Translation Technique

Translation Techniques in Narrative Text

English

Indonesian

Once upon a time, there were two sisters, Bawang and Kesuna, who lived with their parents in a village. The two girls were very different. Bawang was lazy and disobedient. She didn’t like working hard or helping her parents to do anything. She was also envious person and a terrible liar. To the contrary, Kesuna was a quiet, honest, and diligent girl. She did almost all the household chores. In spite of her diligent her parents seemed to love Bawang more for she was a great pretender and her parents believed whatever she said.

Di sebuah desa hiduplah dua orang bersaudara. Bawang dan Kesuna. Kedua bersaudara ini hidup bersama orang tuanya. Bawang dan Kesuna mempunyai sifat yang jauh berbeda. Bawang adalah seorang pemalas dan dan tidak suka bekerja keras. Ia juga seorang yang iri hati dan suka memfitnah. Lain halnya dengan Kesuna. Ia pendiam, jujur, dan rajin bekerja. Hampir semua pekerjaan rumah tangga dikerjakan olehnya. Walaupun Kesuna rajin bekerja, kedua orang tuanya lebih sayang kepada Bawang, karena Bawang pandai mencuri hati sehingga yang dikatakannya selalu dipercaya oleh orang tuanya.

Source : Taro, Made. 1997. Bawang dan Kesuna. Balai Pustaka.

The text above is an orientation of a narrative text. Here, I want to analyze the translation techniques that are used in translating the text. I give some different colors to indicate the different the technique.

1.      Deletion Technique, Transposition Technique, and Addition Technique.

TSu            : Once upon a time, there were two sisters, Bawang and Kesuna, who lived with their parents in a village.

TSa            : Di sebuah desa hiduplah dua orang bersaudara. Bawang dan Kesuna. Kedua bersaudara ini hidup bersama orang tuanya.

2.      Addition Technique and Modulation Technique

TSu            : The two girls were very different.

TSa            : Bawang dan Kesuna mempunyai sifat yang jauh berbeda.

3.      Modulation Technique, Addition Technique, and Deletion Technique

TSu            : Bawang was lazy and disobedient. She didn’t like working hard or helping her parents to do anything.

TSa            : Bawang adalah seorang pemalas dan tidak suka bekerja keras.

4.      Transposition Technique, Modulation Technique, and Deletion Technique

TSu            : She was also envious person and a terrible liar.

TSa            : Ia juga seorang yang iri hati dan suka memfitnah.

5.      Addition Technique, Deletion Technique, and Modulation Technique.

TSu            : To the contrary, Kesuna was a quiet, honest, and diligent girl.

TSa            : Lain halnya dengan Kesuna. Ia pendiam, jujur, dan rajin bekerja.

6.      Transposition Technique

TSu            : She did almost all the household chores.

TSa            : Hampir semua pekerjaan rumah tangga dikerjakan olehnya.

7.      Deletion Technique, Modulation Technique, and Transposition Technique.

TSu            : In spite of her diligent her parents seemed to love Bawang more for she was a great pretender and her parents believed whatever she said.

TSa            : Walaupun Kesuna rajin bekerja, kedua orang tuanya lebih sayang kepada Bawang, karena Bawang pandai mencuri hati sehingga yang dikatakannya selalu dipercaya oleh orang tuanya.

Translation Procedures

Translation Procedures

            According to Larson (1984: 3), “Translation is transferring the meaning of the source language into the receptor language. This is done by going from the form of the first language to the form of the second language by way of semantic structure. It is meaning which is being transferred and must be held constant.” In transferring the meaning, a translator needs some procedures, methods, and strategies to make the translation easy to understand and appropriate with the aim of the source language. Here, I will explain the translation procedures that are depicted by Nida (1964). There are two procedures; they are technical procedures and organizational procedures.

            The first procedures is that, technical procedures. It relates with the process of translating. There are three steps in this procedures, they are:

a.       Analysis of the source and target languages. The translators here should understand about the culture side of the source language and the target language whether that is meant in the source language also exists in the target language.

b.      A through study of the source language text before making attempts translate it. It means that the translators have to know about the aim of the source language. They have to understand the essence given in source language. In this step, the translators could make a discussion with the writer itself, other translators, or some groups that interest with the book which will be translated. 

c.       Making judgments of the semantic and syntactic approximations. The translators need to make sure the equivalence of the words, the sentence structure, and the closest meaning of the source language. It leads to the correct translation, so it doesn’t diverge from the writer’s purpose.

