness of style, and 3) effect on the receptor language audience. It is important that translators check their materials with a trained consultant after completing a section or two of a long document, so that, more or less the subtitle that is natural.

Naturalness has been used to understand human behavior toward technology in various contexts, such as: education, knowledge transfer, communication in virtual environments, e-negotiation, business process improvement, trust and leadership in virtual teamwork, online learning, maintenance of distributed relationships, performance in experimental tasks using various media, and modular production. The art of translation is a subsidiary art and derivative. On this account it has never been granted the dignity of original work, and has suffered too much in the general judgment of letters. This natural underestimation of its value has had the bad practical

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effect of lowering the standard demanded, and in some periods has almost destroyed the art altogether. The corresponding misunderstanding of its character has added to its degradation: neither its importance nor its difficulty has been grasped.

1.2 The Problems of the Study

Based on the background, the problems are formulated as the following. 1) What factors influence the naturalness of subtitles on DVD movies? 2) How often does the naturalness occur in the subtitles on DVD movies?

3) Why is the dominant factor of naturalness found in the subtitles on DVD movies?

1.3 The Objectives of the Study

Related to the problems, the objectives are.

1) to find out the factors that influence the naturalness of subtitle on movie’s DVD, and

2) to describe the natural aspects of language in the subtitle on DVD movies 3) to find out the most dominant factor that is influence the naturalness on DVD

movie

1.4 The Scope of the Study

In this globalization era, DVD becomes one thing that is enjoyable by most of the people. This study addresses the use of text in movie on DVD program, and the DVD that will be watched about 3DVD movies (for the first ten minutes of the

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movie), it is based on the best academy award that the movies got in this year, and in this study, the scope of the study such as action movie, horror movie, comedy movie, animation movie, and thriller movie.

1.5 Significance of the Study

These studies are expected to be relevant and significant theoretically and practically. Theoretically the study enhances application of translation theories in texts of English translated into bahasa Indonesia. Thus the findings add up horizons in applied linguistics. Practically the findings are relevant for the translator. In subtitle too, the naturalness of it is very noticeable to avoid misunderstanding or misperception for the audience. For the students, this study is necessary to make the students becomes active observer by noticing the subtitle on screen. For the teachers, it can be an input for them in teaching translation subject. And for the audience, subtitle has a very important role to make the audience get a better idea of what is happening in the movie.

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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusions

Having analyzed the data in the previous chapter, it was concluded that 1. It is suggested that naturalness of the subtitles should be maintained in the

movie. The naturalness has often appeared in the subtitles on DVD movies. Naturalness depends on the relationship between the writer and the readership and the topic or situation. It can be said if one word or sentence natural or ‘neutral’ language when spoken (here, what are the actors and actress said) and informal written language (subtitle on-screen) more or less coincide. 2. The factors that influences the naturalness depends on the relationship

between the writer and the readership and the topic or situation. Any kind of translation involves not only the languages, but also culture in the countries or regions where these languages are spoken. The procedure of the data has been done by watched the DVD movies and write phrase or words that are natural by seeing the subtitle of the movie.

3. The most dominant factor is personal factor; it is because the translator is the main subject to translate something, in this case the subtitle. In the translator itself, they have the others factor, such as linguistic and cultural factors. If they want to make a translation, they should master the linguistic and the culture of the country they made translation.

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5.2 Suggestions

Subtitle has a very important role to make the audience get a better idea of what is happening in the movie. In relation to the conclusions, suggestions are staged as the following.

1. For the translator, it can be a good input to make good subtitles as natural as possible to make the audience easier to get the essence of the movie.

2. By noticing the sounds of the actors and the actress in the movies and saw the subtitles, it can be good for students to add their vocabulary to make a good translation.

3. It can be valuable for teacher in teaching translation subject at school (when the material about translation, for example, translate into good English or into good Indonesia) because naturalness is one of interesting subject in translation. In addition, the naturalness is better to use when translate something.

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