The second procedure is organizational procedures. It is stated that constant reevaluation of the attempt made; contrasting it with the existing available translations of the same text done by other translators, and checking the text's communicative effectiveness by asking the target language readers to evaluate its accuracy and effectiveness and studying their reactions. These procedures relate to the result of the translation. It is like a test of the naturalness of the translation. The translators can examine their translation by asking some critics and suggestions from the readers. So, they can revise their translation to be better and understandable.

That’s all what I know about translation procedures. I think it is very important for translators to use this kind of procedures. It is very helpful to make a good translation. Enjoy Translating !

Analysing Translation Techniques

English	Indonesian	The Analysis of the Technique
The first Indonesian youth congress was held in Batavia, capital of the then-Dutch East Indies in 1926.	Kongres Pemuda Indonesia pertama yang diadakan di Batavia, ibukota Hindia-Belanda pada tahun 1926.	a.              Transposition Technique The form of ‘the first Indonesian youth congress’ (enumerator + noun) is translated into ‘kongres pemuda Indonesia yang pertama’ (noun + enumerator). b.              Addition Technique Here, the translator adds a word ‘yang’ in the translation of ‘was held in Batavia’. So, the result is ‘yang diadakan di Batavia’. Then, in the translation of ‘in 1926’, the writer adds ‘tahun’. c.              Reduction Technique The writer deletes two words, ‘east’ and ‘then’ in translating ‘then-Dutch East Indies’ into ‘ Hindia-Belanda’ d.             Calque Technique The writer translates ‘then-Dutch East Indies’ in Indonesia into ‘Hindia-Belanda’. e.                Pure Borrowing Technique The word ‘Congress’ is translated into ‘Kongres’.
but produced no formal decisions but did promote the idea of a united Indonesia.	Kongres ini tidak menghasilkan keputusan resmi tetapi hanya mempromosikan ide negara kesatuan Republik Indonesia	a.                Addition Technique The translator adds two words, ‘negara’ and ‘Republik’ in translating ‘a united Indonesia’ into ‘negara kesatuan Republik Indonesia’. b.               Deletion Technique The translator deletes a word ‘a’ in translating ‘a united Indonesia’. c.                Modulation Technique The translator uses this technique in the word ‘but’ that is translated into ‘kongres ini’ and the word ‘did’ that is translated into ‘yang’.
In October 1928	Dua tahun kemudian tepatnya pada bulan Oktober 1928	a.             Addition Technique The translator adds ‘dua tahun kemudian tepatnya pada bulan’ in translating ‘In October 1928’. b.            Pure Borrowing Technique The word ‘October’ is translated into ‘Oktober’.
The second Indonesian youth congress was held at three different locations.	Diadakanlah kongres pemuda Indonesia kedua yang dilaksanakan di tiga lokasi yang berbeda.	a.             Addition Technique The translator adds a word ‘diadakanlah’ in translating the sentence above. b.            Transposition Technique The first, is the form of ‘the form of ‘the second Indonesian youth congress’ (Enumerator + Noun) is translated into ‘kongres pemuda Indonesia kedua ‘ (Noun + Enumerator). The second is the form of ‘different location’ (Adjective + Noun) is translated into ‘lokasi yang berbeda’ (Noun + Adjective). Then the word ‘locations’ (plural) is translated into ‘lokasi’ (singular).
In the first session, the hope was expressed that the congress would inspire the feeling of unity	Pada sesi pertama, terungkaplah harapan bahwa kongres itu sebaiknya menginspirasi rasa persatuan.	a.             Transposition Technique The translator translates ‘in the first session’ (enumerator + noun) into ‘pada sesi yang pertama’ (noun + enumerator) and ‘the hope was expressed’ (Noun phrase + verb phrase) into  ‘terungkaplah harapan’ (Verb phrse + noun phrase) b.               Modulation Technique The translator translates ‘was expressed’ that actually means ‘diekspresikan’ into ‘terungkaplah’ and ‘would’ that actually means ‘akan’ into ‘sebaiknya’.
The second session saw discussions about educational issues.	Pada sesi kedua diadakan diskusi tentang isu-isu pendidikan.	a.             Modulation Technique The translator translates the word ‘saw’ that actually means ‘melihat’ into ‘diadakan’.    b.            Transposition Technique The translator translated ‘the second session’ (enumerator + noun) into ‘pada sesi kedua’ (noun + enumerator). c.             Addition Technique The translator adds a word ‘pada’ in translating ‘the second session’ into ‘pada sesi kedua’.
In the third and final session, held at Jalan Kramat Raya No, 126, on October 28 participants heard the future Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya by Wage Rudolf Supratman.	sedangkan pada sesi ketiga dan sebagai sesi terakhir, yang diadakan di Jalan Kramat Raya No, 126, pada tanggal 28 Oktober, semua peserta mendengarkan lagu kebangsaan Indonesia “Indonesia Raya”, lagu kebangsaan masa depan Indonesia pada saat, yang diciptakan oleh Wage Rudolf Supratman.	a.             Addition Technique First, the translator adds ‘sedangkan’ and ‘sebagai’ in translating ‘in the third and final session’ into ‘sedangkan pada sesi ketiga dan sebagai sesi terakhir’. Second, he adds ‘yang’ in translating ‘held at Jalan Kramat Raya’ into ‘yang diadakan di Jalan Kramat Raya’ and ‘tanggal’ in translating ‘on October 28’ into ‘pada tanggal 28 Oktober’. The last, he adds ‘yang diciptakan’ in translating ‘by Wage Rudolf Supratman’ into ‘yang diciptakan oleh Wage Rudolf Supratman’. b.               Description Technique The translator describes ‘Indonesia Raya’ as ‘lagu kebangsaan Indonesia’.
The congress closed with a reading of the youth pledge.	Kongres ditutup dengan pembacaan Sumpah Pemuda.	The translator uses Deletion Technique. The word ‘a’ is deleted in translating ‘a reading of the youth pledge’ into ‘pembacaan sumpah pemuda’.
Youth Pledge	Sumpah Pemuda	The translator uses Modulation Technique. He translates a word ‘youth’ that actually means ‘kaum muda’ into ‘pemuda’.
Firstly	Pertama	The translator uses Transposition Techniques. The word ‘Firstly’ (Adverb) is translated into ‘Pertama’ (Enumerator).
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia,	Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia.	a.             Literal Technique The translator translates that sentence word for word. ‘We the sons and daughters of Indonesia’ is translated into ‘Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia’. b.            Transposition Technique The translators translate the word ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ that is plural into ‘poetera’ dan ‘poeteri’ that is singular.
Acknowledge one motherland, Indonesia	Mengakoe bertoempah darah jang satoe, tanah air Indonesia.	a.             Addition Technique The translator adds two words ‘tanah air’ in translating ‘Indonesia’ into ‘tanah air Indonesia’ and a word ‘jang’ in translating ‘one motherland’ into ‘bertoempah darah jang satoe’. b.               Transposition Technique The translator changes the noun phrase of ‘One Motherland’ into verb phrase in Indonesian, ‘bertoempah darah jang satoe’.
Secondly	Kedoea	The translator uses Transposition Techniques. The word ‘secondly’ (Adverb) is translated into ‘Kedoea’ (Enumerator).
Acknowledge one nation, the nation of Indonesia.	Mengakoe berbangsa jang satoe, bangsa Indonesia.	a.                Addition Technique The translator adds ‘jang’ in translating ‘one nation’ into ‘berbangsa jang satoe’. b.               Transposition Technique The translator changes the noun phrase of ‘one nation’ into verb phrase in Indonesian, ‘berbangsa jang satoe’.
Thirdly	Ketiga	The translator uses Transposition Techniques. The word ‘thirdly’ (Adverb) is translated into ‘Ketiga’ (Enumerator).
Uphold the language of unity, Indonesian.	Mendjoendjoeng bahasa persatoean, bahasa Indonesia.	In this sentence, the translator use Literal Technique. He translates the sentence word for word. ‘Uphold the language of unity’ is translated into ‘Mendjendjoeng bahasa persatuan’ and also the word ‘Indonesian’ is translated into ‘bahasa Indonesia’.